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Best places to visit in Turkey

A huge country on the borders of Europe, Turkey is the door to the East; it is a fascinating country of ancient cultures. The centre of the Ottoman Empire, it was proclaimed a republic in 1923 and Atatürk, its first president, guided the country towards secularity and growth. In 2002, the moderate Islamic party Justice and Development Party (AK) obtained the majority vote in parliament and pursued the economic development of the country.

Travelling in Turkey presents no major risks. However, given the events on the Syrian border, you should make enquiries at the Foreign Office in London, especially if you wish to visit the Eastern Anatolia Region or the Southeastern Anatolia Region. These regions are home to very beautiful cities that have a wealth of cultural heritage, such as Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, and let's not forget Ishak Pasha Palace and Lake Van.

Above all, don't leave Turkey before exploring the wonders of Istanbul. Take the time to soak up the exuberant, warm atmosphere of the megalopolis. Discover Taksim Square—a popular venue for protests—and then visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Cami Mosque), and the Topkapi Palace. Go and have tea on the Galata Bridge and cross the Bosphorus on one of the many steamers to reach the eastern coast. From there, you can easily enjoy the beaches along the Black Sea on the country's northern coastline; they are very popular with the region's inhabitants.

Situated inland, the capital city of Ankara holds little interest for tourists if it is not on their way to Cappadocia, where you can find "fairy chimneys" or hoodoos and other cave churches in the Göreme National Park.

Still on the huge plateau, explore Konya, the country's most conservative city. Plan to arrive on Saturday to enjoy the Mevlevi Order's ceremony: the whirling dervishes. When you set off again, visit the underground towns and the very pretty Ihlara Valley with its cave churches at the back of a canyon.

Make the most of the mild climate by the Mediterranean Sea to walk along the Lycian coast and explore magnificent towns like Demre or Izmir. Visit Nemrut Dağı, where the last Hellenistic king ordered a temple built, or Ephesus, unless you prefer a less-frequented site like Pergamon. Don't forget the region's natural wonders either, especially the magnificent Pamukkale.

About 30 kilometers north-west of Antalya, Termessos is one of the best preserved ancient sites in Turkey.
Xanthos is a famous ancient city, just outside the contemporary town of Kinik, which is worth a visit during a trip to Turkey.
An uninhabited island, Kekova is also named after an entire region of small islands in Lycia.
Heavenly scenery between the sea and the mountains.
An adorable little seaside port, Fethiye is a nice destination to head for on the Mediterranean coast if you want to spend a little time taking things easy and relaxing.
A very touristy Greek city on the seaside.
This wierd, geological formation looks like a mound of snow, but is in fact the result of sedimentary deposits interspersed with sparkling thermal pools.
An ancient Greek and, subsquently, Roman city, Aphrodisias is a remarkable, historical site.
One of the  most strange and fantastic regions in Turkey, Cappadocia, with its rock stacks, craters and other extraordinary geological features, has some wonderful geological marvels to offer.
The symbol of a country which recalls the riches of its history and the bitterness of its defeats.
Şanliurfa, or Urfa, is a city in south-east Anatolia located 40km from the Syrian border. Şanliurfa is known as the city of prophets and museums.
With family, as a couple, among friends or on your own, Mardin is a must-see for history and architecture enthusiasts.
The Çat Valley is one of the least visited in Cappadocia. Though largely arboricultural and agricultural, it nevertheless contains some beautiful badlands and fairy chimneys. It is also the site of some of the region's most beautiful cave dovecotes.
A small seaside village on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, Selimiye still preserves the charms of a small Turkish port even if it is becoming less and less of a secret.
A must if you are going to Bodrum, Datça is a peninsula in the Mugla province to the south of Turkey. It's close to the big touristy towns and borders the Mediterranean Sea.
Yedigöller is a National Park north of Bolu, in the Black Sea region, which extends over 1,600 hectares. Yedigöller means seven lakes. Each lake has its own source of water.
A small Anatolian town located in Çorum Province, Alaca has little of interest to offer the traveller.
In the center of Anatolia, balanced between tradition and modernity, Konya is an interesting town.
An aquatic jewel in a mountain setting.
A small town in Cappadocia, Avanos generates much of its revenue from its traditional potteries.
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