cool places to visit in turkey

Discover the diversity of landscapes, heritage and culinary culture of Türkiye, from Istanbul's ancient sites to Cappadocia's unique rock forms. Explore the Turquoise Coast, the Black Sea region, the far east and more with Lonely Planet's travel tips and recommendations.

Dive into this guide to discover the best hidden gems in Turkey. 1. Kemer, Antalya. Nestled along Turkey's Southern Mediterranean Coast, Kemer is more than just a resort town. Imagine lush pine forests meeting the azure sea, creating a perfect backdrop for adventurers and relaxation seekers alike.

3. Oludeniz. Dijise/Shutterstock. Oludeniz, meaning "dead sea," is a bustling beach village known as the Blue Lagoon in Southwestern Turkey. Featuring wide, sandy shores in dazzling white and blue shades, this village overlooks Belcekız Beach and features great waterfront recreation and dining options.

Below is a breakdown of the number of days we'd recommend for some of the top places to visit in Turkey. The lower number of days will be for just seeing the highlights, while the higher number will allow you to spend more time really enjoying each place. Istanbul: 4-6 days. Cappadocia: 3-5 days. Pamukkale: 2-3 days.

7. Fred Cherrygarden. 7. Max Cortesi. 6. Anya von Bremzen. 5. Join the Ranks! Add an unusual place to Turkey.

Experience the intersection of history and natural beauty in Çannakale. 11. Ancient City Of Ephesus. Located near the present-day town of Selçuk on Turkey's southeast coast, Ephesus is one of the world's most magnificent ancient ruins and is one of the top places to go in Turkey for ruins.

19. Mount Nemrut: A lesser-known archaeological site. Well-known among Turkish people but still relatively obscure on the world stage, Mount Nemrut is a true hidden gem. Located in south-eastern Turkey within Mount Nemrut National Park, this 2,100-metre-tall peak is one of the highest in the country.

22. Koprulu National Park, Manavgat. Located in the Antalya region, Koprulu National Park is a huge canyon with welcoming, cool temperatures during the hottest summer months. It's one of the best places to go in Turkey for walking, fauna and flora, wildlife spotting, and generally being at one with Mother Nature.

1. Hagia Sophia Mosque. 45,030. Historic Sites. This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century. See full details. See ways to experience (805) 2023. 2.

5. Pamukkale Pamukkale. Highlights: Hike up the famed white terraces, swim in the antique pool, then take in the views from the top tier of the theater's cavea. One of Turkey's most famous natural wonders, the pure white travertine terraces of Pamukkale ("Cotton Castle" in English) cascade down the slope looking like an out-of-place snowfield amid the green landscape.

20. Visit an Anitkabir Mausoleum in Ankara. While there are many notable mausoleums worldwide, the uniqueness of Anıtkabir lies in its specific historical context and its association with a pivotal figure in Turkish history. This is why coming here is one of the unique and less-known things to do in Turkiye.

2. Hot-Air Ballooning over Cappadocia. Balloons in Cappadocia. Highlight: Panoramic vistas over one of Turkey's most astonishing landscapes. One of Turkey's top things to do, a hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia provides astonishing panoramic vistas of this region's fantastical rock formations.

4 - CAPPADOCIA. Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Turkey. As the rays of the sun push back the night, the towering rock faces of Cappadocia glow with an incandescent splendor. Cut by years of wind and water, half-domed white rocks cling to valley tops.

Here's a look at the best places to visit in Turkey: 10. Ankara. Turkey's capital city, Ankara, is a sprawling, modern city home to government buildings, commercial businesses, universities and foreign embassies. Located right in the center of the country and the Anatolia region, Ankara is an important transportation hub, linking nationals ...

Hike the Lycian Way, a 540 km hike along footpath in Turkey around part of the coast of ancient Lycia. Go and dive at Kas, one of Turkey's top dive sites. The area has caves, reefs, wrecks and nice marine life. Explore the remote Taurus Mountain range located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Day 1 - Istanbul. Istanbul is a spectacular city and one with international prestige among tourists, so you'll want to spend at least 2 days in Istanbul while you're in Turkey to be able to see the main highlights and soak in the chaos of city life in one of the world's largest metropolises. The most famous attractions are located on ...

Turkey Itinerary Map. Below you can find a map of the ultimate Turkey itinerary for 14 days with all the stops included. There are more than 14 stops, but you can do some of them in 1 day. Places to see in Turkey: Istanbul. Amasra, Safranbulo. Uzungol. Sumela Monastery. Mount Nemrut.

Seraphim cave hotel is a historic mansion set over an acre of fairy chimneys. BellaTurca Travel offers a two-day all inclusive Cappadocia tour from Istanbul with an overnight stay in a cave hotel ...

There are, however, also many hidden gems in Turkey to visit, allowing you to experience an undiscovered Türkiye that most visitors don't get to see. Most tourists flock to the most popular places, such as Antalya, Izmir, Bodrum, Marmaris, Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Pamukkale (those places are 100% worth a visit), but that means that some of ...

Cappadocia. Certainly one of Turkey's most well-known destinations, the image of hot air balloons gliding over the magical landscape of Cappadocia 's fairy chimneys has become an icon. Underground cities, cave churches with beautiful frescoes and the earthenware potters of Avanos are all world-famous.

In comparison, Stonehenge, everyone's must-see megalithic structure from 3000-2500 BCE, seems positively juvenile. Age aside, the discovery of this place of worship in 1994 turned archaeology on ...

Location: It's a port city on the Mediterranean coastline (Turquoise Coast) in southwestern Turkey. 10. Dilek Peninsula-Buyuk Menderes Delta National Park. Dilek Penninsular-Buryuk Menderes Delta National Park was established in 1966 among the older Turkish National Parks, and I think this place is just sublime!

What to see in Turkey: 5 cities not to be missed. It is no secret that Turkey is rather expansive, so to visit different cities and travel great distances it is best to rent a car. Due to its large size, when visiting Turkey, the first thing to do is select the best destinations to visit, since it takes a long time to explore the whole country.