Explore Turkey

Turkey, known officially as the Republic of Turkey is a Eurasian country, located mostly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and on East Thrace in Southeastern Europe. Turkey is one of the seven independent Turkic states. Turkeys location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a country of significant geostrategic importance. In addition to its strategic location, Turkeys growing economy and diplomatic initiatives have led to its recognition as a regional power

Quick Facts

  • Capital: Ankara
  • Language: Turkish
  • Currency: Turkish Lira

Filter By

Istanbul

Main attractions

  • Suleymaniye Mosque   -  The largest mosque in Istanbul
  • Grand Bazaar 
  • Blue Mosque
  • Bosphorus Bridge  - spans the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European and Asian sides of Istanbul
  • Egyptian Spice Market
  • Topkapi Palace
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Basilica Cistern
  • Dolmabahce Palace
  • New Mosque
  • Golden Horn   -  The Golden Horn separates European Istanbul’s two major districts of Beyoglu, on the north bank, and Sultanahmet to the south
  • Hippodrome
  • Sultanahmet District
  • Rumeli Fortress
  • Camlica Hill
  • Taksim Square
  • Church of St Saviour in Chora
  • Kariye Museum (Chora Church)

Recommended excursions

  • Princes’ Island tour from Istanbul: Buyukada
  • Full-day Wine tour from Istanbul  - Discover the wines of Turkey’s Kirklareli region on this full-day wine tour from Istanbul! 
  • Small-group tour: Bursa day trip from Istanbul - Visit the birthplace of modern Turkish culture and the first capital of the Ottoman State
  • 2-day trip to Gallipoli and Troy  - to see one of the most historical places in Turkey; ANZAC Battlefields and Troya
  • Sapanca Masukiye day tour from Istanbul – to visit international zoo, rive up Kartepe (Snowhill) mountain, a popular picnic area in summer and ski resort in winter, enjoy lunch under a canopy of trees

Cappadoccia:

Main attractions

  • Fairy Chimneys – to see the landscape of unique rock formations and valleys of this area of Turkey
  • Rose Valley  -  famous for its otherworldly rock formations and world-class hiking opportunities
  • Goreme Open Air Museum - One of Cappadocia’s most famous sites is the Göreme Open Air Museum, a ring shaped collection of churches cut into the soft volcanic cliffs
  • Pigeon Valley  - is one of Turkey’s most beautiful landscapes

Recommended excursions

  • Kaymakli Underground City  -  Kaymakli is a city dug deep into the soft volcanic rock in the Cappadocia region. There are around 100 underground cities in the area although only a few are open to the public. Kaymakli is the largest of them. It is estimated that around 3,500 people once lived here
  •  Derinkuyu Underground City -  Of the 100 underground cities in Cappadocia, Derinkuyu is the deepest at 280 ft (85m) below the surface
  • Cavusin  -  famous for three things: beautiful churches, abandoned rock houses, and great hiking opportunities
  • Pasabag (Monk's Valley) - the area of Pasabag in Cappadocia is famous for its perfect fairy chimneys, sculpted from ancient lava, ash, and basalt
  • Urgup   -   for its hotels built into the soft volcanic ash rock tufa
     

Bodrum:

Main attractions

  • Bodrum Marina
  • Bodrum Amphitheater
  • Bodrum Peninsula
  • Bodrum Windmills
  • Castle of St Peter
  • Dedeman Aquapark   -   one of the country’s biggest amusement parks
  • Museum of Underwater Archaeology
  • Turkish Baths Experience in Bodrum

Recommended excursions

  • Gümüslük   -    A small fishing village with its scenic promenades and rocky coves, is a popular choice for a day trip from Bodrum.  Gümüslük is best known for its fresh seafood, secluded sandy beaches and the offshore Rabbit Island (Asar Adasi), which can be reached on foot from the mainland by wading through knee-deep sea waters
  • Ephesus day trip from Bodrum
  • Pamukkale and Hierapolis day trip from Bodrum
  • Rhodes Independent day trip from Bodrum by Hydrofoil Boat  - Get a taste of Greek history and culture with a full-day trip to the Greek island of Rhodes from Bodrum
  • Dalyan day trip from Bodrum   -  Including Dalyan River cruise, Iztuzu Beach, Mud Baths 
     

Kusadasi
Main attractions

  • Ephesus 
  • Kusadasi Caravanserai
  • Adaland Aquapark

Recommended excursions

  • Sardis  -  Pre-Roman ancient ruins
  • Bozdag Mountain Range  - is a photogenic stretch of hills providing a scenic backdrop en route to the ruins at Sardis
  • Fortress of Kusadasi  -  The Fortress of Kusadasi takes up the entire island floating off Kusadasi’s beach promenade. In fact, the name Kusadasi means ‘Pigeon Island,' the term give to the island in Ottoman times because of the migrating birds that roosted there

Discover more of Europe

 

Explore Turkey