The best places to visit in Turkey 

 

Merhaba! If you’re planning on traveling to Turkey, keep reading! This guide will help you to decide what places you should visit in Turkey, depending on your time and interests. I have chosen some of my favorite spots within the country. I totally fell in love with turkey… and I hope you will too!

But first, let´s talk about some important things you need to know when traveling to Turkey for the first time.

Important things to know

Turkey is In general very safe, it is easy to get around and therefore perfect for inexperienced travelers as well. Something I love about the country is that everything is very affordable. 

In general, it is easy to get around by public transport, unless you are planning to visit some of the smaller cities of Turkey, then I would recommend renting a car. Also, a road trip is a lot of fun anyways and you will be more flexible as well. There are also very affordable flights between the cities.

When packing for your Turkey trip, keep in mind what kind of clothes to take with you. Depending on the area and time of the year the weather in the country can vary a lot.  There are also some parts of Turkey that are more conservative, so try to dress accordingly.

 

Istanbul

Istanbul is a great starting point for your trip, but also worth a visit just by itself.  If you are a city person you will enjoy Istanbul for sure. 

Istanbul is the country’s biggest city with a population of over 15 million people, making it one of the largest cities in Europe and the world! The western half of the city is located in Europe while the eastern half is located in Asia, interesting right?

Most of the city’s major attractions are within two districts on the European side, Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu. 

Istanbul is also one of our team’s favorite destinations for coworking! Check out these coworking trips with our TripLeaders Mehdi and Berkay!

 

 

Cappadocia

There is a high chance that you have already seen a picture of Cappadocia with its famous air balloons, as pictures are all over social media. The area of Cappadocia got very popular in the last couple of years and there is a reason for it. I would say Cappadocia is the greatest Instagram hotspot in Turkey.

Make sure to spend a couple of days in the area, take your time to explore, and try some fun activities. Additionally to a hot air balloon ride, you can go on one of the multiple hiking trails, horseback riding, or an adventurous quad tour. There is also an open-air museum and a lot of historical sights you can visit. 

Make sure to get to a viewpoint in the morning to see a sky full of air balloons during sunrise – a magical experience.

Our TripLeaders Ezgi and Katharina are planning trips to Cappadocia where you will sleep in a cave house, how exciting! 

 

 

Relaxed holidays on the Coast

The most popular tourist spots on the coast are Antalya, Side, and Alanya. If you are looking for a more relaxed type of holiday, you should definitely go there. You will find many resorts and hotels in this area, it will be difficult to choose one.

I personally loved the Akra Barut (picture above). It is a 5-star hotel resort with a private beach and multiple pools, bars, and restaurants. If you are on a budget, check out the Akra V across the road, it is way cheaper but still great and you will have access to the resort as well.

Our TripLeader Ezgi is planning a coworking trip to Antalya, where you will stay in a villa and explore the area together after work.

 

The Turkish Riviera, also called Turquoise Coast, is located southwest of Turkey. There you will find plenty of spots to visit. On my last trip to Turkey, I did a road trip around the area for a week.  I would have wished to stay longer to explore even more.

The area around Fethiye is incredibly beautiful, I recommend visiting the Saklıkent National Park (picture above). You can hike through a canyon up until a small waterfall. If you go there, make sure to bring some extra clothes, as you might get wet.

One of the most interesting places there, in my opinion, is the ghost town of Kayaköy. This city is abandoned since 1923, it was once home to 10.000 Muslims and Greek Orthodox people. At the end of the Greco-Turkish War, people had to leave their homes in order to reach ethnic and national homogeneity.

If you have enough time, I suggest doing a day trip from there to visit Pamukkale. This place is famous for its carbonate mineral left by the flowing water and therefore got the name “cotton castle”.

 

 

The Mountains

Are you a hiking enthusiast? From snow-capped mountains to arid desert, you can find the hike you’re looking for no matter what you prefer. I was actually surprised by how many hiking trails and mountains you can find in Turkey.

The 5165m high Ararat, a millennia-old, extinct volcano and also the highest mountain in Turkey, is the symbol of the region and the destination of Anna’s tour. She is a hiking expert and you will be in great hands with her. Her mountain trip is demanding but still suitable for beginners and the group will acclimate themselves beforehand in the mountain region around Lake Van. So give it a try!

 

 

Check out some of our other group trips to Turkey here or plan your own trip on JoinMyTrip!

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