Eight of the Most Famous Spots You Must Visit on When in Turkey

I’m a travel enthusiast, and Turkey happens to be my favorite place. I’ve been to Turkey twice and I must say it always feels like the first time. 

Turkey offers a lot for its visitors. From an elite urban life to a remarkable Sufi culture and beautiful architecture, the country is worth a visit. In fact, you’ll fall in love with it more and more every time you visit it. 

If you’re planning to travel, you must add Turkey to your travel bucket list. Its remarkable sites and culture will undoubtedly take your breath away. Here are eight of the best spots you must not miss out on whenever in Turkey:

Blue Mosque 

Blue Mosque also called Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the most beautiful sites in Turkey. Located in Istanbul, Blue Mosque is an Ottoman-era praying place for Muslims. It is a UNESCO world heritage site that is visited by millions of tourists every year. 

It has eight small domes, five primary domes, and six minarets. Built in the early 1600s, Blue Mosque is a fine site for architects and others into architecture and history. Oh, and did I tell you that it’s known as the biggest mosque of the classical period of Ottoman?

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Mediterranean Cruise 

Who says you can only enjoy cruise life in Europe? Turkey offers serene views of the Mediterranean Sea. I always go on a Mediterranean cruise whenever I’m in Turkey. If I had to describe the Mediterranean side of Turkey in one word, I’d say it looks surreal. 

If you’re eager to see the world, simply get a pair of affordable binoculars and get on the yacht. The binoculars will help you view distant places and objects closely. Just imagine how much you’ll get to see and learn. It’s amazing. Isn’t it? 

Ölüdeniz 

If you’re a thalassophile, Ölüdeniz is a place you must visit when in Turkey. It’s famous around the world due to its turquoise blue water and lush green mountains. It’s a great spot for photographers. You can use the Ölüdeniz images for postcards. 

The destination is renowned for parasailing and paragliding. Millions of tourists visit it every year to have some time off and enjoy water activities. It also has several beaches along with holiday resorts, which attracts water lovers from around the world. 

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Aya Sophia Mosque 

Aya Sophia Mosque, also known as Hagia Sophia, is an antique Muslim praying place in Istanbul, Turkey. Built in 537 as a cathedral, it was later converted into a mosque in the Ottoman era. 

It’s another UNESCO world heritage site in Turkey, and I must say it’s not just among the most beautiful buildings in Turkey, but the entire world. The four minarets of the Aya Sophia Mosque stand tall day and night while beautifully contributing to the skyline of Istanbul.

Cappadocia 

The rock valleys of Cappadocia is another place you must see when visiting Turkey, especially if you’re into photography. Its surreal views make a dream-come-true situation for every photographer out there. 

The destination is popularly known for its hot air balloon rides. In fact, it’s one of the best places in the world if you want to enjoy a hot air balloon ride. Other than that, it also attracts millions of hikers and mountain climbers annually. Oh, Cappadocia has the best sunrises and sunsets, totally picture-perfect. 

Pamukkale 

Have you been to the ice lagoon in Iceland? How was it? It is breathtaking, everyone knows. Well, Turkey has its own ice lagoon known as Pamukkale. It is commonly known as a cotton castle among local Turkish people. The reason being, the glaciers, and thermal water looks similar to the clouds and makes a great image of a snow castle. 

Pamukkale was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988. The destination is a result of a massive earthquake. It has various hidden stories, so it’s a great place for history lovers and storytellers, too. Make sure to visit Pamukkale the next time you’re in Turkey, and don’t forget to swim in its thermal waters. You’ll forget about the ice lagoon; you have my word.

Hodjapasha Cultural Center 

As I briefly mentioned above, Turkey is famous for its diversity and Sufi culture. What’s the point in visiting a place if you don’t get to see its culture? Its people? Their cultural and religious practices? Hodjapasha cultural center is a must-visit place for every tourist. 

Located in Istanbul, it’s a restored Ottoman Turkish hammam that is used for Sufi performances, involving whirling dervishes. I’m sure everyone has seen whirling dervishes in paintings, why not see them in real life as well? They depict the true Sufi culture, a peace-inducing performance that will stay in your heart for life. 

Marmaris 

Marmaris, a Mediterranean resort town, is situated on the Turkish riviera. It’s another fabulous place for water lovers. If you happen to be a beach person, Marmaris is the town for you. It’s home to a variety of beaches and they’re no less than those of Phuket. 

Besides the beaches, there are many things to do in Marmaris. The Marmaris Castle is a must-see place for people having an eye for architecture. The Marmaris National Park is another great place to see. From stargazing to wildlife experiences, it offers a lot. There’s also a bar street in Marmaris, one place you can visit to party all night!

The Takeaway 

Apart from sightseeing, Turkish cuisine is finger-lickin’  good. I personally love the Turkish coffee and kunafa. It’s a dessert made with lots and lots of milk. If you’re planning to visit Turkey, mark a few Turkish restaurants beforehand and make sure not to skip them. 

Also, don’t forget to buy the Turkish lamps. They’re super traditional and beautiful. It doesn’t matter if you’re into interior designing or not, you’ll still love them. Everyone does. I wish you a safe trip, my friends!