There are many places to visit in Turkey, union of cultures and passage zone between East and West. This country full of natural treasures such as Cappadocia or Pamukkale, large archaeological sites of the Roman Empire such as Ephesus or Greeks such as Pergamum and Aphrodisias, cities full of bazaars and mosques such as those in beautiful Istanbul, has long since become one of the most complete and desired destinations by many travelers.
After a few years of instability due to its situation near Syria and Iraq, several attacks and a coup d'etat, the country has recovered security levels and is already receiving large flows of tourists.
Based on the experience of our trip to Turkey in 15 days we have made a selection of what we think are, the 10 essential places to see in Turkey.
1. Istanbul
There are many things to see and do in Istanbul, known as the city of a thousand and one nights or of the seven hills, although all the names are few to describe this fantastic city, located between Asia and Europe and that perfectly blends the traditions and culture of the East with the modernity of the West.
The best way to enjoy Istanbul is to get lost in crowded neighborhoods, look for a bargain in one of its markets such as the Grand Bazaar or that of the species, enter one of the most impressive mosques in the world such as the Blue Mosque or the from Santa Sofia, go up to the viewpoints of the Galata Tower or Pierre Loti Cafe, get to the Church of San Salvador de Chora, visit the Topkapi Palace, take a Bosphorus Cruise or try the delicious Turkish cuisine, among many other things .
Without a doubt, Istanbul is one of the most essential places to visit in Turkey, in addition to being the entrance and exit door to take a tour for free or organized by the rest of the country's wonders.
A good option to get to know the history and curiosities of the city is to book a guided tour in Spanish for its most interesting places or this free tour of Istanbul. Free!
If you are not sure how to organize the itineraries around the city we leave you these guides optimized by days:
Istanbul
2. Cappadocia
Cappadocia, a region located in the center of the country and declared a World Heritage Site, is one of the places to see in Turkey and in the world more impressive.
This huge area that leaves you speechless for its lunar landscape, dotted with rare rock formations, called fairy chimney, which have been formed for thousands of years by erosion, is one of the places we are sure, you will not forget on your trip through Turkey where you can also see monasteries and houses carved into the rock and underground cities, which make it a magical place.
One of the most famous Cappadocia places is the Göreme Open Air Museum, where you can visit churches and chapels carved into the rock with impressive frescoes from the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries. Do not forget to do a hiking route through the Pigeon Valley, see fairy chimneys from the Göreme Viewpoint, look for the rocks with animal shapes in the Devrent Valley, run out of words when you see Uchisar Castle and the Ortahisar, walk through the valleys of the Monks and Love, and enter an underground city like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, among many other things.
One of La Cappadocia's most unforgettable experiences is to book a balloon ride at dawn, where you will have privileged views of the landscape illuminated by the first rays of the day's sun.
To go from Istanbul to Cappadocia you have flights to two nearby airports: Nevsehir and Kayseyri. Once you land, you can take a bus to take you to Goreme, the best place to stay and to visit the area.
Another option is to catch a night bus from the Istanbul bus station in Esenler that takes more than 12 hours.
To move around Cappadocia, the best option is to rent a car or take a bus that stops at the main points of interest.
A more comfortable alternative is to book a 4-day bus tour with a guide in Spanish or this 6-day tour that also includes other wonders such as Ephesus and Pamukkale, both of which are among the best excursions in Istanbul.
Cappadocia, one of the places to visit in Turkey
3. Pamukkale
Pamukkale, cotton castle in Turkish, it is another of the most impressive landscapes and places to visit in Turkey more famous.
Declared a World Heritage Site, this natural area is known for its white pools located on the side of a hill 160 meters high, which were formed thanks to the tectonic movements that made several mineral-rich hot springs appear. This water has been forming white layers of limestone and travertine while going down the mountain, creating what today looks like a huge frozen waterfall from a distance.
For a while, as a result of the proliferation of hotels and the little tourist control, many terraces were dried and Pamukkale was put in danger, although in recent years, thanks to the actions of Unesco and the government, we can say that Pamukkale is is recovering
Keep in mind that in Pamukkale there is also Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city from which the ruins of large buildings such as the Temple of Apollo, the Theater and the Necropolis are preserved and that is another essential visit in the area.
To get to Pamukkale from Istanbul you can catch a one-hour flight to Denizli airport. Another option, if you do not want to rent a car, is the bus that connects Pamukkale with both Istanbul and Cappadocia in about 9 hours.
A more comfortable alternative is to book a 7-day tour through the best of Turkey or this 6-day tour, both with a guide in Spanish and pick up at your hotel.
Pamukkale, one of the places to see in Turkey
4. Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut, 2,150 meters high, is famous for the giant heads that are preserved from the burial mound that King Antiochus I built in 62 BC, on top of the mountain. These heads belonged to huge statues of different gods sitting on their thrones, which were subsequently damaged by iconoclasts. This archaeological site, declared a World Heritage Site, is undoubtedly another of the most impressive places to see in Turkey and amazing.
Its only drawback or great advantage, if you like to enjoy the places with few people, is that it is not found on many of the most famous tourist routes that travel the country, being located near Turkish Kurdistan, far from Istanbul, so that you can enjoy it practically alone if you decide to get there.
It is advisable to visit Mount Nemrut when the weather conditions are more favorable, in summer or spring.
To get to Mount Nemrut you can catch a flight to Adiyaman airport and from there move to Kahta, the best area to stay. To get to the parking lot of the mountain located 600 meters from the statues, you can hire a car with a driver or take a bus. Another option is to rent a car in Cappadocia and take a journey of about 7 hours to Kahta.
Mount nemrut
5. Ephesus, one of the best places to visit in Turkey
Ephesus, a World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved ancient cities in Asia Minor, is another of the places to see in Turkey more beautiful. This city founded by the Greeks reached its maximum splendor during the Roman occupation, of which large buildings and monuments are preserved.
Most ruins are found along the Avenue of the Curetes, which links the Hercules Gate with the impressive Library of Celsus, its most famous place. Other highlights are the Grand Theater and the Odeon, the Fountain of Trajan, the Temple of Domitian, the door of Mazaeus and Mithridates, the Agora of Commerce and the Temple of Trajan.
It is recommended to go early to avoid organized groups and cruise passengers, since this is a usual stop when you are near the Mediterranean Sea.
Although you can arrive by plane in less than an hour or by bus in about 10 hours from Istanbul, we recommend renting a car and doing the typical circular route through the country. If you do not want to drive, you can book this 7-day or 6-day bus tour that includes the stop to Eféso, both with a guide in Spanish and pick up at your hotel.
Ephesus, one of the best places to visit in Turkey
6. Lycian Tombs of Myra
One of the great surprises of our trip through Turkey was the visit to the incredible Lycian tombs of Myra from the 4th century BC, excavated in the rock, due to the belief that the dead would be taken to the beyond by a winged creature
The set of cave tombs are divided into two necropolis, of which the most famous is the one found on the vertical walls of a mountain near the Demre Cay River, known as the Dalyan Rock.
Years ago, all the tombs were looted and pillaged and many altars and reliefs moved to the British Museum, although you can still see the porches and some relief of the most beautiful tombs, belonging to the rulers.
In addition to the tombs in this area there is a well-preserved Amphitheater and the beautiful church of St. Nicholas, in the Byzantine style.
The tombs are located near Antalya, a tourist area that is usually included in an organized route or by car through the south of the country.
Lycian Tombs of Myra
7. Aspendo
Aspendo ranks as one of the best preserved Roman theaters in the world, if not the best, on the list of essential places to visit in Turkey.
This huge theater with a capacity of 15,000 spectators was built during the time of Emperor Marco Aurelio between 161 and 180 AD, by the Greek architect Zenon and unlike the Aspendo theater, in most Roman theaters still standing the wall of behind the stage, which is adorned with niches and columns with sculptures of emperors or gods.
In addition to preserving the entire stage and the stands, this theater has a rich decoration and perfect acoustics, which is why all kinds of concerts are still performed.
Aspendo, it is located about 40 km Antalya and like the Lycian Tombs of Myra, it is part of the usual stops on the routes by car or bus through southern Turkey.
Aspendos
8 Antalya
The coastal city of Antalya, located southwest of Turkey, is a relaxing break in visits to archaeological sites in this area of the country. The blue and crystalline waters of the Mediterranean bathe the beautiful sandy beaches like Mermerli or Konyaalti, which are located in the city and surroundings.
You can also go to see the Düden waterfalls that fall directly on the sea or get lost in the alleys of the old town, with wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, surrounded by a Roman wall.
Antalya in recent times has adapted to the large number of tourists who choose it to spend their holidays at a good price, so it has a wide range of accommodation, restaurants and leisure activities.
Antalya can be reached by sky, sea and land, although the most comfortable is to land at Antalya airport with a direct flight from Istanbul. By car from Istanbul it can take about 9 hours and by bus it can exceed 12 hours. Another option is an organized tour or a cruise that stops in Antalya, another of the most famous places to see in Turkey.
Antalya
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9. Pergamum
The ancient Greek city of Pergamum was, along with Alexandria, the main cultural centers of antiquity thanks to their respective libraries and another of the places to visit in Turkey more interesting.
The library, of which only some structures are preserved, had more than 200,000 scrolls made in the city itself and hence the origin of the name of the material. In addition to the library, in the old Acropolis located in the upper part of the city, there are the remains of the Theater with capacity for 10,000 people and what remains of the spectacular Altar de Zeus, of which the original is in the Pergamon museum In Berlin.
In addition, very close to the Acropolis of Pergam, is the ruins of Asclepion, one of the most important healing sanctuaries of antiquity.
Keep in mind that all these archeological ruins of the Hellenistic era make Pergamum another of the essential places to visit in Turkey, that you should not miss on your trip around the country.
Pergamum is about 6 hours drive from Istanbul and about 10 hours by bus.
Pergamum, one of the places to visit in Turkey
10. Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias, Unesco Heritage, is one of the best preserved Greek-style archaeological sites in the world and our latest recommendation from the list of 10 best places to see in Turkey.
This ancient city was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, whose statue was inside the Temple of Aphrodite, the most important place in the enclosure. In addition to this temple, there are other interesting buildings such as the Tetrapylon Gate, the theater of the 27th century B.C., the stadium, the baths of Hadrian, the Sebasteion, the odeon and the museum with objects and statues found in this site.
The best option to get to Aphrodisias, if you do not have a car, is by bus from Pamukkale which is one hour away.
Aphrodisias, one of the places to visit in Turkey
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You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader.
If you feel like helping us expand the list 10 essential places to visit in Turkey, add yours in the comments.
