Byzantine domes, fairy-chimney valleys and a turquoise coastline.
Türkiye bridges Europe and Asia, and its history shows it. Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar sit along the Bosphorus, while Cappadocia's valleys are carved into cave churches and dotted with fairy chimneys. On the Aegean, Ephesus has some of the best-preserved Roman streets anywhere, and Pamukkale's white travertine terraces spill down a hillside. The Lycian coast adds coves and ancient tombs.
Food alone is a reason to go: mezze, kebabs, fresh seafood and breakfast spreads that last all morning. Long-distance buses and domestic flights make it easy to cover large distances. April to June and September to October are ideal; July and August are hot but good for the coast, and winter suits Istanbul's museums.
Best time to visit Türkiye
April, May, June, September, October.
Places to visit in Türkiye
Istanbul: Byzantine domes, Ottoman mosques and the Bosphorus, in a city that straddles Europe and Asia.
Cappadocia: A landscape of eroded rock towers and cave churches, best seen from a hot-air balloon at sunrise.
Ephesus: A vast Greco-Roman city of marble streets, theatres and the famous Library of Celsus.
Pamukkale: Snow-white mineral terraces spill down a hillside, crowned by the ruins of Roman Hierapolis.
Antalya: The gateway to Türkiye's Mediterranean coast, with a walled old town above a yacht harbour.
Bodrum: A white-cube Aegean town of yachts, beach clubs and a crusader castle guarding the harbour.
Fethiye: A harbour town at the start of the Lycian Way, close to Ölüdeniz lagoon and Butterfly Valley.
Kaş: A small, relaxed harbour town with clear water for diving and the sunken city of Kekova nearby.
İzmir: A liberal, seaside city with a long waterfront promenade, a historic bazaar and fine Aegean food.
Ankara: Türkiye's capital, home to Atatürk's mausoleum and one of the world's finest collections of Anatolian antiquities.
Konya: A conservative Anatolian city built around the tomb of the poet Rumi and the Mevlevi order.
Mardin: A hillside town of carved limestone houses, madrasas and monasteries overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia.
Şanlıurfa: A pilgrimage city of sacred carp pools and bazaars, near the prehistoric site of Göbekli Tepe.
Trabzon: A Black Sea port at the foot of green mountains, with a Byzantine church and a monastery hanging from a cliff.
Mount Nemrut: A mountaintop tomb-sanctuary where giant stone heads of gods and a king watch the sunrise.
Essentials
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
Language: Turkish; English common in tourist areas
Plugs: Type C / F, 230 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC+3
Tipping: Around 5–10% in restaurants
Getting around: Intercity buses and domestic flights; fast trains link Istanbul, Ankara and Konya
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking