Turkey is a land of ancient monuments that witnessed the rise and fall of some of the world’s greatest civilizations and empires and is blessed with spectacular scenery that can enthrall tourists from all over the world. Turkey in fact is a unique melting pot of Asia and Europe, as you can find two different cultures living in absolute harmony, unity and peace. Turkey is famous for its vibrant culture, cuisines, unique history, enchanting landscapes, from the sun-lit Mediterranean to impressive mountainous ranges and arid steppe. Whether you want to travel back in time to the erstwhile Ottoman and Byzantine splendours of the city of Istanbul on a weekend escape, relax on the beach, take a deep plunge into history meandering through the ruins of Ephesus, or take a panoramic view of the world-famous Pamukkale and Cappadocia, you always get to visit interesting places in Turkey and have a range of fascinating things to do there.
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Mosque
One of the most breathtaking mosques and popular tourist places in Turkey, the Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Mosque stands as a reminiscence of the glorious Byzantine age. Visiting the Hagia Sophia is rated as not only the best thing to do in Istanbul city but also one of top places to visit in Turkey. The city of Istanbul was raised by Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor, in 537 CE. The Hagia Sophia, which served as the largest church in the world for over 1000 years, is regarded by many as an architectural marvel and often compared to the likes of the Taj Mahal in India. The sheer bulk of the Hagia Sophia’s exterior is fringed by the delicate minarets integrated after the conquest of the Ottoman Empire, whilst the opulent and spacious frescoed interior is a remarkable reminder of old Constantinople’s valour and might. This famous monument, one of the best places to visit in Turkey, is a must-visit for every tourist travelling to the country.
Ephesus
Think of famous places in Turkey, the Ephesus will come to your mind in a flash. The colossal ruin of Ephesus is an ancient city known for marble-columned roads and massive monuments. Even today it stands tall reflecting the antique flavour of the lost cities in the Mediterranean, and definitely worth a visit if you’re wondering how life must be during the golden era of the ancient Roman Empire. The history of the city goes back to the 10th century BC, though the existing monuments that are the legacy of a bygone era all belong to the Roman period when it was one of the region’s most important commercial centres. The library of Celsus, in particular, the terrace houses complex decorated with frescoes, and The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus are all wealth centres signifying its importance during the Roman era. You need to spend at least half a day to tour the entire region, or probably more if you’re not in a world hurry. Therefore, plan your visit if you’re looking to fully explore the Selcuk, the modern-day name of Ephesus.
Topkapı Palace
Stunning, beyond belief and understanding, the Topkapı Palace is a quest into the ‘Arabian nights’ world of the sultans. Truly one of the ‘dream’ places to visit in Turkey, the Ottoman sultans during the 15th and 16th centuries built an empire that would later expand throughout Europe and make inroads into Africa and the Middle East. While you’re in Turkey, places to visit are aplenty, but a peep into the interiors of the Topkapı would display the finest workmanship of minute and intricate tiling and sumptuous jewelled decor a vivid reflection of the fabulous Ottoman architecture. The Imperial Council building, in particular, is a must-visit as it houses the entire empire’s business generally managed by the Grand Vizier, the collection of arms on display in the Imperial Treasury, the outstanding array of miniature artefacts and paintings, and the impressive Harem quarters, all conceived and designed by Sinan, the world-famous Ottoman architect. The nearby public gardens, the sole possession of the Royal Turkish Court at one time, have been now made open for public view. and offer a welcome break from the bustling city life.
Antalya
One of the most beautiful places in Turkey, the Antalya, and a lively Mediterranean hub is everyone’s tourist delight. Outside of the town, you’ll find two major beaches that attract a huge crowd of holidaymakers who travel from different parts of Europe. Whilst the old town region, nestled in the downtown, featuring cobble alleyways fringed by rusty Ottoman period mansions, makes it one of the popular tourist attractions in Turkey. Considered one of Turkey’s best museums, the Antalya Museum houses a splendid collection of both Hellenistic- and Roman-era marble statuary, in addition to a range of attractions on the outskirts for travellers wanting to use the town as a point. No wonder, Antalya forms an easy point if you want to make day trips to some of the most popular Greco-Roman ruins in Turkey, including Perge, the town of Side, and Aspendos, which lie on the outskirts of the city, with its surfeit of ruins.
Aspendos
On the south of Antalya is the mind-blowing gargantuan vastness of the Aspendos, the erstwhile the Roman Theatre, celebrating the flair and flamboyance of how Marcus Aurelius lead his subjects. Regarded as the finest classical age theatre in existence, the largely restored 15,000-seat theatre is one of Aspendos’ primary attractions. Notwithstanding the fact that the theatre is the major reason why people visit the place (and if you’re a visitor on a half-day outing from Antalya close by or Side, the theatrical ruins is all you’ll see here), the Aspendos provides a lot more ruins to unravel such as an aqueduct remains, stadium, a Byzantine-period basilica and agora, all scattered aimlessly over the wide hillside area in the region enveloping the theatre.
Pergamum
In Turkey, tourist attractions that effuse a surplus of Greco-Roman ruins are many, but none so strategically located as the ancient Pergamum in present-day Bergama. Once abode to one of the world’s earliest and important libraries (which was even compared on a par with that of Alexandria’s library in terms of significance) and to the famous medical school created by Galen, the remains of Pergamum now rest largely across the top of a hill. Nevertheless, one of the top places to visit in Turkey, the area enclosing the Acropolis with its theatre mortised to the hillside contains the vast remains and lends a panoramic view of the surrounding areas. Below, you can view the Asklepion area which houses the remains of the city’s once-prominent medical centre. This is one of the classical-era places to visit in Turkey if you want to get a feel-like of how life would have been in the bygone days.
If you feel we have missed out on any of the best places to visit in Turkey, you’re free to add them to the blog and make it complete for our visitors.
