334 Best Sights in Turkey

Although a Greek-speaking city called Knidos has existed on the Datça Peninsula since at least the 6th century BC, the Knidos at this site was founded circa 330 BC and prospered because of its excellent location on shipping routes between Egypt, Rhodes, Ephesus, the Greek mainland, and other major ports. Enter the archaeological site near the large agora (marketplace) down by the water and continue up the hill on the ancient main street, with its views over the water and the modern lighthouse.

Pass the Temple of Apollo and then reach the ruins of a circular temple, which many believe stands on the site of Knidos' famed Temple of Aphrodite. Knidos's two ancient harbors are below; the Mediterranean laps the southern (left-hand) harbor while the waters of the northern (right-hand) harbor belong to the Aegean. Knidos was abandoned in Byzantine times (around the 7th century AD), which is part of why the site has remained as romantically unspoiled as it was when travelers first sketched it in the early 1800s: the only denizens you're likely to encounter are grazing goats.

It took 20 years to build this gigantic, elaborately decorated, neo-Ottoman mosque. Perched on an expansive raised platform, the illuminated edifice dominates the Ankara skyline at night and is one of the city's most prominent landmarks. The prestigious mosque is the site of most military and state funerals.

At the water's edge, this vast space is one of the city's two main squares (the other, Cumhuriyet Meydanı, or Republic Square, is to the north along Atatürk Caddesi), and is a good place to pick up a cheap street snack from roving vendors. The Saat Kulesi (clock tower), the city's icon, stands out at the center of the plaza, with its ornate, late-Ottoman design. The tower was built in 1901, in honor of Sultan Abdulhamid's 25th year on the imperial throne, and the clock itself was sent as a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. The small, 18th-century single-domed Yalı Camii (sometimes known as Konak Mosque), set back from the clock tower, is decorated with colorful tiles and was originally built by Mehmet Paşa's daughter, Ayşe. Just to the north is Konak Pier.

On the waterfront an easy stroll north from Konak Meydanı (turn right if you're facing the water), this 19th-century pier is now an updated shopping mall with several restaurants, a movie theater, a bookstore with some English-language options, and fabulous views. It was originally designed as a customs house reputedly by the famous French architect Gustave Eiffel. Note that it is not the Konak Ferry Terminal near the Clock tower.

For many Turks, Antalya is synonymous with the thick crowds of vacationers on Konyaaltı Beach, and the packed pebble strand is a stiflingly hot and busy sight in high season. The city has worked hard to improve the quality of the beach experience though, with especially impressive results on the 1 km (½ mile) section starting after the museum and ending under the Hotel Su. The beach is largely divided up by concessions, each with its own restaurant, deck chairs, umbrellas, and showers. Energetic and often noisy, this is not the spot for a quiet, solitary swim. The city-run "nostalgic tram" from just outside Kaleiçi will take you right above the beach, or you can take a cab. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

Refreshingly green, this park has restaurants, tea gardens, a pond with paddleboats, and an amusement park. It's always crowded and pleasantly animated, though it seems more like a busy public gathering spot than a place of refuge. Amid the lawns and walkways is Bursa's Arkeoloji Müzesi (Archaeology Museum), which displays a range of finds from the surrounding region, including coins and ceramics.

İzmir's vast central park and fairgrounds has approximately 8,000 trees to stroll under, as well as an open-air theater, a culture center, a sports arena, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a shaded walking/running path, and the Tarih ve Sanat Müzesi (History and Art Museum). The museum compound showcases Hellenistic and Roman-era statues and reliefs—including larger-than-life carved gods and goddesses recovered from İzmir's Agora and nearby sites.

Located at the foot of the hill by Kars River, this was originally built in the 10th century as the Armenian Church of the Twelve Apostles. You can still make out the Apostles on the exterior of the drum-shape cupola. Since 1998, the building has served as a mosque, with the entrance on the far side.

Built by Justinian as the Church of Sergius and Bacchus (patron saints of the Roman army), this church is commonly known as the "Little Ayasofya" due to its resemblance to the great church up the hill. In fact, it was built just before Ayasofya, in the 530s, and the architects here explored many of the same ideas of the larger church but on a smaller scale. The church was converted to a mosque around the year 1500 by Hüseyin Ağa, Beyazıt II's chief eunuch. Though the mosaics are long gone, a Greek inscription dedicated to Justinian, his wife Theodora, and the saints can still be seen running along the cornice of the colonnade. The marble and verd-antique columns, with their delicate, ornate capitals, are also quite impressive, and you can climb the stairway to the upper-level gallery for a closer look. An adjacent, shaded park has some small cafés and shops.

Near the Great Mosque stands a covered bazaar dubbed Kırkkaşık, or "40 Spoons," which dates from the 16th century. Small shops inside sell local souvenirs at reasonable prices.

Fortified since Byzantine times, this little islet off the Asian shore guarded busy shipping lanes and has a restored, lighted, 18th-century tower that is now the star of the lower Bosphorus. Leander's Tower, as it was known in antiquity, ties the island to the legend of Leander, who was said to have swum the strait each night guided by the lamp of his lover, Hero—though this myth was, in fact, set in the Dardanelles to the southwest. The Turkish name "Maiden's Tower" comes from another legend, this one associated with several offshore castles. As the story goes, a princess was placed on an island to keep her safe after a prophecy foretold her death from a snakebite. Despite this precaution, she was bitten anyway, when a snake came ashore in a basket of fruit.

Just off the coast, an island—known to have been settled as early as the 4th century BC—is home to an evocative castle called Kızkalesi. Several offshore castles in Turkey bear this same name, which is derived from a legend about a king, a princess, and a snake. The beautiful princess, apple of her father's eye, had her fortune read by a wandering seer who declared she would die of a snakebite. The king therefore sent her to a castle on a snake-free island. Destiny, however, can never be avoided, and the offending serpent was accidentally delivered in a basket of grapes sent as a gift from her father's palace.

More prosaically, this particular castle was an important part of the row of defenses built and rebuilt over the centuries to stop invaders from Syria entering Anatolia via the coast route to Antalya. What you see dates mostly from the 11th century and was constructed by Byzantines to keep out Antioch-based Crusaders. Boatmen will offer to take you here, but hiring a paddleboat is the most popular way to explore.

The Red Basilica is named for the red bricks from which it's constructed. You can't miss it on the road to and from the Acropolis—it's right at the bottom of the hill, in the old part of the city. This was the last pagan temple constructed in Pergamum: when Christianity was declared the state religion in the 4th century, it was converted into a basilica dedicated to St. John. Egyptian deities were worshipped here, and an 27-foot cult statue of the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet has recently been reconstructed. Excavations that came to an end in recent years have opened the site to visitors and, among other things, uncovered impressive mosaics in its surroundings. One of the two towers has also been restored and has some displays inside; the other tower is used as a mosque.

A minor masterpiece of Mediterranean military architecture, the 100-foot-high Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) was built by the Seljuks in 1226 to defend Alanya's harbor and the nearby shipyard known as the tersane. Sophisticated technology for the time was implemented by an architect from Aleppo who was familiar with Crusader castle building. The octagonal redbrick structure includes finely judged angles of fire for archers manning the loopholes, cleverly designed stairs to cut attackers off, and a series of troughs to convey boiling tar and melted lead onto besieging forces.

Today, the Red Tower's passages are a cool relief from the summer heat, and the view from the top is captivating. Don't miss taking the short walk south along the fortified sea walls to the tersane, where waves crash into the old shipyard's five workshops, each under a vaulted stone arch. Ships could be pulled up into each for building or repairs, and the cover was likely also useful for storing war supplies. They now contain replica ship hulls and equipment, with explanations about their construction and use.

On a hill overlooking the white travertines of Pamukkale about 10 km (6 miles) to the north, the ruins of the ancient city of Laodicea on the Lycus are perfect for an atmospheric ramble down colonnaded streets, or (with care) down the steep slopes of two newly restored but still lovely ancient theaters. The extent of the recent excavations and restructuring of some of the mosaics and temples is revealing an astoundingly large city. Founded in the 3rd century BC, Laodicea passed into Pergamene, then Roman hands, and was a prosperous trading city, known for its black wool. Luxurious public buildings, including baths and a temple to an unknown divinity, testify to its wealth. Roman Laodicea's relatively large Jewish population (in the thousands) likely contributed to the early adoption of Christianity in the city, and the basilica, with its extensive geometric mosaics, was one of the "Seven Churches of Asia" in the Book of Revelation, making it a particularly poignant site for biblical history.  You can join a tour or catch a Denizli-bound dolmuş from Pamukkale center. (The dolmuş drops you off on the main road about a 10-minute walk away from the archaeological site.)

The eastern gate to the ancient city was built in honor of a visit by the Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 120 and is among the best-preserved remnants of the thick, sturdy fortifications that once encircled İznik. Some of the original inscriptions, marble reliefs, and friezes remain intact. Outside the gray stone and faded brick gate is a leafy graveyard and the city's small but technically impressive aqueduct.

Excavations have revealed three temples in Letoon. The first dates from the 2nd century BC and was dedicated to Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis, and the namesake of the site. She was believed to have brought the infant twins here while hiding from Zeus's jealous wife, Hera. The middle temple, the oldest, is dedicated to Artemis and dates from the 5th or 4th century BC. The last, dating from the 1st century BC, belongs to Apollo and contains a replica of a mosaic depicting a bow and arrow (a symbol of Artemis), and a sun and lyre (Apollo's emblems). These are the three gods most closely associated with Lycia.

Re-erecting some columns of the Temple of Leto has made the site more photogenic. There is also a well-preserved Roman theater, right after the site entrance. The once-sacred pool where Leto sought to quench her thirst lends atmosphere. It's now filled with ducks and chirping frogs—which ties in playfully with the local legend that when villagers tried to chase Leto away, she turned them into frogs. About 6 km (4 miles) south of Letoon, the road continues to a beach. Across a rickety bridge at the river mouth are the ruins of an early Lycian fort called Pydnai.

Right in the midst of Kaş's restaurants and cafés is a monumental sarcophagus with four regal lions' heads carved onto its lid. It's a local landmark and one of the most prominent remnants of ancient Antiphellos. In 1842, a British naval officer counted more than 100 sarcophagi in Kaş, but most have been destroyed over the years as locals nabbed the flat side pieces to use in construction projects.

A modest, crenellated, 16th-century citadel near the Netsel Marina is one of the few historic sites within Marmaris town, and it has splendid views of the city, sea, and mountains. First built by Süleyman the Magnificent, then shelled to bits by the French in the First World War, the castle was rebuilt in the 1980s. A small museum gives context to the region's importance in antiquity with displays of sarcophagi, pottery, and other finds from area archaeological sites such as those at Knidos.

Nobel Prize–winning Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence is one of the most unusual museums in Istanbul—and, perhaps, in the world. Opened in 2012 in the gentrifying Çukurcuma neighborhood in a former town house dating from the late 19th century, it's based on Pamuk's eponymous novel chronicling a decades-long story of unrequited love. On display are thousands of everyday objects, from vintage silverware and clothing to lottery tickets and matchbooks—obsessively "collected" over the years by the novel's main character—that portray daily life in Istanbul over the second half of the 20th century. The quirky, intimate museum is a must-see for anyone familiar with Pamuk's work or who is interested in Turkish social history, though some may find it esoteric. Audio tours available in English offer context.

Little remains of the extravagant white-marble tomb of King Mausolos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the source of the word mausoleum. During the 4th century, Bodrum (then called Halicarnassus) was governed by King Mausolus. Upon his death in 353 BC, Queen Artemisia, his wife and sister, ordered the construction of the great white-marble tomb. At almost 150 feet in height, it must have been quite a sight—a towering rectangular base topped by Ionic columns and friezes of spectacular relief sculpture, surmounted by a pyramidal roof, and crowned with a massive statue of Mausolus and Artemisia, riding a chariot into eternity. The Mausoleum stood for over a millennium, but the 15th-century Knights of St. John plundered its stones to build the Petronium, while 19th-century Brits carted many of the surviving sculptures off to the British Museum. The Admission price is relatively high for what little you'll see, but it does offer a rare opportunity to reflect on how a Wonder of the World has been reduced to fallen masonry and broken columns. The site also contains a bare but interesting earlier underground burial chamber and a small room with models of how it might have been.

Marmaris has its own crowded beach, but many prefer to take a water taxi or minibus to this cleaner, somewhat quieter stretch in the nearby resort town of İçmeler, 8 km (5 miles) down the coast and backed by high, tree-covered mountains. Rent a beach chair and sit amid the palm trees for only 15 TL on the public beach, or nab a spot at one of the many beachfront bars and restaurants. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

If you didn't know that Mermerli Beach was there, you'd never guess it. This tiny strip of sand and pebbles outside the harbor wall is reached via the Mermerli Restaurant, halfway up the hill east of the harbor. If you're staying in Kaleiçi, this is the ideal way to escape the bustle. The admission price to this quiet oasis in the heart of town includes loungers and umbrellas. Lovely as it is, do be aware that the beach is accessible only by several flights of stairs. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: swimming.

This wooded complex in the hills above Selçuk draws pilgrims to the small stone house where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent the last days of her life. A nearby “wishing wall” is covered with notes written by visitors on scraps of paper and cloth. The setting is beautiful, but a trip here divides those who find it profound or those who find it of limited interest as nonbelievers since there’s not much to see. It can get very crowded and the line is asked to move along quickly.

Diybarbakır was once home to a large Christian population—Armenians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians—and several churches remain, although the only one that still holds regular services is the Assyrian Orthodox Meryem Ana Kilisesi, on the western end of the old city. A peaceful oasis in the midst of the bustling city, the church is said to be built on the site of what was a temple used by sun worshippers and has a large courtyard lined with basalt stones. Parts of the church date back to the 4th century—look for the remains of the Roman arch beside the altar—but most of the structure is medieval. Services are held every Sunday at 8 am, although only a few people usually show up. Look for the signs from the Urfa Gate and be aware that this is one of the poorer parts of the old city.

The Miletus archaeological site is sprawled out along a desolate plain, and laced with well-marked trails. The parking lot is right outside the city's most magnificent building—the Great Theater, a remarkably intact 15,000-seat, freestanding amphitheater built by the Ionians and maintained by the Romans. The fabulous vomitoria, huge vaulted passages leading to the seats, have the feel of a modern sporting arena. Climb to the top of the theater for a look at the walls of the defensive fortress built atop it by the Byzantines, and a view across the ancient city. To see the rest of the ruins, follow the dirt track down from the right of the theater. A row of buildings marks what was once a broad processional avenue. The series begins with the Delphinion, a sanctuary of Apollo; a stoa (colonnaded porch) with several reerected Ionic columns; the foundations and remaining walls and arches of a Roman bath and gymnasium; and the first story of the Nymphaeum, all that remains of the once highly ornate three-story structure, resembling the Library of Celsus at Ephesus, that once distributed water to the rest of the city.

A three-minute drive outside the gates of the site, the small Milet Müzesi presents interesting artifacts from the site and the surrounding area with panache. Their bright displays will help you conjure a vision of ancient Miletus and its world. Ask your tour guide in advance if you can make at least a short stop here. If driving, ask the guards to point you in the right direction as you exit the Miletus archaeological site.

In the villages around Midyat are dozens of churches, many still in use and dating back to the 5th through 8th century. The area suffered considerably during the Kurdish uprising, and many Christians moved to Germany, Sweden, and Australia, though a small number are beginning to return and many visit in summer. The most extraordinary religious site is the Monastery of the Mother of God at Hah (Anıtlı in Turkish), probably from the 6th century, which has an elaborately carved classical interior and exterior.

With their numbers dwindling, Midyat's Syriac Orthodox community rotates services throughout the old town's churches, so it's hard to know which one will be open. Your best bet is the Mor Barsaumo church, open most afternoons. It has a beautiful chapel with distinctive locally made artwork and lovely stonework.

Twenty-five kilometers (15½ miles) southeast of Midyat is the Mor Gabriel monastery, built on the site of a church that dates back to 387. The monastery is on the top of a hill in a desolate area, surrounded by fields and vineyards, a peaceful and tranquil setting. Reopened as a monastery in 1952 after having been closed for some time, the building is a traditionally a nunnery, though barely a dozen women remain; a few monks and the local patriarch, known as a Metropolitan, are also in residence, as are children sent to boarding school here to help preserve the ancient Syriac language. Two churches and a grotto hold the graves of monks who have lived here throughout the centuries. Young men who live here as students are usually on hand to show guests around.

A sweeping vista of vineyards surrounds the old café building and tall pines where a small menu is served including cheese boards, with a menu of wines for tasting. A walking tour of the vineyards, modern cellars, and the wine-making process is available. The scenery lends itself to light concert nights and events, announced on their social media. The cafe sells the wines, and also the olives and olive oils grown on the property.