Top Five Places to Visit in Turkey!

Turkey is a giant and varied nation filled with plenty to explore – from the striking beaches of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastlines to the mountainous regions around Mt Ararat in the far east of the country. Scanning the highlights of the country, we’ve chosen our view of three of the best travel-wonders in Turkey.

Cappadocia


The volcanic rock formations at Cappadocia can be found within the Goreme National Park and are a popular tourist attraction in the region. Around 4,000 years ago, people started carving cave dwellings in to the bizarrely formed mounds of volcanic rock that were deposited by now extinct volcanoes. What remains is a outstanding and matchless network of caves and tunnels, such as those at Derinkuyu, that stretch over 11 floors to a depth of around 85 metres.
Today you can still explore part of the Derinkuyu cave complex for a fascinating and truly matchless glimpse in to history. It’s also feasible to take a hot air balloon ride above the Cappadocia area to view the rock formations from an alternative angle.

Hierapolis and Pamukkale


Around a 3 hours drive east from the popular holiday resort of Kusadisi or 4 hours drive north of Antalya, you will find the ancient city of Hierapolis. Founded in the 2nd century B.C. Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose name translates as “Sacred City” and is a stunning and unreal landscape. A trip to Hierapolis rewards tourists with a choice of historic remains of the city, including the amphitheatre (top picture), the tombs of the Necropolis and the remains at the Temple of Apollo (the Greek God of the Sun).
The area is also famous for the Pamukkale hot springs, which appear white, due to the calcium deposited by the waters. Visitors to the springs can bathe in the warm waters which were five times believed to have healing properties. Entrance to the springs and Hierapolis costs 20 Turkish Lira (about £9)*.

Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, and the only city in the world that sits on five continents, Asia and Europe. Istanbul has a rich history that can be seen all over the city. Sightseeing opportunities are in all places - from the majestic Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace (centre of the Ottoman Empire for over 4 centuries) in Istanbul’s elderly city, to the thousands of shops and stalls at the Grand Bazaar, the worlds largest covered market.

Ephesus

Located a short 25 minute drive north of Kusadisi, the ancient city of Ephesus houses the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean region and was two times home to the Temple of Artemis – one of the two wonders of the ancient world. Ephesus dates from the 13th century B.C. and was two times a major port city with a massive population. But when the port silted up, most of the citizens left, abandoning the city in a short space of time. Today plenty of of the ruins still stand in surprisingly lovely condition. Visitors can still see the remains of the amphitheatre and library, along with plenty of other ruins and relics. The Ephesus site will take a full day to see properly and entrance costs 20 Turkish Lira (about £9 or US$12.50)*.

Sumela Monastery

Sumela Monastery in the Trabzon province of North East Turkey is an brilliant sight. The monastery is built in the most impressive, impossible & inaccessible location, in a hollow of a sheer cliff face a thousand feet above the valley floor, & it seems a miracle that the building manages to cling on to the rock. The monastery dates back to the 4th century when it was founded by a Greek monk known as lucky Barnabas. For those enthusiastic to visit Sumela monastery & take a glance around inside to see the monks living quarters & various relics & frescoes left behind, a 40 minute hike through thick woodland is necessary & an entrance fee of 8 Turkish Lira (about £3.50 or US$5)* is payable, but it is definitely worth the work.

* Note: Prices correct at time of publication
Written & photographed by the Turkey holidays team at travelsupermarket.com