Fodor's Essential Turkey
Whether you want to visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, cruise along the Turquoise Coast,...
In modern Turkey, the legacy of centuries of history coexists with progressive and contemporary culture. Its exciting capital, Istanbul, spans Europe and Asia: here, upscale eateries and swanky nightclubs are squeezed between Byzantine and Ottoman structures, with calls-to-prayer from city mosques sounding above the city. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts mix ancient Roman ruins with stunning beaches and resorts. Still, the real cultural lessons come from the Turkish people, always welcoming and eager to share their homeland's fascinating past and present.
Fodor's Essential Turkey
Whether you want to visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, cruise along the Turquoise Coast,...
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Top Destinations
The Central and Southern Aegean Coast
The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...
Istanbul
The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...
The Turquoise Coast
The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...
The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van
Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...
Cappadocia and Central Turkey
Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...
The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean
The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...
The Bodrum Peninsula
Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...
Izmir
At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...
Bodrum
On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...
Çesme
Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...
Antalya
Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...
Konya
Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...
Ankara
In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...
Kuşadası
Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...
Trabzon
Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...
Bursa
An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...
Van
Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...
Diyarbakir
As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...
Gaziantep
Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...
Selçuk
Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...
Antakya (Antioch)
Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...
Urfa (Sanliurfa)
This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...
Fethiye
This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...
Harran
A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...
Alanya
Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...
Mardin
With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...
Kars
The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...
Iznik
Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...
Kas
In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...
Göreme
Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...
Marmaris
This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...
Çanakkale
West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...
Ürgup
Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...
Göl-Türkbükü
The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...
Side
Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...
Olympos and Çirali
Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...
Ayvalik
Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...
Adana
Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...
Datça Town
If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...
Pergamum (Bergama)
The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...
Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat
The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...
Kayseri
...
Ölüdeniz
Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...
Safranbolu
...
Göcek
A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...
Sirince
Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...
Kalkan
Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...
Avanos
Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...
Behramkale (Assos)
The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...
Dalyan
Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...
Uçhisar
A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...
Midyat
Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...
Ayder
At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...
Yalikavak
This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...
Gümüşlük
Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...
Bitez
The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...
Mt. Nemrut and Around
Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...
Eski Datça and Reşadiye
Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...
Sumela/Mereyemana
The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manast?r? in Turkish) is a spectacular and unforgettable sight...
Turgutreis
Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...
Patara
Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...
Demre
Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...
Eceabat
Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...
Tarsus
The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...
Ephesus
Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...
Hasankeyf
Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...
Çamlihemsin
The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...
Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)
Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...
Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...
Kaya/Kayaköy
The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...
Kiz Kalesi
This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...
Finike and Arycanda
Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arycanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...
Knidos
Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...
Ortahisar
A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...
Silifke
Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...
Kemer
...
Soğanli Valleys
The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...
Troy (Truva)
Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...
Adrasan
A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...
Anamur
Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...
Tlos Ruins
A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...
Phaselis
Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...
Ihlara Valley
A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...
Aspendos
Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...
Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities
...
Kultepe
...
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli
The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...
Termessos
Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...
Perge
Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...
Niğde
The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...
Kabak
If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...
Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...
Kahta
...
Alara Han
The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...
Letoon
This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...
Kύrώehir
...
Dikili
...
Dara
...
Kumluca
...
Sinop
...
Istanbul
The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...
Izmir
At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...
Bodrum
On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...
Çesme
Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...
Antalya
Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...
Konya
Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...
Ankara
In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...
Kuşadası
Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...
Trabzon
Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...
Bursa
An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...
Diyarbakir
As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...
Gaziantep
Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...
Selçuk
Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...
Antakya (Antioch)
Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...
Urfa (Sanliurfa)
This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...
Harran
A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...
Fethiye
This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...
Alanya
Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...
Kars
The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...
Mardin
With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...
Iznik
Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...
Kas
In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...
Göreme
Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...
Pamukkale (Hierapolis)
Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...
Marmaris
This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...
Çanakkale
West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...
Ürgup
Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...
Olympos and Çirali
Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...
Side
Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...
Göl-Türkbükü
The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...
Adana
Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...
Ayvalik
Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...
Datça Town
If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...
Pergamum (Bergama)
The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...
Safranbolu
...
Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat
The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...
Kayseri
...
Ölüdeniz
Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...
Sirince
Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...
Göcek
A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...
Kalkan
Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...
Behramkale (Assos)
The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...
Avanos
Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...
Uçhisar
A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...
Dalyan
Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...
Midyat
Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...
Ayder
At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...
Yalikavak
This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...
Bitez
The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...
Gümüşlük
Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...
Eski Datça and Reşadiye
Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...
Sumela/Mereyemana
The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manast?r? in Turkish) is a spectacular and unforgettable sight...
Eceabat
Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...
Turgutreis
Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...
Patara
Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...
Demre
Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...
Çamlihemsin
The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...
Ephesus
Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...
Hasankeyf
Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...
Tarsus
The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...
Knidos
Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...
Finike and Arycanda
Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arycanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...
Kaya/Kayaköy
The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...
Kiz Kalesi
This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...
Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...
Anamur
Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...
Büyükada
...
Adrasan
A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...
Troy (Truva)
Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...
Ortahisar
A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...
Silifke
Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...
Kemer
...
Phaselis
Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...
Tlos Ruins
A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...
Niğde
The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...
Kabak
If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...
Kultepe
...
Heybeliada
...
Ihlara Valley
A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...
Termessos
Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli
The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...
Perge
Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...
Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities
...
Aspendos
Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...
Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...
Letoon
This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...
Kahta
...
Alara Han
The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...
Dikili
...
Kύrώehir
...
Dara
...
Sinop
...
Kumluca
...
The Central and Southern Aegean Coast
The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...
The Turquoise Coast
The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...
The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van
Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...
Cappadocia and Central Turkey
Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...
The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean
The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...
The Bodrum Peninsula
Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...
Van
Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...
The Mount Ida Region (Kaz Daglari)
...
Mt. Nemrut and Around
Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...
Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)
Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...
Soğanli Valleys
The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...
All Destinations
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The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Town
- Demre
- Eski Datça and Reşadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Göcek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kaya/Kayaköy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Ölüdeniz
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos Ruins
The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Town
- Demre
- Eski Datça and Reşadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Göcek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kaya/Kayaköy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Ölüdeniz
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos Ruins
The Turquoise Coast
- Adana
- Adrasan
- Alanya
- Alara Han
- Anamur
- Antakya (Antioch)
- Antalya
- Aspendos
- Dalyan
- Datça Town
- Demre
- Eski Datça and Reşadiye
- Fethiye
- Finike and Arycanda
- Göcek
- Kabak
- Kalkan
- Kas
- Kaya/Kayaköy
- Kemer
- Kiz Kalesi
- Knidos
- Kumluca
- Letoon
- Marmaris
- Ölüdeniz
- Olympos and Çirali
- Patara
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Side
- Silifke
- Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound
- Tarsus
- Termessos
- Tlos Ruins
Top Experiences
Top Experiences
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Recent Forum Posts
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Turkey itinerary - is this crazy?
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Turkey in March/ April
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Expensive Turkey
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Medical insurance for trip to Turkey?
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Guidebooks
Guidebooks
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Shop NowFodor's Essential Turkey
Whether you want to visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, cruise along the Turquoise Coast,...
