Turkey is a popular country for many things, and on that list is its tourist destination. Tourists visit Turkey to explore beautiful landscapes, heritage sites, beaches, try Turkish cuisines, visit marvelous mosques, trip to one of the seven wonders in the world, and do several other things.
Given all these things you can do in Turkey, it can be confusing to choose which things to do for a memorable trip. That is where we come in to assist you in planning the best things you can add to your itinerary as you plan your trip to Turkey.
In planning the trip, you need to remember that if you are traveling from Dubai, you need to apply for a Turkey visa from Dubai. With the visa, you will be allowed to enter the country and tour any part you want.
You can make the most of your Turkey tour when you add these things to your itinerary. These are the best things to do in Turkey because you will get to travel to different parts of the country and also each gives a unique experience.
Ephesus Greek ancient city is one of the historical sites dating to 10th century BC that attracts a lot of tourists in Turkey. The main highlight when you visit this site is to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis. The other popular tourist attraction is the Library of Celsus.
A trip to explore the ruins of this once iconic city is one of the best things to do in Turkey. The ruins have been there for years, and they tell a story of a once famous city and how it fell down—the fall of empires. You will get a glimpse of Ephesus's past.
Once a time this iconic building was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica and an imperial mosque. It is one of the historical buildings that you can visit in Turkey. Today it is a museum and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
There are a number of features that make this building stand out. One is the massive dome, and at the time the building was referred to as a watershed moment in architecture. Other elements that make this building beautiful and unique are the Saint John Chrysostom mosaic, Enrico Dandolo's tomb, 19th-century market, and Deesis mosaic.
Troy Archaeological Site is one of the places to visit in Turkey and learn about this country's past. The sight at this site is ruins, which fill visitors’s eyes with jumbles of debris and concrete. Nevertheless, this site has a political importance that started in another era.
During your trip to this archeological site, which dates back 4000 years, the guide will share its historical legends. What is evidence this site was once a city because there are ruins of alters, temples, and buildings from a bygone era?
There are different stories written by various authors about this site and how it was a breeding ground for gallant heroes. So, a trip to this beautiful site is worth it and should add to the best things to do in Turkey.
It is rare to come across thermal pools, and from the sight they are spectacular. Hence, swimming and relaxing at Pamukkale Thermal Pools is one of the things to do in Turkey.
You may wonder what makes these thermal pools in Turkey unique. First, the pools site on a white calcareous landscape formed by the thermal springs. This spring is loaded with limestone, which leads to the calcium deposits, and these deposits take different shapes of potholes, stalactites, and cataracts.
The formation of different layers over the expansive white landscape with turquoise springs and the blue sky reflection result in a mesmerizing sight. The water filled in these pools is therapeutic and believed to have healing powers for various diseases such as skin ailments, eye problems, rheumatism, and asthma, among many others.
Goreme National Park is among the places to visit in Turkey and enjoy views of vivid landscapes. The best way to explore this park is by taking a walk. As you cut across the park, you will come across a beautiful sedimentary rock formation. You should have a camera to take pictures of these rocks for memories.
The other way of exploring this park is taking a balloon ride, especially in the morning to catch the sunrise. From the top, you will catch stunning valley and landscape views.
Dating back to the 7th century, Ankara Castle is the last remaining fortification and was built during the medieval era in Turkey. This castle has historical significance; many empires came and left it, like Roman, Byzantine, Crusaders, Ottoman, Seljuq Turks, and others.
There are houses on the ground that date back to the golden era, and for the history buffs, this makes it a heaven on earth. These houses are built in different architectural designs dating from different periods. If you are architecture enthusiastic, you will be amazed by these building designs.
If you are visiting Turkey with your kids, this is one of the best places to visit. This aquarium is regarded as one of the of the largest underwater worlds and home to the third-largest tunnel aquarium in Europe. You can spend a day as a family exploring this aquarium, which is home to exotic sea creatures from different parts of the world.
There are also exhibits at this aquarium, like Jungle Corner, Sea Shell Museum, and Adrenaline World. Depending on which exhibit you choose to visit, you will get a chance to see up-close various marine life, including clownfish, harks, koi fish, Napoleon fish, and several others.
The train network in Turkey connects to major parts of the country, and you can take a ride to various attraction sites. The ride is scenic and enjoyable. The train ride is affordable and comfortable even if you are traveling long distances.
There are a number of routes you can take to see different parts of Turkey. One of those routes is the Roses Express, and the route runs from Izmir to Isparta. It is the best route to take for the classical history lovers. During the train ride, you will make stops and get a chance to visit Hierapolis, the ruins of Ephesus and Sagalassos.
You can also take a ride through the famous route, which is featured in the 2012 Bond film Skyfall, Taurus Express. The ride runs between Konya and Adana. The train will pass through multiple tunnels, steep forested slopes, Varda Viaduct, and deep gorges.
The other route that you should consider taking for scenic stops is the Pamukkale Express. The train passes through the rural heartland of northwest Anatolia. Travelers get a chance to see the Hierapolis ruins and travertine terraces of Pamukkale.
If you are visiting Turkey during the winter season, the best train ride to take is Eastern Express. You will get to enjoy the stunning views of the snow coating the peaks and high plateaus of northeast Anatolia. The train runs between Ankara and Kars.
Istanbul is one of the cities that you cannot miss to include in a visit to Turkey. There are many places you can visit in this city and several things to do. One thing you can do away from the city chaos is take a ferry ride to explore the islands. You can take a day trip to these islands rich in Jewish, Armenian, and Greek heritage.
One of the islands that you should explore is Büyükada Island. The best way to explore the island is by cycling. You can rent a bike and cycle up to Greek Orthodox Aya Yorgi Church; along the way, you can stop at the former Prinkipo Greek Orphanage and also admire historic wooden mansions.
The other island to explore is Heybeliada. Its name is inspired by the prominent double-peaked hill. Some of the activities you can do on this island are hiking up Hope Hill to the grandiose Theological School of Halki.
Burgazada Island is the other one that you should explore. The secluded beaches and excellent restaurants found on this island make it famous. You can plan your itinerary to explore this island by in the morning enjoying specialty coffee at Four Letter Word café.
From there, take a leisurely walk along the Madam Martha Bay. Lunch hour: enjoy seafood dishes at Kalpazankaya Restaurant, and you can stay there up to the evening hours to catch the best sunset view in Istanbul.
If you have limited time, you can explore the smallest island, Kınalıada. You can cover exploring this island in 1 hour. Jash Kınalıada restaurant is one of the famous places on this island, and you can enjoy Armenian mezze by the sea.
If you are an experienced surfer and want to conquer the Black Sea waves, you can take a trip to Ordu in a small town on the on the Perşembe northern coast. The locals here have been surfing at this year, and this has been passed on for generations.
Deniz Toprak, whose father is from Perşembe, started the trend after returning from managing a surf camp in Sri Lanka. He created Mellow Turkey, a surfing school and hostel that teaches people how to surf and now attracts surfers from all over the world.
The best months to surf without a wetsuit are June through September. Autumn brings a cool sea and larger waves as the lush terrain transforms into a stunning backdrop of golden foliage.
Antalya is the 5th most populous city in Turkey and is known because of the beaches, which feature golden sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters. You can also take a trip to explore the city past at the southern city’s Kaleiçi neighborhood.
A tour at this city is both adventurous as you will get to explore different historical sites, including the triumphal arch of Hadrian’s Gate, which commemorates Emperor Hadrian’s 130 CE visit; Panhagia Church, built in the 19th century; Sefa Hamamı bathhouse dating back to the 13th century; and the Sultan Alaaddin Camii mosque.
The tour is also relaxing, where you can explore the beaches. Yu can soak in the sun, sunbathe, or try different water sports activities. There are also restaurants where you can enjoy delicious cuisine.
Although not famous, Turkey is one of the countries in Europe where they have vineyards to produce wines. These vineyards were started many years ago and still to date there are winemaking sites at the farms. You can take a trip to see these sites.
If you are in Istanbul, you can take a trip to the closest wine region found along the Thrace Vineyard Route (Trakya Bağ Rotası). There are 12 producers from the Eastern Thrace region near the Greek border.
The other place to visit is Bozcaada Island, located off the coast of Gallipoli in northwest Turkey. The winemaking on this island dates back to the 5th century BCE. On the island, there are several small-scale vineyards. During your trip here, you will have an opportunity to taste wines produced using grape varietals like Karalahna, which produce tannic red wines.
A little further south and to the west of Izmir, Urla has emerged as a wine destination in the last ten years. There are eight boutique producers along the Urla Vineyard Route (Urla Bağ Yolu).
Situated in Istanbul city center, Dolmabahce Palace is an historical building. When looking for the best things to do in Istanbul, a day tour to this palace is a good idea. The palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.
What makes this palace outstanding is the architecture. The design is eye-catching and is a combination of Baroque, Ottoman, and Neoclassical eras. It is a huge palace; there are 285 rooms and 46 halls. When you enter this palace, you will not fail to notice the stunning interiors. The ceiling is gold-adorned, and the tiles on the floor are Iznik.
Besides bringing memories during your trip in Turkey, you buy something that will remind you what a fantastic trip you had. You can visit the Grand Bazaar or Kapali Carsi of Istanbul to buy something.
At this marketplace, which is lively always, you can buy a number of items such as spices, antique pieces, jewelry, antiquities, crafted goods, and carpets. You will find one-of-a-kind items at this marketplace, no matter your preference. You should choose something that will always bring back the memories you created during your trip to Turkey.
Blue Mosque, also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is a famous mosque in Turkey. What make it popular are the fact it is huge and the bluish interiors. Tourists visit the mosque to admire its architecture and design others to pray.
This mosque was built during the Ottoman era by a sultan. It is an iconic landmark in Hagia Sophia. Among the features in this mosque are six minarets and various balconies and courtyards, both outer and inner. The inner courtyard is paved with marble and encircled by a modest domed porch.
During the ancient times in Turkey, the Lycian Rock Tombs were carved into the mountains. You can take a trip to explore these tombs which were built with an aim of storage and preservation dead bodies high above in the sky.
These tombs were constructed by Lycians and purpose of getting the dead bodies here was in believe magical winged creatures will come and carry them to the afterlife. The gate to the tombs resemble to the entrance to the temples. The rugged rocks and wooden panels utilized to build this structure are surely remarkable.
This art museum was built in 2009 and is one of the places you can visit in Turkey. The building of this museum was influenced by Yuksel Erimtan after discovering extensive collection of artefacts. He is a civil engineer and while working in different construction sites he came across several artifacts.
The collections showcased at this museum include antiquated jewelry, coins, glasses, ceramics, seal stones, and several other artifacts that have been discovered in Turkey's Anatolia region.
Sailing through the Black sea is a thrilling voyage. Though it is among the underrated things to do in Turkey, you will get to steep in Turkey rich history.
As you cruise or sail will come across stunning landscapes ranging from spectacular coastal towns such as Trabzon and Rize, lush mountains and serene coastlines.
You can book a cruise in the Black Sea tour provided by local tour providers. One of the cruise tours to consider is from the North Sea to the Black Sea. The tour starts from Istanbul to Amsterdam and will cover several historic sites in Europe.
If you are planning for a vacation in Turkey, Kabak Beach is one the places to visit and relax on the beach. It is located on the Mediterranean coast and you can take a day trip to this beach.
This beach is surrounded by lush mountains and the natural beauty. You can relax in rustic bungalows. Besides this you can enjoy your time at the beach swimming in the crystal-clear waters, soak in the sun golden sands and sunbathe in the beach shore.
Turkey cuisines are popular in the world because they are delicious prepared using different species. In the morning when you enter a restaurant in Turkey they usually serve breakfast (kahvaltı) consisting of bread with butter, cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, jam, honey, tea, or coffee.
You can also buy breakfast on the street or at the bakeries which is common for the workers and they are usually served poça, pastries stuffed with cheese, meat, or potatoes
Snack vendors sell midye dolma (stuffed mussels) and lahmacun, which are little "pizzas" with toppings made of meat, in seaside cities. Pizza, or pide, is a more substantial option. It consists of flatbread topped with different ingredients.
1. What are the top things to do in Turkey Istanbul?
Among the top things to do in Turkey Istanbul are exploring historical sites, beaches, tourists attraction in major cities like Istanbul and taking walk in the beautiful streets in Turkey.
2. What are the best attractions to visit in Istanbul?
The best attractions to visit in Istanbul include Blue Mosque, Ruins of Ephesus, Aqua Vega Aquarium, Ankara castle, Istanbul Archeology Museum, and other mentioned above.
3. Is Turkey budget-friendly to visit?
If you are budget conscious traveler you should plan your itinerary accordingly. You should book a Turkey tour which suits your budget.
