Turkey
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Key facts: Turkey
- UNESCO World Heritage: Türkiye has 22 World Heritage properties, 20 cultural and 2 mixed (UNESCO).
What is documented about Türkiye as a heritage destination?
Türkiye has 22 properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and ratified the World Heritage Convention on 16 March 1983. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Places to visit in Turkey
Adana
Adana is a major city in southern Turkey situated in the fertile…
Adiyaman
Adıyaman is a city in southeastern Turkey, the capital of the Adıyaman…
Aegean Coast Region
Türkiye's Aegean coast from Izmir to Bodrum: ancient Ephesus and Pergamon, the…
Afyon
Afyon, also known as Afyonkarahisar, is a city located in western Turkey.…
Agri
Ağrı in eastern Türkiye: Mount Ararat, the country's highest peak, the İshak…
Aksaray
Aksaray is a city in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey. It's…
Amasya
Amasya in the narrow Yeşilırmak valley: the rock-cut tombs of the Pontic…
Ankara
Ankara, Türkiye's capital: Anıtkabir, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, and Gordion, the…
Ardahan
Ardahan travel guide: frozen Lake Çıldır, Şeytan Castle above the Karaçay canyon,…
Artvin
Artvin travel guide: the Çoruh gorges, medieval Georgian churches, Borçka and Şavşat…
Balıkesir
Balıkesir travel guide: Ayvalık and Cunda Island, Mount Ida’s national park, Antandros,…
Bartın
Bartın travel guide: Amasra's harbours and castle, the Roman Kuşkayası monument, Güzelcehisar…
Batman
Batman travel guide: Hasankeyf after the Ilısu Dam, the relocated Zeynel Bey…
Bayburt
Bayburt travel guide: the castle above the Çoruh, the Baksı Museum, Aydıntepe…
Bilecik
Bilecik travel guide: Söğüt and Ertuğrul Gazi’s tomb, Sheikh Edebali’s tomb, Ottoman…
Bingöl
Bingöl travel guide: the floating islands of Solhan, the lakes and pastures…
Bitlis
Bitlis travel guide: Ahlat’s Seljuk tombstones and kümbets, the Nemrut crater lake,…
Bolu
Bolu travel guide: Lake Abant, Yedigöller National Park, Gölcük, Ottoman Mudurnu, skiing…
Burdur
Burdur in south-western Türkiye: the mountain ruins of Sagalassos, the turquoise water…
Cankiri
Çankırı in Central Anatolia: an ancient salt mine still worked today, Seljuk-era…
Corum
Çorum in north-central Anatolia, heartland of the Hittites: Hattusa, the Yazılıkaya rock…
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakır travel guide: the UNESCO-listed basalt walls and Hevsel Gardens, the Great…
Düzce
Düzce travel guide: the Roman theatre and museum at Konuralp, Güzeldere and…
Edirne
Edirne, the former Ottoman capital near the Greek and Bulgarian borders: the…
Elazığ
Elazığ travel guide: the old hilltop town of Harput, its castle and…
Erzincan
Erzincan travel guide: Kemaliye and the Dark Canyon, Urartian Altıntepe, the Mama…
Erzurum
Erzurum travel guide: the Yakutiye and Double Minaret madrasas, Three Tombs, Palandöken…
Eskişehir
Eskişehir travel guide: the Ottoman houses of Odunpazarı, meerschaum, Sazova Park, Sivrihisar’s…
Gaziantep
Gaziantep travel guide: Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the castle and copper bazaars, Rumkale,…
Giresun
Giresun travel guide: Giresun Island, the castle, Kümbet and Bektaş yaylas, Şebinkarahisar,…
Gümüşhane
Gümüşhane travel guide: Karaca Cave, the Santa ruins, Roman Satala, Artabel lakes,…
Hakkari
Hakkari travel guide: Cilo-Sat glaciers and Reşko peak, the Zap valley, Meydan…
Hatay
Hatay travel guide: Antakya (Antioch) after the 2023 earthquake, St Peter’s cave…
Iğdır
Iğdır travel guide: Mount Ararat’s north face, the Seljuk Ejder Caravanserai, Tuzluca…
Isparta
Isparta in Türkiye's lake district: rose fields and rose-oil production, Lake Eğirdir,…
Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaraş travel guide: the restored castle and Ulu Mosque, Eshab-ı Kehf at…
Karabük
Karabük travel guide: UNESCO-listed Safranbolu, Yörük Village, Tokatlı Canyon, Bulak Cave and…
Karaman
Karaman travel guide: Binbirkilise on Karadağ, Karaman Castle, the Hatuniye Madrasa, Yunus…
Kars
Kars travel guide: the UNESCO ruins of Ani, Kars Castle, Russian-era streets,…
Kastamonu
Kastamonu travel guide: the UNESCO-listed Mahmut Bey Mosque, the castle, Pompeiopolis, Küre…
Kayseri
Kayseri, ancient Mazaca and Caesarea, at the foot of Mount Erciyes: Seljuk…
Kilis
Kilis travel guide: Ravanda Castle, Oylum Höyük, Mamluk mosques, Kilis tava and…
Kırıkkale
Kırıkkale travel guide: the Seljuk Çeşnigir Bridge, Hasandede and Haydar Sultan shrines,…
Kırklareli
Kırklareli travel guide: Dupnisa Cave, İğneada floodplain forests, Kıyıköy, Vize Hagia Sophia,…
Kırşehir
Kırşehir travel guide: Cacabey Madrasa, Ahi Evran’s tomb, the Kaman-Kalehöyük museum and…
Kocaeli
Kocaeli and its centre İzmit, ancient Nicomedia: once an eastern capital of…
Konya
Konya, home of the Mevlana Museum and Rumi's tomb: a Seljuk capital…
Kütahya
Kütahya travel guide: the Roman city of Aizanoi, hand-painted tiles, the castle…
Malatya
Malatya travel guide: UNESCO-listed Arslantepe, Battalgazi's Seljuk mosque, Darende, Mount Nemrut from…
Mardin
Mardin travel guide: the stone old town above Mesopotamia, Deyrulzafaran and Mor…
Marmara Region
The Marmara region around the Sea of Marmara: Istanbul, Bursa and İznik,…
Mediterranean Region
Türkiye's Mediterranean region around Antalya: Lycian rock tombs, the Roman cities of…
Mersin
Mersin is a city located in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast.…
Muş
Muş travel guide: the Malazgirt battlefield of 1071, the Muş tulip, Urartian…
Nevsehir
Nevşehir, the province at the heart of Cappadocia: Göreme, Uçhisar and Ürgüp,…
Niğde
Niğde travel guide: Gümüşler Monastery, the Alaaddin Mosque, Hüdavend Hatun Tomb, ancient…
Ordu
Ordu travel guide: Boztepe cable car, Paşaoğlu Mansion, Cape Jason, Ünye Castle,…
Osmaniye
Osmaniye travel guide: Karatepe-Aslantaş and its Hittite bilingual, Kastabala, Toprakkale and other…
Rize
Rize travel guide: Ayder plateau, the Kaçkar Mountains, Fırtına Valley and Zilkale,…
Samsun
Samsun travel guide: the 1919 Bandırma landing, Kızılırmak Delta birdwatching, Amisos Hill,…
Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa travel guide: Göbeklitepe, Balıklıgöl, Harran’s beehive houses, Halfeti, the mosaic museum,…
Siirt
Siirt travel guide: İbrahim Hakkı's tomb at Tillo, the Veysel Karani shrine,…
Sinop
Sinop travel guide: the historic prison museum, Greek walls, Hamsilos inlet, Tatlıca…
Sivas
Sivas travel guide: the UNESCO-listed Divriği Great Mosque, Seljuk madrasas, the 1919…
Şırnak
Şırnak travel guide: Mount Cudi and the Noah tradition, Cizre’s Great Mosque,…
Tekirdağ
Tekirdağ travel guide: Rüstem Paşa Mosque, the Rákóczi Museum, Şarköy and Mürefte…
Tokat
Tokat travel guide: Gök Medrese, Taşhan and the Seljuk old town, Ballıca…
Trabzon
Trabzon travel guide: Sumela Monastery, the Hagia Sophia of Trebizond, Uzungöl and…
Tunceli
Tunceli travel guide: Munzur Valley National Park, the sacred Munzur Springs at…
Uşak
Uşak travel guide: the Karun Treasure of Lydian gold, Ulubey Canyon and…
Van
Van lies beside Turkey's largest lake in the eastern highlands. Guide to…
Yalova
Yalova travel guide: Termal hot springs, Atatürk’s mansion and Yürüyen Köşk, Karaca…
Yozgat
Yozgat travel guide: Türkiye’s first national park, the Iron Age city of…
Zonguldak
Zonguldak travel guide: Gökgöl Cave, the Cehennemağzı Caves of Herakles in Ereğli,…
TURKEY: STAGE OF MANY CIVILIZATIONS
Did you know that Turkey is the country where three continents Asia, Europe and Africa are closest to each other? Or Turkey’s metropol city Istanbul is the place where Asia and Europe continents meet with the amazing Bosphorus?
Turkey is the country of diversity, the country of many cultures, religions and nations. As many civilizations reigned on its lands, many greatest dynasties born and ended on its watch, Turkey has witnessed countless of wars from antiquity to modern ages.
The country has a never-ending story with history written in each corner, every stone, every wall…
Turkey is offering experiences to its visitors with its great nature, incomparable history, diverse culture and magical coasts.
Plan your trip soon and we guarantee that you will not regret.
What places can you visit in Turkey?
Turkey covers 23 destinations on this site:
- Adana
- Adiyaman
- Aegean Coast Region
- Afyon
- Agri
- Aksaray
- Amasya
- Ankara
- Burdur
- Cankiri
- Corum
- Edirne
- Isparta
- Kayseri
- Kocaeli
- Konya
- Marmara Region
- Mediterranean Region
- Mediterranean Region
- Mersin
- Nevsehir
- Van
- Van
Book a Turkey tour
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Best places in Turkey by traveller type
Where should first-time visitors go in Turkey?
If this is your first trip to Turkey, start with the places most visitors build their itinerary around: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Bodrum.
What is the best place in Turkey for families with children?
Travelling with children in Turkey, these are the easiest places to enjoy together: Patara, Aydin, Goreme Open Air Museum, Kaymakli Underground City, Derinkuyu Underground City.
Where can you go in Turkey on a rainy day?
When the weather turns, Turkey has plenty to see under cover: Cappadocia, Spice Bazaar, Goreme Open Air Museum, Adiyaman Museum, Kaymakli Underground City.
What is the best place in Turkey for couples?
For a quieter day or an evening out in Turkey, these are the spots worth planning around: Cendere Bridge, Patara, Uchisar, Galata Tower, Golden Horn.
Where should history lovers go in Turkey?
If you came to Turkey for the history, these sites carry the most of it: Kayseri, Cendere Bridge, Phrygia, Hittites, Ephesus.
What can you do outdoors in Turkey?
For time outside in Turkey, these are the places to head for: Mount Nemrut, Lycia, Taurus Mountains, Miletus, Patara.
Summarise this page with AI: ChatGPT · Claude · Perplexity
Turkey at a glance: 193 places covered on this site · including 6 museums, 7 castles and fortresses, 13 ancient cities and ruins · with UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Related guides: Paphlagonia, Galatia.
Frequently asked questions about Turkey
Which part of Turkey is in Europe and which is in Asia?
Turkey straddles two continents. The small north-western corner known as Thrace, including the European half of Istanbul, sits in Europe, while the large peninsula of Anatolia to the east is in Asia. The Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles form the dividing line, which is why Istanbul is the only major city in the world spread across two continents.
What is the best time of year to visit Turkey?
April to early June and September to October are the most comfortable months almost everywhere: warm days, cool evenings and thinner crowds. July and August suit a beach holiday on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts but are very hot inland. Central Anatolia and the east have cold, snowy winters, while Istanbul stays mild and often rainy.
Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?
It depends on your nationality. Many passport holders enter visa-free for short stays, others apply online in a few minutes through the official e-Visa system, and some must apply at a Turkish consulate. Check the official e-Visa website against your own passport before booking, and make sure your passport is valid well beyond your travel dates.
How many days do you need to see Turkey?
A first trip of seven to ten days usually covers Istanbul plus one other region, most often Cappadocia or the Aegean coast. Two weeks lets you add Ephesus and Pamukkale, or the Turquoise Coast. Turkey is large, so domestic flights between regions save far more time than long bus journeys.
What language is spoken in Turkey and is English widely understood?
Turkish is the official language. English is common in hotels, tour offices and restaurants in Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coastal resorts, but much less so in small towns and the countryside. A few basic Turkish phrases go a long way and are always well received.
Ready to see Turkey?
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Before or after: Istanbul
Most trips start or end in Istanbul. Our own experiences there:
Dinner, sunset and day cruises between Europe and Asia.See cruises bosporuscruise.com
Historic Turkish baths in the old city — hand-picked hamams, booked direct.Book a hamam istanbulhamam.com
Istanbul’s tallest viewpoint: both continents from 369 metres.Get tickets camlicatower.com
Free audio guides in 15 languages, safe routes and local tips — plus 5% off GetYourGuide.Open the free guide localada.com