northern turkey travel guide

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Best Places To Visit In Northern Turkey (2024)

Last Updated: March 12, 2024
Destinations , Middle East , Turkey

Turkey is a seriously beautiful country and one that I keep returning to. There’s just so much to see and experience in this amazing place.

Northern Turkey , on the Black Sea coast, is possibly my favourite part of the country. The Black Sea region (called “ Karadeniz “, in Turkish ) is green, lush, and stunning .

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Here you’ll find misty, forested mountains, temperate rainforests, alpine meadows, pristine lakes, and more fascinating historic sights than you could ever hope to visit.

Why Visit Turkey’s Black Sea Region?

Unlike the west and southwest of the country, Turkey’s Black Sea Region is relatively undiscovered .

Pulling into a picturesque seaside village, it often feels like you’re the only foreign tourist in town. Sometimes you are!

Turkish culture is known for its hospitality . But in Karadeniz, this is taken to a whole new level.

The first time a total stranger buys you a coffee, or lunch, or invites you to stay at their place, it can be disarming. “ Why are they doing this?? “, you wonder.

However, acts of kindness like this towards visitors are totally normal here.

I lost track of the number of times local people bought me lunch, took me on free boat trips, invited me to stay at their house, and dropped everything to show me around.

It’s really amazing, and something that took me totally off guard.

I think this is partly due to the lack of mass tourism here. People stop you in the street. They are genuinely interested to meet you and hear your story. They want to chat and to show you their world.

It’s a fantastic place, full of fantastic people.

** If you need a visa to visit Turkey, I recommend using iVisa.com . Their online visa processing service is quick, secure, and easy to use. **

Best Places To Visit In Northern Turkey

There are too many beautiful places in Karadeniz to include all in this post. The following are some of my favourites.

I’ve set these out in a rough order that makes sense to follow, travelling from west to east.

1. Istanbul

Okay, Istanbul isn’t technically in the Karadeniz region of Turkey, but it’s close enough. Plus, you’ll probably be starting and/or ending your trip through northern Turkey here.

This huge city in north-west Turkey is also one of the most incredible metropolises on the planet .

Saying that Istanbul is a place “ where East meets West ” is super cliché. But it’s also totally true.

The largest city in Turkey (and Europe, depending on the definition) spreads (literally) over two continents . It’s the crossroads between Europe and Asia, both physically and culturally.

Istanbul has been one of the world’s most important cities for more than 2,500 years.

The ancient Greeks and Romans treasured its strategic location, and it later became the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

Today, more than 15 million people call this amazing place home. It’s the cultural and economic capital of modern Turkey and one of the world’s truly global megacities.

There’s so much to see and do in Istanbul. You could spend weeks here , exploring somewhere new each day.

For those with less time, I’d suggest basing yourself in Sultanahmet, the centre of the Fatih district of old Istanbul. Many of the city’s most famous sights are located in or close to here.

Top sights close to Sultanahmet:

Make sure you check out the Haghia Sophia (“ Aya Sofya “, in Turkish ) and the Blue Mosque (or “ Sultan Ahmet Camii “).

These are two of the most incredible buildings and places of worship that I have ever seen.

Another highlight is the maze-like Grand Bazaar, the largest covered bazaar in the world (with more than 4,000 shops).

Additionally, Topkapı Palace , the former residence of the Ottoman Sultans, now contains a museum.

One of the best ways to experience Istanbul is just to wander and get lost in its winding backstreets.

A boat trip on the Bosphorus is another great thing to do. This will give you a sense of the scale and layout of the city. I recommend doing it at sunset when Istanbul is at its most atmospheric.

With the domes and minarets of hundreds of mosques silhouetted against the sky, and the call to prayer echoing across the water, this place will take your breath away.

Istanbul is, overall, a very safe city to visit (just keep an eye out for pickpockets), and is easy to explore independently.

However, if you would prefer a guided tour to see the highlights, there are many excellent companies to choose from.

Click here for more information.

Amasra is one of the prettiest towns in Northern Turkey and probably my favourite city in Turkey.

Located on the Turkish Black Sea coast, it’s a popular holiday destination for Istanbulites and others from the surrounding regions.

Driving the 450 kilometres from Istanbul to Amasra is fairly straightforward and takes about 6 hours.

The tiny old town is located on a narrow peninsula, connected by a Byzantine-era stone bridge.

Amasra castle was built by the Romans, and its citadel has walls and other fortifications that date back to the 7th and 8th centuries.

There are enough things to do in Amasra to justify spending at least a couple of days here. It’s a beautiful place to wander, exploring the maze of narrow winding streets.

Amasra has an idyllic natural harbour. In summer, it’s a popular place for swimming and catching the sun. From here, you can also take boat trips along the rugged coastline.

The whole place oozes with rich history and is very atmospheric, especially in the evenings.

There are several little restaurants with outside terraces, where you can feast on freshly caught fish, whilst watching the sun go down.

Amasra is one of my favourite towns in Turkey. As well as being a really pretty place, people here are super friendly.

It’s easy to make friends with strangers, who are often keen to strike up a conversation with you over tea.

3. Amasra to Sinop: Coastal Drive

The coastal road between Amasra and Sinop is one seriously epic drive .

In parts single-track and poorly paved, this road will probably amaze and terrify you in equal measure.

The views are stunning, as the road snakes around jagged cliffs, passing through emerald-green forests, above the impossibly blue, glistening sea.

The 320-kilometre coastal route from Amasra to Sinop takes about 8 hours to drive.

I’d strongly recommend spreading the journey out over a few days though. You want to take your time here. There are loads of beautiful places to stop along the way, and friendly people to meet.

Having your own car is strongly recommended, so you can take as long as you want and stop wherever you fancy.

Some of the best places to stop along the coastal highway include:

Kurucaşile: has a famous shipbuilding yard where you can see traditional wooden boats being built by hand.
Kapısuyu and/or Çakraz: both fantastic spots for beach camping , lunch, chilling, etc.
Cide (pronounced “Chide”): has a great beach and decent, cheap accommodation.
Gideros Bay: a beautiful spot for a picnic.

However, fear not if you don’t have a car.

It is possible to do the journey by taking several dolmuş (pronounced “dol-mush”) – i.e. shared minibus taxis, similar to matatus or dala-dalas in Africa, which run on set routes along the way.

Not the most comfortable way to travel (and the driving is often pretty aggressive), but fun all the same.

(Make sure you grab a window seat on the left side of the bus, for the best views!)

Sinop is an ancient walled city built on a narrow peninsula jutting out into the Black Sea.

Historically important since the time of the ancient Greeks, today Sinop is said to be the happiest city in Turkey . It’s also one of the best cities to visit in Turkey.

Sinop is a peaceful, pleasant place with an attractive seafront and lots of good places to eat and drink.

Take a wander along the harbour, where you’ll find many cafes and stalls selling amazingly fresh grilled fish .

Sinop Castle was originally built in the 7th century BC and is one of the main sights in town. This amazing fortress housed an infamous jail up until 1997 when it was converted into an open-air museum.

Starting at the castle, you can walk along the tops of the old city walls . Climb up the main tower for panoramic views over the old city, its harbour, and out to sea.

Trabzon is the largest city in Turkey’s Eastern Black Sea region and is a convenient hub for exploring the area. It’s also one of the cheapest places to visit in Turkey.

This is another place steeped in thousands of years of history, dating back to the 8th century BC. It was an important port on the route linking Persia to the Mediterranean.

Trabzon’s ancient walled city was built into the side of a hill, with steep flights of stairs connecting several neighbourhoods.

There are many ancient churches, monasteries and mosques in and around Trabzon. The most famous of these is the Hagia Sophia ( /Aya Sofya ).

This smaller cousin of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the best-preserved Byzantine buildings in the world.

Inside, the walls and ceilings are covered in intricate frescoes depicting stories from the Bible.

The Ottomans converted this amazing building into a mosque. Since then, it has served as both a hospital and a museum and is now again a mosque.

6. Sumela Monastery

At an altitude of 1,200 metres, perched on a ledge halfway up a vertical cliff, Sumela Monastery has the most incredible setting imaginable.

Getting to this unbelievable place is part of the experience. You have to follow a winding road up through a misty valley, past raging streams and gushing waterfalls.

Looking up into the thickly forested mountains, you might catch a glimpse of the monastery, suspended impossibly on the cliff edge.

This Greek Orthodox monastery was founded in the 4th century and is built, literally, out of the side of the mountain.

Looking out of the narrow windows into thin air, all the way down to the valley floor below, it’s hard not to be amazed that this was built 1,700 years ago .

The complex has several chapels, including a rock church decorated with beautifully intricate frescoes depicting Biblical scenes.

There are several other buildings around the main courtyard, including kitchens, a bakery, living quarters, a library, and a natural spring said to contain holy water.

It’s certainly one of the most touristy sites in Northern Turkey, but is an incredible place nonetheless. Definitely worth a visit.

I’d try to go early or late in the day (ideally midweek) to avoid the worst of the crowds.

The attractive village of Uzungöl is situated on the shores of a lake, 90 kilometres south-east of Trabzon, in a valley surrounded by towering mountains.

It’s a popular rural retreat with people from Trabzon and surrounding cities, who come here for long weekends to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

Uzungöl has a definite Alpine feel, with several smart wooden lodges boasting comfortable rooms and a range of facilities.

Inan Kardeşler Hotel is a popular one, and has a fantastic restaurant specialising in local dishes.

Hiking is a popular activity in the area, and there are several trails starting from the village.

Depending on how far you want to go, you can either take a leisurely stroll around the lake or hike further up through the thick forests into the surrounding mountains.

The Culture Routes Society has some great information on the various long-distance hiking trails and biking routes in Turkey.

Rize is another town on the Turkish Black Sea coast, 80 kilometres east of Trabzon.

There’s a decent range of places to stay here, and it makes a good base for exploring the surrounding area.

Rize is an important centre of tea production . People in Turkey drink a lot of tea, and Rize tea (“ Rize çayı “) is said to be the highest quality. (If you haven’t tried Turkish tea, do – it’s delicious!)

The fertile green hills of Rize province are home to several large tea plantations, some of which you can visit.

One of the most accessible is the Ziraat Tea Garden , a short walk up into the hills from the centre of town.

Here you can sample the local produce at its freshest, whilst enjoying the views over Rize and the surrounding hills.

Rize also has a medieval castle , built in the 6th century, plus a small ethnographic museum .

9. Ayder Yaylası

Turkey’s Black Sea region has many yayla (summertime mountain pastures). Ayder is one of the most famous of these.

Located in a lush green valley in the Kaçkar Mountains , about 84 kilometres from Rize, the village itself has beautiful surroundings.

People come here to enjoy the fresh air, fantastic mountain scenery, and the famous hot springs , which are said to have healing properties.

Ayder is surrounded by densely forested mountains, sparkling streams and waterfalls. It’s a beautiful spot and a perfect place to connect with your inner calm .

And if that’s too hippie-dippy for you, there are many hikes and mountain biking trails in the hills around the area.

Keep an eye out for the many beehives which are hung on trees. Rhododendron honey is a speciality of this region.

10. Karagöl Sahara Milli Parkı

In the far corner of north-eastern Turkey, near the border with Georgia, you will find the Karagöl Sahara National Park ( Milli Parkı ).

This 8,000-acre park has a beautifully wild feel, whilst still being fairly accessible. It’s a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and campers.

There’s a lodge located inside the park where you can stay, if you’d prefer not to camp.

This is one of the best places to visit in Turkey in September, especially if you are a keen hiker. At this time, the weather is likely to be warm and dry, though you should always be prepared for rain.

11. Ani Ruins

130 kilometres southeast of Karagöl Sahara, on the (closed) border with Armenia, is the ruined city of Ani .

Ani is sometimes called the City of 1,001 Churches and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

Strategically located on a triangular plateau between three gorges, Ani was the capital of the medieval Armenian kingdom in the 10th and 11th centuries.

At this time, it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the world.

Ani was later an important trading post on the Silk Road , which linked China to Europe and the Middle East, due to its strategic location at the crossroads of cultures.

However, the Mongols captured and sacked the city in the 1200s, which marked the start of its gradual decline.

Damaged by earthquakes, harsh weather and repeated Mongol invasions, the beautiful buildings were later abandoned and forgotten .

Today, this amazing, otherworldly place feels like a mythical ghost city. The whole area is eerily silent. I didn’t see any other tourists there at all, which is amazing given how spectacular and unique it is.

Exploring the crumbling ruins, with no other soul in sight, it’s easy to imagine you are discovering for the first time the remains of a long-lost civilisation.

Ani is one of the most surreal, memorable places I’ve ever visited. It’s definitely one of the most underrated locations in Turkey. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Tours Of The Turkish Black Sea Coast Region

If you want to visit northern Turkey and the Black Sea coast region, but don’t want to have to bother with the hassle and logistics of organising your trip independently, you could always join a guided tour.

There are many different tours to choose from. Some are short day trips with guides, others are multi-day (or even multi-week) trips where all of your transport and accommodation is taken care of.

It’s up to you what style of trip appeals to you most.

You can browse through and book some of the most high-rated North Turkey tours on Viator .

Practical Info & Tips

Here’s some additional practical information and tips to help you plan your trip to Karadeniz.

How To Get To Northern Turkey

Istanbul Airport is Turkey’s main port of entry. It’s a global aviation hub, and most major international airlines fly here.

Alternatively, you could fly to Ankara (Turkey’s capital city), and then head north to the Black Sea.

There are a few international flights to Turkey’s Black Sea cities (such as Trabzon and Samsun), but not many. Either way, it’ll probably be cheaper to fly to Istanbul.

I use – and recommend – Aviasales to find the best deals on flights. Their search engine is really easy to use and often picks up on promotions and discounted fares that are missed by other comparison sites.

You can search across a range of dates, and it suggests the best dates and times for you.

Give it a try! Click here to compare the cheapest flights available.

Istanbul is a major port , and it’s also possible to arrive here by ship.

I’ve also crossed into (and out of) Turkey through the land borders with both Greece and Georgia , both of which are fairly straightforward.

If you’re bringing a car with you, make sure you have its registration documents to hand, in case customs officers want to see them.

International driving permits are not strictly necessary, though I think it’s always a good idea to have one, to avoid any potential issues at the border.

Transport Around Karadeniz

Sightseeing in Turkey is a breeze, and the country has an excellent public transport network.

Cheap and comfortable long-distance coaches connect most major towns and cities.

Dolmuş minibus taxis ply the routes between the smaller towns and villages, both on the coast and in the mountains.

However, if your budget will stretch to hiring a car , I’d strongly recommend it.

Turkey’s Black Sea region is an amazing place for a road trip . Having your own car enables you to travel at your own pace and stop wherever you want. Finding free parking usually isn’t difficult either.

It’s much easier to get to more remote places (e.g. lakes, forests, and the surrounding countryside) if you have your own wheels.

For those who are into camping, this also helps to keep your costs way down. 🙂

Cheap car hire in Turkey

The best deals on car hire in Turkey are usually found on localrent.com . They compare the prices of local car rental companies, which tend to be significantly cheaper than the big international hire companies.

Click here for the latest prices.

Alternatively, why not drive your own car there…

And if you have even more time, see my guide to travelling from Tbilisi to Mestia , in neighbouring Georgia. This would make an excellent extension to your Karadeniz road trip.

** Love road trips? Me too. Check out some of my other road trip-related posts, including:

Romania Road Trip: Everything You Need To Know
Oman Road Trip: An Epic Arabian Adventure
The Perfect Albania Road Trip
Ethiopia: A Road Trip Like No Other **

Where To Stay In Northern Turkey

With the notable exception of Istanbul, accommodation in Karadeniz is generally much cheaper than the more touristy parts of the country (e.g. the Mediterranean southwest coast, Cappadocia, etc.).

House of one of the many kind strangers who invited me to stay in Northern Turkey

In most places, you’ll find a range of different accommodations, ranging from simple pansiyons (guesthouses) to luxury hotels. Most offer free WiFi and free parking.

It’s usually a good idea to book in advance, especially during Turkish public holidays .

Booking.com is a great place to look to compare the lowest prices.

Click here to compare the latest prices.

If you have camping gear, there are many great campsites , often in picturesque locations.

For those keen to do a spot of wild camping , this is generally fine, provided you are considerate of your surroundings.

Don’t pitch up too close to where people live/work, don’t be stupid with fire, and take all of your rubbish with you.

Check out this article where I review the best tents for wild camping .

In short… One of the best tents that money can buy is the MSR Hubba Hubba 2-person tent .

Best Time To Visit Northern Turkey

Northern Turkey has a milder, wetter climate than the rest of the country. Humidity is fairly high, and you should be prepared for rainfall year-round, due to the mountains and the Black Sea north of Turkey.

The best time to visit the north coast of Turkey is between June and September when the region receives the least rain and the weather is pleasantly warm.

However, accommodation is typically more expensive during the summer months.

Due to its unique mild climate, north Turkey is also one of the best places to visit in Turkey in July, when the rest of the country is baking in the midsummer heat.

The mountains can be cold and misty even in the summer though, so warm clothing and waterproofs are essential if you’re planning to hike.

Winters in the Black Sea region are cool and damp. Though this is when accommodation is usually cheapest.

FAQs About Visiting Karadeniz

Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions about planning a trip to the Karadeniz region of Turkey.

What is the North Coast of Turkey like?

The North Coast of Turkey, also known as the Black Sea region, or Karadeniz , is known for its lush green landscapes, rugged coastline, and traditional villages. This region contrasts sharply with the arid parts of central Turkey, offering dense forests, tea plantations, and high rainfall.

Where is less touristy in Turkey?

Less touristy areas in Turkey often include the Eastern Anatolia region, the Black Sea coast, and parts of Central Anatolia. These regions offer a more authentic Turkish experience with fewer crowds, rich culture, stunning natural landscapes, and unique historical sites.

What is Karadeniz famous for?

Karadeniz, or the Black Sea region of Turkey, is famous for its lush green landscapes, unique culture, and distinct cuisine. Characterized by dense forests, rolling hills, and tea plantations, it offers stunning natural beauty. The region’s coast features charming towns and historic sites, while its cuisine is known for dishes like hamsi (anchovies) and cornbread.

Is Turkey’s Black Sea region worth visiting?

Turkey’s Black Sea region is definitely worth visiting. It offers a unique experience with its lush greenery, distinctive culture, and less-trodden paths compared to Turkey’s more famous tourist destinations. The region’s natural beauty, from its rugged coastline to forest-covered mountains, is exceptional.

Is Turkey safe to visit?

Most parts of Turkey are pretty safe to visit, as long as you take the usual precautions you would anywhere. That said, the safety situation can vary regionally , especially in parts of southeast Turkey. Karadeniz is overall a very safe region. Check up-to-date government advice about the areas you plan to visit.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve found this Northern Turkey travel guide helpful.

Karadeniz is one of the most beautiful, unexplored places in Turkey. If you’ve never visited before, I’d really recommend it.

Have I missed any of your favourite destinations? Which do you think are the most beautiful towns in Turkey? Let me know in the comments below.

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You can see all tours and activities in Fethiye with Fethiye Tours

I am so intrigued to travel in N. Turkey. We went to Turkey many years ago but only for 12 days. We would also really like to visit Georgia. I’ve heard it is beautiful. Can one take a rental car across the border to Georgia?

Both are amazing places!

Re taking a Turkish rental car across the border to Georgia: yes, it’s generally possible, as long as your rental company allows it (check this – not all do) and you have the necessary paperwork.

Get a letter/written permission from the rental company authorising you to take the car across the border (this is sometimes called a “no objection certificate”). The border officials will probably ask to see this.

Also, make sure your insurance covers you for driving in Georgia as well as Turkey. Again, speak with the rental company to check this and ask them to give you a “green card” (i.e. an international insurance card proving that the vehicle is insured).

Finally, make sure you have the vehicle registration documents and a copy of your rental agreement, in case you’re asked to show these too.

Hope you have a great time!

A Journey Through Northern Turkey: Destinations Beyond Istanbul

October 16, 2023

If you were to list the many destinations in the world that are a jack of all trades for natural beauty and tourism, you’d have to put Turkey among the top. The country is blessed with all kinds of geological wonders and natural landscapes. Which is why this is a destination where a lot of tourists return back to, time and time again. Most people swarm towards the sandy beaches in Antalya, the hilly landscape of Cappadocia, and the iconic city life of Istanbul. But for those who seek the true natural gems and the hidden beauty of the country, the destinations in northern Turkey awaits them.

From misty, forested mountains to rainforests, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes; there’s so much more than what meets the eye in northern Turkey. Aside from the lush scenic views, the north of Turkey is equally blessed with historic landmarks and architectural wonders, which is what makes it a truly perfect tourist destination.

Unlike the west and southwest of the country, the north remains an underrated destination. With countless hidden gems and tourism experiences, here are the top locations to explore in the north of Turkey.

Exploring the Scenic Beauty of Northern Turkey

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Tucked away in the chilly breeze and lush greenery, there’s much to discover and explore when it comes to the destinations in northern Turkey. Here are some top destinations in the north that offer scenic beauty, historical value, and stellar travel experiences:

Artvin, or “ Hidden Heaven ,” is a famous tourist location in Turkey’s northwestern region. The place is well-known for its magnificent natural beauty, inviting everyone with a love for the flora and fauna. Artvin is home to stunning waterfalls, national parks, deep forests, and lakes which offer relaxing boat rides. The region is famous for its botanical diversity and inhabits almost 3000 native and exotic species. When visiting Artvin, include Borcka Karagol Lake, Hell Canyon, Altiparmak Park, Gunesli Waterfalls, and Tavsan Tepe Park in your to-do list.

Nestled on a steep ridge with gorgeous views of the Black Sea, Rize is Turkey’s famous “green city”. The city is a dream come true for all nature lovers, with lush greenery covering all the exploration spots. The region of Camlihemsin is famous among tourists, with a long river running across the road connecting it to Ardesen. Rize is also well-known for its tea production, which contributes a huge part to its green landscape.

With various canyons, springs, vast open spaces, lakes, and plains to explore, it’s no wonder why Rize is a popular tourist destination in northern Turkey. Some famous places to visit in Rize are the Rize Fortress, Ataturk House & Ethnography Museum, Rize Museum, Akyamac Falls Nature Park, Fırtına Creek, Palovit Waterfall, and Mount Kaçkar.

Because of its historical landmarks, mountains, and other natural attractions, Trabzon remains to be the top destination in northern Turkey. Both the city and the region of Trabzon boast incredible mountains covered in flora, icy peaks, sapphire lakes, and plateaus. The landscapes in Trabzon paint a picture of serenity and natural beauty. By combining the splendour of mountain flora with the blueness of the water, almost all tourist activities include natural elements. Tourists can go boating, hike along the verdant hills, and unwind in the arms of nature in one of the wooden cabins.

Amasra is one of northern Turkey’s most beautiful towns. It’s a popular holiday resort for Istanbul residents and those from the surrounding areas because it’s located in the Black Sea region. Tourists can reach Amasra in 6 hours from Istanbul. The tiny old town is situated on a narrow peninsula connected by a stone bridge from the Byzantine era. Built by the Romans, the Amasra fortress and its citadel date back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Tourists can visit the Kemere Bridge, Amasra Museum, Amasra Fortress, Çekiciler Çarşısı, Barış Akarsu Park, and the Weeping Tree.

Ayder Yaylası

Turkey’s Black Sea region is rich in Yayla (mountain pastures). One of the most famous is Ayder Yaylası, which is surrounded by dense woods and lofty peaks. The pasture itself is around 84 kilometers from Rize in a valley filled with lush greenery in the Kaçkar Mountains. People travel here to enjoy the crisp air, breathtaking mountainous views, and the famous hot springs, which are reputed to have therapeutic effects. There are also mystical streams and waterfalls around Ayder. It’s a lovely location to unwind and breathe in one of nature’s most stunning locations. There are many hiking, biking, and paragliding spots scattered around Ayder that offer a mix of thrill with stunning views of the location.

Uzungol is located near the south of the Trabzon region and is a must-see for any visitor. This is a place people swarm to summer or winter, since both seasons offer stunning vistas of this incredible location. The true beauty of Uzungol is at the heart of it, in the the mystical Uzungol Lake. The lake is located at the foothills of the neighbouring mountains, which contributes to its lush beauty. Despite the abundance of tourists and locals, the town itself offers a quiet ambience that goes along perfectly with its landscape. Tourists can relax here and take in the scenery of northern Turkey by stopping by for a cup of steaming hot Turkish tea at one of the several cafés spread around the region.

The Enchanting Landscapes of Northern Turkey

Northern Turkey is truly a place brimming with bits of heavenly beauty scattered throughout. For those who cannot resist exploring and relaxing in the lush green and white scenery in Turkey, the northern region is the place to go. Do you want to explore the country’s stunning beauty? All with pre-booked accommodations, guided tours, and the opportunity to skip the lines? If the answer’s yes, then you’re in the right place.

iLinkTurkey offers a diverse range of guided tour packages for destinations in northern Turkey . Head over to our packages and book one of our best-selling Trabzon package s now.

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The Best of Northern Turkey: What to Visit?
Destinations

Northern Turkey has received a ray of sunshine, bringing natural beauty to all of its cities. This sentence can be used to describe the various tourist attractions in Turkey’s north, which include green hills, natural lakes, quiet forests, farms, waterfalls, and breathtaking parks and gardens, making it a popular destination for tourists who prefer to spend their nights away from the stress and bustle of cities.

The Best Tourist Destination in Northern Turkey

Exploring the best of Northern Turkey, we’re going to enlist the top tourist attractions you can find here. Let’s get started!

Tourists prefer Trabzon for its historical sites, mountains, and natural beauty, particularly Uzungol, one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations. Uzungol combines the splendour of mountain greenery with the blueness of water to create a gorgeous nature painting. The lush hills of Rize are among the most popular tourist destinations, where visitors can relax in the arms of nature in one of the wooden cabins. They also flock to Buztepe, one of Rize’s highest peaks and a popular site for enjoying the cold breeze and views of the Black Sea in the summer, which is accessible by cable car.

♦ 4 Days Trabzon Tour From Istanbul

Artvin putting Autumn attracts Tourists Worldwide

Artvin, often known as the “ hidden heaven ,” is a popular tourist destination in north-eastern Turkey. It is noted for its lovely natural beauty, which provides tranquilly and peace of mind. Tourists flock to Artvin to see the waterfalls, Karagoler Lakes, national parks, woodlands, and lakes where boat trips are available. Artvin, one of the best spots in Northern Turkey, is notable for its plant diversity, which includes 2727 species, making it one of Turkey’s most plant-rich locations. Hatila Park, Borcka Karagol Lake, Hell Canyon, Altiparmak Park, Gunesli Waterfalls, and Tavsan Tepe Park are popular tourist attractions in Artvin.

Rize, Turkey’s green city, is situated on a ridge with views of the Black Sea. There is exquisite natural beauty everywhere; it is even known as the city of green gold, because to the large green spaces that cover all sections, particularly Camlihemsin, which has a long river running across the road connecting it to Ardesen. Rize is also known for its tea production.

Rize is a popular tourist location, including canyons, springs, huge open landscapes, lakes, and plains to explore. Rize’s weather is hot and humid in the summer, attracting a large number of visitors, while it is cold and rainy in the winter, with considerable precipitation.

Uzungol, located south of Trabzon, is a must-see for any traveller who adds it to his itinerary. Visitors gather there to walk and snap photos because of the outstanding natural beauty of the area, where the green of the mountains blends with the blue of the lake to create a charming vista, especially on foggy days. Tourists can stop for a drink at one of the many cafes scattered across the area, where they can relax and take in the scenery of Northern Turkey.

Tourism in Northern Turkey and its Features

Table of Contents

Weather in Northern Turkey

8. sultan murad heights, 10. haider nabi hill, faq about northern turkey, tourism features in northern turkey.

A piece of heaven has fallen on northern Turkey to spread natural beauty across all its cities. Such a sentence can explain the various tourist features in the north of Turkey where you can find green hills, natural lakes, quiet forests, farms, waterfalls, and breath-taking parks and gardens, making it a destination for tourists who prefer spending nights at cool summer, away from stress and bustle of cities.

Northern Turkey features mild weather, mainly in summer, spring, and autumn from May to October, making it the best time for tourism and enjoying the natural beauty.

Winter is cold, with snowfalls and heavy rain, mainly December, January, and February, providing a chance for winter sports lovers to enjoy their time there.

Top 10 Tourist Destinations of Northern Turkey

Artvin, known as the hidden heaven, is located in north-eastern Turkey , one of the most attractive spots, thanks to its charming natural beauty, offering tranquillity and ease of mind.

Tourists visit Artvin to enjoy its waterfalls, Karagoler Lakes, the national parks, forests, and lakes where they can go on boat rides.

Artvin is known for its plant diversity, with 2727 species, making it one of Turkey’s richest areas in plants.

Tourists flock to Artvin to enjoy Hatila Park, Borcka Karagol Lake, Hell Canyon, Altiparmak Park, Gunesli Waterfalls, and Tavsan Tepe Park.

Not to mention, Artvin has a wide variety of historical places such as Ardanuc Castle, Savsat Castle, Ishan Church, Arhavi Bridge, and Ermit Mosque.

Top 10 Tourist Destinations of Northern Turkey

Rize, the green city of Turkey, is located on a mountain slope with views of the Black Sea. Wherever you look, you find the charming natural beauty; it is even known as the city of green gold, thanks to the vast green spaces spreading over all areas, mainly Camlihemsin that features a long river flowing alongside the road linking it with Ardesen. Rize is also famous for tea farming.

Rize is a destination for tourists who flock there to enjoy its canyons, springs, vast green spaces, lakes, and plains.

The weather in Rize is mild and humid in summer, making it an attraction for many visitors, while it is cold in winter with many rainfalls and some snowfalls.

Anzer District is one of Rize’s most attractive spots , known for its wooden houses, built on mountain slopes; some date 500 years ago. Rize also has some thermal hot water baths, which are packed with tourists most time. Not to mention, Agaran Waterfalls in Rize, located amongst trees, are some of the attractions that every visitor would visit.

Like all Turkish cities, Rize has a wide variety of local bazaars and hotels.

Trabzon is the new rising star of tourism in Turkey , thanks to its charming natural beauty that spreads along vast areas, making it a piece of heaven.

Tourists prefer visiting Trabzon to enjoy its historical places, mountains, and natural beauty, mainly Uzungol, one of Turkey’s most-visited spots. Uzungol features the beauty of mountain greenness mixed with water blueness, forming a stunning natural painting.

Rize’s green hills are some of the most-visited spots by tourists where they can enjoy tranquillity among the arms of nature in one of the wooden cottages. They also flock to Buztepe, one of Rize’s highest peaks and a spot for enjoying the cool breeze in summer and views of the Black Sea, which can be reached by cable car.

Tourists will also have the opportunity to visit Trabzon Castle, located on Trabzon’s highest mountain peak. The castle was built to fend off potential attacks from the sea; nowadays, it has many cafes serving local drinks, where visitors can enjoy seeing the vast green spaces and the coast.

Uzungol is located south Trabzon, a destination for every tourist who includes it on top of his tours plan. Visitors flock there to wander and take photo ops, thanks to its striking natural beauty, where the greenness of mountains mixes with the lake’s blueness, making a charming view, especially on foggy days.

Tourists can enjoy some drinks in one f the many cafes spreading there, where they will have the opportunity to take a rest and enjoy the natural beauty.

Ayder is a village in Rize, 1350 metres above sea level, one of the most favourite tourist destinations, thanks to its charming beauty, Turkish baths, hot water springs used for healing rheumatism and other skin illnesses.

Tourists will have the chance to spend a lovely time in the arms of nature, buy Turkish honey, and taste the famous pastries and delight of Ayder.

Samsun is located on the Turkish coast of the Black Sea, a destination for tourists who flock there to enjoy its natural beauty and mild climate. It features many natural beauties such as forests, plains, and lovely sea.

Samsun holds various tourist attractions, including Samsun Museum of History and Ethnography, giving tourists the chance to explore the remains of the ancient civilisations that lived there hundreds of years ago.

The Birds’ Heaven field is another spot tourists can visit and enjoy seeing more than 150 species of birds. The field is the second-biggest one in Turkey and third worldwide, with 21.000 m² and 15 km long, home to migrant birds from Siberia.

Located in Ilkadim, Samsun Zoo, one of the most prominent zoos in the Black Sea region, is a destination for tourists to enjoy seeing more than 200 tame and rare animals.

It is worth noting that Tekkekoy Caves in Samsun, which used to be homes for people who lived thousands of years ago, are a tangible witness of life since the stone age.

Thanks to its charming mountains and pleasant green meadows that provide ease of mind, Tranquillity lovers would find Ordu the best destination. Wherever you go in Ordu, you will see snatching views and capturing heart sceneries.

What makes tourism pleasant and lovely in Ordu is the number of facilities found in Ordu; it has various hotels, tourist amenities, restaurants, and shopping malls. Here is a list of Ordu’s most prominent tourist places:

Kurul Castle , 13 km from Ordu’s city centre, is an ancient castle with stunning views of the city, 571 meters above sea level.

Unye Castle , 14 km from Unye city centre, one of Ordu’s most prominent monuments, has a strategic location in the heart of a volcanic hill, 200 metres above sea level.

Ordu Waterfalls are some of Ordu’s most attractive spots, with 35 metres average height and 105 metres long, the most important of which are Ciseli, Kadincik, and Ohtamis. Tourists flock there to enjoy their cool water.

Aybasti Forest is one of Ordu’s attractive spots, with striking natural beauty, mainly Menderes River. Tourists visiting Ordu are recommended to include the forest in their tourist list as they will have the chance to enjoy tranquillity and ease of mind.

Ulugol Lake , 1000 metres above sea level, is a charming place amidst peaceful green mountains, 17 km from the city centre, and is surrounded by oak and platanus trees from all sides. The lake is a tourist destination for thousands of visitors who come to enjoy peaceful ambiences.

Persembe Heights: If you like seeing clouds dancing over green plains, making a breath-taking view, you can visit Persembe Heights, 1500 metres above sea level, where you can also do many activities, including horse-riding and having stagecoach tours.

Located in western Trabzon, 2200 metres above sea level, Sultan Murat Heights is a charming place, attracting many tourists every year. It got its name after Sultan Murad IV visited the area and settled there with his army.

The heights are now a destination for tourists worldwide; they flock there to enjoy heart-capturing views from above. They enjoy seeing clouds and tame animals such as gazelles and squirrels.

It is highly recommended to visit Sultan Murad Heights in summer, but winter tourism lovers can also enjoy seeing snow covering the heights and forming a beautiful, charming natural painting.

Known as the princes’ city, Amasya is located in north-central Turkey, and it was a centre for training the Ottoman Princes by the most prominent scientist, artists, and thinkers of that age.

It was established 8.500 years ago, holding a wide variety of archaeological and historical remains that date back to 14 different civilisations.

Thanks to its ancient and rich history, Amasya is now one of the most tourist and cultural places, attracting tourists and locals who like serene tours amidst historical spots, mainly Seljuk and Ottoman ones. They can also enjoy its wooden houses.

According to official data, 720 tourists visited Amasya in 2019. They must have enjoyed Second Beyazid Complex, the Maidens Palace, wooden houses, and charming nature.

Haider Nabi Hill, 1600 metres high, is one of Trabzon’s most beautiful tourist places , a destination for tourists who enjoy its charming, serene nature that combines green meadows, springs, and lakes.

The experience of climbing the hill give visitors the chance to hug clouds in a charming view amidst plants, trees, flowers, and wooden houses.

Camping lovers can also enjoy pleasant nights on the hill, watching the breath-taking views and having the most delicious food in one of the restaurants spreading there.

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2 Week Turkey Black Sea Roadtrip Itinerary: Off the Beaten Path Adventures

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Are you a travel enthusiast seeking new destinations to explore? If so, embarking on a Black Sea road trip should definitely be on the top of your travel bucket list! 😉

The Black Sea region of Turkey has a jaw-dropping 1,300-kilometer (810 mi) long coastline along its namesake, the Black Sea. This long stretch of rugged paradise is adorned with picturesque landscapes, lesser-known historical sites, and a certain atmosphere of off-the-grid adventure.

This road trip covers some of the best places in Northern Turkey and the Turkish Black Sea, including Sinop, Amasra, Safranbolu, Kastamonu, Amasya, Samsun, and more.

Besides Turkey’s Black Sea cities, there are also optional stops in national parks, canyons, and ancient archaeological sites for those who have a few extra days (or love nature!)

If you’re ready to see the traditional houses of Safranbolu, learn why Sinop is the Happiest City in Turkey, climb up Kastamonu’s castle, chill on the Turkish Black Sea beaches, stroll along Amasya’s riverfront, and try delicious Black Sea dishes, then you’re in the right place!

Let’s go on an unforgettable journey across the Black Sea 🙂

THE BASICS: Turkey’s Black Sea

Best time to go — late spring to summer .

The best time to visit the Black Sea in Turkey is summer, as well as the ‘shoulder season’ months before and after summer. Therefore, the best months to take this roadtrip are between April to September.

The weather is at its best, the sea has pleasantly warm temperatures, and days are longer. If you visit during the shoulder season (March – April or September – October), you’ll also enjoy less crowds.

Two notes: If you visit in early spring, be sure to double check when Ramadan is happening in Turkey. Our trip coincided with the first week of Ramadan, and many places in smaller cities and villages (where we stopped to get a snack or fill up our car) were closed.

Likewise, early spring might also come with pockets of leftover snow near the road! This was only noticeable when we drove the Sinop to Amasra part of this road trip, but still something to keep in mind nonetheless. 🙂

How many days do you need? — 9 to 14 days

Our entire trip took a grand total of 13 days. Technically you can do this route in as little as 9 days if you do some or all of the following:

Drive a full day from Sinop to Amasra (i.e. no overnight stop) — this is best done if you have a second driver
Cut out a second day in Bogazkale
Skip Sahinkaya Canyon
Don’t stop overnight in Samsun on the last day (i.e. drop off your rental car and fly, although this is only recommended if you have at least a few hours before your flight)

If you’re not done with this road trip just yet, you can also add even more Black Sea cities at the end of the itinerary such as Ordu, Trabzon, Rize, and so on.

Difficulty — Easy to Intermediate

Thanks to the excellent Turkish roads and infrastructure of the region, driving about 90% of this road trip route was very easy, enjoyable, and straightforward.

You’re probably wondering about that 10%, aren’t you? Don’t worry, we’re getting there. 😉

The only slightly difficult part of this trip was driving through the mountainous area that made up part of the Sinop to Amasra route, or more specifically, the road from Inebolu to Cide.

Although it’s technically the ‘coastal road,’ a good majority of the D010 state road goes through mountains, and oftentime the road is so narrow that there is room for only one car (i.e. you have to be really careful about oncoming traffic). We recommend driving slowly, paying careful attention, and keeping your window open to hear oncoming traffic. While it might sound daunting, there’s a reward for courageous drivers: a gorgeous viewpoint near the entrance to Cide! 😉

Other than that chunk, it’s all smooth sailing from there. The roads in Turkey are in excellent condition, even in tiny villages!

Renting a car

Renting a car in Turkey is very straightforward, and out of the 10 or so times we’ve rented a car here, all of them have been an enjoyable process. 🙂

For this roadtrip, we ended up going to Cizgi Rent A Car for a few reasons. We’ve used them before in Izmir and Antalya, they have a free pickup option from Samsun airport (just make sure to contact them ahead of time with your flight information), and their customer service is excellent. Our car’s back light stopped working in Safranbolu, and their WhatsApp support quickly solved the problem and reimbursed us for the repair.

When renting a car, here are some important things to look for:

How many total kilometers are included in your rental contact — Our contract with Cizgi had unlimited mileage. The route in this blog post will take about 1,400 km if you visit all of the places (i.e. don’t skip anything).
Automatic or manual transmission — Automatic will cost a little more
Fuel level — Some rental agencies ask you to refill to the maximum, while others ask to bring it back as it was (i.e. if it was half full, return it half full or more)

Start and end point — Samsun!

We decided to start and end this road trip in Samsun (a perfect loop!), and there’s actually a reason behind this — Samsun is very convenient. 😅

Perhaps the most important point is that Samsun has plenty of car rental agencies (both at the airport and city center). When researching this road trip, we tried to look at neighboring cities in the Black Sea like Zonguldak or Sinop, but there were only very local agencies that didn’t have much of an online presence (i.e. on RentalCars ).

Second, Samsun is one of the cities that constitutes a ‘gateway to the Black Sea’ and as such, the Samsun Airport is very well-connected. There are about a dozen direct flights from Istanbul every day (and other cities like Ankara and Izmir), which is very convenient and flexible.

Of course, you can choose to drive the entire loop that we’ve outlined below, or do a smaller part — it’s completely up to you. 🙂

START: Samsun

We took one of the earliest flights from Istanbul to Samsun Çarşamba Airport (SZF) because we wanted to get a head start on our day — if you have a few extra days or want to take it slow, then feel free to choose a flight that works for you.

After arriving at Samsun Airport, go to your car rental agency. There are a handful of car rental agencies right at the airport (you’ll see their kiosks when exiting the arrivals hall), while a few others are located a few minutes’ drive from the airport. Our rental agency (Cizgi) offered a free ride from the airport to their office, but we forgot to write down our flight information (🥲). In any case, there are plenty of taxis outside the airport to take you to the car rental office.

A small note: You can spend a day in Samsun for the first day if you wish, but we saved it for the end of our trip as a way to decompress and get ourselves ready to fly back (plus it’s an excellent ‘buffer’ if your flight back home is later in the day!)

From Samsun, start driving towards Sinop.

SINOP: 1 to 2 days

The first stop on our Black Sea road trip is none other than Sinop. This easygoing city in Turkey’s northernmost region is characterized by rugged nature, nuggets of history, and hearty food. But that’s not all — Sinop was voted the Happiest City in Turkey multiple years in a row! 🙂

If you’re traveling to Sinop in the summer, you’ll also see why it’s called the ‘Bodrum of the Black Sea’ with its sun, sand, and sea trilogy. Let’s check out the city!

What to Do in Sinop

📍 Go to the Top of the Sinop Fortress — Thanks to Sinop’s strategic location, the city needed a fortress to protect the city — which is how the Sinop Fortress came to be. Located in the center of the city, the original fortress spanned a little over 2 kilometers in length and 25 meters in height. You can go to the top for free (check out those views!) and visit the other remnants of the fortress in various parts of Sinop. Check our city guide (link below) for the info.

📍 Visit Arslan Mansion — Once used as a mansion for a wealthy local, the Arslan Torun mansion now houses the city’s ethnography museum and is a treasure trove of beautiful interior design, traditional costumes, and other artifacts from bygone years.

📍 Sinop Prison — Nicknamed the Alcatraz of Anatolia, Sinop Prison held many famous Turkish politicians and writers during its time. Nowadays, the prison was recently reconstructed and turned into a museum.

📍 Statue of Diogenes — Greek philosopher Diogenes was one of the most famous residents of Sinop, and his statue greets everyone who passes through the entrance of the city.

📍 Sinop Archaeological Museum — A well-curated museum with items from Sinop’s history, including the Hellenistic, Roman, Seljuk, and Byzantine periods.

📍 Pervane Medrese — Once used as a theological school, the Pervane Medrese is an excellent example of Seljuk architecture. Nowadays, it’s an open courtyard that’s a lovely place to stop for some coffee and souvenirs.

🍽️ Where to Eat: For some of the best local food, head over to Teyze’nin Yeri Mantı Salonu and try the Sinop Manti. Another good option is Sen Pastaneleri , which has two local dishes — prenses cake and nokul — on their menu.

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? We have an entire Sinop City Guide blog post – click here ! 🙂

Where to Stay in Sinop

Otel 57 — Otel 57 is well-appointed, in an excellent location, and aptly-named (57 is Sinop’s province code)!

The Hotel: Having undergone a recent renovation, the rooms are very comfortable and come with a spacious balcony. There’s a complimentary breakfast buffet every morning. The hotel is steps away from the Sinop Castle and waterfront, as well as plenty of cafes and restaurants.

Parking situation : While there’s no on-site parking (the hotel is located on a main road), the hotel has an agreement with a nearby parking lot. The front desk employee drove us to the parking lot and parked our car (valet-style). The parking lot is free 🙂

Other excellent options:

Denizci Hotel — Practically next door to Otel 57, offering sea views and complimentary breakfast. BOOK HERE
Dolunay Hotel — Located in the historical center, with modern rooms and a public parking lot behind the hotel. BOOK HERE
Sinop Antik Otel — Located on the road to Sinop’s city center, Antik Otel is especially popular during the summer thanks to its private beach (yes, really!), complete with complimentary sun beds and umbrellas. BOOK HERE

SINOP TO AMASRA DRIVE

Known as one of the most beautiful road trips in Turkey, the Amasra to Sinop drive (or in this case, Sinop to Amasra 😉) is packed with charming seaside towns, gorgeous viewpoints, and hues of blue waves shimmering in the background.

Duration — The Sinop to Amasra drive takes about 7 hours if you drive along the waterfront. You can do it in one day if you switch drivers and/or take frequent breaks (and believe us, there are some awesome villages and towns along the way!)

Due to an abundance of time (and choppy weather), we decided to break this trip into two days: day one was driving from Sinop to Inebolu (3 hours) and the next day from Inebolu to Amasra (4 hours). We highly recommend stopping in Inebolu, as it’s practically the halfway point of the journey.

The road — As we mentioned under The Basics, parts of the road from Sinop to Amasra were a bit challenging. Besides the many winding switchbacks that you’ll need to drive up, some parts of the route are so narrow that only one car can pass at any given time. However, Rough Guide sums it up pretty well: “Beyond Sinop the coast road west is tortuous and slow, but spectacular scenery, unspoiled beaches and small ports offer compensation.”

Places to stop along the Sinop to Amasra drive:

📍 Hamsilos Koyu (15 km from Sinop) — A beautiful little cove that’s very tourist-friendly and has plenty of amenities (spacious parking lot, public toilets, benches to sit, etc). If you’re visiting during the summer season, there are also boats that offer tours around the bay.

📍 İnceburun (22 km from Sinop)— Fun fact: İnceburun is officially the northernmost point of Turkey! There’s a small and picturesque lighthouse that you can access.

📍 Ayancık (58 km from Sinop) — Small town with a lovely beach and fish restaurants along the way.

📍 Inebolu (The half-way point of this drive)— A small quaint town with an Ataturk museum, cafes, restaurants, and a handful of hotels.

📍 Yali / Çayyaka (107 km to Amasra) — There’s a beautiful viewpoint on the D010 road just before you enter Çayyaka ( photo above ).

📍 Cide (71 km to Amasra) — Be sure to visit Tug Hill Observation Deck ( Tuğ Tepesi Seyir Terası ) for a beautiful view of Cide! It also doubles as a cafe and restaurant, with soft drinks and delicious food.

Accommodations

Mavideniz Otel — A small, family-run hotel located in the center of Inebolu.

The hotel: A breakfast plate was included in the rate, and we had a room with an unspoiled view of the Black Sea. After exploring the town, we came back to the hotel and had a small problem (the room smelled like smoke, presumably from the hotel’s traditional furnace) and the staff helped us quickly settle into a new room.

Parking situation: the hotel has street parking right in front of the building (time to polish off those parallel parking skills :))

AMASRA: 1 Day

Idyllically perched on a peninsula, Amasra is certainly the definition of a hidden gem amidst the Black Sea. This charming small town is immaculately well-kept while still maintaining its former glory, and the best way to experience it is by walking along the palm-lined seaside promenade before dipping under a stone bridge to explore the castle and historic houses.

What to Do in Amasra

You won’t find many of the typical tourist attractions thanks to Amasra’s small size — so this is the perfect opportunity to relax, take a leisurely stroll around the city, and enjoy the atmosphere!

📍 Amasra Museum — Covering five eras of history — the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottoman periods — the Amasra Museum is a must-visit stop for getting acquainted with the history of this region. The exhibits are well-done, with interactive displays, archaeological artifacts, ethnographic items, and even two rooms full of historical sculptures and busts.

📍 Take a Boat Tour — During the tourist season, there are multiple scenic boat tours around the harbor / Rabbit Island — head over to the harbor and you’ll see a few kiosks advertising the tours.

📍 Explore the Old City — Known as the Kaleici Mahalle (Inner Castle neighborhood), this area is full of charming traditional houses and cobblestone streets.

📍 Kemere Bridge — This historical bridge, which was built in the 9th century, connects two parts of Amasra’s Castle and is an attraction in its own right. It’s a lovely place to take a photo or watch the sunset.

🍽️ Try a local delicacy — If you’re visiting the Black Sea, you’ll definitely want to try the local dish — which is fish, of course! There are a dozen fish restaurants in Amasra to choose from, but we went with Gunbatimi Balik. Be sure to go to the second floor to enjoy a gorgeous view of the city.

Where to Stay in Amasra

Our hotel was actually in Bartin, the capital of the province, because we saw this beautiful hotel when searching for accommodations and couldn’t say no. 😊 However, we also included a list of hotels in Amasra as well under ‘Other excellent options’.

Kaf Konak — This hotel is an authentic konak, which is a traditional Ottoman-style mansion. The hotel was immaculately restored in 2010, adding modern conveniences yet keeping much of the original walls, design, and heirlooms.

The Hotel: Honestly, this was one of the best hotels during our entire Black Sea trip! The rooms were absolutely fantastic, with plush bedding, adorable little touches (like a retro radio, embroidered lace towels, etc). There’s an on-site restaurant with a nice mix of local and European dishes, and the complimentary Turkish breakfast was amazing !

Parking Situation: There’s no on-site parking (it is an authentic wooden mansion, after all 😉), there is street parking right across the hotel. The owner’s son helped us park 🙂

Sardinia Otel — A beautifully restored hotel right near the fortress. There’s also a spacious terrace and jaw-dropping views of the bay from the rooms. BOOK HERE
Kum Butik Hotel — Before we get any further, kum in Turkish means sand. 🙂 This hotel is located in a traditional Ottoman mansion and within a block of the city center and the beach! BOOK HERE
Amasra Kerem Apart — For those who prefer to have the space and convenience of an apartment, Kerem Apart is within walking distance to the center and has an amazing view from the terrace. As a bonus, there’s free parking for guests. BOOK HERE

SAFRANBOLU: 1 to 2 Days

Safranbolu is one of the most popular cities in the Black Sea, and it’s no wonder why. Once a stop along the Silk Road, Safranbolu has retained many of its traditional Ottoman mansions, as well as a fully-working caravansary (roadside inn) and a cobblestoned Old Town.

Thanks to Safranbolu’s size, the city can easily be seen in one day. However, it’s so picturesque and charming that you might be tempted to extend your stay by a day or two!

What to do in Safranbolu

📍 Walk through the historical bazaar — One of Safranbolu’s top attractions are the multiple bazaars scattered around the historic center. Be sure to get yourself a souvenir or two — the mini wooden houses are especially popular!

📍 Go hunting for Ottoman mansions — Safranbolu is home to more than 2,000 Ottoman-era konak (mansion) houses, each with its own history. The easiest way to get to know these historic beauties is to stay in a konak hotel (see Where to Stay in Safranbolu below), but walking around and admiring the houses is another great idea.

📍 Learn about the History of Kahve at the Coffee Museum — One of our favorite places in Safranbolu! The Coffee Museum is located on the second floor of the historic caravansary (roadside inn). Although the museum might look small at first, it’s a wealth of information (in English and Turkish) and interesting artifacts. Don’t forget to order a coffee from their cafe — they took historic recipes and recreated them for visitors!

📍 Relax at Cinci Hamam — If you’re feeling a little tired from the road trip thus far, then a visit to Cinci Hamam is sure to recharge your batteries! This historic 17th century hamam (Turkish bath) is located right next door to the caravansary (they’re part of the same complex) and is still working. Men and women have separate bathing areas, and there are various spa packages available.

📍 City Museum & Clock Tower — This cheerful yellow building holds plenty of interesting exhibits relating to Safranbolu’s culture and history, including maps, coins, artifacts, photos, handicrafts, clothing, and much more. The Clock Tower is located right behind the City History Museum and features a dozen miniature clock towers from all around Turkey, as well as a larger clock tower that was built in the late 1700s.

📍 Finish off your trip with a panorama at Hidirlik Hill — On your way to the next destination, be sure to stop at Hidirlik Hill and say one final goodbye to Safranbolu! Located on a hill above the city, Hidirlik Hill has a spacious terrace that opens up to a beautiful panoramic view of Safranbolu (great for taking photos!) and a small cafe.

🍽️ Where to Eat: Safranbolu’s strategic location along the Silk Route means that the city has a rich gastronomic history, and you’re sure to find plenty of delicious local dishes! One of the best restaurants in Safranbolu is Safranbolu Zencefil Yöresel Lezzetler because their entire menu is almost all local food — try the Peruhi (Safranbolu-style manti), Bandurma (chicken piled on baked dough), Islama (meat with bread), and Zerde (rice with saffron) for dessert. Other excellent options include Hanim Sultan for local dishes and Arasta Kahvesi 1661 for coffee and desserts.

Where to Stay in Safranbolu

Gunes Konak Otel Safranbolu — İf you’ve ever wanted to stay in a traditional Safranbolu house, here’s your chance, as Gunes Konak is an absolutely adorable konak (historical mansion). The hotel is situated on a quiet street and overlooks the city’s Old Town, which means you’ll get a ton of amazing views.

The Hotel: Our room (Deluxe Double Room) was well-appointed, with traditional design and a spacious sitting nook under the window. That nook became my favorite part, as I would drink my morning coffee and watch the sun set during our two days here! The hotel is also very small (i.e. peaceful) and is run by a very friendly owner that we had the chance to meet and talk to.

Parking situation : Street parking, although it’s absolutely ideal: Gunes is located on a quiet side street (i.e. almost nobody drives by), and you have a view of your car from your room’s window. 🙂

Other excellent options: You really can’t go wrong with booking a hotel in Safranbolu, because they’re all amazing! Here are some places to get you started:

Hilton Garden Inn Safranbolu : For those who prefer the comforts of an upscale hotel (spaciousness, parking, WiFi, pool, etc), the Hilton Garden Inn is an excellent choice. It’s located in the ‘new’ city center (as opposed to the Old Town), but you can reach Safranbolu’s historic center with a quick 5-minute taxi ride. BOOK HERE
Akbulut Konak : Perfectly situated between the new city center and the Old Town, Akbulut retains many of its elegant historic charms with a modern twist. Plus, the breakfast is absolutely epic! BOOK HERE
Gulevi Safranbolu : This hotel is actually made up of three Ottoman mansions (16 total rooms) and has a distinct boutique hotel feel — and a ‘secret garden’ out back! BOOK HERE

DRIVE FROM SAFRANBOLU TO KURE DAGLARI NATIONAL PARK (1.5 hours)

After exploring the city, it’s time to get back on the road — thankfully, there are plenty of interesting attractions on the drive from Safranbolu to our next destination! Travel tip : If you’re short on time, you can do this part and visit Kure Daglari National Park (below) in one day if you wake up early. Note: All of the following places are located within 2 kilometers from each other. If you decide to do this road trip without a car (i.e. visiting only the major cities by plane or bus), you can still take a taxi and visit the following places.

📍 Crystal Glass Terrace — Just outside of Safranbolu is this glass canyon with jaw dropping views of the river and canyon below. Entrance is 20 TL for adults, and there is also a cafe and zipline in the tourist complex. 📍 Tokatli Kanyonu — If you have some free time, you can also explore the aqueduct and canyon below the glass terrace. 📍 Nostalji Gezi Evi — Translated to ‘Nostalgia Travel House,’ this traditional mansion is full of interesting retro items from bygone years, including motorcycles, books, coins from around the world, and other vintage goods. There’s also a cafe with a terrace. 🙂

KURE DAGLARI NATIONAL PARK: 1 Day

Küre Mountains National Park (in Turkish, Küre Dağları Milli Parkı) is one of 45 national parks in Turkey, and one of the most popular in the Black Sea region. The park covers an area of more than 93,000 acres, although only a fraction is available to the public — which we’ll explore today!

Horma Canyon — The first stop is Horma Canyon, which is accessible thanks to a 3-kilometer wooden trail. You’ll walk through lush forests, above flowing rivers, and be treated to a natural pool at the end of the walk. Entrance is 16 TL for adults and 8 TL for children.

After exploring Horma Canyon, you can take a taxi or dolmus back to the parking lot (or walk!). From there, it’s about an hour drive to our next destination…

Çatak Canyon Observation Deck ( above) — Located some 450 meters above ground, the Çatak Canyon Observation Deck (Turkish: Çatak Kanyonu Cam Seyir Terası) offers visitors the chance to see beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding forest and canyon. Follow Google Maps for the observation deck until you reach a parking lot. From there, it’s a 1 kilometer walk to the deck. If you’re hungry, be sure to pack a picnic lunch, as there are open-air eating areas at the tourist complex.

Where to Stay near Kure Daglari NP

Kanyon Park Otel

The Hotel: A wonderfully cozy hotel complex with stand-alone ‘mini cabins’ and an on-site restaurant. Best of all, the hotel is a short ~15 minute drive to the Kure Daglari NP. 🙂

Parking situation: There’s plenty of available parking inside the hotel complex, and we parked ‘behind’ our cabin.

KASTAMONU: 1 Day

While Kastamonu might look like an ordinary city at first glance, it turned out to be one of the most charming and memorable places during our road trip — and we’re sure that you’ll love it as well. 🙂

Kastamonu is one of those cities that is often overlooked, yet offers so many delights and surprises to those who take the time to visit and get to know it. Kastamonu’s historical charms and an atmosphere of undeniable authenticity sets it apart from the mainstream tourist cities.

What to do in Kastamonu

📍 Climb to the top of Kastamonu Castle ( above) — The diamond in Kastamonu’s crown is none other than the historical castle, which was built in the 12th century and still retains many of its original features. While the hike up is a bit challenging due to the elevation (and slopes), the view of the city is worth it! We recommend visiting just before sunset for the best experience. Entrance is free.

📍 Learn Kastamonu’s History at the City Museum — This cheerful yellow building… Just kidding, if you’ve been reading this whole blog post, you might have noticed that we copied the intro from Safranbolu’s city museum 😉 But really, Kastamonu’s city museum definitely deserves a visit! While not translated to English, you can easily spend an hour or two looking at the exhibitions (just be sure to have Google Translate open!) Just behind the museum is a Clock Tower with an excellent view of the city.

📍 See the Traditional Ottoman Mansions — One of life’s greatest pleasures is enjoying a quiet stroll in a new place, and Kastamonu is just the place to do so. Some of the best-preserved houses can be found in the Akmescit, Ismail Bey, and Hepkebirler (center) neighborhoods.

📍 See the Home Tombs — One of the most unusual attractions in Kastamonu are the Ev Kaya Mezarları, which literally translates to Home Rock Tombs. These tombs were built by Paphlagonians in the 7th century BC and are known as the oldest rock tombs in the province. There are stairs that go to the tombs, as well as a board with information. Google Maps doesn’t have a marker for these tombs, so click here for the coordinates .

📍 Go People Watching at Nasrullah Square — Visit the main square of Kastamonu to experience the local atmosphere, enjoy some tea at a traditional café, and see the impressive Nasrullah Mosque. Stop by Erdem Sepetçioğlu to buy some delicious goodies as souvenirs.

🍽️ Where to Eat: Kastamonu has many delicious specialities, including banduma (pieces of boiled chicken placed on lavash and topped with sauce and crushed nuts), etli ekmek (gozleme-style bread with bits of pastrami inside), elma eğşisi (a cold drink from boiled wild apples), and cekme helva .

We especially recommend eating at Penbe Han, which is a restored caravansary from the 15th century. The menu features plenty of local dishes (including those listed above) and a wonderful atmosphere — if the weather is good, enjoy your food in the garden. Likewise, Eflani Konağı is another great option for local food, especially their banduma.

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? We have an entire Kastamonu City Guide blog post – click here! 🙂

Where to Stay in Kastamonu

Lidya Otel — One of our favorite hotels during the trip! Besides being one of the top-rated hotels in Kastamonu, it’s run by a very nice and hospitable family 🙂

The Hotel: The hotel has 20 rooms in total (16 standard + 4 family rooms), which were comfortable and very spacious. Breakfast was included. A cute fun fact: Each of the rooms is named after a city or town in Kastamonu province. It’s located on a quiet street and just a short 5-minute walk to the city center.

Parking situation : There’s some street parking in front of the hotel (valet), as well as a free parking lot across the hotel. We dropped off our car in front and the owner reparked it in the parking lot. We met some other hotel guests from Poland who were traveling around Turkey in a large campervan-style car, and they had no problem parking either — the parking lot is spacious!

OTHER EXCELLENT OPTIONS:

-Uğurlu Konakları — A typical Ottoman mansion with modern rooms. While it’s located close to Kastamonu’s city center, the hotel is on a quiet street. BOOK HERE

– Park Dedeman Kastamonu — The creme de la creme of hotels, Park Dedeman has absolutely everything you could ever want in a hotel, including a lounge, fitness center, terrace, in-house restaurant, pool, hammam, and spa! BOOK HERE

DRIVE FROM KASTAMONU TO BOGAZKALE & Route Notes

After Kastamonu, it’s time to hit the road again 🙂 Unfortunately, the drive from Kastamonu to our next destination (Bogazkale) is a bit uneventful and bland, although you’ll get to see plenty of Anatolian steppes and farmland. The approximate driving time from Kastamonu to Bogazkale is around 4 hours. If you have a flexible schedule, you can drive from Kastamonu to Ankara (the capital) and spend a few days there. The driving time from Kastamonu to Ankara is about 3.5 hours, and then it’s another 2.5 hours from Ankara to Bogazkale. We didn’t go to Ankara on this trip, but it’s certainly a possibility if you would like to do so — just look for hotels with parking. Likewise, you can stop at Ilgaz Mountain National Park (Turkish, Ilgaz Dağı Milli Parkı) along the way, but there’s not much to see. The area is popular with skiers, and in early April, there was still snow when we visited.

BOGAZKALE: 1 to 2 days

While very much under the (tourist) radar, Boğazköy-Alacahöyük National Park is one of the most significant historical archaeological sites in this part of Turkey. The park is actually made up of two ancient cities — Boğazköy and Alacahöyük — which were among the most important Hittite settlements. While it’s written as Boğazköy-Alacahöyük Milli Parkı ( Bogazköy-Alacahöyük National Park ), it’s actually two separate parks that are 35 kilometers apart.

We spent most of our time at the Boğazköy site (in Bogazkale), since it was a short drive from our Airbnb. The Alacahöyük site is about a 30-minute (35 km) drive from the first park.

Since Google Maps doesn’t show to locations very well, here are the coordinates for both sites:

Boğazköy site
Alacahöyük site

Boğazköy is best visited by car, as you’ll be driving around a very large area. There are about 6 parking spots where you can park your car and go exploring on foot, including the famous lion statues, the mysterious Potern tunnel, the remnants of the city walls, and the King’s gate.

The site has plenty of informational signs in multiple languages (including English), but you can also buy an informational book from the gift shop if you want to get the full story. It’s written by a German professor who took part in the original excavations of the archaeological site, and we’re really glad that we bought it!

After visiting the park, we opted to stay at an Airbnb because there was very little choice in terms of hotels and accommodations. We found this apartment and recommend it — the host is friendly, there’s plenty of space, and there’s a laundry machine. 🙂

The next day, you can either go straight to the next destination (Amasya) or stop by the second archaeological site (Alacahöyük). When you drive from Bogazkoy to Amasya, you’ll see signs for Alacahöyük along the highway — follow them and they’ll lead you to the site.

AMASYA: 2 Days

With its meandering canal splitting the city in two, charming antique houses, and soft green mountains in the background, it’s easy to imagine Amasya as a city fit for a fairytale.

One of Turkey’s most underrated cities, Amasya is famous for many things, including its juicy apples, beautiful waterfront houses, and remnants of the Pontic Kingdom. Its laid back atmosphere reminded us of Amasra, its houses were similar to those in Safranbolu, and it has a well-preserved castle like that in Kastamonu. In short, Amasya has a little bit of everything from our trip!

What to do in Amasya

📍 Marvel at the Charming Antique Houses — These well-preserved wooden structures, called Yaliboyu , are adorned with intricate carvings that evoke a sense of nostalgia and offer a glimpse into the city’s rich architectural heritage. There are dozens of yaliboyu along Amasya’s waterfront, and the best way to see them is with a relaxing stroll parallel to the river. Some of these houses have also been converted into hotels — check the ‘Where to Stay in Amasya’ section for some of them!

📍 Hike up to the King Rock Tombs — One of the first things you might notice in Amasya are the imposing tombs carved into the mountainside. They’re known as the Tombs of the Kings of Pontus, and consist of five ancient burial chambers that were created more than 2,000 years ago. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and have a bottle of water for the hike up!

📍 See the City from Amasya Castle — Make your way to Amasya Castle and be rewarded with panoramic views of the city below. This historical fortress offers a unique perspective on Amasya’s layout, the winding river, and the surrounding landscapes. It’s a great spot for capturing breathtaking photographs! You can either take a taxi or your own car, although the drive up can be daunting for some.

📍 Check out the Sabuncuoglu Medical and Surgical History Museum — This was our personal favorite, as it’s such a unique museum. Set in a historical building from the 1300s, the museum is mostly dedicated to the work of Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu, a local surgeon and physician who pioneered many groundbreaking treatments in the Ottoman empire.

📍 Go Back in Time at the Amasya Archeology Museum — One of the most well-curated museums in the region, the Amasya Archeology Museum has more than 24,000 artifacts, including shipwrecks, gold jewelry, mosaics, and even mummies. The collections are beautifully exhibited, and everything is translated in English. 🙂

🍽️ Where to Eat: Amasya is known as the City of Apples, and as such, you’ll find anything and everything with apples 😁 Be sure to try the apple tea — it’s like a mug of coziness!

Other local dishes include the Amasya doughnut (made with poppy filling), Helle soup (rice and butter soup), and Bakla Dolması dolma with beans).

You can try these delicacies at Amaseia Mutfagi , which has a whole menu with local dishes. Other great places include Çörekçi Galip for Amasya doughnuts and Emin Efendi Konakları . We also recommend the Amasya Anadolu Mantı Evi , which has a small but delicious menu of manti from different regions.

LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? We have an entire Amasya City Guide blog post – click here ! 🙂

Where to Stay in Amasya:

Ziyagil Konağı — This sweet family-run hotel made our trip to Amasya even more special because it’s a traditional yaliboyu house!

The Hotel : This hotel has kept much of its original charm, including the beautiful wood carvings and windows. The rooms are comfortable, and the breakfast is delicious and homemade.

Parking situation : You’ll need to drive a narrow back road to get to the hotel (drive very slowly 😅), but there’s free parking about 5 minutes from the hotel. The owner helped us repark our car to the parking lot.

Sarıkonak Boutique & Spa Hotel Amasya — Absolutely luxurious! One of the only hotels in Amasya with a spa and hammam. BOOK HERE
Uluhan Hotel — Be sure to book the Suite room and you’ll have a balcony with views of the river and city! BOOK HERE
Bayezid Han Konak — Another authentic Amasya-style house 🙂 The hotel is exceptionally decorated with elements of luxury and comfort. Note: This hotel is adults only – be sure to keep this in mind if you’re a family traveling with kids. BOOK HERE

(Optional) VEZIRKOPRU: 1 Day

After saying Hoşçakal to Amasya, it’s time to hit the road again. 🙂

This next stop is optional — if you have an extra day and want to enjoy the Black Sea region’s beauty, you can stop at Vezirkopru and visit the Şahinkaya Canyon via boat tour. If not, you can skip this section and go straight to Samsun.

Here’s a quick overview of the drive:

Amasya to Vezirköprü: 77 km (1 hour 10 mins) + Şahinkaya Canyon 20 km (30 min) TOTAL = 100 km (2 hours)

Amasya to Samsun : 126 km (2 hours)

If you decide to visit Vezirkopru, you can stay overnight. We booked Tarihi Taşhan Otel & Restoran and were pleased with the comfortable and spacious room. It’s also located in an old caravansary and has street parking right outside of the hotel 🙂

After settling in, take the car and drive to Şahinkaya Kanyonu. There will be a large parking lot, and a little bit below there’s a pier where the tour boats are parked. The tour takes about 1 hour and costs 80 TL per adult.

(Optional) SAMSUN: 1 Day

Congratulations, you’ve reached the end of the trip! 🎉

You have two options when driving to Samsun: you can either drop off the rental car and go straight to the airport (if your flight is soon), or drop off your car and head into the city for one day (i.e. fly out the next day).

Some places to visit in Samsun include Atatürk Park , taking a stroll along the waterfront , going to the Bandırma Ferry museum , seeing the Clock Tower , and taking the cable car to Amisos Hill .

Where to Stay in Samsun

Osmanlı Paşa Otel- Konaklama

The Hotel : Located within walking distance to the center, Osmanlı Paşa Otel has very comfortable and clean rooms and a very friendly owner — we spent our last evening drinking tea and chatting with him about Samsun’s nature and tourist attractions. 🙂

If the hotel has no availability, be sure to email him — he has another hotel nearby.

Phew, that’s it!! Congratulations, you’ve just taken the trip of a lifetime around Turkey’s Black Sea!! We hope this guide was helpful in planning your trip. 🙂

PHOTO CREDITS: Horma Canyon by Cems77 | Sahinkaya Canyon by Assyrtiko

Road Trip in Turkey: 20 Incredible Places to Visit

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Turkey is a one-of-a-kind country, with a foot in both Europe and Asia. Its dramatic mountains, seemingly infinite grassy steppe and beautiful turquoise coastlines make Turkey a diverse place to road trip, where long stretches of sweeping roads cut through the rich history, vibrant towns and incredible landscapes.

Home to some of the kindest and most generous people we have ever met, a road trip in Turkey will reward you with long-lasting friendships, unforgettable experiences and incredible historical sites.

We spent twelve weeks road tripping in Turkey and were lucky enough to visit all four corners of this fantastic country. But, Turkey is vast and even with a three month road trip itinerary, we weren’t able to get around all of it! We asked our favourite bloggers to tell us about the best places they have visited in Turkey.

When to Visit Turkey

You can road trip Turkey any time of the year as there are seven distinct geographic weather and climatic regions, meaning you can always find the right weather for your Turkish trip.

For winter sun head for the Mediterranean coast and Antalya, which is warmer and drier than the overcast Aegean coast. Temperatures can get to around 20° celsius (68° fahrenheit) between November and March, warm enough for the beach, but it will be cold at night. Much of the rest of Turkey will be properly cold and wet, and lots of places seeing snow.

In summer, parts of Turkey regularly push past 40° celsius (104° fahrenheit), with little change between day and night temperatures. If you love the heat and want to travel during July and August, head for the mountains for a bit of respite, ramp up the aircon and remember the suncream!

The absolute best times to travel by car around Turkey are spring and autumn. These shoulder months of late March and April and late September through October offer fewer extremes of weather, fewer visitors and quieter roads and attractions.

In spring, wildflowers carpet the interior and the countryside wakes up as warmer weather beckons. In autumn, the bounty of the harvest means roasting chestnuts in town centres, wine harvests and colourful forests.

Cappadocia in the snow with hot air balloons flying above

Building a Turkey Itinerary

Turkey is a huge country – it’s a 20-plus hour drive from Istanbul in the west to Van in the far east. If you wanted to drive a circular route around the whole country, it would take around 70 hours, and that’s not even touching the interior!

Unless you have a few months for your trip and are happy to drive for many hours in a stretch, we would suggest visiting one area where a cluster of attractions and must-see places can be grouped together to create a route and itinerary. We have organised our go-to destinations by region – Aegean; Black Sea; Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, Marmara, Mediterranean and Southeast Anatolia.

Consider one-way rental car drop-off, as the ideal route will be linear to make the most of your time and help you see as much of Turkey as possible. If you want to experience the true diversity of Turkey, domestic flights will take you to all the far-flung corners of the country, or you could be really adventurous and get a sleeper train between them.

Planning your car rental in Turkey? Find out all you need to know about hiring a car and driving in Turkey . You’ll want to read this before you go!

Turkey Road Trip Map

How to use this map – Use your fingers (or computer mouse) to zoom in and out. Click or touch the icons to get more info about a place, and click the arrow in the box top left to open the index. To add to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the title of the map.

Is this your first time visiting Turkey? Get all the information you need in our Turkey Travel Guide , including what to pack, the best time of year to go, getting there and practical tips to help you have the best trip!

Aegean Region

Explored by Sean of The Turkey Traveler

When it comes to places to visit in Turkey, there is perhaps nothing more well-rounded than the city of Izmir. Located on the Aegean coast, Izmir is a vibrant and beautiful city full of history, culture, and stunning scenery. Right off the bat, its location means that you are close to beautiful beaches and turquoise waters.

The city also boasts amazing historical sites such as the Agora of Smyrna, an ancient market square dating back to Greeks in the 4th century BC, and Kadifekale, an ancient fortress dating back to Alexander the Great with stunning views of the city.

However, Izmir’s biggest attractions lie beyond the city. Because of its location, Izmir is commonly used as the base to explore the archaeological ruins of Ephesus and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pamukkale-Hierapolis. The Turkish road network allows visitors to go from Izmir to Pamukkale and Ephesus very easily, with a drive of around three hours.

For food lovers, Izmir has a plethora of delicious options ranging from traditional Turkish cuisine to seafood freshly caught from the nearby Aegean sea. Be sure to try the famous İzmir köfte , a type of meatball unique to the region.

When you are visiting Izmir, don’t miss the electrifying nightlife. Because of the big university student population, Izmir has something for everyone. Head to Alscancak for trendy bars and nightclubs and Konak Square for more low-key options.

Shopping is also a must in Izmir with bustling bazaars such as Kemeraltı offering everything from hand-woven carpets to local spices and herbs.

Don’t forget your road trip essentials! Our free road trip checklists help you remember everything, including road trip snacks , podcasts and road trip songs for the journey!

Explored by Christine of Live Love Run Travel

Pamukkale is one of the places Turkey is famous for . Known for the sparkling blue travertines, Pamukkale is full of relaxing experiences and historical sites to enjoy on a Turkish road trip.

If you visit Pamukkale, a visit to the Pamukkale travertines is a must. However, if you are there in the summer, expect crowds. Arrive early or just before they close for fewer people, and you can also walk down to the middle pools where you will find smaller crowds.

Be careful though – the surface, especially near the top, is slippery. To protect the surface shoes and socks are not allowed, so bring a bag to carry them. Make sure to stay inside the areas where people are permitted, as they are trying to allow some of the natural pools to recover and bleach back out.

You can also swim in Cleopatra’s Antique Pool where the ruins of a temple near the pool collapsed into it during an earthquake back in the 7th century. This has an additional fee after entering the historical area, but it’s a good spot to cool off on a hot day.

If you are wanting to see some still-standing ruins, make sure to walk through the ruins of Hierapolis. You can find the well-preserved theater, Byzantine Gate, and other ruins and partially preserved buildings. Another option is to relax at one of the nearby hotels. Many offer extensive spa services and have thermal pools of their own.

Don’t miss a stop in Pamukkale when planning a Turkey road trip adventure. It is worth the stop as a day trip or a longer stay to relax and enjoy the history of the area.

The pools of Pamukkale with forests in the distance

What about staying connected in Turkey? In our detailed guide to SIM cards in Turkey , we share how to get a tourist SIM, the best eSIMs for Turkey and how to get a Turkey SIM card before you even get there!

Black Sea Region

Explored by Soumya of Stories by Soumya

One of the best places to visit in Turkey is the beautiful Ottoman city of Safranbolu. Located in northern Turkey, in the region surrounding the Black Sea, Safranbolu is a UNESCO site and a hidden gem waiting to be explored.

Safranbolu is best known for its well-preserved timbered houses dating back to the Ottoman era. They display exquisite Ottoman architecture that is hard to find in other parts of Turkey. Walk through the old quarter and marvel at these timber-framed mansions. You can also visit some of them for a small fee, such as the Kaymakamlar Museum, or spend a night in one of the many Ottoman-mansion-turned-hotels.

There are plenty of other interesting things to do in Safranbolu such as visiting the Koprulu Mehmet Pasa Mosque, exploring the displays at the Kent Museum, getting scrubbed in the Cinci Hammam, and having some coffee at the Cinci Han Hotel, housed in an old caravanserai. Do not forget to head to the old bazaars and pick up some quaint Turkish souvenirs such as engraved metalwork, leather products, and Safranbolu lokum , a type of Turkish Delight.

As you move on from Safranbolu, be sure to head to the nearby Bulak Caves (filled with stalactites and stalagmites) and the Incekaya Aqueduct, one of the last remnants of the Byzantine Empire.

Sumela Monastery

Explored by Roxanne of Far Away Worlds

Situated in the Altindere National Park in northeastern Turkey, Sumela Monastery is one of those places that seem to have come straight out of a fairytale. The monastery is tucked into forested mountains and perched at the foot of a sheer cliff, overlooking valleys, rivers and mountains.

Reaching the monastery is only possible by taking a shuttle in the national park and the route is twisting with sudden turns. The path through the forest is steep, culminating at the foot of a narrow flight of stairs, with the remains of an ancient aqueduct visible on the side of a cliff. Simply arriving at the monastery is an adventure in itself.

Built in the 4th century, the monastery is close to 1,600 years old and one of the oldest Greek Orthodox monasteries in the world. The Rock Church is the main attraction at the site and the oldest part of the monastery complex. Believed to have housed an icon of the Virgin Mary, the church was carved into the cave by two Athenian monks. Both the interior and exterior walls are covered with frescoes, dating from different time periods, although they have been significantly damaged through the years.

After seeing the church, visitors can explore more of the complex including the smaller chapels, kitchens, library and holy water fountain. The large aqueduct at the entrance is also impressive and many of its arches have been restored. And, of course, the magnificent views from the monastery are also a highlight of the visit.

Close up of the houses and caves of Sumela Monastery

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Central Anatolia Region

Explored by Claire of Europe in Winter

Ankara is Turkey’s capital city, but it’s nearly always overshadowed by the country’s largest and much more famous metropolis, Istanbul.

While Istanbul is definitely a place to rave about, that doesn’t mean Ankara should be completely forgotten on your road trip.

The city was only declared the capital of Turkey in 1923, but its history dates back millenniums. While doesn’t have quite the same allure as Istanbul, there are a good few museums here, along with plenty of cafes, excellent places to try Turkish food, and hammams.

Must-sees include the Ataturk Museum, which is a huge complex that celebrates the founder of modern Turkey, Ankara Castle which dates back to the 7th century and was expanded by the Ottomans, and the fascinating Museum of Anatolian Civilisations which is an exhibition of archaeology throughout the centuries.

It’s also worth visiting the Haci Bayram Mosque, which is the most impressive in Ankara. While it’s not as famous as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, it’s still well worth a look!

If you’re tired after a busy day of exploring, soak in the Karacabey Bath which is a Turkish bathhouse in the centre of town. For dinner, Turkish restaurants line almost every street, or opt for a vegan kebab at Vegankara or visit Triyle Restaurant for incredible seafood.

If you’re visiting Ankara in winter , be mindful that it can be very chilly – while Turkey seems like it will be warm year-round, this isn’t the case on the Anatolian plateau! However, pretty much all of the attractions I’ve listed are visitable year-round.

Explored by Phil & Izzy of The Gap Decaders

Undoubtedly Turkey’s most famous and most visited tourist destination, Cappadocia is a fascinating place where fairytale landscapes meet underground cities and lively towns, and the skies fill with hot air balloons at dawn every day.

It’s easy to spend a week or so exploring this unique place in the heartland of Turkey, which is like nowhere else on earth. Sitting on a high plateau over 1000 meters in altitude and pierced by dramatic volcanic peaks, Cappadocia is not one single place but a region of towns and valleys.

Goreme is probably the best-known town in Cappadocia and is home to the Goreme Open Air Museum with its rock chimneys and the magnificent Dark Church. You’ll also find a plethora of rock-hewn hotel rooms and cave suites, restaurants and tour companies that offer balloon flights, horse trekking and quad bike tours. Nearby are the famous Love Valley, home to phallic rock formations and Rose Valley, lined with glorious pink and red rocks.

East of Goreme is Urgup, a slightly more upmarket town with gorgeous hotels and eateries. To the south are the famous underground cities of Kaymakli, Mazi and Derinkuyu.

One of the best ways to explore is to get out in your car early one morning. The whole area around Goreme is crisscrossed with tracks where you can find a spot to watch the dawn balloon spectacular, which is even better from the ground.

An economic powerhouse in central Turkey, conservative Konya is the home of the whirling dervishes and protector of Seljuk culture.

One of the oldest urban centres in the world, you should visit Konya for the ancient mosques and hammams hidden amongst the maze of alleys in the old town, and the wide avenues of the new town, lined with shiny architecture and coffee shops.

For many, the main reason for the visit is the Mevlana Museum, the former lodge of the whirling dervishes and one of the largest pilgrimage centres in Turkey. Visit on a Saturday if you can, when the sema ceremony, the ritual dance of the dervishes wearing the traditional costume of tall felt hats and white gowns with long skirts, is performed in the Mevlana Culture Centre. Be prepared for a high-energy experience like no other!

Whorling derviches dancing in traditional costume

Planning a motorhome tour of Turkey? A new continent with customs so different from our own can be challenging to negotiate. We’ll take you through all the stages of planning your Turkish motorhome adventure , from kitting out your van, understanding legalities and getting there, to how to camp and budget for your trip.

Eastern Anatolia Region

Like Mount Ararat, the arid and dusty slopes of Ani once belonged to Armenia. The country’s ancient capital of political, economic, cultural and architectural importance was home to 100,000 people at the beginning of the second millennium and rivalled Constantinople in power.

Much of Ani was toppled by an earthquake in 1319 and in 1336, the mostly Armenian citizens were forced to leave, and so began the decline of a once great Silk Road trading hub which had borne witness to 23 civilizations and dynasties throughout the centuries.

Today Ani is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must-see if you’re in eastern Turkey. As you walk under the great arch, your first view is of undulating hills covered in sun-scorched grass, dotted with great buildings silhouetted on the skyline.

Impressive volcanic basalt fortified walls encircle the ruins of numerous churches, mosques and caravanserais which sit on the edge of the Arpacay Gorge. From Seljuk geometric wall patterns to frescoes and intricate carvings, the influences of Christian and Muslim religious traditions are evident as you step back in time and wander this fascinating site.

RELATED POST: Ani Turkey: How to Explore the Ancient City

Mount Ararat

The fabled Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) is a snow-capped and dormant volcano in the extreme east of the country, which overlooks the point at which the frontiers of Turkey, Iran, and Armenia meet. It consists of two major volcanic cones – Greater Ararat with an elevation of 5,137m and Little Ararat with an elevation of 3,896m.

Ararat is traditionally associated with the mountain where Noah’s Ark came to rest and is sacred to the Armenians, who believe themselves to be the first race of humans to appear in the world after the flood. Legend says the ark is still on the summit, but God decided that no one should be able to look upon it it, although several explorers have claimed to

Not only is Ararat majestic to gaze upon and photograph, but it’s also an epic hike too. There are a number of trekking companies in Turkey that offer organised guided treks and equipment. It’s a standard four day trek to the top, with the biggest challenge being altitude, so you’ll need a little time beforehand to acclimatize.

Nemrut Dagi

No image can do justice to this mysterious mountain and its sweeping dusty and windswept surroundings. Deep in the Taurus mountains, this breathtaking place is one of Turkey’s visitor behemoths and absolutely warrants the drive to get there – which is pretty spectacular in its own right!

Sitting at 2106m above sea level, the peak of Mount Nemrut is topped by the curious gravel-covered burial cone of Antiochus I, which in turn is surrounded by astonishing statues of Antiochus and the gods which are perfectly placed to welcome sunrise and sunset.

It’s relatively easy to drive almost to the peak, between April and October, when the mountains are free of snow. You must park and walk the final few kilometres uphill (around 30 minutes) to reach the east terrace for sunrise, or the west terrace for sunset. You can of course visit at any time of the day, and it will likely be much more peaceful, but seeing the sunrise and that special light on the amazing statues is a pretty special experience.

RELATED POST: Mount Nemrut Turkey: How to Explore the Mystical Mountain

Marmara Region

Explored by Iris of Mind of a Hitchhiker

One often overlooked part of Turkey is the region of Thrace on the Balkan Peninsula. The most interesting city in that area is Edirne, pushed up against the Greek and Bulgarian borders. This makes Edirne a tricky destination to squeeze into an all-Turkish itinerary , but perfect for a road trip combo with other Balkan countries.

But the importance of this city to Turkey’s history is more important than its location lets on; it used to be the capital of the Ottoman Empire for more than eighty years before the Ottomans conquered Constantinople. Some of the most revered Ottoman architects of yore built their final masterpieces in Edirne, such as Mimar Sinan’s Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Across the river is the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II, which was one of the first teaching hospitals where they treated people with physical and mental ailments for nearly 400 years. This museum is the only one of its kind in Turkey, which together with its excellent exhibition makes it listed for future UNESCO status.

Edirne is also known for the oldest continuous sporting event in the world: the annual Edirne Kırkpınar oil wrestling competition in June and July. Edirne is simply a lovely city at the crossroads of different cultures and times, which makes the municipal agenda for folkloric celebrations always full.

If local specialities are of interest, try out Edirne liver ( ciğeri ) or try a regional fermented millet drink called velimeşe boza . For more modern flavors and being surrounded by the young university crowd, try a local brew at Trokya Craft Beer Taproom in the pedestrianized city center. There are plenty of restaurants suitable for both vegetarians and omnivores for everyone to have a great time.

Explored by Bella of Passport and Pixels

While Turkey is most famous for dramatic landscapes, beautiful beaches, and legendary ancient sites, lovers of history shouldn’t miss another famous – but much more modern – historic site: Gallipoli.

The Gallipoli Peninsula lies on the south coast of the European part of Turkey, on the Aegean Sea. It forms one side of the Dardanelles Strait, and on the other side of this important waterway is the northwestern tip of Anatolia (Asian Turkey).

Because this is such a strategically important bit of land, it was the site of a major battle in 1915, during the First World War. In an attempt to invade Turkey and capture Istanbul from the Ottomans, the Allies, including many Australians and New Zealanders (known collectively as Anzacs), launched an attack on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It was a disaster – around 46,000 people died, and after eight months of fighting the Allies were forced to withdraw.

Today the Gallipoli Peninsula is a moving historic site covering over 33,000 hectares and is home to numerous battlefields, memorials and graveyards. Key places to visit include Anzac Cove, where the soldiers first landed on 15 th April 1915; the Anzac Commemorative Site; the Lone Pine Memorial, which stands on the site of some of the fiercest fighting of the campaign; and the Nek, a narrow ridge of land that was the site of another decisive battle.

Take a tour and learn the heart-wrenching stories behind the monuments and the moving tales of hardship, heroism, camaraderie and resilience that took place in this beautiful landscape.

After you’ve visited Gallipoli, a short ferry ride across the Dardanelles will bring you to the colourful port town of Çanakkale, and from there it’s easy to also visit the ruins of Troy , the site of the legendary Trojan War. Visiting both is a great way to take in two of Turkey’s most important historic sites – one modern, one ancient.

Turkey’s most famous city is full of layered history, fabulous architecture and rich experiences. Because of its vibrant Turkish culture that extends to both European and Asian continents, spending a few days in Istanbul as you road trip east is a wonderful experience.

Your first day in Istanbul should include visiting the iconic sights of the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque and Galata Tower. Leave yourself enough time to really explore each place, and the interminable security queues before you even get in!

The simply breathtaking Topkapi Palace, the wonderful Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar should also be on your list, and you might want to take a walking tour to cover these Istanbul sights and work out what else to see along the way.

Head up to Pierre Loti Hill, where you can enjoy the ultimate panoramic view of the Golden Horn, a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus. Look on a map and you can see the waterway is shaped like a horn, and so-called because of the riches that were made here.

After your panoramic view, take a Bosphorus cruise to really appreciate the Ottoman architecture of bygone days and find out just how busy this important stretch of water is, or head to Tarihi Hocapaşa Lokantaları street for a taste of real homecooked Turkish comfort food. You should leave a tip in Turkey , especially in places like this where the authentic Turkish food is such good value for money.

Road trips from Istanbul along the Aegean coast or to Pamukkale and Cappadocia are easily organised, and you can also get domestic flights from here to many other Turkish airports if the drive is just too far.

Other Nearby Road Trips

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Greece Road Trip: Incredible Routes for the Best Trip

Mediterranean region.

Explored by Giorgy of G-Extreme Travel

Antalya is an often overlooked Mediterranean hotspot that boasts some of the best beaches and most impressive landmarks. Located in Southern Turkey, it is sometimes deemed the country’s crown jewel, and it’s not hard to see why – Antalya has a much more laid-back vibe than other Turkish cities, like chaotic Istanbul.

Plus, it offers visitors that irresistible coastal Mediterranean city appeal. So if you’re looking for a road trip spot with plenty to see and do, Antalya should be at the top of your list!

There are numerous tourist attractions and historical sites scattered throughout Antalya that are definitely worth visiting. Some of these include the ancient ruins of Aspendos, Phaselis, Myra, and Alanya’s red tower and castle. Kekova sunken ruins are another popular spot that should not be missed.

In addition to its many historical sites, Antalya also boasts a number of water parks, museums, green spaces, and the famous Aquarium. For those looking for a more adrenaline-pumping activity, there is also the option to take a cable car ride up to Mount Tahtali. And of course, no visit to Antalya would be complete without exploring the old town of Kaleici with its quaint collection of Ottoman houses, old mosques, domineering clock tower, and landmark Hadrian’s gate.

So if you’re looking for more than just a beach vacation, Antalya is the perfect road trip destination for you. There is something here for everyone to enjoy.

Explored by Michelle of Moyer Memoirs

Any road trip around Turkey should include a stop in Fethiye which is located on the Turquoise Coast, so called because of its stunning colour. Fethiye is a beautiful and unique tourist town on the Turkish Riviera with marinas that cater to international tourists and cruise ships.

The number one attraction in Fethiye is Oludeniz Beach because of its crystal clear water and beautiful sandy beach. Its name means Dead Sea, because of the calm water, making it perfect for scuba diving and snorkelling.

The Blue Lagoon is a separate beach at Oludeniz that is protected by a small strip of land. It is a popular destination for paddleboarders and kayaks since the water is so motionless.

Oludeniz Beach is also known for its great paragliding. Each day dozens of paragliders take off from high on the Babadag mountain and glide to the beach below. It is a great sight to see all the colorful paragliders dotting the blue sky as they float to the sandy beach below.

Make time for a trip across the turquoise sea from Fethiye to the Butterfly Valley on the ancient Lycian Way. You can only get there by boat, making the valley a haven for the hundreds of butterflies species that thrive there. The preservation area is also home to a waterfall that cascades from the 350m high canyon wall to become a gentle river, watering the native chaste trees which are the butterflies’ natural habitat.

Saklikent National Park is another popular place to visit from Fethiye. The park was established in the 1990s and is just a quick drive from the center of Fethiye. The Saklikent Gorge is one of the largest canyons in Europe and the deepest canyon in Turkey. The hiking trails and boardwalks lead right through the canyon and directly to the flowing water in the gorge where there is easy access to the cool water, leading right into some of the beautiful waterfalls.

Want to find out more about planning a road trip? In our detailed guide to road trip planning we cover every aspect of planning your perfect road trip, from dream to destination, and everything in between!

Southeast Anatolia Region

Explored by Arabela of The Spicy Travel Girl

Diyarbakir may not be your typical tourist destination but it sure is one of the best off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Turkey. Located in the heart of Mesopotamia, also known as the Fertile Crescent, Diyarbakir has been home to human civilization for aeons, dating back as far as the Stone Age.

Since then, Diyarbakir has been part of countless empires, including the Persian and Roman Empires. This diverse history has left its unique traces in the city, which can be seen at historical sites such as the Roman-era city walls, which encircle the old town at a circumference of about six kilometres uninterruptedly and offer amazing views of the riverside grasslands.

It also resulted in a diverse religious history: Diyarbakir had long been an important center of Christianity, and was a see of both the Syriac Orthodox Church and the Armenian Church, until the Muslim Conquest of the Levant.

This left Diyarbakir with various Christian monasteries and churches as well as mosques. Most of the historic structures in the city are constructed with black basalt, including the unique-looking Great Mosque in the city centre. The black-and-white patterns created by the use of this stone give the old town a picturesque appearance resembling a chessboard.

However, ancient history is not the only thing Diyarbakir has to offer. The perhaps most interesting aspect of the city is its contemporary culture: Diyarbakir is Turkey’s largest Kurdish-majority city and is unofficially referred to as the ‘capital of Kurdistan’.

The Kurds are an Iranic ethnic group native to the region with a language and culture distinct from Turkish. Visitors can gain an authentic insight into Kurdish culture while visiting the bustling bazaar of the old town, sampling local street snacks and admiring handicrafts. Furthermore, the Kurds are a very hospitable people and visitors are guaranteed to be warmly welcomed in this less touristy city.

Explored by Anwar of Beyond my Door

Known as the gastronomic capital of Turkey, Gaziantep has an incredible history of food and culture. The city is known in Turkey as the birthplace of baklava, a delicious sweet filo pastry, honey and nut treat. The baklava here is better than anywhere else in Turkey. Actually, all the baklava manufacturers in Turkey claim origin from Gaziantep and have multiple outposts in the city.

Beyond that, the city has great cuisine including some of the best kabobs (like kebab) in the city. Be sure to check out İmam Çağdaş, one of the best restaurants in the city for Kabobs.

For those looking for history, the city has an incredible fortress that looms over the city. Also, there are several famous museums including the Zeugma Mosaic Museum which houses the famous ‘gypsy girl’ mosaic that often dons various Turkish travel advertisements. The mosaic was found in nearby Zeugma which is also accessible for those wishing to travel outside the city.

The old town of the city houses many markets that visitors can wander through, including the spice market as well as the metal market. Here tourists can pick up local copper and tin products for home decoration or housewares.

Gaziantep is also a jumping-off point for many parts of Southeastern Turkey. Easy roads between the city and places such as Sanliurfa, Mount Nemrut and Mardin make it a good hub to fly into for road trip exploration of this area of the country.

Mosque with minaret half submerged in water

The UNESCO old town of Mardin lies on a rocky hill near the Tigris River that rises steeply over the flat plains of ancient Mesopotamia. This Silk Road city is known for its beige colored limestone Artuqid architecture and is a heady and exotic experience of sights and sounds, which feels both Turkish and Persian.

The top of Mardin’s ridge is occupied by the city’s historic citadel, and below that is the gorgeous Zinciriye Medresesi, a 14th-century educational and spiritual complex and mosque built in the Persian ornamental style. The complex enjoys spectacular views over the lush green Mesopotamian plains below the town, as far as the eye can see to the Syrian border.

The labyrinthine alleys of the old town are lined with eateries, bazaars, boutique hotels and shops, and the colourful spices, fruit and vegetables and local crafts for sale tell the historic story of the city. It’s easy to spend a day exploring before stopping to try some of the local dishes which blend flavours of the regions – expect lamb, hummus, olives and yoghurt-based dishes scattered with jewel-like pomegranate seeds and fresh mint.

Mardin makes a great base for exploring the region and is within easy driving distance of both Göbeklitepe and Karahan Tepe, prehistoric archaeological sites home to the world’s oldest known megaliths and obelisks, where recent finds are challenging what is known about the earliest societies in the world.

Minaret overlooking green and yellow fields

Explored by Chris of Amateur Traveler

While many visitors to Turkey get to the cities in the west like Istanbul , few get to some of the great sites in eastern Turkey. The city of Şanlıurfa in eastern Turkey is a fascinating city. If you travel from west to east in Turkey, the country significantly changes when you get to Şanlıurfa.

The demographics of Şanlıurfa are significantly different from the nearby city of Gaziantep. Instead of Turks, the city is mostly composed of Arabs, Turkmen and Kurds. People in Arab dress are suddenly much more common as if you had entered a new country.

The city has a couple of particularly important sites. Outside of town is the neolithic site of Göbekli Tepe. This UNESCO World Heritage site is over 10,000 years old and contains some of the oldest known megaliths.

More significant to Turks is the site in the center of the city of Sanliurfa which Turks claim is the birthplace of the patriarch Abraham. The city has also been associated with the story of Job from the Bible. For this reason, the city is known as the ‘city of the prophets’. The Mevlid-i Halil Mosque and the Pool of Abraham are must-see sites. Inside the courtyard of the mosque is a cave that is held to be the birthplace of Abraham.

Legend has it that the local ruler Nimrod had Abraham thrown into a fire to execute him but that God turned the fire into fish. The Poll of Abraham is supposed to be the site of that event. Now you can rent a row boat and enjoy the lake without any threat of immolation.

Turkey Essentials

Here are the websites and services we personally use and recommend for traveling in Turkey.

Search for affordable flights to Turkey with Skyscanner
Search for availability and book hotels and accommodation in Turkey with Booking.com
Best for rental cars in Turkey >> Localrent.com an aggregator of local car rental companies
Get highly rated, reliable and trustworthy travel insurance with True Traveller
Check if you need a visa and arrange your documents with Visagov

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Secrets Of The Steppe: Exploring Northeast Turkey

Bordering Georgia and Armenia, Northeast Turkey is where the Anatolian steppe and the Caucasus meet, with romantic ruins and alpine meadows. Here’s how to explore the area, including Ani, an amazing medieval Armenian capital and Silk Road hub, and nearby Kars that was once part of Russia and has the architecture to prove it.

Hiding amid the Anatolian steppe, the southern reaches of the Caucasus and the Black Sea hinterland is one of Turkey’s most rugged and mysterious areas. Against a backdrop of snowy mountains and windswept plains, explorers can discover the eerie ruins of Ani, Kars’s elegantly decaying Russian architecture, the Kaçkars’ alpine pastures, relics of medieval kingdoms and rumours of Noah’s Ark.

Erzurum is the best gateway to the region, with AnadoluJet, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa; daily trains from Ankara; and long-distance buses from across Turkey. Car hire is available here through operators such as Economy Car Rentals .

The ruined city of Ani in Kars, Turkey was once home to around 100,000 people

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Get there from Kars, 50 kilometres (31 miles) west, with English-speaking guide Celil Ersözoğlu (0532-226 3966; [email protected]). He can either drive you or guide you around the site as well.

The ruins of of Ani, Turkey include buildings left by its Armenian, Byzantine, Seljuk, Georgian and Mongol rulers

The wintery setting of Orhan Pamuk’s 2002 novel Kar (Snow), Kars was occupied by Russia from 1878 to 1920 and has a Russian flavour to its Baltic architecture. Overlooked by the imposing 12th-century castle, an architectural walking tour of the centre highlights grand stone edifices dating to the occupation. The yellow and white Old Governor’s Mansion, the Health Directorate Building’s columns and floral motifs, the L-shaped Revenue Office and the Azerbaijani Consulate are all on Ordu Caddesi. Continuing the Russian theme, the boutique Kar’s Otel occupies a 19th-century mansion, while Hotel Cheltikov and Hotel Katerina Sarayı are both former hospitals, and the samovar-decorated Pushkin Restaurant namechecks the Romantic poet who visited Kars in 1829.

AnadoluJet, Pegasus Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines fly to Kars from Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, and there are daily trains from Ankara via Erzurum. The train line from Baku, Azerbaijan via Tbilisi, Georgia is set to start carrying passengers in 2020, while regular buses serve Kars from Erzurum and beyond. Kars car rental agencies are unreliable, so it’s best to hire a driver such as Celil Ersözoğlu.

A man walks past Kars Fortress, which was built in 1153

Around Kars

The mountains around Kars are dotted with Armenian and Georgian churches; many are used as barns or just left to decay in remote Kurdish villages. Spending a day or two finding these relics of medieval kingdoms is an unusual excursion, with Bagnair Monastery, Oğuzlu Church and Kızıl Church located en route to Ani. Others are found south of town in mountaintop villages Keçivan and Çengilli. The D060 west to the Kaçkar Mountains take visitors past a string of ruins, such as Öşkvank Cathedral and Dörtkilise Church, which date back to the area’s days under Georgian Bagratid rule.

To experience how the locals make the most of Kars’s extreme winter temperatures (the mercury plummeted to -35C (-31F) in 2015), take a day trip 60km (37mi) north to frozen Çıldır Lake for sleigh rides and ice fishing in February and March. Serene Çıldır is Turkey’s largest natural lake after Van, with summer activities including birdwatching on a causeway-connected island and eating lake carp in village restaurants on the eastern shore. There’s also winter fun between December and March in Sarıkamış, 55km (34mil) southwest of Kars, which has a ski resort and a few hotels catering to skiers. Sarıkamış has a background of rugged mountains, lonely steppe and historical dramas; the area is home to Czar Nicholas II’s ruined hunting lodge, a 19th-century Russian Orthodox church (now a mosque) and a memorial to the Ottoman troops who died fighting Russia in World War I.

The Southern Kackar mountains in Eastern Turkey present a stunning backdrop for village of Olgunlar

Kaçkar Mountains

The Kaçkars are a 30-kilometre-long (18.6-mile-long) chunk of alpine scenery in the Black Sea hinterland, with pristine yaylalar (mountain pastures), ramshackle wooden villages and rushing rivers beneath the range’s 3000 metre (9842 foot)-plus peaks. During the hiking season (May to September), ascending the likes of Mt Kaçkar and Altıparmak, or just ambling around the lower forests and valleys, is one of Turkey’s most underrated activities.

The best bases include Yusufeli on the eastern side, from where serpentine roads (and dolmuş minibuses) climb to the increasingly remote mountain villages of Barhal, Yaylalar and, finally, Olgunlar at 2130m (6988ft), where the woodsy Kaçkar Pansiyon is an excellent hiking base. Yusufeli is set to be flooded by a dam by 2025, but for now hotels such as Almatur are good gateways to the mountains.

Almhaus is a village in Ayder near the Black Sea Region of Turkey

On the Kaçkars’ western side, in the area inhabited by the Hemşin minority, whose culinary speciality is the fondue-like muhlama , the postcard-perfect town of Ayder is enough to make you yodel with its emerald meadows, wood-clad hotels and thermal kaplıca (spa). Serious hikers and white-water rafters also make treks to neighbouring Camlıhemşin, where options including the schoolhouse-set Tașmektep Otel are ideal bases to explore the Fırtına Valley’s Ottoman bridges, ruined castles, tiny villages and high-altitude pastures. It is possible to mount multi-day traverses of the range or its main peaks, but it’s best to enlist the help of a local guide through a company such as Türkü Tourism .

Dolmuşes (shared taxis) run to Ayder via Camlıhemşin from Pazar and Rize, and buses serve Yusufeli from Erzurum, as well as from Trabzon and Hopa on the Black Sea coast.

Ayder is a the postcard-perfect town that attracts visitors for its emerald meadows, wood-clad hotels and thermal spa

Turkey’s highest mountain at 5,137m (16,853ft) is Mt Ararat. This picture-book perfect white cone has been the subject of all manner of myths and conspiracy theories – most significantly as the possible resting place of Noah’s Ark. British novelist Rose Macaulay wrote, “Mount Ararat, where planks of the ark still, it seems, lie scattered” in The Towers of Trebizond (1956). The nearest Turkish town, Doğubayazıt, still teems with claims about various ark sites.

The top of the mountain has been out of bounds for several years, although there are hopes it will reopen; either way, it’s best to attempt the arcane permit-application process and the challenging ascent with a local guide, such as Zafer Onay (0551-111 8998; [email protected]). For most visitors, it’s satisfying enough to take in views of Ararat’s cloud-wreathed flanks, which are also a dominant feature of Yerevan, Armenia, from far below.

Doğubayazıt

While in Doğubayazıt (known as ‘doggy biscuit’ in the hippy days), climb the ridge to the romantic towers, domes and courtyards of İshak Paşa Palace, built by the 18th-century Kurdish chieftain of the same name. A mix of Middle Eastern architectural styles fit for Aladdin and Ali Baba, visitors can gaze across the hazy Anatolian plains at Mt Ararat. About 20km (12.4mi) east of Doğubayazıt, there’s another possible ark site, a clearly defined boat shape on a mountainside. This Nu’hun Gemisi (Noah’s Ark) site is near Üzengili village, a few kilometres south of the E80 toward the Iranian border.

Buses connect Erzurum to Doğubayazıt and dolmuşes scoot around the region. Tehran Boutique Hotel is the best place to stay.

Ishak Pasa Palace is an Ottoman-era ruin in Dogubayazit, Turkey.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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Turkey Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Welcome to the Crossroads of Civilizations: Your Ultimate Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey stands as a sentinel at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, a mosaic of cultures, histories, and landscapes that beckon travelers from around the globe. This guide is your key to unlocking the treasures of Turkey, from the bustling bazaars of Istanbul to the lunar landscapes of Cappadocia, the azure waters of the Aegean to the rugged peaks of the Taurus Mountains.

One Nation Travel specializes in Turkey tours , featuring trips to Istanbul, Cappadocia tours , Pamukkale, and Antalya for cultural and scenic experiences.

Exploring Turkey’s Diverse Landscapes and Climate Zones

Turkey’s geography is as varied as its history, with each region offering a distinct climate and terrain. The Black Sea region boasts lush greenery and a mild climate, while the central Anatolian plateau challenges visitors with its steppe climate and hot summers. Understanding these variations is crucial for planning your travel wardrobe and activities.

Journey Through Time: Turkey’s Rich Tapestry of History

The Hittites, Byzantines, Ottomans, and many others have left their indelible marks on Turkey. Each city is a living museum, with layers of history waiting to be discovered. From the ancient ruins of Ephesus to the iconic Hagia Sophia, Turkey’s historical sites are not just attractions; they are portals to the past.

The Melting Pot of Cultures: Understanding Turkey’s Social Fabric

Turkish culture is a vibrant tapestry woven from the many civilizations that have thrived here. This section delves into the customs, traditions, and daily life that create the country’s unique cultural identity. Learn about the importance of hospitality, the nuances of Turkish tea culture, and the significance of family in Turkish society.

Essential Pre-Travel Tips for a Hassle-Free Turkish Adventure

Before you embark on your Turkish journey, there are practicalities to consider. This section covers everything from packing essentials to cultural dos and don’ts, ensuring you are fully prepared for your adventure.

Navigating Visa Policies for a Smooth Entry into Turkey

Understanding Turkey’s visa requirements is essential for a smooth travel experience. This section provides up-to-date information on visa processes, fees, and exemptions, helping you to plan your entry into Turkey with confidence.

Prioritizing Health and Safety While Traveling in Turkey

Your well-being is paramount when traveling. Here, we discuss health precautions, insurance, and safety tips for various Turkish locales, so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind.

Bridging the Language Gap: Communicating in Turkey

While Turkish is the official language, this guide offers practical advice on overcoming language barriers, from useful phrases to language apps, ensuring clear communication throughout your travels.

Managing Your Liras: A Guide to Turkish Currency and Budgeting

Budgeting for your trip is made easier with insights into the Turkish Lira, cost of living, and tips for keeping your finances in check while enjoying all that Turkey has to offer.

Mastering Movement: Turkey’s Transportation Network

Navigate Turkey’s extensive transportation network with ease, from domestic flights to intercity buses and ferries, ensuring you can traverse the country’s vast landscapes efficiently.

From Ottoman Mansions to Boutique Hotels: Finding Your Perfect Stay in Turkey

Turkey’s accommodation options are as diverse as its regions. Whether you’re looking for luxury, comfort, or a touch of history, this section helps you find the perfect place to rest your head.

A Culinary Odyssey: Sampling Turkey’s Gastronomic Delights

Turkish cuisine is a feast for the senses. Explore the country’s culinary offerings, from street food to fine dining, and learn about the dishes that must not be missed.

The Art of Bargaining: Shopping for Authentic Turkish Souvenirs

Shopping in Turkey is an experience in itself. Discover the best markets and shops for authentic souvenirs and learn the art of bargaining to get the best deals.

Celebrating with the Locals: Turkey’s Festivals and Events Calendar

Turkey’s calendar is packed with festivals and events that offer a glimpse into its cultural heart. This section guides you through the most significant and vibrant celebrations across the country.

Embracing the Great Outdoors: Turkey’s Natural Wonders

From hiking in the Kaçkar Mountains to hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey’s natural attractions are a playground for the adventurous. Learn about the best outdoor activities and how to experience them responsibly.

Sun, Sea, and Sand: Turkey’s Best Beaches and Coastal Retreats

Turkey’s coastline is dotted with stunning beaches and seaside towns. This section highlights the best spots for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports.

After Dark: Experiencing Turkey’s Vibrant Nightlife Scene

As the sun sets, Turkey’s cities come alive with a vibrant nightlife. From rooftop bars in Istanbul to beach parties in Bodrum, discover the best spots for an unforgettable night out.

Hidden Gems: Exploring Turkey’s Lesser-Known Locales

Go beyond the tourist trail with recommendations for off-the-beaten-path destinations that offer unique experiences and breathtaking beauty.

Creating Memories: A Guide to Family-Friendly Travel in Turkey

Traveling with family? This section provides tips for making your trip enjoyable for all ages, with suggestions for family-friendly attractions and activities.

Love in the Land of the Crescent Moon: Romantic Escapes in Turkey

For those seeking a romantic getaway, Turkey offers enchanting experiences, from sunset cruises to intimate cave hotels. Discover the most romantic destinations and activities.

Tailored Journeys: Crafting Your Ideal Turkey Travel Itinerary

Whether you have a week or a month, this section helps you create an itinerary that suits your interests, time frame, and budget, ensuring you make the most of your time in Turkey.

Respect and Understanding: Navigating Turkey’s Laws and Social Etiquette

Understanding local laws and etiquette is essential for a respectful and enjoyable visit. This section covers the essentials of Turkish customs and legalities.

Staying Connected: Tech Tips for Travelers in Turkey

Stay connected with tips on SIM cards, internet access, and navigating technology in Turkey, ensuring you can share your experiences with friends and family back home.

Traveling Responsibly: Embracing Sustainable Practices in Turkey

Sustainable travel is more important than ever. Learn how to minimize your footprint and contribute positively to the communities you visit in Turkey.

Heading Home: A Smooth Departure from Turkey

As your journey comes to an end, this section offers advice for a hassle-free departure, from airport transfers to duty-free shopping.

Frequently Asked Questions: Turkey Travel Guide

This section addresses common queries travelers have about visiting Turkey, providing clear, concise answers to help with trip planning.

Reflecting on Your Turkish Odyssey: The Journey Continues

As you reflect on your travels through Turkey, this conclusion offers a moment to consider the lasting impact of your experiences and the memories you’ll carry with you.

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A richly historical land with some of the best cuisine you will ever taste, scenery from beaches to mountains and the great city of İstanbul.

Best Time to Visit

Best places to visit, leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Turkey. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Sultanahmet

Right in the heart of İstanbul’s historic center, this sacred Byzantine building remains an important symbol of power.

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world's museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful…

Kariye Mosque

İstanbul has more than its fair share of Byzantine monuments, but few are as drop-dead gorgeous as this mosaic- and fresco-laden church. Nestled in the…

Hierapolis ancient city Pamukkale Turkey, young woman with hat watching sunset by the ruins Unesco ; Shutterstock ID 1167278944; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

This ancient spa city's location atop Pamukkale's tourist-magnet travertines is quite spectacular. Founded as a curative centre around 190 BC by Eumenes…

The ancient Temple of Trajan at Pergamos (Bergama)

Bergama Acropolis

İzmir & the North Aegean

One of Turkey's most impressive archaeological sites, Bergama's acropolis is dramatically sited on a hill to the northeast of the town centre. There's…

Süleymaniye Mosque

The Süleymaniye crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. Though it's not the largest…

Basilica Cistern

This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was…

Hatay Archaeology Museum

Eastern Mediterranean

This incomparable museum contains one of the world's finest collections of Roman and Byzantine mosaics, covering a period from the 1st century AD to the…

Top picks from our travel experts

12 unmissable things to do in turkey.

Blue Mosque

İstanbul's most photogenic building was the grand project of Sultan Ahmet I (r 1603–17), whose tomb is located on the north side of the site facing…

Nemrut Dağı Summit

Southeastern Anatolia

Nemrut Dağı's famous statues sit on two terraces flanking Antiochus I's giant gravel-covered, mountaintop burial mound. Their 2m-high heads, toppled from…

Rüstem Paşa Mosque

Nestled in the middle of the busy Tahtakale shopping district, this diminutive mosque is a gem. Dating from 1560, it was designed by Sinan for Rüstem Paşa…

Patara Beach

Turquoise Coast

Backed by large sand dunes, this splendid, 18km-long sandy beach is one of Turkey's best. Due to its length, you can find a quiet spot even in the height…

Yeni Kaplıca

The 'new thermal bath' is actually the city's oldest, founded by 6th-century Emperor Justinian I, and renovated in 1522 by Süleyman the Magnificent's…

Of Turkey's hundreds of ancient cities and classical ruins, Ephesus is the grandest and best preserved. A Unesco-listed World Heritage Site, it's the best…

Datça & Bozburun Peninsulas

The ruins of Knidos (kuh-nee-dos), a once-prosperous Dorian port city dating to 400 BC, lies scattered across the western tip of the Datça Peninsula…

Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Catalhoyuk is oldest town in world with large Neolithic & Chalcolithic best preserved city settlement in Cumra, Konya. Built in 7500 BC. ; Shutterstock ID 1611692500; your: Bridget Brown; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI Image Update

Rising 20m above the surrounding flat Konya plains, the East Mound at Çatalhöyük is one of the most important, and largest, Neolithic settlements on earth…

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı

It took seven years to develop a conservation plan for this 1580 Mimar Sinan–designed building and complete the meticulous restoration. Fortunately, the…

Terraced Houses

The roofed complex here contains seven well-preserved Roman homes built on three terraces, which are well worth the extra visiting fee. As you ascend the…

Grand Bazaar

The colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul's Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse)…

Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum

This domed structure protects the excellent Haleplibahçe (Aleppo Gardens) mosaics, part of a Roman villa complex discovered in 2006 when construction…

Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı

This meticulously restored twin hamam dating to 1556 offers the most luxurious traditional bath experience in the Old City. Designed by Mimar Sinan, it…

Fatih district during sunset with Valens' Aquaduct in background (top right).

Aqueduct of Valens

Rising majestically over the traffic on busy Atatürk Bulvarı, this limestone aqueduct is one of the city's most distinctive landmarks. Commissioned by…

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu underground city, 10km south of Kaymaklı, has cavernous rooms arrayed on seven levels reached by skinny long tunnels. When you get all the way…

Göbeklitepe

Around 11km northeast of Urfa, 'Pot Belly Hill' was first excavated in 1994 by a team led by Professor Klaus Schmidt. Their discovery of a ritual complex…

Olympos Ruins

The rambling ruins of ancient Olympos are scattered beside the trickling Ulupınar Stream and set inside a deep, shaded valley that runs directly to the…

Weekly Market

Fethiye's enormous market takes place on Tuesday along the canal between Atatürk Caddesi and Pürşabey Caddesi, next to the stadium.

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum

This museum does a stellar job of displaying one of the world's most important mosaic collections, most of which was unearthed at the Roman site of Belkıs…

Crusader Castle

The ruins of ancient Simena include this impressive fortress perched on top of the hill looking out to sea. Within the castle a couple of canons are…

Dive into Urfa's bazaar alleys to find stalls selling everything from sheepskins and pigeons to jeans and handmade shoes. It was largely built by Süleyman…

Eski Kaplıca

The bath is hewn of marble and the hot rooms have plunge pools at this restored 14th-century hamam, run by the adjacent Kervansaray Termal Hotel on the…

Cağaloğlu Hamamı

Built in 1741 by order of Sultan Mahmut I, this gorgeous hamam offers separate baths for men and women and a range of bath packages incorporating services…

If you only have time to see one striking honeycomb of Lycian rock tombs, choose the memorable ruins of ancient Myra. Located about 2km inland from Demre…

Turkey, perpetual fires of Yanartas at the Chimaera, near Cirali

Known in Turkish as Yanartaş, or 'Burning Rock', the Chimaera is a cluster of small flames that naturally blaze on the rocky slopes of Mt Olympos. At…

Bakırcılar Çarşısı

Gaziantep's labyrinthine bazaar stretches between Hamdi Kutler Caddesi and Kundaracılar Çarşısı Sokak. There are a couple of entrances so just dive in and…

Aerial of yacht and cliff face at Butterfly Valley.

Acclaimed as one of the world's top-10 long-distance walks, the Lycian Way follows signposted paths around the Teke Peninsula to Antalya. The 500km route…

The Kaymakl underground city, Kaymakl, Cappadocia, Turkey, Middle East

Kaymaklı Underground City

Kaymaklı underground city features a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth, though only four are open to the public. The…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

With its lively cities, spectacular landscapes and rich heritage, Turkey has something for every type of traveler, from history buffs to beach bums.

Transportation

Cheap, frequent domestic flights, generally well-maintained roads and a vast bus network give travelers ample options for getting around Turkey.

Visa Requirements

From visa costs to rules around cruise passengers, our guide to Turkey’s entry requirements covers everything you need to know before visiting the country.

Best Road Trips

With nearly 8000km of coastline and endless expanses of countryside, Turkey is prime road trip territory. Here's our pick of Turkey's best road trips.

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Turkey and beyond

Turkey, Istanbul . Topkapi Palace, the Harem

Turkey Travel Guide: Plan Your Perfect Trip

Written by Jess Lee Updated Sep 24, 2021

Turkey is a destination that offers something for all visitors. During the long, hot summer, tourism is concentrated in Istanbul and along the coast, but even a beach holiday is easily combined with cultural sightseeing, as most of the popular resort towns are within day-trip distance to some of the country's most famous classical-era ruins.

Travel inland from the feted coastline, though, and the true diversity of Turkey is revealed. From vast ruins perched on mountain summits to fresco-covered Byzantine-era cave churches and Ottoman mosques, and hiking trails following ancient pilgrimage paths to the buzzing foodie and café culture of the cities, a vacation in Turkey can effortlessly incorporate both epic history and an incredible variety of landscapes.

Summer: This is high season in Turkey, when visitors from across Europe fly in for some Mediterranean beach time, and Turks take advantage of the long summer school holiday to head for the sand as well. The resorts all along the coast spring into action, and Istanbul bustles every weekend with visitors on short city breaks.

Blue skies and hot weather prevail across the entire country. In eastern Turkey, temperatures soar. If you want to head to the mountains for hiking, though, or to Mount Nemrut to view the stone heads on the summit, this is the best season to go. Pre-booking hotels in popular tourism destinations (Istanbul, all along the coast, and Cappadocia) is a good idea. Also, expect hotel prices in the above destinations to be at their highest.

Fall: (September and October) This is a great time to visit Turkey. Along the coast, it's less busy, and hotel prices fall, but the weather is still mostly sunny and warm. Once the summer heat has fizzled out, it's perfect sightseeing weather to explore eastern Turkey, with plenty of blue skies still and moderate temperatures (though pack some cold-weather clothes, as the first snow out in the east can hit from mid-October).

Winter: Many resorts along the coast shut up shop completely, and hotels that stay open drop prices substantially. Expect plenty of rain along the coast, and inland to be blanketed in snow. Hotel prices in Istanbul and in Cappadocia are at their lowest, though many travelers specifically travel to Cappadocia during this season to see the fairy chimneys dusted with snow. Ski season begins in November.

Spring: Unless you're visiting specifically for a beach holiday, this is the best season to visit Turkey. Wildflowers cover the countryside, hotel prices in major destinations are still low, and historic sights aren't crowded. Istanbul's public parks are covered in tulips in April. Many hotels in beach towns don't open their doors until May. Mount Nemrut has generally opened for visits by mid-April.

May is one of the best months of the year to travel in eastern Turkey, with moderate temperatures. Do pack your umbrella if traveling in spring, as this is Turkey's rainiest season.

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) in Sultanahment, Istanbul

Istanbul is a destination in itself. Once Constantinople, the grand capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, it is one of the world's great cities.

Although rightly famed for its historic monuments, Istanbul is also the heartbeat of contemporary, cosmopolitan Turkey with a thriving modern art, music, and cultural scene and the most interesting and varied shopping, dining, and café life in the country.

Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Istanbul
Exploring Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya): A Visitor's Guide
Exploring Istanbul's Archaeological Museum: A Visitor's Guide
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar: Things to Buy & Shopping Tips
Best Places for Shopping in Istanbul
Top-Rated Day Trips from Istanbul
Visiting Troy from Istanbul: Attractions, Tips & Tours
Best Beaches near Istanbul
Best Parks in Istanbul
From Istanbul to Bodrum: Best Ways to Get There
From Istanbul to Pamukkale: Best Ways to Get There
From Istanbul to Izmir: Best Ways to Get There

During the Turkish summer, Antalya is the major gateway city to the Mediterranean shore.

This city isn't just a staging post for hitting the beach, though. Some of Turkey's most famous classical-era ruins including Aspendos, Perge, and the ruins of Side are within easy day-tripping distance, while Antalya is also the perfect starting or ending point for travel itineraries taking in the coastal scenery and historic highlights of Turkey's coastline.

Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Antalya
Exploring the Ancient City of Aspendos: A Visitor's Guide
From Istanbul to Antalya: Best Ways to Get There

Cobblestone street in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Safranbolu

While the beach towns along the Aegean and Mediterranean grab the most visitors, away from the coast, Turkey's provincial cities and towns offer plenty of historical and cultural sightseeing.

Turkish capital Ankara is home to two of the country's most important monuments. Konya is where the whirling dervishes began, foodie visitors head to Gaziantep simply to eat its world-renowned baklava and to Bursa to sample its Iskender kebap, and Safranbolu is a painstakingly preserved Ottoman-era old town.

Out east, Mardin and Şanlıurfa are two of the most popular bases to explore the rugged landscapes, multi-ethnic heritage, and lonely ruins of eastern Turkey.

For the famous classical-era ruins along the Aegean Coast, Selçuk and Izmir are great bases, while Fethiye and Kaş offer sailing, kayaking, hiking, and many other outdoor activities along with plenty of ruins within day-tripping distance.

Best Towns for the Beach & Outdoor Activities

Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Fethiye
Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Bodrum
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Kaş
Top-Rated Things to Do in Marmaris
Top-Rated Things to Do in Alanya
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Side
Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Kuşadası

Best Towns for History & Culture

Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Ankara
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Konya
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Safranbolu
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Gaziantep
Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Bursa, Turkey
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Mardin
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Şanlıurfa
Top-Rated Things to Do in Adana, Turkey
Top-Rated Things to Do in Edirne, Turkey
Top-Rated Attractions in Selçuk & Ephesus

The calcite travertines of Pamukkale and the fairy chimney landscape of Cappadocia are two of Turkey's most famous landscapes. Both are prime bases for plenty of historic sites and ruins and outdoor activities, including hot-air ballooning, hiking, horse riding, and paragliding.

Down on the coast, the beaches are the main attraction, though activities such as hiking, sailing, kayaking, and paragliding offer plentiful opportunities to get off the sand.

To experience Turkey's most lush landscapes, don't miss adding the Black Sea coast into your itinerary, while the mountains and lakes around Eğirdir are an easy add-on to a coastal trip and provide a glimpse into the variety of Turkey's countryside.

Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Cappadocia
Hot-Air Ballooning in Cappadocia: A Complete Guide
From Istanbul to Cappadocia: Best Ways to Get There
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Pamukkale
Top-Rated Things to Do in Ölüdeniz
Top-Rated Beaches in Turkey
Top-Rated Attractions on the Black Sea Coast, Turkey
Exploring the Sagalassos Ruins and Lake Eğirdir
Top-Rated Islands in Turkey

Turkey's history is mind-boggling. Many travelers head here specifically to visit classical-era ruins such as Ephesus, and then realize once here just how much more there is to see.

Archaeological sites here cover the full breadth of human history, from the earliest temple and earliest Neolithic villages ever discovered, right up to the glorious mosques and monuments of the Ottoman era.

Visiting Ephesus: Attractions, Tips & Tours
Exploring Laodikeia: A Visitor's Guide
Exploring Mount Nemrut: A Visitor's Guide
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in the Mount Nemrut Region
Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Pergamum & the North Aegean
Top-Rated Attractions in Çanakkale, Gallipoli Peninsula & Troy
Exploring the Mevlana Museum: A Visitor's Guide
Exploring Ancient Olympos & the Chimaera: A Visitor's Guide
Visiting the Atatürk Mausoleum (Anıtkabir)
Exploring the Top Attractions of Ancient Harran
Exploring Gordion, Museum & History
A Visitor's Guide to Çatalhöyük: Excavations & History

Population of Turkey: The population of Turkey is 82 million. Turkey's population has seen dramatic urbanization, with approximately 76 percent of the population living in urban areas. The country's northwest is the most densely populated region with around 20 percent of the population living in Istanbul.
Capital of Turkey: The capital of Turkey is Ankara. It has a population of five million.
Geography of Turkey: Turkey is the 38th largest country in the world, covering 783,562 square kilometers. Turkey shares borders with eight countries: Bulgaria and Greece to the west; Georgia, Armenia, the Azerbaijan exclave of Nakhichivan, Iran, and Iraq to the east; and Syria to the south.
Languages of Turkey: The official language of Turkey is Turkish. Around 10 percent of the population is Kurdish and speak Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish) as well.
Currency of Turkey: Turkey's currency is the Turkish Lira
Time Zone of Turkey: Turkey's time zone is UTC + 3

Tourist Visas: Turkish tourist visas are required and must be purchased pre-arrival through the official e-visa website.

Electricity: Turkey uses two-prong European-style plugs.

Hotel Rates: Hotel rates in Turkey normally include breakfast and Wi-Fi.

Visiting Mosques: Outside of prayer times, mosques in Turkey are open for non-Muslims to visit. Wear modest clothing and always take your shoes off before entering the prayer hall (a shelf for shoes is normally provided at the entrance). Women should don a headscarf before entering. At larger famous mosques, there is usually a bin full of headscarfs you can borrow.

The National Drink: Turkey's national drink is tea, served black in small tulip-shaped glasses. Turkey consumes the most tea in the world, and tea (grown in the Black Sea region) is also one of its most profitable agricultural exports. You will be offered tea everywhere. When using a tea self-service urn (at hotel breakfasts) there is one tap for straight tea and another for hot water. You are supposed to mix it to your required taste. Try one third tea to two thirds water.

Shoes: If you're invited into a home in Turkey, always take your shoes off at the door.

Smoking: In Turkey, smoking is officially banned in all indoor spaces, including restaurants and hotels. The ban is strictly enforced in Istanbul and in areas that receive a lot of tourism (such as the coastal resort towns and Cappadocia) but be aware that it tends to be more loosely adhered to outside of these areas.

Turkey Maps

Turkey Travel Guide

Planning a trip to Turkey but don't know where to start? We know that this can be a daunting task! It's such a big country that people often get anxious thinking about planning a trip to Turkey. We visited Turkey for 2.5 months ourselves and figured out when to go, how to get around, where to stay, and what to pack.

This Turkey travel guide will help you through the planning process with useful links and advice that will save you a whole lot of time for your own trip to this beautiful country!

Located on the border of the continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey has a rich history that saw many civilizations and empires thrive at different times. It has a lot to offer for tourists. From tropical beaches to lush mountains and thriving cities. In fact, Turkey has been getting more and more popular for tourists over the past few years.

Watch our Turkey travel video below to see the most amazing places in Turkey for yourself!

Turkey Quick Facts

Turkey is a country full of cultural heritage and history. If you want some proof of that you can just look at the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey. Turkey has 13 of them and 62 are on the World Heritage Sites Tentative List.

The tallest mountain in Turkey is Great Ararat at 5,137 m (16,854 ft)! This is significantly taller than the second highest mountain in Turkey, which is Uludoruk.

Turkey is bordered by 8 countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, and Iraq.

Even though Turkey is associated with sunny weather and beach vacations, there are multiple places in the country where you can ski or snowboard as well. There are popular ski resorts around Antalya, Bursa, Kastamonu, Eğirdir, Isparta, and Kayseri.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that lies on two continents: Asia and Europe. Although everyone says Turkey is in Europe, only 3% of Turkey is actually in Europe. We noticed on our trip that most of the Turkish inhabitants prefer saying that Turkey is in Europe so we recommend not saying that Turkey is in Asia.

MUST-SEE DESTINATIONS

1. marmara region.

Marmara, located in Northwestern Turkey, is the only region that is part of Europe and part of Asia. Marmara is the second-smallest region in Turkey but has the largest population. This is mostly thanks to Istanbul which is also the most well-known city in this region. It is one of the 10 most visited cities in the entire world. Some highlights in Istanbul are Galata Bridge, which gives you the chance to walk from Asia to Europe and other way around, and the Hagia Sophia which is the most visited attraction in all of Turkey.

But only visiting Istanbul when in Marmara would be a shame. This region has a lot more to offer. Çanakkale is a perfect example of this. It's mostly known for the Troy ruins and Troy museum. In case you don't know about Troy, it's is known for its significant meaning in Greek mythology. One of the first things that might come to your mind is the Trojan war and the Trojan horse. The Trojan Horse used in the movie Troy can be visited on the waterfront of Çanakkale. Some other well-known stories such as Achilles, Hector, and Paris also partially take place in Troy. If you love reading books we highly recommend reading The Song Of Achilles which explains the heartbreaking story of Achilles in a comprehensible way.

Other places to visit in Marmaris are Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, and Edirne, having the Selmiye Mosque which boasts the highest minarets in Turkey.

2. Black Sea Region

Located in northern Turkey, the Black Sea region is famous for its steep and rocky coast. This region is less touristy than the others because of the less sunny weather. But don't let this stop you from traveling to the Black Sea Region. The different climate it is unlike the other parts of Turkey. A quarter of the region is forested so it's very green.

The biggest city in the Black Sea Region is Samsun, but there is not much to see here for tourists. There are some museums, but they often don't present their information in English. The beaches here are very nice though. We suggest visiting Trabzon instead of Samsun. It attracts more tourists because there is also much more to do. The top things to do in the city are Ataturk Kosku, the former house of Ataturk that is stunning inside and outside with its antique furniture and well-kept garden, Boztepe which gives you a beautiful view over the city and ocean, and Trabzon Museum. There are also some great day trips you can make from Trabzon such as the Altindere Vadisi National Park and the Sumela Monastery.

Some other cities to visit are Amasra, Sinop, Rize, and Giresun. Watch out if you plan on taking public transport because busses often go from town-to-town so it can take a long time before you arrive to your destination.

Hidden Gem: Sahinkaya Kanyonu

Sahinkaya Kanyonu is a beautiful canyon on the Kızılırmak River. It is perfect as a day trip from Samsun (1h30) or Amasya (1h15). It is so calm here because a lot of the tourists haven't discovered it yet.

Sahinkaya Kanyonu

3. Eastern Anatolia Region

The Eastern Anatolia Region is the biggest region of Turkey. It is the most mountainous region in the country and has the highest average altitude. Turkey's largest lake (Lake Van) is based in this region. Definitely a must-visit!

A must-visit when you're in the Eastern Anatolia Region is Kars. The city and its surroundings have a lot to offer. In the city, you can visit the Kars castle, the Kümbet Mosque, Caucasian Battlefields Military History Museum, and Kars museum. From Kars, you can do day trips to Lake Çıldır where you can walk on the lake and the ancient city of Ani.

Ruins of Ani

4. Southeastern Anatolia Region

The smallest region in Turkey is the Southeastern Anatolia region also known as Turkish Kurdistan. But even though it's small, there is still a lot to do here! One of the top things to do is to visit Şanlıurfa. The city and its surroundings have a lot to offer such as the archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe, Gölbaşı park, Şanlıurfa Castle, and much more.

Another must-do activity is climbing Mount Nemrut. It is one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites. First of all, you will have some amazing views when climbing the mountain but more importantly, Mount Nemrut is home to some stunning ancient ruins. The ancient ruins exist of statues/heads of gods and kings, thrones, and terraces.

Unfortunately, this beautiful region isn't the safest so go to at the time of writing this article. So it's best to check your government website first to see if they recommend going there or not. For US citizens click here to go to the Government's travel advice.

Mount Nemrut

5. Mediterranean Region

Boarding the Mediterranean sea, the Mediterranean region is famous for its warm weather and its tropical beaches. Although exploring the beaches is definitely something you have to do when visiting this region, it has a lot more to offer than just that!

The most well-known city in the Mediterranean region is Antalya, which is also the biggest city in the region. The city itself has a lot to offer such as its picturesque old town and the Lower Düden Falls. But it's mostly known for its surroundings which are a perfect combination of nature and culture. Some must-see places are the Aspendos Theatre, the Kursunlu Waterfall, the Perge Ruins, the Termessos Ruins, and much more. If you want to find out more about Antalya you can read our article on the best things to do in Antalya .

A more low-key destination compared to Antalya is Kaş. This hip coastal town is not as commercialized as Antalya. Here the top attractions are Patara Beach which is the longest beach in Turkey, the ancient city of Myra, and the old town of Kaş. You can check out our absolute best things to do in Kaş Turkey article to learn more about this magnificent place.

Some other places you can visit when visiting the Mediterranean region are Alanya, Belek, Kemer, and Side.

Hidden Gem: Lake Egirdir

Lake Egirdir itself is beautiful but there is much more to see than just the lake. Egirdir itself is a beautiful town and has a relaxed vibe. There is lots of stuff to do in this area, varying from ruins to canyons to hiking a mountain. Find out more about Lake Egirdir here .

Lake Egirdir

6. Aegean Region

The Aegean region is similar to the Mediterranean region. Mostly known as a beach holiday destination with its popular resort towns like Marmaris and Bodrum. But there is much more to do than just laying on the beaches.

The biggest city in the Aegen region is Izmir. This city has a lot to offer such as Konak Square, Smyrna, Alsancak, and much more it is perfect to discover Turkish history. A must when you're in Izmir is a day trip to Ephesus. It was a very important ancient port city. Now the city is our favorite Turkish ruin. Find out more about Izmir and Ephesus in our article on the 6 best things to do in Izmir . Another good day trip from Izmir is Pamukkale. It might be one of the most spectacular places in the Aegean region. Pamukkale has thermal pools, spectacular views, and an ancient city. Check out our guide to Pamukkale .

Our second favorite place in Turkey is Ölüdeniz. There are so many things to do such as visiting Fethiye, enjoying the views from Butterfly Valley and Kabak, walking down Ölüdeniz Beach, and much more. If you want to see more of Ölüdeniz watch our YouTube video on the best things to do in & around Ölüdeniz .

Hidden Gem: Dalyan

This laid-back town is located about 70 kilometers or 44 miles to the west of Ölüdeniz. It’s home to beautiful lakes and a winding river, Lycian tombs hewn into the rocks, and a unique stretch of beach. But it’s also beautiful from above. We highly recommend driving up to the Radar Hill viewpoint. It’s absolutely otherworldly looking and especially stunning at sunset.

The view from Radar Hill Viewpoint of Dalyan

7. Central Anatolia Region

Central Anatolia is the second largest region in Turkey. It is home to the capital city of Turkey, Ankara. Visiting Ankara is a must when you're in Turkey. There is so much to do in this bustling city, such as visiting the Ankara castle and enjoying the view over the city, the Anatolian Civilization Museum to learn not only about the past of Turkey and Ankara but also the present, shop till you drop at the Old Quarter, and enjoying the local cuisine.

Our favorite destination in Turkey is Cappadocia. This place is just magical. Cappadocia has an adventure waiting for every type of traveler. Whether you want to hike, find hidden gem natural wonders, relax while watching the hot air balloons, or experience the thrill of riding in a balloon yourself, Cappadocia has it all! Find out more about this cool place in our blog on the best things to do in Cappadocia .

Some other fun places to visit in the Central Anatolia region are Tokat, Konya, Boğazkale, and Amasya.

Watching the sunset and hot air balloons in Cappadocia

Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia

Seeing the incredible rock formations from above is one of the most magical experiences we’ve had during our world travels so far. The beauty of the sunrise colors and hundreds of other balloons floating around us was almost indescribable. The flight usually lasts between 1 to 1.5 hours and only goes at sunrise. Learn more about these hot air balloon rides in our Guide to Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride video.

TOP OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Hiking the best trails in turkey.

Lycian Way Trail

The Lycian Way Trail is 540 kilometers or 335 miles long. It starts near Fethiye and ends near Antalya. You can hike it completely or hike a part of it as a day hike. A perfect place to start the day hike from is Kaş which lies on the Lycian Way Trail. The best time to do the (day)hike is between March and May and between September and November.

Rose valley hike

The Rose Valley is probably one of the most beautiful hikes we have ever done. The color of the pink rocks is absolutely magical and there are so many unique fairy chimneys and churches that we found ourselves stopping for pictures every 10 minutes here. There are sections of the hike where it literally looks like a rainbow was painted on the rocks. Doing it as a round-trip like us took about 3 hours and was around 8 kilometers total. You can either start your journey from the Red Valley Viewpoint or from Göreme. This is only one of the many hikes you can do in Cappadocia, find out the others in our Cappadocia hiking video .

Sarıalan to Çobankaya

This 7.4 kilometers out-and-back trail in the national park of Uludağ Mountain is perfect for a day hike. This hike is not well known so you probably won't see many people.

St Paul Trail

The St Paul Trail is the second longest hiking trail in Turkey after the Lycian Way Trail. It is 500 kilometers or 310 miles long. Normally the hike starts at Perge which is 10 kilometers from Antalya and ends at Lake Egirdir but there is also a second option which is starting in the Köprülü Kanyon National Park and joining the other route at Adada. We recommend doing this hike between April-June or between September-November. In these periods you'll have the best weather without it being too hot.

Yenice Forest Trail

The Yenice Forest is located in the Black Sea region. This forest exists of 21 trails that are a total of 210 kilometers. If you add the alternative trails to it you have a total of 396 kilometers. The Yenice Forest is perfect for everyone because you have so many options of hikes, varying in length, difficulty,... There is something for everyone. You can find a complete guide to the Yenice Forest Trail with all the day hikes and longer hikes here .

Lycian Way Trail

Other fun outdoor activities in Turkey

Swimming, snorkeling, and diving.

Turkey is one of the best locations in the world for snorkeling and diving. The diving capital of Turkey is Ka ş but there are a lot of other places that are also great for snorkeling and diving such as Marmaris, Fethiye, Alanya, and many more places.

Paragliding in Ölüdeniz

Ölüdeniz is known as one of the world's best places to go tandem paragliding because of its breathtaking panoramic views and favorable wind conditions. Babadağ Mountain, where you jump from, is also one of the highest commercial take-off sites in the world, with a height of 1960 meters or 6500 ft. This makes for a thrilling and unique experience! You can watch our jump in our YouTube video about the Best Things to do in & around Ölüdeniz .

White water rafting at Köprülü Canyon

Turkey has a lot of places where you can white water raft but the most famous one is Köprülü Canyon. This canyon is a National Park in the Province of Antalya, located about 100 kilometers or 62 miles from the city of Antalya itself. The Köprülü River is a fast flowing river so this is not an activity for the weak hearted.

Citytripping and sightseeing

By now you already know that Turkey has some amazing cities such as Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir, so what better activity than just walking around in them. Taking up the atmosphere, the people, the architecture, and much more.

The best times to travel to Turkey

As every season is different in Turkey, each one brings different activities and events. So the best time to go totally depends on what activities interest you and what experience you are looking for.

The Summer Season

The summer period which is from mid-June to mid-September is the perfect time for a relaxing beach holiday. With a maximum average temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius or 94 degrees Fahrenheit in August in the Mediterranean region. There is also almost no rain during these months. This will be the most expensive period because a lot of the tourists come to Turkey in the summer.

The Winter Season

Are you a winter sports enthusiast? From mid-December to February , it is time to hit the ski slopes! This is the period when snow conditions and temperatures for winter activities are at their best. Turkey is known for its amazing heli-skiing!

If you want a cheap trip to turkey without all the tourists this is the time. This of course if you don't mind the cold and rainy weather. The average temperature in these months in Istanbul is 6 degrees Celsius or 43 degrees Fahrenheit and it has an average rainfall of 100 mm per month.

The Transitional Season

From mid-September to the end of October and mid-April to mid-June there is a time of transition from summer weather to winter weather and vice versa. This makes it the perfect temperature to visit the cities and do some hiking.

Because most of the tourists come in the summer months the cities won't be overcrowded and your trip won't be as expensive.

GETTING AROUND

The easiest way to get around Turkey is by driving your own (or rented) vehicle. There are busses that can link you between the cities, but it's slower and harder to plan for if you have limited time.

On our trip, we spent about $250 for a 1-month car rental (not including gas). Having the car allowed us to visit all of the spots we wanted to at our own pace. It also allowed us to find some of the "off-the-beaten-path" spots that we mentioned in this article, such as Dalyan.

Another benefit of renting a car was that we could stay at destinations longer than the tourist busses. For instance, in Pammukale the sunset was spectacular. We were sitting in the warm pools just as the sun was going down. The tourist busses all had to leave about 30 minutes before that, so we had the place to ourself to relax and enjoy the spectacular colors of the evening.

To book your rental car, we recommend using rentalcars.com . They are a very reliable company, no matter where you are in the world. Plus, it's an easy process to book online with them.

If you have more time and plan on taking busses around Turkey, then we recommend checking out the Turkey Travel Planner website. They have a list of all the relevant busses for each region as well as up-to-date prices.

PLACES TO STAY

As mentioned earlier in this article, Turkey is a relatively cheap country to travel in. That means that their places to stay are also generally inexpensive. We stayed in some airbnbs that included two bedrooms and a great location for 25 dollars per night total.

One thing to keep in mind is that you are not able to use Booking.com in Turkey (at least at the time when this article was written). This is a shame because we really enjoy using Booking.com for our travel stays and this is the first country we haven't been able to use it in.

However, you can use Airbnb to book accommodations online. This is what we did and we highly recommend doing it as well for your trip. With Airbnb, you can see reviews of past customers and compare prices throughout the region that you're staying in. Below is a list of airbnb options that we recommend in various areas throughout Turkey. Compare for yourself to find the best places that suit your needs!

Great Location 05

Heart Of The City & Spacey & Comfortable & Cosy

Denize 50 Metre Stüdyo Daire.4

Studio Forest - Disinfected Apartment

World cities residence 1+1 d

Terrace apartment at the centre of Urgup

Pasha Suite - Entrance Floor

Gökyüzü Suit Apart 1

Our Airbnb in Kas

GEAR AND PACKING LIST

Contrary to what many people think about Turkey, it's not always sunny! If you're planning to visit during shoulder seasons or the mountainous areas, we recommend bringing a sweater, rain gear, warm jacket, and proper hiking boots.

If you're only planning on visiting the beaches of Turkey, then you should be fine bringing shorts, swimming suit, short sleeve shirt / tank top, sandals, and sunglasses. Make sure to bring your sunscreen if you plan on being out on the beach a lot!

If you're into outdoor adventures like us, it's also a good idea to bring a daypack so you can pack water, snacks, and other small supplies while you're hiking. Turkey has tons of hiking trails throughout the country and it would be a shame not to be prepared for them.

Insider Tip

Bring a good camera for your Turkey trip as well! It's a picturesque country with tons of scenic views. Your phone won't be able to capture the full beauty of this country on its own. Check out our camera gear recommendations .

SUGGESTED ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week in turkey.

3 days Istanbul

4 days Cappadocia

If you have 2 weeks, add

3 days Antalya

2 days Ka ş

2 days Pamukkale

If you have 3 weeks, add

2 days Lake Egirdir

3 days Ölüdeniz

2 days Izmir

If you have 1-2 months, add

Köprülü Canyon

Olympos National Park

Green Canyon

Black Sea Region

Eastern Anatolia Region

Deals of the Week Green Hikes & Treks Up to 50% OFF

Turkey Tours & Trips

Have you dreamt of watching the sunset from a hot air balloon in Cappadocia , flying high above the Göreme fairy chimneys after tucking into sweet baklava? A Turkey adventure is full of many highlights and dream-come-true moments. Discover hidden treasures at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, travel along the ancient Silk Road to the Roman ruins of Ephesus, end your day in the thermal healing waters of Pamukkale, hear the legendary tales of Troy, or pay your respects at ANZAC Cove. From its Mediterranean coastline to ancient cities, a Turkey vacation package is a must for beach lovers, history fans, and foodies.

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250+ türkiye (turkey) tour packages with 4,008 reviews.

In-depth Cultural
Christmas & New Year

8 Days Discover Turkey Tour *Best Highlights

City of Sultans was very responsive and helpful with all inquiries. The tour itself was wonderful. The hotels were good and the tour guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. It was nice that each guide was local to the particular city that was being visited. Beautiful sites and excellent food as well. I would definitely go on another tour with this company.

Absolute Turkey

Absolutely amazing experience in Turkey with a great selection on the itinerary. Our tour guide Ihsan with brilliant too extremely knowledgeable and approachable. Highlights of the trip being the hot air balloon ride and the day out on a boat in Demre visiting a sunken village. I would highly recommend this trip

Premium Turkey in Depth

Our guide Erkan was extremely knowledgeable and included personal experiences and examples of his family life which made the picture of his country more interesting. The entire experience exceeded expectations. And our driver Ahmet is to be acknowledged as wonderful, too.

Anatolian Civilizations | 10 Days

it was very smooth trip, everything had been thought about.

Best of Turkey- 10 Days

I really liked the turkey 10 days option tour. We really got the opportunity to do everything without getting exhausted during the same day. I however would've liked having at least 1 organized day on the beach since for 2 days we've had enough time to kill (early return to the hotel) around the city. I had to ask and organize my 4 hours for the beach myself. The transportation was perfectly organized with the airplanes tickets, some of the vans were a bit uncomfortable inside though (not enough space between the chairs). Guides were amazing and knowledgeable. A big thank you. At the end of the tour the agency was super helpful with my hotel transfert as I needed to go to another hotel where i booked instead of going back to Canada. Thank you, was really appreciated. Now here's what I recommendto the agency : Please STOP bringing people to the stupid leather store and fashion show of Ayazel so ppl would stay in a good mood during the trip! Our group had unfortunately to experiment one of the worst customer experience in our lives. It was in fact the leather market excursion of Ayazel (with their fashion show). The staff was extremely pushy and ruuuude. I have never seen such low custom service quality in my life. First, after their stupid fashion show the big boss (big ****) said right away "my staff here is to help if they get pushy come and see me" ... oh lol sorry he meant the total opposit. I started looking at the leather bags and was checking the prices. 2 min later an idiot sales man came suddenly and took me to the jackets department and started putting on me stuff he was trying to sell. I told him no thanks very politely many times but he continued pushing then started asking racist questions about my origines and when I told him my ascendants are half middle eastern he wasn't amazed and rolled his eyes up! *** I payed $6000 for my trip not to get that shit!! I was with an old man sitting waiting for the rest of our ppl inside the store when that sales man came and ESCORTED US TO THE DOOR!! He said you both can wait outside ***!! He was so dramatic. We told him that our bus is not out yet but he continued pushing. We ignored him and went back in. The big boss was there with his son I think a tall musceled idiot guy who literally started talking in turkish with him in front of me showing his frustration because I got back in and wasn't wearing a brand!! OMG it was disgusting on all levels I couldn't talk enough. Just keep your money for other places where the quality is the same and much cheaper. Thanks again to the agency for all the help and the timing accommodations.

Turkey Classics Tour

Our trip was very good! We love our tour guide Fatih who was very knowledgeable and helpful. The driver was excellent. we loved both of them! The accommodation could be better, some of them were quite far from the center. The included meals were quite good! We enjoyed the trip very much and we would highly recommend!

Turkish Breeze-10 Days

The tour was perfect. As a woman traveling alone, I was met by the van pickup personnel and tour guide staff in a timely manner. I felt very safe at all times. The tours were very informative and interesting. I had some time to explore on my own and enjoyed wondering on my own. An excellent tour to see Turkiye as a first time visitor.

Looking for tours beyond just Turkey?

Explore tours with itineraries going through multiple countries, including Turkey.

Coach / Bus

Magic Carpet Tour

We went on the Magic Carpet Tour. Fez Travel were absolutely outstanding from the point of booking to the final transfer. We had a flight cancellation but they resolved the airport pickup immediately. You could get them on the phone. The tour itself is highly recommended. Our tour guide Ege was one of the best ever and we saw and did so much. The hotels picked were all great and the rest stops (there is a lot of travelling) were well selected. I cannot praise this company highly enough!

Essential Turkey

Enjoyable tour that took you around some must-see parts of Turkey. Highlight of the trip was the 2 night stay on the boat- the couple who owned the boat were so lovely and they cooked phenomenal meals for us during our stay. Accommodation was decent and we were lucky to have had a private bus that took us around during the first part of the tour. Highly recommend!

Absolutely Turkey

An excellent way to see the highlights of Turkey for those short on time. You'll see many cultural and historical sites as well as get all those Instagram shots (if that's your thing). Enquire about upgrading to the cave hotel in Cappadocia - it's an absolutely must-have experience. Breakfast and dinners are included however I would recommend getting out of the hotel in Capadoccia making your way into Urgup and the waterfront in Izmir where there are an abundance of small eateries (Sofra was amazing) to try authentic local cuisine. Our guide Nadir made this trip - there wasn't a single question he couldn't answer (and we tried!). He genuinely cares about his guests and goes out of his way to make the trip perfect - when our hot air balloon ride was cancelled on the first day, he woke up early to accompany us on the second day and would probably have blown the balloon up himself to get us the experience we were there for. Our driver Dursun was lovely and took so much pride in providing a safe and clean journey. The days are long because there is so much ground to cover, but I would highly recommend the trip to anyone looking for a fuss-free way to see the highlights of this beautiful country. Pack a few extra lira for taxis to get out and about during free time if you want to see a bit more of the overnight towns.

Turkey Encompassed

We loved Turkey! Kubilay Bal was so professional! There was never a dull moment and we learned so much history. What a great experience!

Best of Turkey by Land (5 & 4 Star Hotels)

Yield us on a wonderful tour of Turkey He was informed.ative and helpful and went out of his way to make sure all of his dear guests were happy. Sights were amazing, hots very good and food authentic and varied. No compulsory shopping stops and refreshing not to get the daily tip re.inders that often come with tours. Highly reco.me ded.

€150 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

10 Days Treasures of Turkey Tour

Barış led a wonderful trip! I took this tour during November 2023, which is during the rainy season. Would recommend an umbrella and rain resistant warm layers. Even so, had the full tour experience with all locations listed. Enjoyable tour that I would highly recommend to others. Tour guide was knowledgeable and led a perfect pace to enjoy each space on the walking tour. Fun full day tour of the main tourist spots in Turkey!

The Best of Turkey

Overall we had a very enjoyable tour. Our CEO was excellent. She took time to answer all questions patiently and in case of issues she was quick to respond and resolve. Accommodation was average and food (breakfast) was average.

10 Days Turkey Escapades Tour

We had the best experience with them with our travel and stay arrangements being well taken care of. All the bookings done exceeded our expectations and would highly recommend them

€100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

What people love about Turkey Tours

Amazing time in this beautiful country. Would love to go again!

Very good trip. The leader Engin was excellent and was at our Bec and call 24/7. I feel for his sanity he needs some nights off and just tell us about a few restaurants but not take us there - do his own thing. The whole group doesn’t need to always be together. We had one person that struggled to keep up with group and I felt some pressure to wait for her or help her- I don’t think she had much insight into the affect she was having on group. Otherwise was a great and diverse group.

The six of us enjoyed an excellent stay in the multicity tour and would gladly tour again with this company.

Turkey Destinations

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Turkey Travel Guide | All You Need to Know

International Versions

Deutsch: Türkei Rundreisen
Français: Circuits et voyages en Turquie
Español: Circuitos y viajes por Turquía
Nederlands: Turkije Rondreizen

Travel Guide Turkey

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A mesmerizing mix of the exotic and the familiar, Turkey is much more than its clichéd image of a “bridge between East and West”. Invaded and settled from every direction since the start of recorded history, it combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities, and dervish ceremonies and gypsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or football matches.

Where to go in Turkey

Who are the turks, tailor-made travel itineraries for turkey, created by local experts.

4 days / from 1050 USD

Sensational landscapes of Cappadocia

3 different modes of transportation to explore Cappadocia - by hot air balloon, on the back of a camel as well as on an ATV quad. Why choose if you can have it all? Four days filled with fun and adventure in the volcanic valleys around Cappadocia make an unforgettable trip.

5 days / from 1100 USD

City & culture - Istanbul and Cappadocia

Explore two absolute highlights in Turkey - Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire with its many landmarks. After a few days in the city, fly to Cappadocia and explore the surreal surroundings, either on day tours or from above in a hot air balloon.

9 days / from 2500 USD

Magical Turkey

Visit Gobekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut in Southeastern Anatolia before proceeding to Cappadocia with its volcanic scenery. After a few days in the valleys, continue to Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus. Your tour starts and ends in Istanbul.

Tailor-made trips for Turkey

The friendliness of the Turkish people makes visiting a pleasure; indeed you risk causing offence by declining invitations, and find yourself making friends through the simplest of transactions. At the big resorts and tourist spots, of course, this can merely be an excuse to sell you something, but elsewhere, despite a history in which outsiders have so often brought trouble, the warmth and generosity are genuine.

Politically, modern Turkey was a grand experiment, largely the creation of one man – Kemal Atatürk. With superhuman energy, he salvaged the Turkish state from the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire and defined it as a modern, secular nation. Following 2011’s record-breaking third successive election victory by the AKP (Justice and Development Party), largely supported by conservative Muslims, some secular Turks fear an Iranian-style Islamic theocracy. This seems most unlikely, however, in a country that has been a multi-party democracy for over sixty years, and successfully blended secularism, parliamentary democracy and global capitalism with Islam.

Despite official efforts to enforce a uniform Turkish identity, the population is remarkably heterogeneous. When the Ottoman Empire imploded, refugees streamed into Anatolia, including Muslim Slavs, Greeks, Albanians, Crimean Tatars, Daghestanlis, Abkhazians and Circassians. There they joined an already mixed population that included a very sizeable minority of Kurds. Thanks to recent arrivals from former Soviet or Eastern Bloc territories, that diversity endures. Another surprise may be Turkey’s sheer youthfulness: more than half the population is under thirty, with legions of young people working in coastal resorts, and shoals of schoolkids surging through the city streets.

A huge part of Turkey’s appeal lies in its archeological sites, a legacy of the bewildering succession of states – Hittite, Urartian, Phrygian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Armeno-Georgian – that held sway here before the twelfth century. From grand Classical cities to hilltop fortresses and remote churches, some still produce exciting new finds today. In addition, Turkey holds a vast number of graceful Islamic monuments, as well as intriguing city bazaars, still hanging on amid the chain stores and shopping malls. Sadly, ugly modern architecture spoils most coastal resorts, where it’s often hard to find a beach that matches the tourist-board hype. Inland Turkey, with its Asiatic expanses of mountain, steppe, lake, and even cloud-forest, may leave a more vivid memory, especially when accented by some crumbling kervansaray , mosque or castle.

Western Turkey is the most economically developed, and most visited, part of the country. It would take weeks even to scratch the surface of the old imperial capital, İstanbul, straddling the straits linking the Black and Marmara seas, and still Turkey’s cultural and commercial hub. Flanking it on opposite sides of the Sea of Marmara, the two prior seats of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa and Edirne, abound in monumental attractions and regal atmosphere. Beyond the Dardanelles and its World War I battlefields lie Turkey’s two Aegean islands, Gökçeada and Bozcaada, popular for their excellent beaches, lingering Greek-ethnic identity and (except in midsummer) tranquillity.

Further south, the olive-swathed landscapes around Bergama and Ayvalık epitomize the Classical character of the North Aegean. Ancient Sardis, and the old Ottoman princely training-ground of Manisa, also make a fine pair, although İzmir serves merely as a functional introduction to the central and southern Aegean. Celebrated Ephesus tends to overshadow the equally deserving ancient Ionian sites of Priene and Didyma, or the intriguing ruins of Aphrodisias and Labranda – and don’t overlook evocative hill towns like Şirince or Birgi. Also inland are tranquil, islet-dotted Bafa Gölü, the architectural showcase town of Muğla, and the compelling geological oddity of Pamukkale, where travertine formations abut Roman Hierapolis. While the coast itself is heavily developed, its star resorts – Datça is the quietest, Bodrum the most characterful – make comfortable bases.

Beyond the huge natural harbour at Marmaris, the Aegean gradually becomes the Mediterranean. Coastal cruises make popular pastimes in brazen Marmaris or more manageable Fethiye, the principal town of the Turquoise Coast, while fine beaches stretch at Dalyan and Patara, near eerie ancient Lycian tombs. Further east, Kaş and Kalkan are busy resorts, good for resting up between explorations of the mountainous hinterland. Beyond relatively untouched Çıralı beach, at ancient Olympos, fast-growing Antalya sprawls at the start of the Mediterranean Coast proper.

This is graced by extensive sands and archeological sites – most notably Termessos, Perge, Side and Aspendos – though its western parts get swamped in season. Beyond castle-topped Alanya, however, tourist numbers diminish; points of interest between Silifke and Adana include Roman Uzuncaburç and the romantic offshore fortress at Kızkalesi. Further east, Arab-influenced Antakya is the heart of the Hatay, culturally part of Syria.

Inland in South Central Anatolia, the rock-hewn churches, subterranean cities and tuff-pinnacle landscapes of Cappadocia await you. The dry, salubrious climate, excellent wine, artistic and architectural treasures, plus horseriding or hot-air ballooning could occupy you for ten days, including a stop in Kayseri on the way north. You might also pause at the historic lakefront towns of Eğirdir or Beyşehir, or in Konya, renowned for its Selçuk architecture and associations with the Mevlevi dervishes.

Ankara, Turkey’s capital, is a planned city whose contrived Western feel indicates the priorities of the Turkish Republic; it also features the outstanding Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Highlights of surrounding North Central Anatolia include the bizarre temple of Aezani, near Kütahya; the Ottoman museum-town of Safranbolu; exquisitely decorated early Turkish monuments in Divriği; and remarkable Hittite sites at Hattuşaş and Alacahöyük. As you travel north, pause in the Yeşilırmak valley towns of Sivas, Tokat and Amasya. The lush shoreline of the Black Sea beyond holds little more than a chain of Byzantine-Genoese castles; the oldest, most interesting towns are Sinop, Anatolia’s northernmost point, and Amasra. Fabled Trabzon, east of Sinop and once the seat of a Byzantine sub-empire, is now convenient for Aya Sofya and Sumela monasteries.

The Ankara–Sivas route positions you to head along the Euphrates River into the “back half” of Turkey. First stop in Northeastern Anatolia is likely to be Erzurum, Turkey’s highest and bleakest major city, a base for visits to the temperate, church-studded valleys of southern medieval Georgia, or treks in the Kaçkar mountains. Kars is mainly visited for the sake of nearby Ani, the ruined medieval Armenian capital.

The Euphrates and Tigris basin have a real Middle Eastern flavour. Booming Gaziantep, offers world-class Roman mosaics, an atmospheric old quarter and Turkey’s spiciest cuisine. Further east, biblical Urfa is distinguished by its colourful bazaar and sacred pool, while cosmopolitan Mardin overlooks the vast Mesopotamian Plain.

The major attraction, however, is a dawn or sunset trip to Nemrut Dağı’s colossal ancient statues. Between Mardin and Nemrut Dağı, teeming, ethnically Kurdish Diyarbakır nestles inside medieval basalt walls. The terrain becomes increasingly mountainous towards the Iranian frontier, an area dominated by the unearthly blue, alkaline expanse of Lake Van. Urartian, Selçuk and Armenian monuments abound within sight of the water, in particular the exquisite, restored Armenian church on Akdamar islet.

The east-shore city of Van is notable for its massive camel-shaped rock punctured with ancient tombs. Beyond Van looms the fairy-tale Kurdish castle of Hoşap, while just outside Doğubeyazit, another isolated folly, the İshak Paşa Sarayı, stands in the shadow of Mount Ararat at the very end of Turkey.

Discover more places in Turkey

The North Aegean Travel Guide
North Central Anatolia Travel Guide
Northeastern Anatolia Travel Guide
The Turquoise Coast Travel Guide
Around the Sea of Marmara Travel Guide
The Black Sea coast Travel Guide
The Mediterranean coast and the Hatay Travel Guide
South Central Anatolia Travel Guide
İzmir Travel Guide
Pamukkale Travel Guide
The Turkish Aegean islands Travel Guide
Ankara Travel Guide

Most camels in Turkey are simply tourist attractions, used for pleasure rides or as photo props in places like Pamukkale and Side. It wasn’t always so, however. Camel caravans once crisscrossed Anatolia, transporting gemstones, spices and woven finery. Before the Balkan Wars of 1912–13, they extended northwest as far as Bosnia, beyond which the beasts fell ill due to the damp central European climate.

In Muslim folklore the perceived haughty demeanour of the animals is attributed to their knowledge of the hundredth, mystical epithet of Allah – humans only know the conventional ninety-nine.

The sport of camel wrestling is a quintessentially Turkish spectacle. The bizarre sight of male camels in rut, butting and leaning on each other (their mouths are bound to prevent biting) draws vast crowds across the western Aegean region; there’s even a camel wrestling league.

• Turkey covers a vast 814,578 sq km (97 percent in Asia, 3 percent in Europe). Four seas lap its 8333-km coastline : the Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Marmara and the Black Sea. Numerous peaks exceed 3000m, the highest being Ararat (Ağrı Dağı; 5165m). Turkey’s three longest rivers – the Kızılırmak, Yeşilırmak and Sakarya – flow into the Black Sea, while its largest lakes is Lake Van (3713 sq km).

• The population of over 70 million is 98 percent Muslim (Sunni or Alevi), with dwindling minorities of the Armenian Apostolic or Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Jewish faiths. Besides standard Turkish, two dialects of Kurdish are widely spoken; other languages include Arabic, Laz, Circassian, Albanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Romany and Greek. Well over half the inhabitants live in cities; the four largest are İstanbul, Ankara (the capital), İzmir and Adana.

• Turkey’s economy , rated sixteenth in the world in 2011, has undergone sustained growth in recent years. Inflation has fallen to single digits, inward investment rocketed, major infrastructure projects have been realised at an astonishing rate, and the Turkish lira has more than held its own with the major currencies.

• Since 1922 Turkey has been a republic . The single-chamber Grand National Assembly (Büyük Meclis) in Ankara has 550 seats, and elects the president.

Find out more facts about Turkey.

Between April and September, storks are a common sight across Turkey, which forms a stopover between the birds’ winter quarters in Africa and their summer habitat in the Balkans and central Europe. The clattering of their beaks is an equally common sound. Storks mate for life, and around thirty thousand breeding pairs are believed to visit Turkey, often returning to the same nest year after year to raise new chicks.

Considered lucky in both Christian and Islamic belief, and dubbed “pilgrim birds” in Turkish, they are rarely harmed. Some municipalities even build special platforms to augment the storks’ favourite nesting perches, which range from chimneys and minarets to utility poles.

Today’s Turks are descended from nomadic pastoralist Turkic tribal groups that originated in Siberia, China and Central Asia, went on to conquer the Anatolian landmass, and have subsequently intermarried on a large scale with the region’s already extremely heterogeneous population. Although historical records can trace them as a readily identifiable people as far back as the sixth century BC, only during the sixth century AD were they first recorded (by the Chinese) as “Tu-keh” or, to the west, Turks .

From around 1000 AD onwards, the Turks gradually migrated southwards and westwards. By the time they reached Anatolia, which would eventually become the heartland of the mighty Ottoman Turkish empire, most had converted to Islam . Turks still maintain ethnic, linguistic and cultural links with Turkic peoples in Central Asia, the Caucasus, northwest Iran, northern Iraq, southern Russia, and Xinjiang in western China.

Turkish , the official language of the modern Republic of Turkey, is neither Indo-European nor Semitic in origin, but Altaic , a language group that includes Japanese, Korean and Mongolian as well as the Turkic languages. Turkish Turks can still communicate with their ethnic and linguistic cousins in places like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, even if centuries of isolation from them, and the language reforms instituted by Atatürk in the early years of the Turkish Republic, make the task difficult. Nonetheless, Turks today still feel an affinity with their Turkic kin, and the Turkish government is the first to kick up a fuss at, for example, Chinese mistreatment of its Uigur Turkish minority.

Travel advice for Turkey

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Turkey

Culture and Etiquette in Turkey
Eating and drinking in Turkey
Getting around Turkey: Transportation Tips
Shopping tips for Turkey
Sports and Outdoor activities in Turkey
Travel Tips Turkey for planning and on the go
How to get to Turkey
Travel Health Turkey
Travelling with children in Turkey
Best time to visit Turkey

The Rough Guides to Turkey and related travel guides

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Turkey Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips

Traveling to Turkey? Our detailed Turkey insights, blogs and travel tips will help you plan the best trip.

From the ancient ruins of Ephesus to the craggy desert of Cappadocia to the beautiful beach resorts of Antalya, every corner of Turkey is worth visiting. As the bridge between Europe and Asia, the country boasts a diverse culture and heritage, while the number of things to do in Turkey also knows no bounds. Here is our Turkey Travel Guide that tells you all there is to know about this dynamic destination, including the best time to visit and how many days to spend in Turkey .

If you are planning a trip to Turkey , you can expect good food, unbeatable landscapes, and fascinating history. Known as “the country of four seasons”, Turkey offers great vacation options. With just 7 days in Turkey , you can cover its pristine beaches to biblical sites and find several other treasures along the way. If you visit Turkey in April you will be greeted by millions of Tulips in bloom in Istanbul. A trip to Turkey in September promises great weather with fewer crowds. Even light snowfall transforms the central highlands of Turkey into a show-stopping scene, and that is not even mentioning the treasure trove of cultural marvels on offer. Grand palaces, mesmerizing dances and music, intricate artwork, and delectable food all make up the bright tapestry of Turkish life.

Considering it is larger than any country in Europe, navigating the ins and outs of a tour to Turkey might be tricky, but this Turkey Travel Guide will have you clued up in no time.

Top Destinations in Turkey

Discover the highlights of Turkey.

Explore the Vibrant City of Istanbul

Istanbul is the “City of the World's Desire”, a nickname it does not take lightly. The city not only oozes culture and tradition, but also embraces the “new”. Scour the Grand Bazaar for traditional wares or visit any number of museums, mosques, and galleries to get a glimpse of the ancient culture that makes this city tick. View Tours

Learn Turkish History in Ephesus

For thousands of years, Turkey has been at the forefront of global events as the East and the West have made deep footprints through this corridor. Ephesus is one of the magnificent reminders of Turkey’s illustrious past where you can walk the streets of one of the most prolific ancient cities the world has known. View Tours

Ride a Hot-Air Balloon in Cappadocia

Taking a hot-air balloon ride above the karst sandstone cliffs of Cappadocia is one the top bucket list wishes of many travelers. Cappadocia is arguably one of the best places in the world to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hot-air balloon ride at sunrise. Glide high into the air along with around 100 other airships and be a part of this fairytale experience. View Tours

What to do in Turkey

Read all about the top things to do in Turkey.

Top 14 Things to do in Turkey

From hiking in the rugged mountains to relaxing in the sun-kissed Mediterranean beaches to exploring thousands of years of culture and history, Turkey has no dearth of activities and attractions. But for first time visitors, it can be hard to decide on th ...Read more

Cruise in Turkey: Our Recommendations

Cruise holidays in Turkey are fast becoming one of the most popular choices among travelers. From the eclectic Mediterranean in the south to the Aegean sea in the west and the tranquil black sea coast in the north, Turkey offers unmatched cruise experienc ...Read more

Turkey at a Glance

Quick facts about Turkey.

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey. It is the junction of most of the major roads in the country and is also Turkey’s largest industrial city. It might seem modern at first glance, but the city has been occupied since 2000 BC with significant expansion since 1000 BC.

Turkey covers an area of 783,562 square kilometers. Most of Turkey’s major highways run through Ankara, and there is a high-speed railway connecting the capital to Istanbul.

+90. If you are in Istanbul, there are two area codes: 212 is for the Europe side and 216 for the Asian side.

Turkey uses the Turkish Lira. The currency code is TRY. Most tourist cities have currency exchanges and card services are widely available. But ATM fees are high and you will need some cash for markets and transportation.

Istanbul International Airport is the main airport in Turkey. Located around 40 kilometers northwest of central Istanbul, it is one of two large airports in the city. CODE: IST CLOSEST CITY: ISTANBUL

Most visitors need an e-visa to enter Turkey. The process is simple and hassle-free and takes around 15 minutes to complete. The fee is different for most nationalities. We recommend checking your country's travel advisories in advance of booking a trip.

The official language of Turkey is Turkish. More than 90 percent of the country speaks Turkish as their first language. But in tourist-heavy cities, you will find many people speaking English. Greeting people in their native tongue is a great way to break the ice and “Merhaba” is the most common way to say hello.

Dialing 112 will get you in contact with an ambulance while 155 is the number for the police service in Turkey.

Turkey is predominantly an Islamic country so you will hear the call to prayer five times a day. Keep prayer times in mind, as many of the mosques are closed to visitors when worshipers are inside. Women should also carry a headscarf around, as many tourist attractions have religious sites where you will need to cover up.

When to visit Turkey

Read the below travel guides to find the best time to visit Turkey.

Jan Avg Daily: 3 ° C Avg Nightly: -5 ° C
Feb Avg Daily: 5 ° C Avg Nightly: -4 ° C
Mar Avg Daily: 11 ° C Avg Nightly: -2 ° C
Apr Avg Daily: 16 ° C Avg Nightly: 3 ° C
May Avg Daily: 20 ° C Avg Nightly: 6 ° C
Jun Avg Daily: 25 ° C Avg Nightly: 9 ° C
Jul Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 12 ° C
Aug Avg Daily: 28 ° C Avg Nightly: 12 ° C
Sep Avg Daily: 25 ° C Avg Nightly: 8 ° C
Oct Avg Daily: 18 ° C Avg Nightly: 3 ° C
Nov Avg Daily: 11 ° C Avg Nightly: -1 ° C
Dec Avg Daily: 5 ° C Avg Nightly: -3 ° C

Best Time to Visit Turkey

As a country that straddles Asia and Europe, Turkey is a geographically and culturally intriguing destination. The country is home to many historical and archaeological landmarks, stunning monuments, natural wonders and a rich cultural heritage. Though it ...Read more

Turkey in January: Cold Weather and Ski Season

If you are visiting Turkey in January, you have picked a great time for a ski holiday adventure. Far away from the sweaty and crowded peak season of summer, Turkey is cold and parts of it are blanketed with snow in January. Fewer tourists and cheaper rate ...Read more

Turkey in February: Weather and Travel Tips

Ski up a storm on the Turkish slopes, dine on doner and kebabs, and explore Istanbul or Cappadoccia without throngs of tourists. Although likely too chilly for the beach, February in Turkey still has its perks, especially for those on a budget. Visiting T ...Read more

Turkey in March: Spring Holiday Tips

As winter transitions into spring, the weather in Turkey can get unpredictable at the beginning of March. But from mid-March onwards, spring is clearly in the air and temperatures start warming up. Explore the splendid Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, get lost ...Read more

Turkey in April: Weather, Tips & Festivities

With spring in full swing, Turkey sees pleasant weather conditions during April. The air is fresh, leaves have turned green and days are neither too hot nor too cold. There are tons of things to do on your trip to Turkey in April, thanks to the weather al ...Read more

Turkey in May: Weather, Travel Tips and More

An abundance of cultural festivals and warm weather make the early summer month of May in Turkey an ideal time to visit. Explore fabulous natural landmarks like the Fairy Chimneys or the Blue Lagoon and check out ancient wonders (think the Hagia Sophia) b ...Read more

Where to go in Turkey

Unravel the top destinations to visit in Turkey.

Top 11 Places to Visit in Turkey

From karst expanses to tranquil coasts and cities teaming with life, Turkey has it all. On the cusp of the East and the West, a unique destination awaits hungry travelers. The sunrise views over Cappadocia, the towering Minarets of Istanbul, and the gleam ...Read more

Western Turkey: Must-Know Travel Tips

When we speak about western Turkey, most of us think of the Aegean coast. But western Turkey covers a large part of the country, encompassing Istanbul, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Antalya, the Lycian Way, and more. With a vibrant and mixed landscape, there are pl ...Read more

How long to stay in Turkey

Read about the ideal duration to stay in Turkey.

Great Turkey Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend?

Straddling Asia and Europe, Turkey attract travelers from all corners of the earth thanks to its vibrant culture, sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches, and dazzling display of ancient monuments. While outdoor enthusiasts can trek the highlands of central ...Read more

5 Days or Less in Turkey: Our Recommendations

Spending 5 days or less in Turkey should be enough to see the country's most iconic sights, such as the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. But there's more to a Turkish holiday than Istanbul. Head to the Gallipoli Peninsula to unravel the history behind the Ga ...Read more

7 Days in Turkey: Top 4 Recommendations

From spectacular views along the Mediterranean to monumental historic sights, there is a lot to do in 7 days in Turkey. Focus on a region or two during your week-long trip to make the most of your time. Book a trip to Istanbul and explore its backstreets ...Read more

10 Days in Turkey: Top 4 Recommendations

Spending 10 days in Turkey offers you the chance to understand life in a land where East meets West. Take in the highlights of Istanbul and Cappadocia. Unravel the history of Homer’s Troy and stroll through Ephesus Roman ruins. Alternatively, go on ...Read more

14 Days in Turkey: Our Recommendations

WheGet under the skin of the country that straddles Asia and Europe during your 14 days in Turkey. Jaunt through its major cities like Istanbul and Ankara and follow the footsteps of Greeks and Romans in Troy, Pergamum and Ephesus. Alternatively, hike the ...Read more

Turkey Tour and Holiday Packages

Select the tour type that you are looking for.

small group tours

Group tours, private tours, family tour packages, faqs for turkey.

Read the most frequently asked questions and answers about traveling to Turkey below.

What is the best time to visit Turkey?
How many days should I spend on a visit to Turkey?
Where should I visit in Turkey as a first time visitor?
How much does a tour to Turkey cost?
Is Turkey a tourist friendly country?

Sustainable travel — How to travel through Turkey responsibly

In line with Bookmundi’s vision, we wish to provide our travelers with a sustainable travel experience through Turkey. As part of this effort, we carbon-offset any Turkey tour that you purchase through us. You can read more details about our carbon offsetting efforts .

Here’s what you can do to travel Turkey more responsibly:

Carbon-offset your transport to Turkey via Turkish Airlines . The moment your tour starts in Turkey, and provided that you have purchased your tour through Bookmundi, we will carbon-offset your tour from its starting point to its ending point.
Calculate your carbon footprint at Carbonfootprint.com and choose from a list of projects you can donate to offset your carbon footprint. For instance, the Yesil Hydroelectric Power Plant is an innovative project in Turkey, looking to reduce carbon emissions.
As part of Turkey’s “Safe Tourism Certification Program” more than 12,000 tourism facilities have been granted the certificate. You can go with the certified facilities to make your travel sustainable. Under the program, all aspects of the tourism industry are made sustainable, from accommodation to food to activities and transportation.

Turkey travel tips and insight

The Turkish people are amazing hosts and you will receive a warm welcome.
Do not show disrespect to national symbols and local customs.
Most cities have ATMs and you should not have a problem using your debit or credit cards in resorts or cities.
Traffic can be chaotic in Istanbul.

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Popular Destinations

Western Turkey

Popular Activities

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Art and architecture
City sightseeing
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Getaways and short breaks
Hot air balloon rides
Local culture
Museum and gallery visits
Natural landmarks sightseeing
Photography tours
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Upcoming Departures

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Backpacking Turkey – Ultimate Budget Travel Guide for 2024

Boring stuff: I have visited each of the places I recommend and give you my honest opinion, warts and all. All photos are my own unless otherwise stated and may not be reproduced without permission. Affiliate links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Turkey is a fantastic destination for adventurous travellers looking to discover more than just the popular seaside resorts. Backpacking Turkey is the best way to really get to grips with the country and discover this fascinating destination where Europe meets Asia.

I spent over two months backpacking in Turkey in 2022 and 2023 and travelled the entire country from east to west. I started in the pleasant seaside town of Bodrum and travelled through Mesopotamia before making my way to the ancient Armenian settlement of Van and the mountain resort of Erzurum.

On previous trips backpacking through Turkey I’ve travelled to Istanbul and along the Black Sea to Georgia. From the incredible cave dwellings of Capadoccia to the forests and mountains in the east, golden beaches to the north and south, and a dazzling capital, Turkey backpacking is a must for any serious traveller.

Table of Contents

Ultimate Guide to Backpacking in Turkey

Regions of turkey.

Turkey is made up of seven separate regions each offering unique landscapes, history and experiences.

Aegean Region – Beautiful beaches, Greek and Roman ruins and the resort cities of Izmir and Bodrum

Black Sea Region – Mountainous northern area along the Black Sea coast

Central Anatolia – Inland area and home to the capital Ankara and Cappadocia

Eastern Anatolia – Mountainous eastern area and home to Lake Van, Mount Ararat and Erzurum

Marmara Region – Far northeastern area bordering Bulgaria and Greece and location of Istanbul

Mediterranean – Mountains, pine forests and crystal clear waters. Home of Antalya and Mersin.

Southeastern Anatolia – Wild part of Turkey bordering Syria and Iraq with Kurdish and Assyrian cities.

Check out my list of the top landmarks in Turkey for more inspiration.

Suggested Itineraries

One Week: Istanbul

Two Weeks: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia

Three Weeks: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia – Antalya – Pamukkale – Bodrum – Izmir – Istanbul

Four Weeks: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia – Gaziantep – Diyarbakir – Mardin – Midyat – Van

Five Weeks: Istanbul – Ankara – Cappadocia – Gaziantep – Diyarbakir – Mardin – Van – Erzurum

Six Weeks: Istanbul – Izmir – Pamukkale – Cappadocia – Gaziantep – Diyarbakir – Mardin – Van – Erzurum – Trabzon – Istanbul

Top Tours in Turkey

1. Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise – Book with Get Your Guide

2. Cappadocia Sunrise Balloon Flight – Book with Get Your Guide

3. Cappadocia Sunset ATV Tour – Book with Get Your Guide

4. Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour – Book with Get Your Guide

5. Full-day Ephesus Tour from Izmir – Book with Get Your Guide

Money in Turkey

Turkey uses the Turkish Lira ( TL ). The exchange rate in March 2023 is £1 = 22.8TL and $1 = 18.9TL.

Turkey Backpacking Budget

Turkey is inexpensive compared to western Europe and the further you get off the beaten track, the cheaper it gets. I found a Turkey travel budget of £25 ($30) per day to be about right .

Hostel £10 ($12)
Food and drink £10 ($12)
Local transport and entry tickets £5 ($6)

Visas for Turkey

Citizens of 91 countries including the UK and EU can now enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days. Citizens of the USA, Australia, Canada and the USA can get a 90-day e-visa online.

The first time I visited in 2017 I needed an e-visa (UK passport), but now it’s possible to stay for up to three months visa-free. Check with your nearest Turkey embassy before your visit to see if you need a visa.

Getting to Turkey

Istanbul has a new international airport (IST, IGA) with flights to and from destinations around the globe. I’ve flown to and from England, China and Kazakhstan and getting from the airport into the city is easy with a shuttle bus service and plentiful taxis.

There are international train services between Turkey and Austria, Bulgaria, Iran and Romania.

Austria – Villach to Edirne (Optima Express) – 32 Hours / $164

Bulgaria – Sofia to Istanbul (Sofia Express) – Year-round – 11 Hours / $30

Romania – Bucharest to Istanbul (Bosphor Express) – Summer only – 19 Hours / $50

Iran – Tehran to Ankara (Transasia Express) – Spring-autumn (under construction)

There are international buses to Turkey from Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia and Iraq. I’ve taken buses from Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia and Iraq to Turkey on multiple occasions. Border crossings have always been straightforward.

Iraq – Erbil to Diyarbakir Bus – 10 Hours / €30

Bulgaria – Sofia to Istanbul Bus – 8 Hours / €26 – Book with Flixbus

Greece – Thessaloniki to Istanbul Bus – 9 Hours / €60

Georgia – Tbilisi to Istanbul Bus – 30 Hours / €60

Tickets can be bought at the international bus stations of each country or online using GetByBus, BusBud or Flixbus .

There are a number of ferry and cargo services that run between Turkey and Greece, Georgia, Cyprus and Lebanon.

Greece – Kos to Bodrum Ferry – 1 hour / €25 ($30)

Cyprus – Tasucu to Kyrenia Ferry – 6 Hours / €35 (3 sailing per week)

Lebanon – currently suspended

Getting Around Turkey

The Diyarbakir to Erbil Bus at the Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing

When backpacking around Turkey I’ve always used long-distance buses/coaches to get around as they are cheap, comfortable and enable me to save on a night’s accommodation by travelling overnight.

The entire country is well connected by bus and long-distance coach. Tickets can be purchased online via sites like Metro Turizm, BusBud or at any bus station (Otaogar).

Turkey has a comprehensive rail network covering major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara. The Turkish Railway website has an English translation and you can book tickets online.

Hiring a car is a great way to get around and gives you a lot more freedom than having to rely on public transport (though not as adventurous of course). Our partners at DiscoverCars have excellent rates for car hire. Get a quote with DiscoverCars today.

Where to Stay / Cheap Accommodation

It’s easy to save on accommodation costs with lots of hostels, cheap hotels and Airbnb.

Find Turkey hostels on Hostelworld.com

Find Turkey hotels on Booking.com

Here are a few of the budget rooms I stayed in in Turkey recently:

Bodrum: Bircan Hotel – Inexpensive and comfortable room close to the centre and beaches

Diyarbakir: Comfortable Airbnb room close to the bus station

Erzurum: Hekimoglu Hotel – Room in the centre of town a short walk from the citadel

Van: Dosco Hotel – An excellent room with mountain views, a desk and a buffet breakfast

Best Places to Visit

Istanbul – Historic city that straddles both Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus River

Capadoccia – Stunning landscapes and homes carved into the rocks

Izmir – Resort town with some wonderful nearby beaches

Bodrum – Laid back coastal resort town with a castle, old town and beaches

Mardin – Assyrian city overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia

Diyarbakir – Majority Kurdish city with an impressive Roman wall and ancient Hevsel Gardens

Van – Historically Armenian city on Lake Van with an impressive castle overlooking the lake

Erzurum – Turkey’s highest city and premiere winter skiing destination

Ankara – Turkey’s capital city

Pammukale – Impressive natural phenomenon with stepped pools of water

Ephesus – Ancient Roman city overlooking the Mediterranean

Dara Ancient City – The easternmost outpost of the Roman Empire

Trabzon – City on the Black sea coast

Midyat – An Assyrian town famous for winemaking

Check out these Istanbul landmarks for ideas on what to do in one of Turkey’s most interesting cities.

Food and Drink in Turkey

Turkish cuisine is influenced by the Mediterranean and also incorporates Russian and Middle Eastern flavours. Breakfast is typically a large spread including cheeses, olives, bread, salad and eggs.

Turkey is the home of the mighty kebab, a staple of drunk people everywhere. But this cheap and plentiful dish is served from east to west and north to south and is a great way to fill up for just a few Lira.

There are many different types of kebab from doner (grilled meat, usually lamb, is cut into small pieces and served with pitta or other bread and salad) to iskender, adana, shish and more. The Cag kebab which comes from Erzurum is a must-try (I even had a go at cooking it myself).

Manti is a type of dumpling or ravioli and dolma/sarma (stuffed cabbage or vine leaves) is also a very popular dish. I was served dolma many times throughout my visit and it’s one of my favourite foods.

Best Time to Visit

Turkey is an excellent destination at any time of the year and as it’s such a large country climates differ greatly between regions.

Summer is a great time to hit Turkey’s many wonderful beaches, north and south but this is also the busiest time and resort areas like Bodrum and Izmir will be crowded and prices high.

The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are a great time to visit as there will be fewer people and prices generally cheaper.

Winter can be a magical time in Turkey and those that like winter sports should head to the mountains around Erzurum for skiing and other activities.

Money-Saving Tips for Backpacking in Turkey

Pay by card and avoid expensive ATM fees
Use hostels and Airbnb to save on accommodation
Use long-distance/overnight buses to get around
Street food vendors and kebabs are very cheap
Shop at the colourful markets and bazaars for fresh fruit and vegetables
Avoid the peak months of July and August
Do a little research and swap the large resorts for smaller, less well-known beaches

Is Turkey Safe for backpackers?

Turkey is generally a safe country for backpackers but there are risks to be aware of. The British Foreign Office advises against all travel to the border with Syria and Iraq, however I spent over a month in the area and aside from Turkish jets screaming overhead, had no problems.

Crime/Scams

Violent crime towards tourists is rare but petty crime and scams do exist (I got scammed by shoe shiners on my first trip to Istanbul). Take usual traveller precautions and don’t flash valuables and expensive equipment. Avoid unlit areas at night.

Unfortunately, Turkey has suffered terrorist attacks in recent years due to ongoing conflicts in the region with Kurdish separatists like the PKK and YPG and the wars in Iraq and Syria. Istanbul suffered a terrorist attack in November 2022 in the central Taksim Square area that killed six people.

Natural Disasters

In February 2023 Turkey and northern Syria suffered a major earthquake that registered 7.8 on the Richter scale and killed over 30,000 people. The epicentre was near the city of Gaziantep in southeast Turkey. Since then there have been almost daily quakes registering above 5 on the Richter scale.

Read my full guide about safety for travellers in Turkey for more information.

Our partners at SafetyWing provide cover for travellers, backpackers and Digital Nomads. Get a quote here and ensure you have the proper cover for your trip.

Conclusion to Backpacking in Turkey

Backpacking Turkey is an incredibly rewarding experience with such diverse landscapes from Mediterranean beaches to the cave houses of Cappadocia, the mountainous Black Sea areas and the ancient towns and villages to the south.

I can’t wait to get back and explore more of this enchanting country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. So, what are you waiting for? Book that Turkey backpacking trip today!

One thought on “ Backpacking Turkey – Ultimate Budget Travel Guide for 2024 ”

I love your travels. Turkey is high on my list of places to visit. Good to know when I go there at some point, I can follow your blog for recommendations!

northern turkey travel guide

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Best Places To Visit In Northern Turkey (2024)

Why Visit Turkey’s Black Sea Region?

Best Places To Visit In Northern Turkey

1. Istanbul

Top sights close to Sultanahmet:

3. Amasra to Sinop: Coastal Drive

6. Sumela Monastery

9. Ayder Yaylası

10. Karagöl Sahara Milli Parkı

11. Ani Ruins

Tours Of The Turkish Black Sea Coast Region

Practical Info & Tips

How To Get To Northern Turkey

Transport Around Karadeniz

Cheap car hire in Turkey

Where To Stay In Northern Turkey

Best Time To Visit Northern Turkey

FAQs About Visiting Karadeniz

What is the North Coast of Turkey like?

Where is less touristy in Turkey?

What is Karadeniz famous for?

Is Turkey’s Black Sea region worth visiting?

Is Turkey safe to visit?

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SINOP: 1 to 2 days

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