Turkey

Turkey links southeastern Europe with Anatolia, a landscape of coasts, plateaus, mountains and historic cities. Istanbul spans the Bosphorus, bringing Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar together with contemporary neighbourhood life. Bursa adds Ottoman heritage, while Çanakkale opens towards Troy and the Gallipoli memorial landscapes.

On the Aegean, Izmir and Ephesus connect urban culture with ancient archaeology. Çeşme, Kuşadası and Bodrum add harbours and beaches. Marmaris offers wooded bays, while Fethiye, Kaş and Antalya combine Lycian heritage, coastal walking and Mediterranean scenery. Side adds Roman remains and Alanya a fortified headland. Taurus mountain routes contrast with seaside resorts. Show more

Inland, Pamukkale’s white travertines and neighbouring Hierapolis combine natural formations and ancient ruins, with access restricted to permitted areas. Ankara’s museums introduce successive civilisations, while Konya explores Seljuk and Mevlevi heritage. Cappadocia combines rock-cut churches, underground settlements and eroded valleys. Walking reveals the landscape at ground level, while balloon flights depend on weather and operating approval.

Safranbolu’s preserved houses and Amasya’s riverside streets add further layers of urban history. The Black Sea region around Trabzon brings forested mountains and Sümela Monastery into the picture. Tea-growing landscapes and regional food traditions distinguish this wetter northern coast from Mediterranean resorts.

In eastern Anatolia, Kars and the ruins of Ani contrast with Van’s lake landscapes. The southeast combines Gaziantep’s culinary traditions, Şanlıurfa and nearby Göbekli Tepe, Nemrut Dağ’s monumental sculptures and Mardin’s stone architecture. Distinct local cultures and long distances call for separate regional itineraries.

Food ranges from Aegean olive-oil dishes and coastal fish to pide, regional kebabs and Gaziantep baklava, alongside tea and coffee traditions. Spring and autumn often suit cities and archaeology. Coastal summers can be hot, the Black Sea is wetter, and eastern highlands have severe winters. Allow time for transfers and check current site access and mountain conditions.

AI edited