Lets…Take A Trip Around Turkey’s Hotspots!

Turkey is full of so many cultural, historical and amazing places to visit and explore, and whether you are here purely for a holiday or you’ve chosen to make Turkey your new home, there’s something for everyone and there’s always plenty to see or do.

We’d like, if we may, to highlight our top ten of Turkey’s best places to visit, which we will split into two parts, so let’s start this journey and begin at the very heart of Turkey, with its Capital, Ankara…

Located centrally in the Anatolia region it’s Turkey’s second largest city after Istanbul, and it offers a dry climate with cool winters and hot summers. A very cosmopolitan city it rests on the East/West border and merges traditional and modern cultures together.

A very historical city, the old castles and ruins from the days of the Ottaman, Byzantine, Roman and Hittite era are dotted around the landscape and other sites include the Zeyrek Cami, The Roman Baths, The Ataturk Mausoleum, the Yeni Mosque and the Atakule Tower.

For younger members of the family more modern attractions also include the Forest Farm, Zoo, Aquapark Club Watercity or the Aqua Vega Aquarium.

Don’t despair either, as there’s also plenty of shopping, a vibrant nightlife, performing arts venues and plenty of good restaurants/bars and eateries!

Havadan, Ankara

One of the world’s best loved tourist destinations on the Mediterranean, it’s filled with traditional Turkish culture, the most fabulous beaches, plenty of tourist attractions, 5 star resorts and much more.

The harbour is one of the best places in town especially if you want somewhere to enjoy watching the boats coming in, whilst eating in some of the best restaurants in town or if you prefer to sit on the beach all soaking up the sun then there’s three beaches that are highly recommended which are Cleopatra, Konyaalti & Lara which just happens to be in the Blue Flag category.

Sites to explore include the Koprulu Canyon National Park, the Koprucay River, the Kursunlu Waterfalls, and the other seaside resorts of Kas, Kemer, Manavgat, Alanya, Side & the Golf Area of Belek.

Kaleiçi marina / Antalya

By far this is one of the most stunning regions on the Aegean Coast, and it’s become an extremely popular destination for tourists and expats alike. It oozes luxury and is known locally as the St Tropez of Turkey.

A bustling resort it’s filled with stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, yacht lined Marinas, historical sites, and a fabulous variety of shops, bars & restaurants. There’s plenty to do here, and it offers something for everyone.

Historical sites include The Castle of St Peter which also houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, The Bodrum Amphitheatre which was built during the Hellenistic age, and the old Windmills which go all the way back to the 18th century.

If it’s beaches and Watersports you are after then your best options are Yashi Beach in Ortakent which has beautiful views of nearby Kos, Yalikavak Beach which is half pebble & half sand, & Gumusluk Beach which is perfect for watching the sunset.

The Bodrum Peninsula

Slightly ‘off the beaten’ track but becoming more and more popular due to it’s natural beauty and uniqueness this area is mainly served by the two prominent towns of Trabzon and Rize. Trabzon is a delightful coastal city which dates back hundreds of years with plenty of historical sites to see, whereas Rize is a much more modern town centred around Tea, which offers a stunning mountain landscape along with plateaus and rivers.

In Trabzon it’s definitely worth taking a trip up to the Sumela Monastery which dates back to the 4th century and is nestled on a cliff face. You can see how the monks used to live here, and it offers great views over the local parkland. There’s also the 19th century Ataturk House and the Hagia Sophia in which you can experience what the architecture would have been like during the Byzantine period.

In Rize which is known as ‘The Tea Capital of Turkey’, you must visit the Ziraat Botanik Tea Garden situated at the summit of a steep hill enjoying wonderful valley views, the honey village of Ayder Plateau (one of our best kept secrets) and the Kackar Mountains which is a hotspot for trekkers and cyclists.

Just outside of Rize, there is also Rize Castle which was built during the 6th century AD.

Tea Plantation in Cayeli, Rize, Black Sea Region

Cappadocia is located in Central Anatolia and is one of Turkey’s best loved destinations. It’s a hugely unique site, made over thousands of years which contains many a great things to explore including the cave churches, deep valleys and small monasteries.

Probably one of the best experiences you can have here, and one of the most magical ways to view the area, is via Hot Air Balloon which usually start at sun-rise so you can truly appreciate the area in all its glory.

If that doesn’t work for you, then you can also take advantage of the trekking trails which will take you through the ancient valleys and underground cities. Our favourite is via the Meskindir and Rose Valley which takes you to an awe-inspiring ancient church nestled deep into the cave.

Other sites which are well worth a mention include the Uchisar Castle, Pasabag Valley and the ‘Fairy Chimneys’, The Goreme Open Air Museum (which is a UNESCO world Heritage Site), and lastly the underground city of Derinkuyu which has eight floors and reaches depths of over 280 feet.

Hot air balloons rising over Cappadocia

Interested in purchasing a holiday home in Turkey?

Our thanks to AIPP members Turkish Connextions for this article. Contact them for property for sale or rent in Turkey

Tel: 01772 735 151
Email: mail@turkishconnextions.co.uk