Witnessing many empires and civilizations, Turkey has a remarkable amount of archaeological sites spread out all over the country. From Istanbul’s palaces and mosques to the ruins of Efesus to the underground cities of Cappadocia, Turkey is a haven for archaeology and history enthusiasts.

With such an incredible cuisine, it’s no wonder that Turkey also has a lot of food shopping opportunities from open air markets to bazaars and everything in between. The many neighborhood markets are where locals buy their fresh produce, while the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar is where tourists like to do some shopping.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons

There are many companies in the area that offer the breathtaking opportunity to drift over the mountains and valleys of Cappadocia. Especially when your trip is for sunrise or sunset to truly bask in the panoramas.

If you want to make the very most of your visit to Goreme National Park, be sure to arrive as early as possible. This entire park has an exquisite collection of old churches, caves and other monuments for you to freely explore. It is highly recommended that you either buy a guidebook or sign up for one of the tours that lead you around the entire historical site.

Visit the archaeological site of Troy, the setting of the Trojan War in Homer’s Iliad, on a day trip from Istanbul and feel the magic of the legend that captivated readers around the world. See a replica of the Trojan Horse and explore the ancient city on a comprehensive 18-hour tour. Visit the 3,700-year-old city walls and numerous remains of the UNESCO World Heritage site, including everyday houses of the time. Lunch is provided at a restaurant in Eceabat, once the ancient city of Madytos, located on the shores of the Dardanelles Strait. A return ferry trip across the Dardanelles to Çanakkale is included, as is pickup from your Istanbul hotel.

Having officially taken its place in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List in 2014, the Turkish city of Bursa is recognized as the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire. Even though it wasn’t the empire’s capital, it was the city where the Ottoman social framework developed, helping to lay the foundation for its social and cultural infrastructure. As such, the city is full of important monuments, especially a number of külliye, a structure of social and religious value usually composed of a mosque, tomb, hamam, soup kitchen, a religious school, and a health clinic. Here is a look at the UNESCO sites in Bursa that must be visited.

You can Explore the highlights that sits between Europe and Asia through cruising by Bosphorus strait and discover the mega metropolis Istanbul from a different view by passing all historical palaces, fortresses and the Bosphorus bridge and capturing amazing pictures along this journey.

With so much history to its name, Turkey also has a lot of fantastic museums that actively preserve findings from the many archaeological sites all around the country. From the world’s largest mosaic museum (Zeugma in Gaziantep) to Istanbul’s Ottoman palace museums and the famous Topkapi Palace as well as Hagia Sophia, there’s plenty to visit while you’re here.

Turkey’s architectural scope is truly striking and includes everything from historic churches, waterfront mansions built by European settlers and grand imperial mosques and palaces to stone houses built by former Anatolian empires. From Istanbul to Mardin and beyond, you’ll always find a structure that really changes your aesthetic perspective.

Underground Cities

Some of underground cities consist of over eight floors of carved, underground rock and are believed to at one time have house 20,000 people each, but today some of them are open for public viewing. The purpose of this elaborate underground community is though to have been as shelter from invaders and many centuries later, you can tour through churches, meeting rooms, store rooms, and all of the other essential spaces that aided the running of this long gone civilization.

Just a short flight from Istanbul, Pamukkale and Hierapolis lies in southwestern Anatolia and can be visited in one day. This UNESCO World Heritage site comprises the well-preserved ruins of the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis and the geographical phenomenon Pamukkale (‘cotton castle’ in Turkish), a succession of stunning white terraces of travertine rock formed by calcium-rich thermal springs, garnished by waterfalls and stalactites. Do as the Romans did and take a soak in the thermal hot springs used as a spa since the second century BC on this unforgettable day trip from Istanbul. Hotel pickup, return flights from Istanbul to Denizli, private transport, a guide and an appetizing lunch are included.

The extensive ruins of the Ancient Greek city of Ephesus are a must-see for history lovers, and this 12-hour tour with return flights from Istanbul to İzmir makes it possible to visit in a day. Immerse yourself in an array of stunning monuments – souvenirs left behind by the Byzantine, Ottoman, Persian, Roman and Greek empires that once ruled Ephesus. Visit striking sites such as the Temple of Artemis and the Celsus Library, as you walk the ancient streets of Ephesus in the footsteps of inhabitants from centuries ago. This tour includes round-trip, same-day flights from Istanbul to İzmir and pickup from your city centre hotel.

One of Turkey’s most important summer resort towns, Antalya has plenty of beaches that range from tourist favourites to more local beaches with historic ruins and a relaxed vibe. Whatever you’re looking for, Antalya’s best beaches definitely offer something for every traveller.

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