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Turkey

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Turkey

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In modern Turkey, the legacy of centuries of history coexists with progressive and contemporary culture. Its exciting capital, Istanbul, spans Europe and Asia: here, upscale eateries and swanky nightclubs are squeezed between Byzantine and Ottoman structures, with calls-to-prayer from city mosques sounding above the city. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts mix ancient Roman ruins with stunning beaches and resorts. Still, the real cultural lessons come from the Turkish people, always welcoming and eager to share their homeland's fascinating past and present.

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The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...

The Turquoise Coast

The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...

Istanbul

The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...

Çesme

Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...

Antalya

Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...

Ankara

In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...

Trabzon

Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...

Kuşadası

Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...

Alanya

Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...

Çanakkale

West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...

Marmaris

This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...

Dikili

...

Sinop

...

Fethiye

This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...

Dalyan

Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...

Adana

Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...

Iznik

Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...

Safranbolu

...

Göreme

Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...

Termessos

Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...

Diyarbakir

As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...

Dara

...

Çamlihemsin

The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...

Ayder

At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...

Kultepe

...

Kύrώehir

...

Kalkan

Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...

Side

Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...

Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat

The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...

Turgutreis

Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...

Gaziantep

Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...

Behramkale (Assos)

The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...

Harran

A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...

Eceabat

Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...

Hasankeyf

Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...

Troy (Truva)

Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...

Kahta

...

Ürgup

Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...

Kars

The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...

Demre

Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...

Mardin

With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...

Göcek

A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...

Midyat

Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...

Ortahisar

A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...

Mt. Nemrut and Around

Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...

Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound

Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...

Konya

Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...

Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities

...

Urfa (Sanliurfa)

This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...

Yalikavak

This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...

Van

Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...

Ayvalik

Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...

Kayseri

...

Bursa

An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...

Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...

Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)

Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...

Ihlara Valley

A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...

Soğanli Valleys

The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...

Pergamum (Bergama)

The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...

Anamur

Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli

The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...

Avanos

Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...

Adrasan

A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...

Uçhisar

A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...

Alara Han

The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...

Ephesus

Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...

Antakya (Antioch)

Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...

Izmir

At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...

Aspendos

Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...

Kaya/Kayaköy

The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...

Datça Town

If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...

Kiz Kalesi

This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...

Eski Datça and Reşadiye

Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...

Kumluca

...

Finike and Arykanda

Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arykanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...

Olympos and Çirali

Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...

Kabak

If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...

Perge

Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...

Kas

In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...

Niğde

The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...

Kemer

...

Pamukkale (Hierapolis)

Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...

Knidos

Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...

Priene, Miletus and Didyma

The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...

Letoon

This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...

Selçuk

Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...

Ölüdeniz

Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...

Sirince

Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...

Patara

Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...

The Bodrum Peninsula

Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...

Phaselis

Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...

Bitez

The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...

Silifke

Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...

Bodrum

On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...

Tarsus

The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...

Göl-Türkbükü

The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...

Tlos Ruins

A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...

Gümüşlük

Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...

The Turquoise Coast

The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...

Istanbul

The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...

Çesme

Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...

Antalya

Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...

Ankara

In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...

Trabzon

Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...

Kuşadası

Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...

Alanya

Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...

Çanakkale

West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...

Marmaris

This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...

Dikili

...

Sinop

...

Fethiye

This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...

Dalyan

Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...

Adana

Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...

Iznik

Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...

Safranbolu

...

Göreme

Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...

Termessos

Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...

Diyarbakir

As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...

Dara

...

Çamlihemsin

The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...

Ayder

At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...

Kultepe

...

Kύrώehir

...

Kalkan

Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...

Side

Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...

Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat

The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...

Turgutreis

Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...

Gaziantep

Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...

Behramkale (Assos)

The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...

Harran

A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...

Eceabat

Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...

Hasankeyf

Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...

Troy (Truva)

Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...

Kahta

...

Ürgup

Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...

Kars

The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...

Demre

Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...

Mardin

With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...

Göcek

A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...

Midyat

Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...

Ortahisar

A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...

Mt. Nemrut and Around

Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...

Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound

Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...

Konya

Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...

Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities

...

Urfa (Sanliurfa)

This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...

Yalikavak

This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...

Van

Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...

Ayvalik

Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...

Kayseri

...

Bursa

An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...

Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...

Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)

Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...

Ihlara Valley

A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...

Soğanli Valleys

The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...

Pergamum (Bergama)

The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...

Anamur

Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli

The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...

Avanos

Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...

Adrasan

A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...

Uçhisar

A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...

Alara Han

The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...

Ephesus

Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...

Antakya (Antioch)

Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...

Izmir

At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...

Aspendos

Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...

Kaya/Kayaköy

The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...

Datça Town

If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...

Kiz Kalesi

This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...

Eski Datça and Reşadiye

Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...

Kumluca

...

Finike and Arykanda

Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arykanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...

Olympos and Çirali

Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...

Kabak

If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...

Perge

Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...

Kas

In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...

Niğde

The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...

Kemer

...

Pamukkale (Hierapolis)

Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...

Knidos

Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...

Priene, Miletus and Didyma

The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...

Letoon

This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...

Selçuk

Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...

Ölüdeniz

Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...

Sirince

Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...

Patara

Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...

The Bodrum Peninsula

Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...

Phaselis

Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...

Bitez

The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...

Silifke

Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...

Bodrum

On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...

Tarsus

The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...

Göl-Türkbükü

The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...

Tlos Ruins

A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...

Gümüşlük

Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...

Istanbul

The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...

Çesme

Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...

Antalya

Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...

Ankara

In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...

Trabzon

Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...

Kuşadası

Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...

Alanya

Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...

Çanakkale

West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...

Marmaris

This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...

Dikili

...

Sinop

...

Göcek

A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...

Ortahisar

A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...

Kultepe

...

Pergamum (Bergama)

The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...

Kύrώehir

...

Yalikavak

This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...

Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound

Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...

Ayder

At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...

Heybeliada

...

Büyükada

...

Ihlara Valley

A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...

Ürgup

Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...

Uçhisar

A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...

Safranbolu

...

Konya

Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...

Perge

Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...

Çamlihemsin

The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...

Avanos

Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...

Dara

...

Behramkale (Assos)

The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...

Diyarbakir

As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...

Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat

The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...

Adana

Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...

Gaziantep

Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...

Anamur

Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...

Harran

A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...

Fethiye

This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...

Hasankeyf

Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...

Kalkan

Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...

Kahta

...

Olympos and Çirali

Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...

Kars

The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...

Side

Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...

Mardin

With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...

Termessos

Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...

Midyat

Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...

Turgutreis

Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...

Sumela/Mereyemana

The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manast?r? in Turkish) is a spectacular and unforgettable sight...

Ayvalik

Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...

Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities

...

Bursa

An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...

Urfa (Sanliurfa)

This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...

Eceabat

Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...

Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...

Iznik

Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...

Göreme

Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...

Troy (Truva)

Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli

The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...

Adrasan

A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...

Dalyan

Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...

Alara Han

The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...

Demre

Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...

Antakya (Antioch)

Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...

Niğde

The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...

Aspendos

Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...

Ephesus

Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...

Datça Town

If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...

Izmir

At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...

Eski Datça and Reşadiye

Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...

Kaya/Kayaköy

The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...

Finike and Arykanda

Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arykanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...

Kiz Kalesi

This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...

Kabak

If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...

Kumluca

...

Kas

In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...

Kayseri

...

Kemer

...

Pamukkale (Hierapolis)

Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...

Knidos

Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...

Priene, Miletus and Didyma

The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...

Letoon

This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...

Selçuk

Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...

Ölüdeniz

Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...

Sirince

Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...

Patara

Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...

Urla

The long peninsula west of Izmir ending at Cesme holds a cornucopia of inlets, coves, beaches, peninsulas, and agricultural valleys. While most visitors used to...

Phaselis

Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...

Bitez

The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...

Silifke

Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...

Bodrum

On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...

Tarsus

The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...

Göl-Türkbükü

The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...

Tlos Ruins

A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...

Gümüşlük

Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...

Istanbul

The only city in the world that can lay claim to straddling two continents, Istanbul—once known as Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine and then the...

Çesme

Known for its hot springs and beaches, Çe?me has always been a summer resort for ?zmirians, but in recent years the gorgeous sands have been...

Antalya

Sophisticated Antalya is a definite tourist hub, and with a population approaching the 1-million mark, it’s among Turkey's fastest growing cities. These days the international...

Ankara

In 1923, right after the War of Independence, Ankara was made the fledgling Turkish Republic's new capital—in part because it was a barren, dusty steppe...

Trabzon

Trabzon has a spectacular location, perched on a hill overlooking the sea, with lush green mountains behind it. Once the capital of the empire founded...

Kuşadası

Ku?adas? long ago lost its local charm to invasive, sterile buildings and overpopulation, and these days it's often overrun with cruise ship passengers disembarking to...

Alanya

Alanya is Turkey's hottest resort town—literally. Temperatures here are higher than almost anywhere else in Turkey, averaging 106°F (27°C) in July and August; the waves...

Çanakkale

West of Bursa, on the southern shore of the Dardanelles, Çanakkale is the largest city on the North Aegean coast and makes a very pleasant...

Marmaris

This big, brash resort city has two faces, and they're hard to reconcile. From the sea, a line of hotels stretches around the northern edge...

Dikili

...

Sinop

...

Göcek

A 20-minute drive over the mountains from Dalaman Airport, Göcek is perfect for visitors who want to sample the grandeur of the Turquoise Coast but...

Ortahisar

A rather sleepy farming village overlooking scenic Pancarl?k Valley, Ortahisar was traditionally famous for its underground caves where fruit was stored. Although it has recently...

Kultepe

...

Pergamum (Bergama)

The windswept ruins of Pergamum, which surround the modern town of Bergama, are among the most spectacular in Turkey. Pergamum was one of the world’s...

Kύrώehir

...

Yalikavak

This town on the northwestern tip of the Bodrum Peninsula is surrounded by tangerine orchards and olive groves and easily identified by the beautiful windmills...

Simena-Kalekoy and Kekova Sound

Charming, rustic, waterside Kaleköy (sometimes known by its ancient name, Simena), Kekova Island just across the water, and the surrounding coastline are among the most...

Ayder

At 4,000 feet and surrounded by snowcapped mountains and tumbling waterfalls, the mountain village of Ayder, with its wooden chalets and wandering cows, can seem...

Heybeliada

...

Büyükada

...

Ihlara Valley

A verdant river canyon dotted with rock churches carved into the cliffs above, Ihlara Valley is a pleasant change of scenery from the arid terrain...

Ürgup

Ürgüp is especially known these days for its charming small hotels, many of which are in restored cave houses and have views overlooking the town...

Uçhisar

A lovely little town on a hill, built around a huge fairy chimney known as Uçhisar Castle, Uçhisar has some of the nicest places to...

Safranbolu

...

Konya

Famous for its association with Rumi and the whirling dervishes, Konya has long attracted both religious pilgrims and travelers to the city’s spiritual, even mystical...

Perge

Perge's biggest problem is that it suffers from comparison with its neighbors. It is, however, one of Turkey's best examples of a Roman city...

Çamlihemsin

The small village of Çaml?hem?in, at the junction of two rushing rivers, serves mainly as a gateway to mountain valleys above, particularly to the village...

Avanos

Avanos is a low-key town on the K?z?l?rmak (Red River), so named for the color of the clay that lines its banks, and is best...

Dara

...

Behramkale (Assos)

The port of Assos is a marvel, pressed against the sheer cliff walls. It's crammed with small hotels built of volcanic rock, a fleet of...

Diyarbakir

As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that...

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula lies to the north of the Dardanelles. Turks call it Gelibolu—there's also a town of the same name about 40 km (25...

Dogubeyazit and Mt. Ararat

The scrappy frontier town of Do?ubeyaz?t (doh-oo-bay-yah-zuht) is a good base from which to enjoy views of Turkey's highest and most famous mountain, the majestic...

Adana

Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city after Istanbul, Ankara, and ?zmir. Being a commercial and industrial center, it is the least known to tourists; however, there...

Gaziantep

Gaziantep is the last Turkish-speaking city before the Kurdish and Arab areas east of it, and somehow manages to mix the modernity of western Turkey...

Anamur

Anamur is an uninspiring agricultural town, known throughout Turkey for its bananas. The ruins of ancient Anemurium and the dramatic Marmure Castle, however, give you...

Harran

A quick ride from Urfa, the ancient city of Harran is well worth a visit, although be forewarned that it is close to the Syrian...

Fethiye

This busy port city is a good base for exploring the ruins of ancient Lycia in the mountains that rise to the east. Fethiye was...

Hasankeyf

Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the...

Kalkan

Kalkan has two distinct sides: on one hand it has fine restaurants and excellent hotels to match its superb, steep views of the Mediterranean Sea...

Kahta

...

Olympos and Çirali

Olympos and its "sister" towns, Ç?ral? and Adrasan, are places unique on the Turquoise Coast for their natural beauty, ancient ruins, low-rise development, and easygoing...

Kars

The setting for Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk's somber novel Snow, Kars is a rustic and foreboding city set on a 5,740-foot plateau and forever at...

Side

Charter-tour hotels crowded along this stretch of coast threaten to overshadow Side, but the city remains a delightful mix of ancient ruins and modern amenities...

Mardin

With historic stone houses clinging to a citadel-topped mountain that overlooks a vast plain below, Mardin is a magical setting. The city was hit hard...

Termessos

Writers in antiquity referred to Termessos as the Eagle's Nest, and when you visit the 4,500-foot-high site, you'll understand why. Seemingly impregnable, Termessos remained autonomous...

Midyat

Not far from Mardin, the lovely old town of Midyat is an architectural gem that has remained largely untouched by the blight of concrete—although the...

Turgutreis

Named for an Ottoman admiral (some say pirate), Turgutreis lies due west on the opposite side of the peninsula from Bodrum. The second-largest town on...

Sumela/Mereyemana

The Sumela Monastery (also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, and Mereyemana or Sümela Manast?r? in Turkish) is a spectacular and unforgettable sight...

Ayvalik

Ayval?k is beautiful, stretching onto a peninsula and surrounded by islands, with many bays swirling in and out of its coastline. The bustling harbor town...

Hattusa and the Other Hittite Cities

...

Bursa

An important center since early Ottoman times, Bursa is today one of Turkey's more prosperous cities (due to its large automobile and textile industries) and...

Urfa (Sanliurfa)

This is Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, with golden-color stone houses, religious shrines filled with visiting pilgrims, and an authentic bazaar displaying mounds and...

Eceabat

Eceabat, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, is the closest town to the most-visited battlefields and cemeteries. The town is small and most of the restaurants and...

Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias, the city of Aphrodite, goddess of love, is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in Turkey. It's interesting to compare this site...

Iznik

Nature has been generous to ?znik, which is beautifully situated around the east end of Lake ?znik. You can swim (though the water can be...

Göreme

Bustling Göreme has the most options for hotels, dining, nightlife, shopping, and other commercial enterprises. Back in the early days of tourism in Cappadocia, the...

Troy (Truva)

Troy, known as Truva to the Turks and Ilion to the Greeks, is one of the most evocative place names in literature. To bring this...

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli

The underground cities of Cappadocia have excited the imaginations of travelers since the Greek mercenary leader/historian Xenophon wrote about them in the 5th century BC...

Adrasan

A relaxed little town on a long beach, Adrasan is a world away from the flashy resort areas, so don't expect five-star hotels, gourmet restaurants...

Dalyan

Dalyan is a lovely place for a short break, especially if you prefer a quiet destination that's been developed in a way that is sensitive...

Alara Han

The Seljuk Turks fostered the prosperity of their 11th- to 13th-century domains with trade protected by a network of kervansarays, or inns—also called hans in...

Demre

Demre (also referred to as Kale in Turkish) is where St. Nicholas, who later became known as Father Christmas, made his reputation as bishop of...

Antakya (Antioch)

Antakya—perhaps better known by its old name, Antioch—was founded in about 300 BC and quickly grew, thanks to its strategic location on the trade routes...

Niğde

The small city of Ni?de is primarily an agricultural center, and the few sights of interest, including the Ni?de Museum, can be seen on a...

Aspendos

Most experts agree that the theater in Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world. A splendid Roman aqueduct that traverses the valley...

Ephesus

Ephesus (Efes in Turkish), the showpiece of Aegean archaeology, is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest...

Datça Town

If you make it all the way to the Datça Peninsula, you may never want to leave the rugged landscape of dark olive and pale...

Izmir

At first glance, Turkey’s third-largest city (formerly known as Smyrna) may seem modern and harsh—even the beautiful setting, between the Gulf of ?zmir and the...

Eski Datça and Reşadiye

Turkish satirical poet and polemical left-wing social critic Can Yücel retired to a modest old stone house in Eski Datça, setting an artistic tone for...

Kaya/Kayaköy

The valley behind Fethiye promises a cooler climate and evocative ruins that are decidedly different from their ancient counterparts on the Mediterranean coast .Levissi, as...

Finike and Arykanda

Finike is a good lunch stop or jumping-off point for Arykanda and the series of less glamorous Lycian sites that dot the citrus- and vegetable-growing...

Kiz Kalesi

This small town is easily the best place to stop on the long drive east of Alanya. Although a bit scruffy, it has a nice...

Kabak

If you like your beaches in deep coves, framed by towering cliffs and pine forests, without a deck chair or beach umbrella in sight, then...

Kumluca

...

Kas

In the 1980s, Ka?, with its beautiful wide bay and its lovely view of the Greek island of Kastellorizo (Meis), was the main tourist destination...

Kayseri

...

Kemer

...

Pamukkale (Hierapolis)

Pamukkale (pronounced pam-ook-ka-lay), which means "cotton castle" in Turkish, first appears as an enormous, chalky white cliff rising 330 feet from the plains. Mineral-rich volcanic...

Knidos

Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive...

Priene, Miletus and Didyma

The three towns of Priene, Miletus, and Didyma make up part of Ancient Ionia, homeland of many of the ancient world’s greatest artistic and scientific...

Letoon

This site was not a city but rather a religious center and political meeting point for the Lycian League: the world's first democratic federation. It's...

Selçuk

Selçuk, the closest city to Ephesus, lies beneath the ancient Fortress of Ayasuluk and is unfortunately often overlooked. The former farming village has interesting sights...

Ölüdeniz

Little wonder Ölüdeniz appears on so many Turkish promotional posters. With a photogenic mountain and a fringe of fragrant evergreens behind it, this oh-so-blue, beach-rimmed...

Sirince

Once upon a time, villagers of this picturesque little hilltop aerie christened their town Çirkince (Turkish for "rather ugly"), allegedly to keep outsiders from discovering...

Patara

Patara was once Lycia's principal port. Cosmopolitan in its heyday—Hannibal, St. Paul, and the emperor Hadrian all visited, and St. Nicholas, the man who would...

Urla

The long peninsula west of Izmir ending at Cesme holds a cornucopia of inlets, coves, beaches, peninsulas, and agricultural valleys. While most visitors used to...

Phaselis

Majestically located at the edge of three small bays, the ruins of the ancient port city of Phaselis make an atmospheric stop along the Lycian...

Bitez

The beach in the inland village of Bitez is the longest on the peninsula. The stone houses in the village were built right on the...

Silifke

Lively, non-touristy Silifke is a small agricultural town beside the Göksu River that’s dominated by the Byzantine castle, Silifke Kalesi. Traces of its long history...

Bodrum

On the southern shores of a broad peninsula that stretches along two crescent-shape bays, Bodrum has for years been the favorite haunt of the Turkish...

Tarsus

The dusty, provincial town of Tarsus is known as the place where St. Paul was born some 2,000 years ago. It has a broad range...

Göl-Türkbükü

The two adjacent coastal towns of Gölköy and Türkbükü merged a decade ago to become Göl-Türkbükü, the most glamorous part of the Bodrum Peninsula. Türkbükü...

Tlos Ruins

A day expedition to Tlos, a spectacular ancient Lycian city high above the valley of the Xanthos River, can be arranged from any town on...

Gümüşlük

Charming Gümü?lük (named for its ancient silver mines) is built on the ancient ruins of Myndos. It is one of the peninsula's more authentic, slower-paced...

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...

The Turquoise Coast

The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...

The Mount Ida Region (Kaz Daglari)

...

Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)

Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...

The Bodrum Peninsula

Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...

Van

Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...

Mt. Nemrut and Around

Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...

Soğanli Valleys

The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Aegean is one of Turkey's most visited and most developed regions, for good reason: the area is home to some of Turkey's most captivating...

The Turquoise Coast

The Turquoise Coast is just as stunning as its name suggests. Luminous blue waves in that signature shade (the word "turquoise" actually comes from the...

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

Eastern Turkey may not have the resorts, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel...

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

Some of the world’s oldest known human habitations were established in the hills and valleys of Central Anatolia, but today the main attraction here is...

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The ruins of Pergamum, Troy, and Assos, along with the Gallipoli battlefields, are the main draws of the region, but leisurely exploration is also rewarded...

The Mount Ida Region (Kaz Daglari)

...

Cunda Island (Ali Bey Adasi)

Like Ayval?k, Cunda Island was once predominantly Greek, and some Greek is still spoken here. The island has a mix of the two cultures in...

The Bodrum Peninsula

Until the mid-20th century, the Bodrum Peninsula was little known, and its gorgeous coastline was home to fishermen and sponge divers. Then a bohemian set...

Van

Van is the commercial center of Eastern Anatolia, and modern streets are lined with shops both modern and traditional and choked with traffic. There's a...

Mt. Nemrut and Around

Mt. Nemrut, known as Mt. Nimrod in English, rises 7,052 feet above the Anatolian plain, a ruddy outcrop of rock and stunted trees that has...

Soğanli Valleys

The area of Cappadocia between Ürgüp and the So?anl? Valleys was once considered to be off the beaten path. Though the sights are now well...

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Cappadocia and Central Turkey

Istanbul

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The Turquoise Coast

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

Istanbul

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

The Turquoise Coast

Cappadocia and Central Turkey

The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van

The Sea of Marmara and the North Aegean

Istanbul

The Central and Southern Aegean Coast

The Turquoise Coast

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11 Things to Know Before Traveling to Turkey

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Travel Warnings Issued After 100 Deaths and 230 Injuries Linked to Fake Alcohol

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Fodor's Essential Turkey
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