Places To Visit In Turkey

Turkey is home to the world's oldest cities, unique natural wonders and the largest archaeological sites. So when making your travel plans consider getting international health insurance. It adds an extra layer of protection and financial cover that every traveller needs. A travel insurance plan may also speed up any visa approval processes making it a valuable asset to most travellers.

Now onto the sites. These are the top 10 best places to visit in Turkey for anyone planning to spend a holiday there:

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Mosque

A UNESCO world heritage site, this mosque is a treasury of history and culture. An interesting fact about this mosque is that Hagia Sophia was originally a church. Its construction took 6 years, built under the rule of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537 CE. On completion, it was regarded as the Byzantine Empire's crowning architectural achievement and the world's largest church for 1,000 years.

Later Ottoman Turks refurbished it as a mosque and secularised it. This mosque holds high importance in today's time and is one the most famous places to visit in Turkey. Definitely deserving to be at the top of everyone's list.

Ephesus

A city of gargantuan monuments and marble-columned roads. Ephesus is one of the few complete still-standing cities of antiquity in the Mediterranean region. The perfect place for any history buff that truly wants to immerse themselves in its surroundings and catch a glimpse of the golden age of the Roman empire.

Ephesus is one of the most interesting places to visit in Turkey if you're ever in Ankara. The Library of Celsus, in particular, is a wealth of knowledge and has attracted visitors for decades.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is Turkey's most famous natural wonder. Translating to “Cotton Castle” in English, Pamukkale's pure white, sloping travertine terraces make it look like a snow field amid Turkey's green landscape. To this day, Pamukkale remains one of the most unique places to visit in Turkey.

You can walk down the travertine hills and wade through the pools of water on its upper slopes. Besides Pamukkale, Hierapolis - an ancient spa town - is also present across the calcite hills' summit. Visitors can relax in the town's mineral-rich water at the antique pool.

Antalya

A bustling Mediterranean hub that's got something for everyone. It's universally regarded as one of the best places to visit in Turkey in other blogs as well. The town's two main beaches are havens for anyone visiting during the summer months.

The town itself, with its Ottoman-era architecture and cobblestone alleyways, the town allows tourists to explore its sites and markets. The best place to visit in Antalya would be the Antalya Museum.

It houses the country's best Hellenistic and Roman marble sculptures. The town is an easy base for day trips. Tourists can easily visit Aspendos and Perge, just outside the city and the town of Side.

Cappadocia

Home to surreal rock valleys, cliff ridges and hill crests, the Cappadocia landscape is every photographer's dream. However, you don't have to be a climbing enthusiast or love hiking to visit this site.

Its villages are built into the rock formations themselves. Tourists can book a room at one of the boutique hotels and stay in their own personal den with their creature comforts. Furthermore, one of its top attractions is the hot air balloon rides offered to tourists.

Cappadocia was originally home to monastic Christian communities. The multiple cave churches, Göreme Open-Air Museum and Ihlara Valley, are some of the world's best-surviving pieces of mid-Byzantine-era religious art.

Kabak Bay

A shore by the Lycia village, tourists can reach this site through dolmus, taxi or car in about an hour from Ölüdeniz. Kabak offers an escape from city life. Most visitors are usually seen relaxing, sunbathing or snorkelling along the beach.

Its narrow beaches are packed during summer, with tent shelters dotted along the bay. It is the ideal getaway spot for people who want a break from city life.

Topkapi Palace

Istanbul's Topkapi Palace plunges you into the world of the sultans of old. An empire carved out by the Ottoman Turks during the 15th and 16th centuries that once extended into Europe, through the Middle East and into Africa.

This palace offers a peak into the Ottoman Turks' lavish and powerful base with its jewelled decor and exuberant tilling. The Imperial Council building, in particular, is worth visiting for its treasury, collection of miniature paintings and dazzling Harem rooms, which were all designed by Sinan, the famed Ottoman architect.

Troy

The city of Troy is no stranger to anyone that's read Homer's Illiad. The city is best known to be the setting of the Greek myth of the Trojan war. It is the world's most well-known ancient ruin. Troy is a treasure trove for historians with its multilayered ruins that speak to a history of occupation, abandonment and re-occupation stretching as early as the Bronze age.

Down the road from the Troy site is the Troy museum, one of the best places to visit in Turkey. The museum is the place to visit for anyone interested in the extensive history and mythology of the ancient city, from its conception right to modern times.

Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazar is the oldest and biggest marketplace in Istanbul - the perfect place to get souvenirs and authentic Turkish wares. The Bazar attracts shoppers and decor enthusiasts with its jewellery, carpets, antiques, authentic Turkish crockery, and Turkish tea. Strolling across this bazaar is well worth a day's trip to Istanbul.

Kaymakli Underground City

The Kaymakli underground city is located under the hill called the Citadel of Kaymakli. The four floors of this underground city offer tourists a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although Turkey has several underground cities, Kaymakli is the largest one to be discovered.

The underground city offers insight into life before the modern era, with its underground stables, wineries, kitchens, and so much more. One particular attraction is the melting pots used to melt copper inscribed into the walls. These melting pots were a layer of the earth's crust used during daily chores.

These are the 10 best places to visit in Turkey. Of course, Turkey has more sites and cities than just the 10 places listed here, but these are some of the best-known among travellers and tourists. Turkey is worth visiting at least once in your life with its sheer number of experiences and archaeological sites.

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