Turkey is located in Asia and Europe, with most of its territory in West Asia and a smaller region in southern Europe, where the capital state is Ankara. Turkey shares borders with Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and the Black Sea to the east and north, and it is connected to the Mediterranean Sea in the south and Bulgaria in the west. Its official language is Turkish, a secular state with a Muslim majority.
Many tourists from different countries visit Turkey year-round, most of whom are first-time travelers. Turkey has many historical sites, beaches, and things to do. If you are traveling for the first time, this guide will help you learn the top 10 places you must visit and some important things to keep in mind.
The largest state in Turkey, Istanbul, is one of the major attractions in the country where that travelers like to visit the most. Do you know Istanbul is also known by the name Constantinople, and it's the economic center of Turkey? Numerous mosques and historical sites are present, which are architectural marvels. On the one hand, you have the BLUE MOSQUE, aka the Sultan Ahmed mosque, which is the only mosque with six minarets. On the other hand, you have Dolmabachche Palace, which is popular for its exquisite structure and interior design.
In case you are looking to explore the central region of Turkey, Cappadocia is a wonderful place. Here, you will find unique porphyry layers, one of Turkey's most visually impacting places. These layers are made by the eruption of Volcanoes when magma cools down and becomes hard. Travelers love to explore the whole site from the sky, and hot air balloon rides are the best activity. This fantasy land and the world's natural and cultural heritage sites are also listed.
In the western part of Turkey, you find Konya, one of the oldest cities with a history of thousands of years. The cities also acted as military cities during the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires and hold rich and precious cultural treasures nowadays. Konya also has the first Aladdin Mosque and Antalya National Museum, which screen historical relics. If you plan to explore Turkish culture more, add this place to your itinerary.
When visiting Turkey, you will not get the most out of your turkey trip if you have not visited this place. Antalya is travelers' most wanted place to witness warm climates, beautiful natural scenery, and amazing beaches. The largest city on the south coast has histories of ancient Rome and Ottoman. Duden is the beautiful and spectacular lake in Burdur, giving you an eye-catching seaside view of where you want to go.
Located in the western foothills of Denizli, this natural hot spring offers a landscape that will mesmerize you. You can make your Instagram reel or a short for YouTube and get thousands of likes. This place feels like you have stepped into a new world. The legend of this place is interesting, and most locals believe that spring water contains healing factors and was used in ancient times to cure diseases. Book resorts where you can relax and find peace.
When you visit the central part of Turkey, you should not miss exploring Kayseri, a city where many Roman and Seljuk relics are well preserved and speak the stories from the past. If you are traveling to this place, you can find several must-visit sites such as the Castle of Kayseri and the ancient city of Talas. Several mosques and historical attractions are also there, where stories are spoken, and you can learn them. Many artifacts can be seen in the Kayseri Museum, enshrining cultural relics and precious cuneiform stones left over that are worth watching. You can purchase souvenirs from the local markets.
When you look at the ancient pages, you will see that this place was used as an important city for trading, but now, you can find the ruins of that time. On the east coast, Ephesus is one of the largest preserved ancient Greek Roman cities. During the excavation of this place, many archeologists have found artistic treasures and evidence that prove that a glorious civilization existed during the Roman Empire.
It is known as the third largest city in Turkey and famous for holding historical evidence of culture, which is why many tourists from all over the world put this place on their itinerary. It has a military fortress, which is significant in Izmir's history. You will hear many tales about the Greek city of Efis, the Temple of Atmethemé, the Temple of Hadrian, and so on. Izmir is also loved by many couples who come on their honeymoon or spend quality time together on a vacation. They can enjoy excellent seaside scenery and more.
Let's take a turn to the southwest Aegean region; you will visit Bodrum, a city with many attractions such as Bodrum Castle, Mosolas Mausoleum, Underwater Archaeological Museum, and what's not. Have a walk through the vibrant city streets and click pictures of nature and wonders. A day in Bodrum is not enough for you to get the most from the city. If you are planning to visit Bordrum, plan for at least 2-3 days so that you can enjoy several things and dine out at some of the amazing places.
Canakkale is situated in the western region and was once a military center and one of the closest cities to the city of Troy. This city existed in ancient times. Near this place, you can find ruins of the Trojan War and proof of Trojan civilization, which is why it is also listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO. Explore this city and imagine how cruel history it has witnessed. During your trip, do not forget to try out local street foods.
Generally, the best time to explore is when the temperature is between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. Spring and autumn are the times when the temperature is pleasant and ideal for traveling in Turley. The best months to visit Turkey are April and September for the same reason. The crowd is moderate these days, so you don't get bothered by the rush and can easily spend quality time exploring to the fullest.
Yes, most of the parts of Turkey are safe for tourism. If you are traveling there, then kindly check your country's travel advisory to learn which areas are safe to travel to. Remember that even if you are traveling to safe places, you must practice basic traveling cautions to keep yourself safe.
Yes and No. If you travel from a visa-free country to Turkey, you don't require a visa, but a passport is required. For the rest of the countries, a visa is needed. You can check the list of Turkey VISA-Free countries on Turkey's Embassy website or check the travel requirements for traveling to Turkey on your country's embassy website.