In vacations, you may be eager to do all the activities that you’ve heard of since you don’t want to miss any beauties still, this is unfortunately impossible as you have limited time. But we’re here for helping you to decide about what to do in Turkey! You can find the best 20 things to do in Turkey below.
1. Take a Historical Tour in Istanbul
Istanbul, the house of the countless civilizations since the old times, has a huge background of history to dig up. The best way to learn history is experiencing it oneself and therefore, exploring the city of Istanbul feels like you’re travelling in time and teach you a lot.
The Historical Peninsula has most of the important historical places that you must visit such as Blue Mosque, Grand and Spice Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, etc. Arnavutkoy, Ortakoy, Kadikoy, and Uskudar are the other historic districts that you need to be on your list.
Since we’ve talked about the most beautiful cities that you can explore in Turkey, you can have a look at our next article for a detailed Turkey route: The most beautiful cities in Turkey
2. Take a Baloon-Ride Tour in Cappadocia
Cappadocia is among the most interesting places to visit in Turkey. The different shaped rocks that you see in there were formed by winds, rain, and volcanic eruptions and during the time people also carve them to build houses, churches and underground cities. Due to their bizarre structure, they’re started to be known as Fairy Chimneys in time.
Having a look at the unique scenery from the hot air balloons is a very popular activity. You’ll see both the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia and sunset at the same time from the balloons because the tours are taken place in the very early hours of the day.
3. Go Skiing at Uludag – Things to do in Turkey
Having a winter vacation in Turkey may be a great idea especially for the ones who love skiing. Since Uludag is in Bursa and close to Istanbul, it is one of the most visited ski resorts in Turkey.
After skiing, you can drink hot chocolate or eat sucuk-ekmek (sandwiches with sujuk) and take a rest. There’re hotels near the ski center so, don’t worry about finding a place to stay.
4. Explore the beautiful plateaus in the Black Sea Region
You’ll be amazed by the natural beauties in the Black Sea Region. There’re lots of plateaus in this region where you can take a deep breath thanks to fresh air unlike the polluted one in the cities.
- Ayder (Rize),
- Gorgit (Artvin),
- Pokut (Rize),
- Mount Sis (Giresun),
- and Persembe (Ordu) are our top ones 5!
By the way, if you ever happen to go Rize, you should also visit Anzer Plateau and taste the worldwide known Anzer Honey which is produced from the plants in this plateau.
5. Visit the Pamukkale Travertines -Things to do in Turkey
Another one of the best things to do in Turkey is visiting the Pamukkale Travertines. The cotton castle is a preserved territory and enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Keep in mind that you’re not allowed to wear shoes while you’re wandering around so that the travertines can not be damaged.
6. Buy a ticket for Blue Cruise in South Aegean Region
Travelling along the idyllic coast of the Aegean Region on yachts and boats is called as Blue Cruise. There’re different routes from Bodrum to Antalya but it really doesn’t matter which to take as all you’re gonna see is dreamy places.
Swimming in the flawless turquoise, exploring the ancient cites and eating the tastiest sea-foods make this cruise an unforgettable memory for you.
7. Watch the picturesque sunset from the Mount Nemrut
The site, which is currently within the boundaries of Adiyaman, was regarded as sacred for the Commagene Kingdom because of the statues and tablets situated there.
The enormous statues and the other remnants are preserved very well in the course of 2000 years of time and UNESCO enlisted the Mount Nemrut in the World Heritage List in 1987. The top of the mount is one of the best places in Turkey where you can watch the sunset in peace.
8. Visit the Lake Cildir in Winter
The second largest lake in Turkey, Lake Cildir is in Ardahan in the Eastern Anatolia of Turkey. The lake is mostly visited during the winter as it is completely frozen. The most popular activity is catching fishes from the holes in the ice.
9. Explore the Ancient Sites – Things to do in Turkey
To expand your historical knowledge about Turkey, go on an archeological journey! The numerous ancient sites in the country make you witness the different periods of history.
In Konya you can visit Catalhoyuk known for its splendid wall paintings, see the Neolithic sanctuary Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa, explore the Troy in Canakkale that is recognized for the Trojan Horse and lastly, you can go to Ephesus in Izmir where you can see the ruins of Roman Empire.
10. Travel to Kars by Train on Eastern Express
In recent years, travelling on Eastern Express suddenly became popular and it is one of the best things that a tourist can experience in Turkey. The train leaving from Ankara arrives Kars in nearly 24 hours.
During the journey, the train will go through Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan, and Erzurum (Be ready to take photos of the gorgeous views!) and when you get to Kars, your first destination must be Ruins of Ani!
11. Go Trekking Along the Lycian Way
If you are a trekking person, walking along the Lycian Way is definitely one of the best things you can do in Turkey. The starting point of your adventure of 500 kilometers is Fethiye, Hisaronu and at the end you’ll reach the top of Cedar Mountain.
You’ll pass through amazing places like Butterfly Valley, Kalkan, Mount Olympos, Goynuk Canyon, countless ancient sites and beaches along the Mediterranean coast. There’re also restaurants, hotels, and beaches on the way to take a rest, swim or eat.
12. Get Lost on the Streets of Mardin
Travelling to southeastern Turkey will be one of the most extraordinary journeys that you’ll ever experience in your lifetime. And Mardin is definitely one of the best cities in this territory.
The imposing architecture of the stone houses, churches, mosques, and monasteries show corporally the cultural diversity of the city. Since the temperatures in winter and summer are extreme, the best times of the year to visit Mardin are spring and autumn.
13. Go to Fethiye for Paragliding
Not only in Turkey but also in the world, Fethiye is one of the best places to do paragliding. You’re accompanied by a professional pilot as you’re floating like a bird above the Dead Sea (Ölüdeniz) and watch the excellent nature! The flight takes nearly half an hour and the prices vary from 450-750 Turkish Liras.
14. Take Your Route to Kas for Scuba Diving with Caretta Carettas
Aside from swimming in the pale blue water of Kas, there’s another activity you can do that is going to draw your interest. It’s scuba diving! Kas may be the best place to do scuba diving in Turkey with its 21 different diving spots. The Canyon, Camel Reef, and Oasis Reef are only a few of them.
If you decide to go diving in any of them, you’ll have the chance to see cute Caretta Carettas as well as the various kinds of fishes and plants!
15. Visit the Paradise Islands of Turkey: Gokceada and Bozcaada
There is no need to think twice when it comes to deciding which island to visit in Turkey. Because the answers are always the same: Gokceada and Bozcaada!
The island where you can watch fascinating sunsets, Gokceada is also a very favorable place for surfing as the weather is always windy. On the other hand, Bozcaada offers many interesting streets that make you aspire to explore. We shouldn’t forget to say that the sea of Bozcaada is slightly cold but it’s totally worth swimming because it has very clear water shining like a crystal.
16. Take a Food Tour in Hatay, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa
Of course, we have mostly gourmet recommendations in our Top 20 Things to do in Turkey list. To go on a gourmet tour, you should steer to more east where the best places for having a feast are hidden! The first thing comes to mind about Hatay is Kunefe (a delicious dessert made of cheese).
The hometown of another luscious Turkish dessert, Baklava is Gaziantep and one of the best places to eat Kebab in Turkey is Sanliurfa. Needless to say, that you’re going to gain weight during this trip!
17. Taste the Traditional Turkish Breakfast of Van
It’s a fact that Turkish people have a hearty appetite! And breakfast is the most important meal for them. You can observe that they prepare the table enthusiastically even it’s very early in the morning.
You can find various kinds of cheese, olives, and marmalades along with traditional foods like sucuklu yumurta (egg mixed with sujuk), menemen (a mixture of egg and tomato) and simit (a different kind of pretzel). If you ask what makes the breakfast in Van special, it is the organic honey indigenous to Van and their fresh foods.
18. Don’t Forget to Drink Turkish Coffee and Eat Turkish Delight
As we speak of traditional delicacy, it’s impossible not to mention Turkish Coffee and delight. From the times of Ottoman Empire, Turkish Coffee is essential for Turkish Cuisine and the delight is a sort of sweet appetizer accompanying it.
Some of the best places to drink Turkish Coffee in Turkey goes like this:
- Pierre Loti Cafe (Istanbul),
- Kizlaragasi Hani (İzmir),
- Tarihi Tahmis Kahvesi (Gaziantep),
- Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi (Istanbul),
- Madam Dibek Kahvesi (Gokceada)…
19. Explore the Vineyards and Wine Cellars Things to do in Turkey
Whereas the best wine routes of Turkey are in İzmir, Trakya, and Cappadoccia, the biggest vineyard resources for producing wine are placed in the Marmara Region. You can take a part in the wine-tasting events, festivals arranged at different times of the year and expand your knowledge by visiting wine cellars.
20. Go for Raki-Balik at Your Last Night
The worst part of a vacation is saying goodbye and going back to your home. You can do it in a relatively pleasant way while eating fish and drinking Raki at your last dinner here. In Istanbul, there’re plenty of options but some of the best ones are Adem Baba, Asmali Cavit, and Balikci Sabahattin. Mimoza (Mugla), Trilye (Ankara) and Deniz Restaurant (İzmir) are among the other best ones in the country.
This is all we want to say about the top 20 things can to do in Turkey. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or contact us on Instagram .