Turkey

Located partly in Asia and partly in Europe, at the crossroads of the Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey has always served as a bridge between multiple cultures. One of the world’s earliest permanently settled regions, Turkey is home to important Neolithic sites like Göbekli Tepe, which date back nearly 12,000 years. The region came under the influence of Greek culture during the the conquests of Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic period that followed (around 350 BC), then the Romans during the Byzantine period (around 400 AD), the Mongols, after the Mongol invasion of Turkey in the 12th century, and eventually the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, which continued until the Ottoman empire was partitioned at the end of World War I. Following the Turkish war of independence, Turkey finally became an independent republic in 1923, under the leadership of the country’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Today, Turkey is a thriving, industrialized country and an important regional power. It is also one of the world’s most attractive tourist destinations with a wide range of attractions from pristine sandy beaches, to architectural wonders like the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, natural wonders like the caves of Cappadocia and the straits of Bosphorus which spans the continents of Asia and Europe, and historical treasures like the Roman and Greek ruins at Ephesus, Priene, Didyma and Euromos. The country also offers several amazing cultural experiences like shopping at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or enjoying delicious Turkish coffee and cuisine at the food market in Kadikoy.

No matter what you are seeking – history, culture, nature, cuisine or just sun and sand – Turkey will not disappoint.

Destinations

Key sights to see

Istanbul

Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, and has been the capital of two empires, the Greek and the ancient Byzantine empire. The city oozes history with a wide range of monuments from Roman aqueducts, to Byzantine churches, Venetian towers, and Ottoman palaces from the Byzantine, and Ottoman and Turkish periods. With 18 million inhabitants, Istanbul is also one of the most lively metropolises in the world.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia is famous for its otherworldly landscapes, with rock formations known as 'fairy chimneys' soaring as high as 130 feet into the sky, as well as beautifully decorated, fresco-adorned rock-cut churches from the Byzantine era, villages that are hewn into the cliffsides, over 200 underground cities dating back to the 8th-7th century BC, and luxurious cave hotels. A hot-air balloon ride that provides a birds eye view of this lunar-like landscape is an absolute must.

Ionia

Ionia, the ancient name for the central region of Anatolia on the Aegean coast of Turkey, was once one of the most important centers of Greek civilization. It is home to Greek cities of Smyrna, now known as Izmir, as well as several ancient Greek archaeological sites including Ephesus, Pergamum, Priene, Didyma and Euromos. In addition, Ionia also has upscale seaside resorts like Alaçatı and Çeşme, which are Turkey's version of St. Tropez.

Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Pamukkale is famous for the surreal landscape created by the calcium-charged thermal waters that have formed a breath-taking ‘fortress’ of cascading semi-circular white pools, one of the rarest natural wonders of the world. Right next to Pamukkale are the remains of the ancient city of Hierapolis, where excavations have revealed magnificent ancient streets, walls, fountains, temples, bathhouses theaters, and the most extensive ‘Necropolis’ in Asia Minor from classical antiquity.

Butterfly Valley

Butterfly Valley on Turkey's southwest coast is where almost all the butterfly and moth species of the Mediterranean coastal region are to be found, owing to the humid micro-climate created by the waterfalls in the valley, and the hundreds of different plant species found here. The butterfly which inspired the valley's name is the so-called leopard butterfly (Euplagia Quadripunctaria). Between June and October hundreds of these butterflies gather in a large colony here.

Bodrum

Located on the southwestern coast of Turkey, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, Bodrum is one of the most glamorous vacation spots in Turkey, with several upscale restaurants, hotels and resorts, and expensive superyachts in the harbor. Two of the key sights in the city are Bodrum Castle, a medieval fortress completed in the 4th century BC, and Myndos Gate, the western gate to the ancient Greek city of Halicarnassus.

Lycian Coast

The geographical region of Lycia on the southern, Mediterranean coast of Turkey is steeped in both history and natural beauty. Given its strategic location, the ancient Kingdom of Lycia was of great interest to many competing powers, and was conquered by the Persians, then Alexander the Great, the Romans and later the Byzantine empire. Today, the Lycian Peninsula is a popular tourist attraction with several important sights including Antalya, Aspendos, Perge, Xanthos, Patara and Demre (Myra).

Ankara

Ankara dates back as far as 2000-1700 BC, as evidenced by the multiple Hattian, Hittite, Lydian, Phrygian, Galatian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman archeological sites in the city. Today, Ankara is the capital of Turkey, a major commercial and industrial hub, and a leading center for the performing arts. The city has several important museums including the Atatürk Museum, which displays many of Atatürk’s personal effects, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Ethnographic Museum.

Mount Nemrut

Mount Nemrut is a 2,134 meter (7,000 feet) high mountain in southeastern Turkey. Atop its summit is a massive mausoleum for Antiochus I (69-34 BC), the most famous king of Commagene (a kingdom north of Syria and the Euphrates river), that is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also spectacular terraces on the site that are littered with the toppled remnants of giant stone statues that depict the Hellenistic-Age kings of Commagene as well as various Greek and Persian deities.

Gobekli Tepe

Uncovered in 1994, the archaeological site at Gobekli Tepe is believed by some to be the oldest religious complex known to modern man, dating back 13,500 years, to the tail end of the Stone Age. The site itself consists of a large number of circular structures supported by massive stone pillars, perhaps the world's oldest known megaliths, as they pre-date Stonehenge by nearly 6,000 years! The size and weight of these megaliths, and the rich carvings on them, raise questions about our current understanding of hunter-gatherers.

Turkey

Destinations

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