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Best places to visit in Turkey

A huge country on the borders of Europe, Turkey is the door to the East; it is a fascinating country of ancient cultures. The centre of the Ottoman Empire, it was proclaimed a republic in 1923 and Atatürk, its first president, guided the country towards secularity and growth. In 2002, the moderate Islamic party Justice and Development Party (AK) obtained the majority vote in parliament and pursued the economic development of the country.

Travelling in Turkey presents no major risks. However, given the events on the Syrian border, you should make enquiries at the Foreign Office in London, especially if you wish to visit the Eastern Anatolia Region or the Southeastern Anatolia Region. These regions are home to very beautiful cities that have a wealth of cultural heritage, such as Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, and let's not forget Ishak Pasha Palace and Lake Van.

Above all, don't leave Turkey before exploring the wonders of Istanbul. Take the time to soak up the exuberant, warm atmosphere of the megalopolis. Discover Taksim Square—a popular venue for protests—and then visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Cami Mosque), and the Topkapi Palace. Go and have tea on the Galata Bridge and cross the Bosphorus on one of the many steamers to reach the eastern coast. From there, you can easily enjoy the beaches along the Black Sea on the country's northern coastline; they are very popular with the region's inhabitants.

Situated inland, the capital city of Ankara holds little interest for tourists if it is not on their way to Cappadocia, where you can find "fairy chimneys" or hoodoos and other cave churches in the Göreme National Park.

Still on the huge plateau, explore Konya, the country's most conservative city. Plan to arrive on Saturday to enjoy the Mevlevi Order's ceremony: the whirling dervishes. When you set off again, visit the underground towns and the very pretty Ihlara Valley with its cave churches at the back of a canyon.

Make the most of the mild climate by the Mediterranean Sea to walk along the Lycian coast and explore magnificent towns like Demre or Izmir. Visit Nemrut Dağı, where the last Hellenistic king ordered a temple built, or Ephesus, unless you prefer a less-frequented site like Pergamon. Don't forget the region's natural wonders either, especially the magnificent Pamukkale.

One of the  most strange and fantastic regions in Turkey, Cappadocia, with its rock stacks, craters and other extraordinary geological features, has some wonderful geological marvels to offer.
Covering much of the eastern part, Anatolia is typical of Asian Turkey and is home to some of the country's most incredible tourist attractions.
Istiklal Avenue is located in the center of Beyoglu, the "modern" district of Istanbul. It is famous for its trams, its shops and its crowds.
Once a troglodytic monastery, nowadays, Zelve is an open air museum of traditional buildings with a magnificent religious complex that was carved from the rock.
An emblematic square in the Istanbul neighborhood of Beyoglu, Taksim is the incarnation of modernity in Istanbul.
About 30 kilometers north-west of Antalya, Termessos is one of the best preserved ancient sites in Turkey.
With family, as a couple, among friends or on your own, Mardin is a must-see for history and architecture enthusiasts.
An abandoned village to the south of Fethiye, Kayaköy contains several thousand abandoned houses and stands as a reminder of the population exchange that once took place between Greece and Turkey.
The capital of the Turkish Kurds, Diyarbakir has a very special atmosphere, a feeling of elsewhere inside its old town walls.
A must-see. This city is amazing and the perfect introduction to Turkey. It sums up Turkey's Eurasian heritage.
The 'Princes Islands' comprises of nine islands in the Marmara Sea, with Büyükada being the largest.
Nemrut Dağ, a mountain in the province of Adiyaman, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The last Hellenic king, Antiokhos l (69-49BC) built a temple and sanctuary dedicated to Greek and Persian gods.
Heavenly scenery between the sea and the mountains.
A must if you are going to Bodrum, Datça is a peninsula in the Mugla province to the south of Turkey. It's close to the big touristy towns and borders the Mediterranean Sea.
Yedigöller is a National Park north of Bolu, in the Black Sea region, which extends over 1,600 hectares. Yedigöller means seven lakes. Each lake has its own source of water.
A frontier town on the eastern edge of Turkey, Dogubeyazit benefits from amazing views of Mount Ararat.
An amazing little Cappadocian town, whose development has adapted itself to its bizarre geology, Ortahisar is a marvel that's not yet on the usual tourist radar.
Tokat is a large city in the northern central Anatolia region. It boasts a preserved district of the Ottoman period and contains a host of historical monuments: a fortress, mosques, madrasas, konagi, Greek churches.
Ani is an unusual site. The ruins of the medieval capital of Armenia are today within the borders of Turkey, separated by an Armenian canyon which they dispute. On the site, eloquent ruins of churches, mosques and palaces.
Antakya is situated in the province of Hatay, on the border of Syria. This is a city with a long and rich history; you will not believe your ears when you listen to all the things you are told about it!
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