Türkiye
Updated October 19, 2026
Türkiye bridges Europe and Asia, with Istanbul spread across both continents on the Bosphorus and the Anatolian plateau stretching east to Mount Ararat. It welcomed about 52 million foreign visitors in 2024, making it one of the most visited countries in the world. Travellers come for the domes and …
Must-See Places in Türkiye
Ephesus
Ephesus, near Selçuk on the Aegean coast, was one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire, and its marble streets, the Library of Celsus and a theatre for about 25,000 people are remarkably preserved. It has been a UNESCO site since 2015, and the Terrace Houses show lavish Roman homes. Visit early to avoid heat. Ideal for history lovers.
Göbekli Tepe
Göbekli Tepe, near Şanlıurfa in south-eastern Türkiye, is the world's oldest known temple complex, built about 11,600 years ago, with carved T-shaped pillars. It became a UNESCO site in 2018, and a roof and walkways protect the excavations. Combine it with Şanlıurfa's sacred fish pools. Ideal for archaeology lovers.
Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut, about 2,134 m high in south-eastern Anatolia, is crowned by giant stone heads of gods and King Antiochus I of Commagene, built in the 1st century BC around his tomb mound. Visitors watch sunrise or sunset among the statues. It is a UNESCO site. Ideal for adventurous travellers and photographers.
Kaş
Kaş, a small town on the Mediterranean coast between Fethiye and Antalya, is known for its whitewashed streets, rocky bays, diving spots and boat trips to the sunken city of Kekova. It is a relaxed base for sea kayaking, paragliding and hiking parts of the Lycian Way. Ideal for active travellers and divers.
Troy
Troy, near Çanakkale on the Dardanelles, is the legendary city of Homer's Iliad, with archaeological layers spanning about 4,000 years. A replica wooden horse stands at the site, and the modern Troy Museum, opened in 2018, displays finds. It is a UNESCO site. Combine it with the Gallipoli battlefields. Ideal for history and mythology lovers.
Safranbolu
Safranbolu, in the Black Sea region, is a well-preserved Ottoman town of wooden houses, cobbled streets, a historic caravanserai and saffron shops, listed by UNESCO in 1994. Many old mansions are now guesthouses. It is about five hours from Istanbul by bus. Ideal for travellers interested in traditional architecture and slow travel.
Mardin
Mardin, in south-eastern Türkiye, is a honey-coloured stone town built on a hillside above the Mesopotamian plain, with mosques, Syriac Christian churches and monasteries such as Deyrulzafaran. Its narrow streets and terraces offer sweeping views. It mixes Arab, Kurdish, Turkish and Syriac cultures. Ideal for culture lovers and photographers.
Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley
Ölüdeniz, near Fethiye, is famous for its turquoise Blue Lagoon and long beach, and for paragliding from Babadağ mountain, about 1,960 m high, with views of the coast. Boats reach Butterfly Valley, a secluded beach between cliffs. Summer is busy. Ideal for beach lovers and adventure seekers.
Unique Experiences in Türkiye
Fly in a Hot Air Balloon over Cappadocia
Float at sunrise above fairy chimneys, valleys and cave villages in Cappadocia, with more than 100 colourful balloons rising together on calm mornings.
Cruise the Bosphorus in Istanbul
Sail between Europe and Asia past palaces, fortresses, wooden mansions and mosques, from the Golden Horn to the Black Sea.
Hike the Lycian Way
Walk sections of Türkiye's first long-distance trail, about 540 km from Fethiye to Antalya, past ancient Lycian tombs, beaches and mountain villages.
Experience a Traditional Hammam
Relax in a historic Turkish bath, lying on a heated marble stone before a vigorous scrub and foam massage by an attendant.
Sail the Turquoise Coast on a Gulet
Spend several days aboard a traditional wooden gulet, swimming in hidden bays, visiting ancient ruins and eating fresh seafood on deck.
Travel Tips for Türkiye
Dress Respectfully in Mosques
Visitors are welcome in most mosques outside prayer times. Remove shoes before entering, and cover shoulders and knees. …
Use an Istanbulkart and Local Transport
In Istanbul, buy an Istanbulkart, a rechargeable card for metro, tram, buses, ferries and funiculars, which is much chea…
Bargain Politely in Bazaars
Bargaining is expected in bazaars such as the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, especially for carpets, ceramics and souvenirs. …
Plan Around the Seasons
Visit Istanbul, Cappadocia and ancient sites in spring and autumn, when temperatures are pleasant. Choose the coast from…
Carry Cash for Small Purchases
Cards are widely accepted in cities, hotels and restaurants, but carry some Turkish lira in cash for markets, small café…
Book Popular Experiences Early
Hot air balloon flights in Cappadocia, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace visits, and gulet cruises in summer can sell out.…
Must-Try Local Dishes
Kebab
Türkiye has dozens of kebab styles, from Adana kebab, spicy minced lamb grilled on a wide skewer, to İskender kebab, thin slices of döner over bread with tomato sauce, melted butter and yoghurt, created in Bursa in the 19th century. Döner, meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, became famous worldwide. A kebab plate costs about 300–600 lira in local restaurants.
Meze
Small shared dishes served at the start of a meal, especially with rakı, the anise-flavoured national drink. Popular meze include hummus, haydari yoghurt with herbs, ezme spicy tomato salad, stuffed vine leaves, fava bean purée and grilled aubergine. They are central to long, social dinners in meyhanes, traditional taverns. A meze plate costs about 100–250 lira each.
Baklava
Layers of thin filo pastry filled with chopped pistachios or walnuts and soaked in syrup. Gaziantep is famous for the best pistachio baklava, and its baklava has protected EU status. Fresh baklava should be crisp on top and moist inside. Karaköy Güllüoğlu in Istanbul is a famous shop. A portion costs about 150–350 lira depending on the nuts.
Turkish Breakfast
A generous spread called kahvaltı, with cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, kaymak clotted cream, jams, sucuk sausage, simit sesame bread rings and endless glasses of tea. Weekend breakfasts with family last for hours. Try menemen, eggs scrambled with tomatoes and peppers. A full breakfast for two costs about 600–1,200 lira in cafés.
Lahmacun and Pide
Lahmacun is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with minced meat, tomato, peppers and herbs, rolled up with parsley and lemon. Pide is a boat-shaped bread baked with toppings such as cheese, egg, minced meat or sucuk. Both are cooked in wood-fired ovens and are popular, affordable meals. A lahmacun costs about 80–150 lira, and a pide about 200–350 lira.
Manti
Tiny dumplings filled with spiced minced meat, served with garlic yoghurt and melted butter with red pepper flakes and dried mint. Kayseri, in central Anatolia, is famous for manti so small that 40 should fit in one spoon, according to tradition. They are a classic home-cooked dish. A plate costs about 250–400 lira in restaurants.
Turkish Delight
Lokum, soft cubes of starch and sugar gel flavoured with rosewater, lemon, pomegranate or filled with pistachios and hazelnuts, dusted with powdered sugar. Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, founded in Istanbul in 1777, is one of the oldest makers. It is served with Turkish coffee and makes a popular gift. A box costs about 200–600 lira.
Simit
A circular bread ring covered in sesame seeds, crisp outside and soft inside, sold from red street carts across Istanbul and other cities. Locals eat it for breakfast with cheese and tea, or as a snack on ferries, where seagulls often follow boats hoping for pieces. It is one of the cheapest street foods. A simit costs about 15–25 lira.
History
The First Temples and Ancient Anatolia
Anatolia, the Asian part of Türkiye, is one of the oldest inhabited regions on Earth. Göbekli Tepe, near Şanlıurfa, built about 11,600 years ago, is the world's oldest known monumental temple complex, with carved stone pillars showing foxes, boars and vultures. Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic town from about 7400 BC, had houses entered through the roof and painted walls.
Hittites and Troy
From about 1650 BC the Hittites built an empire from their capital Hattusa, whose ruins near Boğazkale are a UNESCO site. They signed one of the first known peace treaties, with Egypt, in 1259 BC. On the Aegean coast, the layered city of Troy, inhabited for about 4,000 years, became the setting for Homer's Iliad.
Lydians, Greeks and Persians
- The Lydian kingdom at Sardis minted some of the world's first coins in the 7th century BC.
- Greek cities such as Miletus, Ephesus and Halicarnassus flourished along the coast.
- The Persian Empire conquered Anatolia in the 6th century BC, until Alexander the Great arrived in 334 BC.
Visit Göbekli Tepe's protective roof and visitor centre to see how far back human history in this land reaches.
Climate & Best Time to Visit
Spring
8–24°C
April to May is one of the best seasons, with 15–24°C days in Istanbul and Cappadocia and warm weather on the coast. Tul…
Summer
20–35°C
June to August is hot, with 28–35°C in Istanbul and 33–40°C on the Mediterranean coast and inland. It is peak beach seas…
Autumn
10–28°C
September to November is excellent, with warm seas, 20–28°C days on the coast and fewer crowds. Cappadocia has clear ski…
Winter
-2–12°C
December to February is cold and wet in Istanbul, with 6–10°C days, and snowy in Cappadocia and eastern Anatolia, where …
Fascinating Fun Facts
A city on two continents
Istanbul is the only major city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus Strait…
The world's oldest temple
Göbekli Tepe, in south-eastern Türkiye, was built about 11,600 years ago by hunter-gatherers, around 6,000 years before …
Tulips came from Türkiye, not the Netherlands
Tulips originated in Central Asia and were cultivated in the Ottoman Empire, where they became a symbol of wealth and be…
Santa Claus was born here
St Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop who inspired the figure of Santa Claus, was born in Patara and served as bishop of M…
Turkish coffee is UNESCO heritage
Turkish coffee culture and tradition was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. The coffee is fine…
One of the world's biggest tea drinkers
Turks drink more tea per person than almost anyone in the world, about 3–4 kg each year. Tea, called çay, is grown on th…
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