Built in the 15th century by architect Haci Ivaz Pasha, the Green Mosque (Yesil Cami) in Bursa takes its name from the green-and-blue tiles that decorate its interior. The mosque is notable for its ornate decorative stonework. The Green Tomb, near the prayer building, contains the tomb of Sultan Mehmed I, who commissioned the building.
Featuring walls hewn from natural rock and a stunning 130-foot-long hallway adorned with 5th-century mosaics, the Baths of Varius underwent several renovations over the centuries to become the one-of-a-kind structure we see today. Boasting separate rooms for cold, warm, and hot water, private chambers for wealthy citizens of Ephesus, and possibly even a gymnasium, the baths covered an expansive area and provided a luxurious and functional hub for ancient Turkish society. A visit to the Baths of Varius is not only a memorable experience but also a valuable opportunity to learn about Ephesus’ unique history.
Explore the ruins of what was one of the most impressive structures in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus. The Temple of Domitian dates from the 1st century and is the earliest known structure dedicated to an emperor. It is located on the south end of Domitian Street.
Originally built as the Church of the Holy Savior during the Byzantine era and converted to a mosque during the Ottoman rule of Istanbul, Khora Church is now a museum with colorful, well-preserved frescoes and mosaics. Located outside the Old City in the Edirnekapi neighborhood, the art-filled Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi) is well worth the trek.
One of the most renowned museums in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a must-see for visitors to the country’s capital. Housed in what was once a 15th-century bazaar building, the museum charts the civilizations of Turkey’s central Anatolia region, all the way from the Paleolithic to the Lydian period of the 6th century BC.
Bodrum’s most prominent landmark, the Castle of St. Peter—better known as Bodrum Castle—stands on the promontory that divides the city’s twin bays. The 15th-century fortress boasts a somewhat unusual history, built by the Knights Hospitaller and featuring towers constructed by the English, French, Germans, and Italians. Today, the castle houses the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology and affords spectacular sea views.
Housed in a structure that served as a Turkish bath from the 15th century until 1988, the Hodjapasha Culture Center (Hocapasa Kültür Merkezi) is currently a venue that hosts a variety of dance and theatrical performances. The most traditional performance offered is the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, featuring Whirling Dervishes who perform a mesmerizing Sufi ritual.
Standing guard over the marina at the western edge of Portakal Beach, the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) is one of Alanya’s most memorable landmarks, with its distinctive red brick and medieval ramparts. Dating back to the 13th century, the tower was part of the mighty sea defense walls of Alanya Castle and affords magnificent views across the harbor.
Located 48 miles (78 kilometers) south of Kusadasi in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), Didyma is a sanctuary centered on the 2nd-century-BC Temple of Apollo, once among the largest in the ancient Greek world. Now reduced to giant broken columns and chambers, the temple once drew thousands of pilgrims who came to worship Apollo and consult its prophesy-giving oracle.
Containing more than 1,500 sea and land creatures, the Istanbul Aquarium (Istanbul Akvaryum) has a rich and diverse collection of aquatic life from 16 geographical zones. With interactive exhibitions in English and Turkish, overhead shark tanks, multiple cafés, and a 5D movie theater, there is enough in the aquarium to entertain the family for hours.
Celebrating the long history of the Turkish military, the Military Museum and Cultural Center Command (Askeri Müze) displays thousands of pieces of military paraphernalia in the First Army Headquarters building. There are weapons from Islamic, Iranian, Caucasian, European, and Turkish periods, and exhibitions about WWI and the Turkish War of Independence.
Experience the ritual of Turkish bathing at the opulent Cagaloglu Hamam in Istanbul, one of the city’s historical landmarks. With its stunning architecture and rich cultural significance, this 18th-century bathhouse takes you on a pleasant foam-filled journey into Ottoman-era luxury and relaxation.
A quiet oasis off of Istiklal Street, St. Anthony of Padua Church (Sent Antuan Bazilikasi) is the largest Roman Catholic parish in Istanbul. The neo-Gothic church in Taksim is open to the public, and mass is conducted by Italian priests is a variety of languages. The original building was constructed in the 18th century, but the current building dates to 1912.
The most strikingly situated of Side’s ancient ruins, the grand Temple of Apollo stands perched on the edge of the historic town, overlooking the Mediterranean. Dating back to the second century AD, the temple was believed to have been a gift from Anthony to Cleopatra and still has five of its original Corinthian columns, towering over the seafront.
Warm springs bubble around and under Lake Koycegiz, making mud baths a signature of the waterfront town of Dalyan. Minerals give the mud a sulfur smell, but can, locals say, work miracles on aging skin. Just lounge in the shallow pools, coat yourself in glop, then rinse off in the river, lake, showers, or spring-fed pool.
Built in conjunction with Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, the Arasta Bazaar’s market stalls were originally created so their rent could fund the imperial mosque. Today, the long row of shops sell all kinds of Turkish goods—including carpets, kilims, ceramics, and textiles—plus prepared foods and tea in the heart of the Sultanahmet neighborhood.
Follow the medieval sea walls along the coast from Alanya’s Red Tower, and you’ll reach the impressive ruins of Alanya Shipyard (Alanya Tersanesi), where ships were built and repaired before setting sail across the Mediterranean. Built by the Seljuks in the 13th century, it’s the only shipyard of its kind still standing in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) and an important remnant of Alanya’s maritime history.
Rocky mountain gorges, turquoise waters, and cascading waterfalls await adventurers at Sapadere Canyon. Formed by thousands of years of water and ice erosion, the natural wonder provides an idyllic spot for hiking and swimming with its 1,300-foot-high (400-meter) cliffs, lush foliage, and scenic backdrop of the Taurus Mountains.
Ancient ruins, endangered wildlife, thermal springs—a boat cruise along the Dalyan River is full of surprises. Winding its way from Lake Köyceğiz to Dalyan Village before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea, the river follows a scenic route flanked by rocky mountains, pine-clad valleys, and sandy beaches.
The Haydarpasa Railway Station (Haydarpasa Gari) is a major transportation hub in the Kadikoy area of Istanbul and a symbolic gate into the city. In addition to being the busiest rail terminal in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye), it also has connections to bus and ferry services. Built in a neo-Renaissance German style between 1906 and 1908, it was a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to Sultan Abdulhamid II. The terminal was originally designed to be the terminus for the Istanbul-Baghdad and Istanbul-Damascus-Medina railways during the last years of the Ottoman Empire and served as a major rail link between Berlin and Baghdad. Today, it is the departure point for trains to Ankara, Kayseri, Konya, and international, regional, and domestic destinations to the east and south. Please note Haydarpasa Terminal is currently closed for renovation.
Just minutes from the bustling bazaars and yacht-lined marinas of Fethiye, the crumbling churches and long-deserted buildings of Kayakoy—known to locals as the “ghost town”—stand in eerie contrast. Abandoned in 1923 after the Greco-Turkish War and later ravaged by an earthquake; the town offers a fascinating insight into Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) complex past.
Covering 87 square miles (227 square kilometers), the Dilek Peninsula-Buyuk Menderes Delta National Park occupies a peninsula south of Kusadasi on Turkey’s (officially the Republic of Türkiye) Aegean coast. Natural wonders abound here, from pebble beaches and wildlife to footpaths, ancient ruins, and a canyon hiking trail.
Scaling the 12,500-foot-high (2,365-meter-high) peak of Tahtali Mountain—ancient Mount Olympus—the Olympos Cable Car (Olympos Teleferik) is the most popular attraction in Beydaglari Coastal National Park. At the summit, a panoramic observation deck affords spectacular views over the forested Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean coast.
Located on the European shores of Istanbul, Emirgan Park (Emirgân Korusu) is one of the largest in Istanbul and serves as an oasis of nature in the urban sprawl. The park a popular weekend destination thanks to its jogging trails and picnic areas, and it is also the main venue for the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival, which blooms every April.
Located on the picturesque Mediterranean coast, the charming village of Kalekoy (Simena) boasts a well-preserved hilltop castle, an idyllic seafront, and panoramic views of Kekova Island and beyond. From exploring the ancient Lycian necropolis to embarking on a boat tour of the Sunken City, this small village is a true gem for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike.
The storied past of Izmir—once the ancient Greek city of Smyrna—takes center stage at the Agora Open Air Museum (Izmir Agora. Dating back to the fourth century BC and rebuilt by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in 178, the Agora is one of the best-preserved sites of its kind in Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye).
Located 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Marmaris, Turunç is a charming fishing village on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast that offers respite from the lively resorts the region is renowned for. Its Blue Flag beach and calm, sheltered waters are backed beautifully by tree-shrouded mountains, whose secluded trails beg to be explored on horseback or by ATV.
According to a third-century story of the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, several Christian men in Ephesus (present-day Selcuk, Turkey) sought sanctuary in a nearby cave to escape persecution by the Roman Emperor Trajan Decius. They fell asleep, waking some 250 years later and discovering that Christianity had become widely accepted in Ephesus. After natural deaths, the “seven sleepers” were buried in the same cave, which quickly became a pilgrimage site.
Tlos in Fethiye, Turkey, was once an important city in the Lycian League, a confederation of city-states founded in the fifth century BC. The city's ruins, which date back to the second century BC, feature wide terraces equipped with cisterns, as well as a magnificent agora and an enchanting theater that once hosted concerts.
Sweeping across southern Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) in a majestic arc, the Taurus Mountains (Toros Dağları span hundreds of miles and rear as high as 12,322 feet (3,756 meters. Home to ski resorts, historic villages, rugged canyons, ancient cities, and Turkey’s own Mt. Olympos, their jagged peaks frame Turkish Riviera resorts including Antalya and Alanya.
