Turkey shares a rich history due to its connection with three separate historical cultures; the Ottoman, Eastern Roman, and ancient Greece. As a result, it’s now a country filled with countless travel spots, historic architecture, delectable food, and hospitable people to make your time there a golden memory.
Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Turkey: iLinkTurkey’s Helpful Guide
Turkey is one of the best places to visit as a tourist, with tons of places you can visit and much more to do. Apart from only having famed history and historical places, it’s home to stunning natural destinations, unique landscapes and exciting activities to do in its cities. Here are the Top 10 Best Places to Visit in Turkey as a first-time tourist:
1. Istanbul
Istanbul, originally Constantinople, is Turkey’s economic center, with countless hotels, picturesque sites, and traditional food spots. No.1 in our list of the best places to visit in Turkey, when visiting Istanbul, tourists should not miss the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Dolmabahce Palace, two major attractions with a long history.
One of the most recognizable mosques in Istanbul is also known as the “Blue Mosque” because of the extensive amount of blue tiles inlaid into its walls. The Dolmabahce Palace, which is situated on the charming Bosphorus, is renowned for its remarkable construction and magnificent interior decoration.
Check Out: 3 Days Istanbul Tour Package
2. Cappadocia
Cappadocia is located in the center of Turkey. Famous for its distinctive porphyry layers, it’s a place tourists never want to miss. Due to several volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, a vast volume of magma was weathered after cooling and calcification for millions of years, generating fairy chimneys on the surface environment, that are now famous as the Cappadocia Fairy Chimneys. This created a jagged terrain on the landscape and makes it a uniquely mesmerizing spot to visit aside from one of the best places to visit in Turkey.
Depending on their plans, tourists can choose to trek, ride a mountain bike, or fly in a hot air balloon when visiting this location. The most famous activity to do here is riding a hot air balloon, which lets tourists admire the unique landscape created by the uneven terrain and stones of all shapes from a great height.
Check Out: Cappadocia Package (3 Nights)
3. Konya
One of Turkey’s oldest cities, Konya is situated in the west of the country and is infamous for being a place enriched with an old history. It once served as a military hub for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. This city is home to several priceless cultural artifacts and monuments. The Mevlana Museum and the Aladdin Mosque are two of the must-see sites when visiting this city.
In the heart of Konya, atop Mount Aladdin, stands the original Aladdin Mosque, which is known for its beautiful marble pillars left behind from the Roman era. This mosque also has the Antalya National Museum, which is home to several valuable artifacts from different cultures. Konya is among the best places to visit in Turkey for those who want to experience centuries-old culture and historic monuments.
4. Antalya
Antalya is the largest city on Turkey’s southern coast. It served as a vital port in the eastern Mediterranean in the second century BC during the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire, and it continues to be one of the most important ports in the country today.
Every year, a large number of travelers from all over the world come here to enjoy the city’s warm weather, stunning natural landscape, and magnificent beaches. With the breathtaking panorama of “Duden,” the lovely lake of Burdur, and the amazing seaside scenery along the miles-long coastline, Antalya is a one-of-a-kind city which makes it one of the best places to visit in Turkey.
Check Out: 3 Days Antalya Tour Package
5. Izmir
Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, is situated on the Aegean Sea. It is also a well-known historical and cultural city, a popular tourist destination, and an ancient fortress. This is one of the unique cities in Turkey that caters to both seasoned history-crazy tourists and first-time visitors.
Numerous historical sites can be found in this old city, including the remnants of the ancient Greek city of Efis, the Temple of Atmethemé and the Temple of Hadrian, to name a few. Izmir is also close to the alluring Aegean Sea, which makes it a cherished spot for tourists looking to enjoy the exceptional coastal beauty of this city.
6. Kayseri
Kayseri is located in the center of Turkey and is home to several Roman and Seljuk monuments, such as the Castle of Kayseri and the ancient city of Talas. The Kayseri Castle is surrounded by lively streets, always bustling with merchants, buyers, and tourists alike. Another best place to visit in Turkey on a tour, visitors can tour the castle while also getting a glimpse into the fascinating daily life of the locals.
This castle is surrounded by other historic sites and mosques and is constructed from natural volcanic stones. Kayseri Museum, located not far from the castle, is a great place to learn about the history of Kayseri. It exhibits not only a large number of cultural relics found in local archaeology but also several valuable historical materials and cuneiform stones from ancient imperial times, which are highly revered by both tourists and locals.
7. Pamukkale
No.7 on our list of the best places to visit in Turkey, the city of Pamukkale is a mineral-rich hot spring in Turkey’s western foothills near Denizli. The name of this city means “cotton castle” in Turkish, which relates to the spring’s unique blue and white landscape that’s step-shaped and appears to be milky white at first glance. This distinctive white and blue step-like landform in the Pamukkale travertine terraces, is developed after rainwater erosion and time precipitation as lime is the primary natural component of its geology.
The pure pool water reflects the stalactites and fluffy white ladder walls, which adds to the splendor and uniqueness of the hot springs. This hot spring has always been attached to the centuries-old myth of being the miracle water that cures illnesses, which made it a prized spot among the royal Ottoman family.
8. Ephesus
Ephesus was once one of the most prominent cities in Greek history. The ruins of this ancient city, which was once a thriving trading center, have now been merged into the Turkish town of Selcuk. It is the greatest ancient Greek-Roman city in the world and the best-preserved ancient city on the eastern Mediterranean Sea coast.
In the almost-discovered Ephesus ancient ruins, the buildings discovered here indicate the old prosperity of this city, and the artistic masterpieces left behind are long-standing proof of the brilliant civilisation of the ancient Roman Empire.
Check Out: 3 Days Ephesus and Pamukkale Package
9. Bodrum
Bodrum is situated near the southernmost point of Turkey’s famed Aegean Sea and is home to many historic sights, including the famous Bodrum Castle, the renowned Mosolas Mausoleum, and a one-of-a-kind underwater archaeological museum.
The city is always swarmed with tourists because of the Castle of St Peter, which dates to the 15th century and was constructed by knights from France, England, Italy and Germany. Bodrum is known for its sandy beaches, deep blue sea, and the sunlight white homes that make it one of the best places to visit in Turkey.
10. Canakkale
The city of Canakkale is situated in western Turkey. It is another best place to visit in Turkey and the city has been a historical military hub because of its distinctive geographic setting and is also one of the nearest cities to the ruins of Troy.
Travellers from all over the world visit Canakkale to see the ruins of the legendary Trojan War and the city, which lies 40 kilometres south of Canakkale. Since this city holds a cultural and historical value for the Trojan culture, it was added to UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
Check Out: 3 Days Gallipoli and Troy Tour Package
Know the Best Places to Visit in Turkey With iLinkTurkey’s Guide
“Too little time, yet so much more to see”, is a common sentiment felt by most tourists when they visit Turkey for the first time. Unless you’re here for an extended holiday, you can never run out of places to visit, food to eat, natural monuments to discover, and people to meet. Be sure to research Turkey in-depth and create a detailed travel itinerary before visiting.
So are you ready to embark on a wonderful journey to the Gateway to Ancient Wonders otherwise known as Turkey, where you’ll experience wonderful cultures, and rich culinary delicacies, all with pre-booked accommodations, and guided tours? iLinkTurkey offers a diverse range of guided tour packages for destinations in Turkey. Head over to our packages and book one of our featured Turkey packages now.
