Places to discover

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.

Olympos

A heavenly beach close to an ancient city in the woods.

Kayaköy

An abandoned village to the south of Fethiye, Kayaköy contains several thousand abandoned houses and stands as a reminder of the population exchange that once took place between Greece and Turkey.

Van

A city that has suffered an earthquake.

Doğubeyazıt

A frontier town on the eastern edge of Turkey, Dogubeyazit benefits from amazing views of Mount Ararat.

Ortahisar

An amazing little Cappadocian town, whose development has adapted itself to its bizarre geology, Ortahisar is a marvel that's not yet on the usual tourist radar.

Kusadasi

An old fishing village, Kuşadasi has become a very popular seaside resort with Turkish tourists and foreigners. It is located in the Aegean Sea and near to Ephesus.

Diyarbakır

The capital of the Turkish Kurds, Diyarbakir has a very special atmosphere, a feeling of elsewhere inside its old town walls.

Erzurum

Erzurum is an austere highland city, at 1757 m above sea level... Within this volcanic, lunar and bright landscape lies the largest city in north-eastern Turkey, which boasts superb remnants of the Seljuq period, a lovely town centre and a nearby ski resort.

Sumela

A superb historical building clinging to a steep mountainside and offering magnificent views

Trabzon

A port city on the Black Sea, Trabzon is a pleasant historical city with its own particular atmosphere.

Tokat Province

Tokat is a large city in the northern central Anatolia region. It boasts a preserved district of the Ottoman period and contains a host of historical monuments: a fortress, mosques, madrasas, konagi, Greek churches.

Sivas

Sivas is a metropolitan region of 312,000 inhabitants, built at an altitude of 1,200 m on the Central Anatolian plateau, on the banks of the Kizilirmak River. A modern city with many historical monuments and a very pleasant and commercial centre.

Ani

Ani is an unusual site. The ruins of the medieval capital of Armenia are today within the borders of Turkey, separated by an Armenian canyon which they dispute. On the site, eloquent ruins of churches, mosques and palaces.

Kars

Kars, capital of the Turkish Caucasus, is a disconcerting city. An old eastern city half in ruins, with an orthogonal centre, ruins of Armenian churches, mosques, fortress... Of dust and the nagging impression of a city on the outer limits!

Artvin

Artvin lies in the steep and arid Çoruh Valley at the heart of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in Turkey. The town extends along the slopes of a mountain and contains Ottoman houses, a palace, mosques and fountains; the mountains are also a prized destination for hikers.

Miletus

Once one of the richest and most powerful cities in ancient Greece, nowadays Miletus is an interesting archaeological site, but not an unmissable one.

Antakya

Antakya is situated in the province of Hatay, on the border of Syria. This is a city with a long and rich history; you will not believe your ears when you listen to all the things you are told about it!

Mont Bozdag

The 2,156 metre high Mount Bozdağ stands dominating the town of Bozdağ. A prized destination with Izmir's walkers and climbers, it is also a popular skiing destination in winter, despite the fact the season is often short. And to cap it all you get wonderful views out over the Ödemis Valley into the bargain as well.