The best tourist attractions in Turkey have earned the country gushing admiration in travel guidebooks and fairs. From weird and wonderful to historical or natural places of beauty, most are family-friendly destinations and favoured spots for independent travellers. Indeed, many round-the-world backpackers explore Turkey.
Whether it is a World UNESCO Heritage site or a 7,000-kilometre coastline, Turkey doesn't disappoint by offering unique landscapes found nowhere else. However, there are many beautiful and exciting places that it would indeed take a lifetime to visit. So, we have listed popular tourist attractions that people with limited time should see.
The Best Tourist Attractions in Turkey
1: Istanbul Old City Part
As the former ruling capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine empires, Sultan Ahmet, Istanbul’s old part portrays ancient landmarks and streets with hidden secrets. Including the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the 6th-century basilica cistern, the grand bazaar, the Hagia Sophia, once the largest domed building, and the 16th-century Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmet is an ideal 3-day city break destination.
Alongside Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahce Palace in the Besiktas district offers more intrigue about the former Ottoman dynasty, as does Istanbul Archaeological Museum, otherwise, Istiklal Street excels in shopping and nightlife. The newly built Istanbul airport makes this destination, Turkey's largest city, easy to access. Hence, in 2023, Istanbul hosted 20 million visitors.
2: Ephesus Ancient Ruins
Part of this Greek city's attraction is that so much excavation and restoration work has restored it to its former glory. With imagination, visitors feel like they are walking around the second most prominent ancient Roman city rather than historical ruins. The Celsius Library, Roman terrace houses, and the 25,000-seater Grand Theatre are exciting landmarks, and this famous 10th-century attraction for history buffs easily outranks Italian sites of similar interest. Nearby, the Virgin Mary’s house attracts Catholic and Muslim pilgrims all year round, thanks to the belief that this was the place of her ascension.
3: The Cotton Castle of Pamukkale White Terraces
Earning the nickname from white travertine terraces situated on a hillside, Pamukkale is one of Mother Nature's beautiful destinations. In addition to paddling in thermal spring pools, tourists tour the museum and the ancient Hierapolis ruins, which Roman soldiers used as a healing centre. Most, however, say the highlight is swimming in Cleopatra's thermal pool over sunken old columns. When ranking natural phenomena, this scores highly.
4: Sumela Monastery
The unbelievable sight of Sumela Monastery clinging to the side of a cliff face makes the landmark, a top-photographed destination. The 4th-century architectural wonder sits within Macka National Park and is a popular day trip from Trabzon. Rooms to tour include the primary sleeping quarters, kitchens, and church, with intricate frescoes covering the walls and ceilings. You can also combine this famous tourist attraction with a tour to the Aya sofa mosque and Ataturk Pavillion.
5: Uzungol lake
Once a well kept secret in the Kackar mountains, Uzungol has dramatically opened to tourism and is especially popular now with Middle Eastern visitors as the perfect destination. The lure includes traditional hand-built wooden hotels, the lake and domineering green mountain range. During summer, green landscapes hosts much flora and fauna, thanks to the excellent and humid weather climate, but in winter, Uzungol becomes a fairy-tale wonderland as snow settles for the season.
6: Cappadocia and Cave Hotels
Rather than becoming famous for one attraction, the whole region of Cappadocia amazes everyone with lunar-like landscapes and fairy chimneys made of tufa rocks and formed by thousands of years of wind erosion. Goreme Open Air Museum, with ancient cave churches, is the top-visited destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site, but while you are there, take an early morning hot-air balloon ride, visit underground cities, and see Ihlara Valley, a long gorge formed by an earthquake thousands of years ago.
7: Simena and the Sunken Ruins of Kekova
If you are staying on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, visit Simena and the underwater ruins of Kekova island on a day trip from the surrounding resorts of Kas and Kalkan. Otherwise, most people see while sailing gulets on the Turkish Riviera. Kekova's sunken ruins are the remains of an ancient city, forced underwater by an earthquake. Simena boasts a Byzantine castle with landscape views over the blue peninsula. After touring the castle, buy locally made ice cream that has made Simena famous.
8: Blue Lagoon and Butterfly Valley
Travel to Dalaman Airport for these two sites worth an overnight stay. Another of Turkey's most photographed destinations is the Blue Lagoon, which sits in the Oludeniz region and has stunning beaches and waters. The law protects both from construction and portrays the typical postcard scene of Mediterranean Turkey's best landscapes. One quirky aspect of Oludeniz beach is lying down, soaking up the sun, while paragliders from Babadag Mountain soar before landing on designated beach platforms.
While there, catch the water taxi to Butterfly Valley. Sitting near the Farlya district, Butterfly Valley, aptly named because of the butterflies that breed there, has crystal clear waters for snorkelling, although the pebble beach is a bit of a letdown. Trek to the back of the canyon to see the hidden waterfall. Another famed beach, Kabak Bay, is worth making the detour.
9: Bursa – Former Ottoman Ruling Capital
Bursa, an all-rounder with many experiences, has much to boast about. On the outskirts, hot springs make Bursa a thermal water healing destination. Uludag National Park is famous all year round for hiking from spring to autumn and skiing in winter. Then the centre, which hosts Ottoman landmark buildings, belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage site list. As a tourist destination, Bursa only lacks good beaches. But the cultural experiences are unique because this is where the famous Turkish iskender kebab was invented.
10: Antalya Centre
Fly into Antalya airport, travel 30 minutes and book into any famed boutique hotel to explore the sights and blue waters of Antalya's city centre. Don't underestimate this popular destination, which is the top-visited on Med and best place to buy holiday and beachfront property. Even during ancient times, Alexander the Great failed to capture this city, which now hosts Kaleici as the top attraction.
The old town quarter, famed for Hadrian's Gate and Hidirlik Tower, showcases Ottoman architecture. Otherwise, spend time on Lara Beach and Konyaalti Beach, two of Turkey’s best, or travel to Aspendos for the magnificent Roman theatre and impressive ruins. The Antalya Museum showcases marvellous artefacts from around the country. Also, visit the Antalya Aquarium or take a road trip to nearby coastal towns like Golfing Belek.
More Amazing Places in Turkey
Bodrum Castle: Bodrum Castle sits on the coastline of the main town centre for a spot of cultural heritage. It reflects the battle of the Knights of St John against the Ottoman Empire. The castle sits on a peninsula, so this famous attraction combines sandy beaches like Gumbet and Turgurtreis. Several luxury hotels offer private beaches, which is why Bodrum often hosts international celebrities.
Patara Beach and Village: For natural beauty and archaeological sites combined with rustic charm, stay overnight in Patara. Famed for Turkey’s most beautiful beach and historical ruins, the village is laid-back and exist in a world of its own. Patara has great historical significance as a former member of the Lycian League.
Ankara Castle: Constructed around the 7th century, this architectural marvel showcases ancient history in Turkey's capital city. While there, also see Anitkabir. This iconic building is home to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Ankara also has vibrant nightlife scenes for letting your hair down after touring the architectural achievements.
Lake Van and Akdamar Island: With the Armenian monastery on the lake edge, this is a real beauty, yet because of its location in eastern Turkey, stays off the mainstream tourism grid. Forget about pristine beaches; this site is about cultural exploration.
Kayakoy Ghost Village: Sitting close to Oludeniz, Kayakoy Ghost Village is a tale of Greek and Turkish communities that lived side by side before the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne forced their lives to change forever. These days, the local population is sparse. They eventually abandoned the small village, leaving the deserted houses, churches and schools to become shells of doom, gloom and what could have been. The rich history is impressive, and you can learn about it before visiting by reading the novel Birds without Wings.
Ani City: The 11th-century Ani often surprises history enthusiasts since it is another less visited destination, thanks to its location near eastern Kars. Yet, working around, something else stands out, and although there is much more architectural work to be done, everyone is impressed with this historic site.
Mount Nemrut: Last on our list of the best tourist attractions in Turkey, famed for the funerary mound built by King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, this monumental tomb-sanctuary with giant statues on a mountaintop defies belief. Thanks to the mountain's location, many people make the trek to see the amazing sunrise or sunset of Turkey.
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