Istanbul

Istanbul, previously identified as Byzantium and Constantinople, is an ancient city in Turkey that sometimes dominates even classical Rome with its rich history and culture, charming view and magnificent constructions. It was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire before becoming the capital of the Ottoman Empire. There is beauty in every corner of the city. The city displays the cultural influences of the Romans, the Byzantines and the Ottomans. In the city, there are historic palaces, mosques, churches, monasteries and monuments and among them, the most notables are the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, the Süleymaniye Mosque and the Blue Mosque.

Antalya

Antalya is a resort city on the southwestern side of Turkey. It, the most astonishing part of the Mediterranean coast, is well known for being the gateway to the Turkish Riviera or Turquoise Coast, which is a renowned region for archaeological sites. The city is a mixture of both modern and ancient elements, with restored Ottoman constructions and elegant hotels. By climbing up the mountains and visiting the Düden Waterfalls or the Kurşunlu Waterfall, one can make the most of the city’s wonderful scenery.

Patara

The ancient Lycian port city of Patara is situated in the Xanthos Valley on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It is noted as a significant archaeological site containing ruins of ancient landmarks. Near these ancient ruins is the 18 kilometres long Patara Beach, which, according to Times Online, is one of the top beaches in the world. The beach is also a diverse National Park, great for sunset viewing, walking, swimming and bird watching.

Ankara

Ankara, once known as Angora, is the capital and the second-largest city of Turkey. It is situated in the Central Anatolia region of the country. It is the centre of the Turkish administration as well as the Turkish rail network. The city has historical significance as a much fought-over region of trade. It used to be popular for its Angora goat, a kind of domesticated goat and its lustrous fibre ‘mohair’, and Angora rabbits and their expensive ‘Angora wool’. The city holds Anıtkabir, the hilltop memorial of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of modern Turkey, Ankara Castle, a hilltop castle with 360-degree views, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the Kocatepe Mosque, the largest mosque in Ankara.

Temple of Hadrian

The Temple of Hadrian is one of the major attractions of the ancient city, Ephesus. Dedicated to Emperor Hadrian, this, one of the best-preserved and most charming constructions, stands on the south side of Curates Street. In contrast to its name, it is more a monument than a temple. The facade of this elegant building has four Corinthian columns supporting a curved arch, in the middle of which is a relief of Tyche, the Greek goddess of chance, fortune, destiny and prosperity. In front of the facade, there are bases with engraved names of Galerius, Maximianus, Diocletianus, and Constantius Chlorus, which signify that they originally carried the statues of these emperors. The inside of the building is adorned with panels of reliefs along the top. The semi-circular relief above the entrance door depicts a female figure of Medusa, which is surrounded by acanthus leaves and scrolls. To be noted, most of these carvings that are in place today are replicas of the originals, while the originals have been taken away and put on display in the Ephesus Museum.

Alanya

Alanya, originally called Alaiye, is a resort city on the southern coast of Turkey. It is regarded as a great holiday destination for its vibrant culture, sand-coloured beaches, modern hotels, and quality seafood restaurants. The cafes around the harbour of the city are ideal meeting spots both for visitors and locals. The popular attractions of the area include the Kleopatra Beach, a long beach with chair rentals, the Damlatas Cave, a reputedly healing cave for asthma patients, the Alanya Castle, a Seljuk-period castle with an iconic red tower and the Kızıl Kule, a historic fortress which is considered to be the symbol of the city.

Fethiye

The port city of Fethiye on the Turquoise Coast is a well-known tourist and yachting centre of Turkey. Previously known as “Telmessos”, it was one of the most prominent cities of the Lycian civilization. Today, it is a very popular destination for scuba diving, paragliding and sailing. This traditional city is home to several ancient monuments including the rock-cut tomb from the 4th century BCE, the Tomb of Amyntas. Nearly a 20-minute drive from Fethiye is the Oludeniz town, which has the widely-known calm lagoon and curved beach with turquoise water, the Oludeniz Beach. Take a boat trip from Ölüdeniz to get to the Butterfly Valley, a scenic valley with beaches, butterflies and various outdoor activities.

Cappadocia

Located in the central Anatolian region of Turkey, the historical region of Cappadocia is best known for its ‘fairy chimneys, an extraordinary landscape of carved-out towering rock formations. The proper places to see these otherworldly rock formations are Pasabag and Devrent. The region is also home to several underground Bronze Age houses and cave churches. They were formed by cutting into valley walls by cave dwellers, which were later used by early Christians as sanctuaries. Now some of these caves are renowned hotels in such towns as Ürgüp and Ortahisar.

Ephesus

The Ancient City of Ephesus is located in the Central Aegean region of Turkey, roughly three kilometres southwest of present-day Selçuk, in İzmir Province. During the Classical Greek epoch, it was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. The city mainly contains ruins of famous Ancient Greek and Roman constructions. Among them, the most notable is the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was built in honour of the goddess Artemis. Other highlights are iconic remains of an ancient Roman library, the Library of Celsus and ruins from a few ancient churches, such as the Church of Mary and the Basilica of St. John.

Pamukkale, City in Turkey

Pamukkale, which literally means “cotton castle”, is a region in western Turkey. It is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing over two million visitors every year. The area is famous for its thermal pools, with mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down from white travertine terraces. Over the years, millions of tourists gather to these thermal pools for a chance to bathe in the warm natural water. Apart from being a natural wonder, Pamukkale holds ruins of some remarkable ancient Roman museums.