A clash of cultures, religions, and histories, Turkey is always ready to surprise travelers from across the globe. Turkey tour packages are all about lakes, seas, thermal springs, sceneries, waterfalls, forests, rivers, and more. Travelers love it for its intriguing mix of historical and ultra-modern cities. Turkey boasts a plethora of places to visit and things to do offering the best to all tourists. Imagine yourself taking a dip in the Dead Sea and the other day ascending the highest peaks in Turkey. And one of the most fascinating facts is you get to be a part of two continents that straddles Turkey in between.
Best time to visit Turkey:
The best time to visit Turkey depends on your interests and preferences. Warm months include April, May, September and October. These months are considered the best time to visit Turkey due to the pleasant weather. The months between June to September are less preferred by travelers as the temperature reaches around mid-thirties. Eventually the weather begins to cool down from late October and from November to March the weather turns out to be quite cold offering a unique experience exploring the popular sites. Turkey is widespread and so the weather is extremely diverse depending on which destinations you are covering in your itinerary.
Let’s go through the list of the top 5 most captivating places to visit in Turkey:
- Cappadocia
- Pamukkale
- Istanbul
- Kusadasi
- City of Ephesus
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful and popular places in Turkey. It is loved for its colorful hot air balloons floating in the sky, underground cities, volcanic rock landscapes, and more. Hot air ballooning is one of the must-experience activities offering stunning scenery and views of Göreme Open Air Museum which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasting rock-cut churches which were used as shelters by Byzantine monks. Another fascinating fact about Cappadocia is its 36 underground cities! Out of which Kaymakli Underground city is a must-visit. You can also explore intriguing cave hotels, pottery shops, horse riding in red and rose valleys, shop for local ceramics, etc.
Places to visit: Göreme Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley, Uchisar Castle, Kaymakli Underground City, Devrent Valley, Derinkuyu Underground City, and many more.
Things to do: Hot air balloon in Cappadocia, go hiking or horse riding in Red and Rose Valleys, enjoy the sunrise at Lover’s Hill, shop ceramics in Avanos, etc.
Pamukkale
One of Turkey’s most popular natural wonders, Pamukkale is all about the “cotton castle”. This fascinating place attracts around 2 million visitors a year, popular for its surreal white mineral travertine terraces and warm springs. It is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered an open-air spa where you can take a dip in calcium-rich travertines. Alongside the travertine’s, you will also get to witness the remains of the Roman Hierapolis at Pamukkale.
Places to visit: Cleopatra antique pools, Pamukkale Theatre, Pamukkale thermal pools, and Hierapolis Ancient Theatre. Hierapolis Archaeology Museum, etc.
Things to do: Explore travertines, explore Hierapolis city ruins, explore Hierapolis theatre, discover ruins of Laodikeia, soak in Karahayit Hot Springs, etc.
Istanbul
Istanbul is a city that straddles two continents – Europe and Asia. Captured in many movies, Istanbul is one of the greatest metropolises. It is scattered with marvellous remains of its illustrious history and sights for tourists. Most of the architectural buildings are converted into museums taking you into the grand lives of the emperors and European architecture. Istanbul also boasts gardens that are a must-visit in spring, blossoming with colours. Shopaholics can enjoy the Grand Bazaar and other street shopping areas.
Places to visit: Hagia Sophia Museum, Bosphorus Strait, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Hippodrome, etc.
Things to do: Enjoy the view from Galata Tower, shop at the Grand Bazaar, adore the tulips at Gulhane Park, explore the Istanbul spice bazaar, go cruising on the Bosphorus, etc.
Kusadasi
Kusadasi is another popular tourist place loved by travelers visiting Turkey. It is a popular cruise ship port. Tourists love Kusadasi for shopping, entertainment, coastline, pleasant atmosphere, seafood, and more. One of the most famous spots to visit in Kusadasi is the Kusadasi Castle which is also known as Pirate Castle.
Places to visit: Pigeon Islands, Ladies Beach, Kusadasi Bazaar, Dilek Peninsula, Aqua Fantasy Waterpark, The Isabey Mosque, Camlik Museum, Basilica of St. John, Ephesus, etc.
Things to do: Visit the ruins of the Ephesus, explore the house of the virgin Mary, drink wine at the Village of Sirince, visit the temple of Apollo at Didyma, etc.
City of Ephesus
Are you a history buff? Then the city of Ephesus is the place for you. It is a cosy town located 30 km away from Kusadasi. It is among the most popular places in Turkey loved for its ancient ruins, structures like The Great Theatre, The Library of Celsus, and more. The city of Ephesus is an old Roman city port for trading exotic fruits and spices.
Places to visit: Ephesus Museum, Temple of Artemis, Isa Bey Mosque, etc.
Things to do: Pilgrimage to the Meryemana, enjoy the Views from Ayasuluk Fortress, explore the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers, etc.
We hope the above list of places to visit in Turkey helps you sort out your itinerary. Well, Turkey is ready to surprise you, are you ready for your much-awaited holiday? Flamingo Transworld offers a variety of Turkey tour packages including the best of places to visit and things to do assuring an unforgettable holiday.