Turkey is an incredible destination full of exciting experiences and sights to see and do – from paragliding over Oludeniz’s famed Turquoise Coast, to visiting ancient Roman ruins at Ephesus; Turkey offers something for everyone to see and do!
Many visitors opt for tours as a convenient and time-saving means of exploring a destination, providing a guide who can explain everything to them.
Istanbul
Istanbul is an exquisite metropolis filled with bridges, mosques, palaces and markets that spans two continents. Home to current Eurasian cultures while bearing witness to former empires’ architectural influences – it stands as an amazing testament to globalisation and connectivity.
Traveling on foot is the ideal way to experience Turkish culture and meet locals. This book provides a wealth of knowledge, tips, and tricks for visiting Turkey’s largest city – covering top attractions, hidden gems, personal anecdotes, and everything in between to help you travel like a native. Check it out Private Tour Guide In Istanbul
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are ideal times for visits, with crowds being less dense, temperatures mild yet not hot or humid and lines to mosques being shorter. To maximize sunbathing time and enjoy citywide tulip festivals in parks and gardens as well as brightly-hued parks and gardens on either European side (Sultahmet or Beyoglu).
Cappadocia
Cappadocia, one of Turkey’s top travel destinations, provides visitors with an extraordinary opportunity to see hidden rock churches and explore otherworldly landscapes. Cappadocia should definitely make every traveller’s bucket list!
Many don’t realize that Cappadocia is not actually one city but an entire region in central Anatolia. Situated four hours southeast of Ankara and nearly as far from the Mediterranean coast, its villages include Goreme, Urgup, Uchisar, Ortahisar Belediyesi and Cavusin.
Bus travel in Turkey is convenient and very cost-effective; regular services run between Nevsehir and Kayseri and Goreme, Avanos, Zelve, and Uchisar. Alternatively, renting a car gives you more freedom in exploring this area at your own pace.
Cappadocia offers visitors a breathtaking hot air balloon ride experience! Setting off at dawn alongside hundreds of other tourists, you’ll soar over surreal landscapes while admiring breathtaking sights of fairy chimneys and rock formations. Booking early is essential; don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Antalya
Dependent upon when and where you visit, certain attractions may be closed or have limited hours (e.g. mosques are typically closed on Fridays while Hagia Sophia only opens Mondays), so always consult their respective official websites and take note of any religious or public holidays which might impact your trip itinerary.
Visit the Archaeological Museum for an in-depth glimpse of Turkey’s historical wealth, featuring 14 indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces that showcase centuries-old relics from across its regions, from prehistoric artefacts to statues depicting Greek deities and goddesses.
Booking a guided tour to visit Ephesus can be especially useful during high season travel; its vast complex is best experienced before all the day trippers arrive and start crowding its entranceways.
Pamukkale
Cappadocia’s breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site can best be experienced on a guided tour, particularly early in the morning when temperatures begin to increase. Ascending fairy chimneys will allow you to take photos of volcanic spires and unique rock-formed architecture found throughout Cappadocia from their highest points.
Pamukkale can easily be added to your Turkey itinerary. Transportation options range from busing, driving and flying; with flights being the quickest and least time consuming. A flight will save both time and money when travelling between Istanbul and Pamukkale; however it’s likely necessary to stay overnight somewhere along the journey.
Pamukkale can be reached from Istanbul by flying directly between Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) and Denizli’s Cardak Airport (DLN), or driving the 600 km road trip on your own if you feel adventurous enough. In either case, make sure that tickets are booked ahead for high season so as to ensure availability – and don’t forget platform 76 at Denizli Bus Station; catch one or minibuses from there to reach platform 76 for platform 76 buses/minibuses to Denizli bus station for departure if preferred! Alternatively opt for a Pamukkale tour for hassle-free driving!
Ephesus
Ephesus is an often-overlooked UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, this ancient city stands as one of the grandest in antiquity – serving as an epicenter for education and culture during its peak ages and still making waves today.
Ephesus should be on everyone’s itinerary when visiting Turkey, with history lurking around every corner and delicious Turkish cuisine to discover. Enjoy its vibrant culture while tasting some of the country’s top food and seeing some of its most important ancient sites!
Selcuk, which lies only one mile from Ephesus ruins, is the ideal way to reach Ephesus and offers easy transit connections with surrounding cities and towns.
No matter whether you travel solo or with a small group tour, beginning your day in Cappadocia by taking an unforgettable hot air balloon ride is a must-do activity that brings visitors from across the world.