If You Like
Turkey, a sort of connection between Europe and Asia, has been a social crossroads for thousands of years. Many civilizations—Greeks from the west and Mongols from the east—settled or gone through the (vast) area at one point or different, leaving lasting and meaningful reminders of their vacations. As a result, virtually every region in Turkey has a bounty of marvelous ancient ruins.
ANCIENT SITES
Ani The deserted former capital of a historical Armenian kingdom, this seductive city in the center of nowhere is filled with the remains of beautiful churches.
Cappadocia's Underground Cities A wonder of ancient engineering, these underground cities—some standing 20 stories down and holding up to 20,000 people—served as a shelter for Christians under siege from Arab pirates.
Ephesus This notably well-preserved Roman city has a colonnaded library that appears as if it could still be holding out books and an amphitheater that seem ready for a show.
Mt Nemrut At the top of a deserted mountain, this 2,000-year-old temple—a group of larger-than-life statues facing the rising and setting sun—is a testament to the pride of an ancient king.
Termessos This strong ancient city is set dramatically high up in the hills above Antalya; even Alexander the Great and the Romans found it too hard to attack.
BEACHES
With 8,000 km (5,000 miles) of coastline, it's no wonder that Turkey is home to several world-famous beaches, and you can find all kinds: from pristine, remote coves to resort hotel shores with water sports and all sorts of facilities.
İztuzu A nesting spot for sea turtles, the beach here extends for 5 Sandy kilometers (3 miles) close to Dalyan, with a freshwater bay on one side and the turquoise seas of the Mediterranean on the other.
Kilyos and Sile These beaches just outer Istanbul are among the nicest times of sandy beach line along Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Since both are relatively easy breaks from the city, they are often jammed on summer weekends. The water hereabouts is cold year-round, and swimmers should listen out for the mighty waves.
Ölüdeniz This beautiful lagoon near Fethiye boasts azure waters—which, like outside along the Mediterranean, stay heated well into October—backed by white sand.
Patara The 11-km (7-mile) stretch of perfect beach here is one of Turkey’s best, with excellent white sand and hills. The picture-perfect coastline is given by walking through a field set with ancient ruins and has been spared the congestion that has become a problem in some parts of the Mediterranean.
Sarımsaklı The long range of sand here has made this one of the most famous beach stops on the Aegean coast, with a row of modest beach clubs running in the water parallel to a line of high-rise hotels and apartments on the coast. Take a dolmuş (shared taxi) from Ayvalık to Badavut Plajı (Badavut Beach) for a bit more peace and quiet
MONUMENTS
The Ottoman and Byzantine empires may be long passed, but they left back some truly beautiful monuments: mosques, churches, and palaces that still keep the power to take your breath away.
As the previous capital of both empires, Istanbul has the lion's portion of Turkey's most important structures, but there are also awesome ones to be located in every other part of the country.
Hagia Sophia The impressive church built by the Emperor Justinian some 1,500 years ago stays to be an awe-inspiring sight—arguably the most important one in Istanbul or also all of the Turkey.
Blue Mosque With its cascading arches and shimmering tiles, this lovely Istanbul mosque is one of the Ottomans' elegant creations.
Ishak Pasa Sarayi In Turkey's far east, near the fabulous Mt. Ararat, this 18th-century palace shows as if it was moved straight out of a fairytale
Kariye Museum The late Chora Church, a 12th-century Byzantine construction on the edge of Istanbul's Old City, is much petite and less known than the Aya Sofya but is filled with glittering inlays and remarkable frescoes that are considered among the nicest in the world
Topkapı Sarayi The former palace of the Ottoman sultans is a gorgeous palace with large buildings, tranquil gardens, and the must-see Harem.
Selimiye Camii Discovered in the former Ottoman capital of Edirne, not far away from Istanbul, this mosque was the real gem of the sultans' favorite architect, Mimar Sinan. Its massive dome has made many a jaw drop.
MUSEUMS
The country's riches and depth of history confirm that Turkey has lots of artifacts from its archives—even if there has been a dilemma with other nations sending the gift off to foreign lands. The greatest and biggest museums are in Istanbul, where you can fill your days hopping from one charming exhibit to the other
Istanbul Archaeology Museums This sprawling organization near Topkapı Palace holds findings from digs throughout the Middle East.
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art Beside the Archaeology Museums is this excellent selection of carpets, ceramics, portraits, and folk art housed in an old Ottoman palace. It's established to resume to the public at the end of 2013 after a renovation.
Istanbul Modern Stylish with a charming waterfront location, this museum has an excellent collection of Turkish modern art and a photography gallery featuring adventurous contemporary work, and plays host to large, well-curated temporary exhibitions
Rahmi M. Koç Industrial Museum This early factory along Istanbul’s Golden Horn is today used to display a quirky selection of cars, trains, ships, airplanes, and other industrial artifacts that will excite the interests of children and adults alike.
Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum Presented in 2011 in Turkey's southeast, this museum is one of the country's greatest, with a world-class collection of Roman-era mosaics that uncovered in the region.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Unearthed in a restored 15th-century covered market in the capital city of Ankara, this museum keeps masterpieces spanning thousands of years of local history.
