Top Rated tourist attractions in Turkey!

Noor Nathasyeena Seth

nnathasyeenaseth@gmail.com

11 July 2021

Turkey is a stunning destination that straddles Asia and Europe, packed to the brim with historic ruins left behind from a procession of conquerors and gifted with breathtaking landscape that never ceases to impress. Its colourful culture, world-renowned cuisine, and rich history enthral visitors, while its breathtaking landscapes—from the sun-drenched Mediterranean to the massive mountains and barren steppe—are highlights in and of themselves.

This country has attractions galore, whether you want to soak up the Byzantine and Ottoman splendour of Istanbul on a city holiday, relax on the beach, delve into history wandering through sites like Ephesus, or see some of the world's most surreal landscapes in Pamukkale and Cappadocia. Read our list of the top tourist sites in Turkey for more ideas on what to see and do.

Note: Due to recent global health and safety issues, certain businesses may be temporarily shuttered.

1. Hagia Sophia ( Aya Sofya )

The captivating Byzantine splendour of the Aya Sofya Mosque (Hagia Sophia), renowned as one of the most magnificent buildings in the world, is not only one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but also in Turkey.

The delicate minarets built after the Ottoman conquest encircle the massive exterior, while the opulent and vast frescoed interior is a great reminder of old Constantinople's majesty and power. This well-known monument is a must-see for all visitors to the country.

2. Ephesus

The enormous ruin of Ephesus is a city of colossal monuments and marble-columned avenues that should not be overlooked. This is one of the most intact, still-standing Roman cities in the Mediterranean region, and it's the perfect spot to imagine what life was like during the Roman Empire's golden age.

3. Cappadocia

Cappadocia's strange, curving rock valleys are a photographer's fantasy. Rippling panoramas of wave-like rock or wacky-shaped pinnacles have been sculpted by millennia of wind and water activity on cliff ridges and hill crests.

If you don't feel like climbing for the sights, this is one of the world's best hot air balloon destinations. If the lunar landscape isn't enough to entice you, the frescoed rock-cut churches of the Byzantine Era, when this location was an important early Christian destination, are tucked in these valleys.

4. Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace, sumptuous beyond belief, transports you to the sultans' fanciful, rich realm. The Ottoman sultans carved up an empire from here, which would reach up through Europe, down through the Middle East, and into Africa.

The interiors, with their magnificent jewelled design and decadently extravagant tiling, provide an amazing glimpse into the Ottoman power base. The adjacent public gardens were originally the exclusive domain of the Royal Court, but they are now available to the public and provide a peaceful, green oasis away from the city streets.