TOURISM IN TÜRKİYE
Istanbul
İstanbul, the bustling metropolis of Türkiye, is a city full of charm, where the past goes hand in hand with the present and every step brings to light a relic of times gone by. At the crossroads of two continents – Europe and Asia – this spectacular city has absorbed the best of both worlds.With its beautiful historic landmarks, quintessential cuisine, vibrant nightlife, festivals of art and music, celebration of faith, labyrinths of marketplaces and shopping arcades, the beating heart of İstanbul, and the soul of Bosphorus under the watchful eye of the Maiden’s Tower is a traveller’s dream.
Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula
The magnificent city of İstanbul has always attracted people from all over the world due to its strategic location and wonderful heritage, marked by significant monuments, diverse traditions and cultures, and authentic cuisine.
İstanbul gains much of the tourists’ and travellers’ attention and fascination from its historical peninsula, also known as Suriçi (Walled City). It was founded as a residential area and was the capital of two empires Eastern Roman and Ottoman Empire that once ruled 4 continents
The epitome of tourist attractions, the historic peninsula of İstanbul is enclosed by the ancient city walls on one side and the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, and the Golden Horn on the other.
When wandering through the neighbourhoods of İstanbul’s peninsula and seeing a wealth of Eastern Roman ruins and Ottoman artefacts, you will feel the scent of history as if you have travelled back in a time machine. It is indeed the varied history of this peninsula, along with its unique integration of architectural icons, that makes the old city of İstanbul a memorable place to visit.
Antalya
Antalya is a city where the sea, sun, history and nature commune in harmony.
Ancient cities, the sea, sun, beach, forest … all are parts of this integrity. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk describes Antalya with the phrase “Undoubtedly, Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world”.
Antalya is one of the most visited cities in the world and of course there are dozens of reasons for this. Those who love the sea, sand and sun and those who want to get lost in nature can find dozens of options in Antalya with the 640-kilometer coastline stretching from west to east on the Mediterranean coast, the Toros Mountains surrounding the city parallel to the coast.
In the far west of the city, on the Teke Peninsula there is an Ancient City called Patara one of the most important cities of the Ancient Lycian Civilization. As you move east, you can find nature in the bays of Demre and the traces of ancient civilizations at every corner. Kaş is one of the few diving centers in the world. Kemer is home to many luxury resort hotels and the magnificent Tahtalı Mountain (Tahtalı Dağı). Kaleiçi, which forms the center of the city of Antalya, brings together the ancient city of Attaelia, one of the most important medieval ports in the Eastern Mediterranean, the traces of the Seljuks and the natural wonder cliffs.
The Ancient City called the Perge is one of the important stops of St. Paul and the important port city which belonged to the Pamphylian civilization. It is an impressive historical center with its magnificent buildings. Belek is one of the important golf centers of the world with its specially designed courses. The Belek region is also prominent with amazing resort hotels, services, nature and facilities. When you move a little north from here, you will reach one of the best-preserved ancient theaters in the world, the Aspendos Ancient Theater (Aspendos Antik Tiyatrosu).
There is also the Manavgat Waterfall (Manavgat Şelalesi), which joins with the river with foams flowing meandering through the forests, the Temple of Apollo (Apollo Tapınağı) and the Ancient City of Side (Side Antik Kenti), right next to the sea, are home to a cultural asset that a day is not long enough to explore. Fascinating with its pine forests and waterfalls, Alanya is in the far east of the city with its historical castle extending into the Mediterranean.
Come and discover with your senses Antalya the historical city of the Mediterranean surrounded by the Toros Mountains (Toros Dağları), by seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling and listening!
Capadoccia
Cappadocian region is the place where the nature and history come together with most beautiful scene in the world. While geographic events are forming Peribacaları (fairy chimneys), during the historical period, humans had carried the signs of thousand years old civilizations with carving houses and churches within these earth pillars and decorating them with frisks.
During the Roman Emperor, Augustus period, territories of Cappadocian Region as a wide region lying till to the Toros Mountains at south, Aksaray at west, Malatya at east and Eastern Black Sea shores at north within the 17 volume book named ‘Geographika’ of Strabon, one of the Antic Period writers. Today’s Cappadocian Region is the area covered by Nevşehir, Aksaray, Niğde, Kayseri, and Kırşehir cities. More limited area, rocky Cappadocian Region is composed of Üçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı, Ihlara and environment.
Traditional Cappadocian houses and dovecotes carved into stones are showing the uniqueness of the region. These houses are constructed on the feet of the mountain via rocks or cut stones. Rock, which is the only construction material of the region, as it is very soft after quarry due to the structure of the region, can be easily processed but after contact with air it hardens and turns into a very strong construction material. Due to being plentiful and easy to process of the used material, regional unique masonry is developed and turned into an architectural tradition. Materials of neither courtyard nor house doors is wood. Upper parts of the doors built with arches are decorated with stylized ivy or rosette motifs.
Dovecotes within the region are small structures constructed within 18th century and end of 19th century. Some of the dovecotes, which are important for showing Islamic picture art are constructed as monastery or church. Surfaces of dovecotes are decorated with rich inscriptions and adornments by regional artists.
Nevşehir
The city in the heart of Türkiye. That means Nevşehir has all the potential of Anatolia: a long history, a shelter of faith, a unique landscape, fertile land and rich local cuisine.
The history of the city dates back to 7.000 CE. It was home to Hittites, Phrygians, Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Seljuks and Ottomans. Nevşehir and Cappadocia region had been an important refuge for early Christians before the religion had been recognized by the Roman Empire. At the 11th and 12th centuries, the Seljuks had taken the control of the region. When Ottoman Empire rule have been established on the land, the province had its current name: “Nev” (means new) and “Şehir” (means city). The name reflects the unique characteristic of Nevşehir: It combines past and future, nostalgic and trendy, but never gets old!
Nevşehir covers most of the Cappadocia with all beauties and history. Göreme Open Air Museum (Göreme Açıkhava Müzesi) has been in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. Besides its world-famous fairy chimneys, Göreme Open Air Museum is an important place for history lovers with vivid depictions of the biblical scenes, most famously at Karanlık and Tokalı Churches.
Since the region has fertile soil, the local cuisine is rich and tasty too. When it comes to eat, the grapes turn into healthy sweets and wine, pumpkins into desserts and nuts, potteries into cooking pots to cook vegetables and meat in traditional ovens slowly. Clay pot kebab or beans in casserole are the most-favoured tastes of Nevşehir. However, the options are many: Soğanlama, Dolaz, Köftür, Ayva Dolması, Kayısı Dolması. You will try hard to choose which one is best for you!
Nevşehir is also famous for silk production, wool and natural dyed carpets, pottery making and many more handcrafts. You can even try to make your own pottery here.
Aegean Coasts
If someone was claim that the most scenic vistas in Anatolia can be found on the coasts of the Aegean, he could not be accused of exaggerating. In the words of Heredotus, the Aegean coasts “have the most beautiful sky and the best climate in the world.” The bays and peninsulas, coves and golden beaches stretch the length of these beautiful shores. In this region where the countless events of mythology took place, at almost every turn, you will encounter the theaters, temples and agoras of ancient cities like Bodrum, Marmaris, Cesme, Kusadasi, Bergama, Foca and Fethiye.
Bodrum
Bodrum is world renowned as a paradise for tourists featuring charming neighbourhoods, various ancient sites for sightseeing, exquisite bays, turquoise sea, mild Mediterranean climate, modern transportation, and vibrant night life.
It is a top holiday destination in Türkiye. Bodrum is a peninsula located in the southwest Aegean Region in the province of Muğla. The city’s developed transportation infrastructure and port, which welcomes international cruise liners, also play an essential role in attracting millions of tourists.
In ancient times, Bodrum was called Halicarnassus and it was located in southwest Caria. It was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, also known as the Tomb of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Built in the 15th century, Bodrum Castle overlooks the harbour and the marina. Today, it houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year. Bodrum represents Türkiye’s Turquoise Coast at its most vibrant.
This is an incentive destination with a marina full of bobbing yachts ready to whisk you out to the Mediterranean, a handful of ancient attractions for sightseeing, and a town filled with photogenic, historic whitewashed houses.
Bodrum has some of the best nightclubs in Europe and some of its best beach clubs and restaurants. If you don’t like partying, then do as the locals do and indulge in Aegean cuisine, a concept that is all about waterside restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood.
Gümbet offers a long, sandy beach lined with hotels and pensions. Gümüşlük is a very pleasant place to stay, with unspoilt scenery, a long sand and gravel beach, where you can swim close to the ruins of ancient Myndos. Turgutreis boasts a sophisticated marina complete with exclusive cafes, restaurants and boutiques, as well as a host of new bars and discos. Yalıkavak has an enjoyable and relaxing atmosphere for visitors.
Göltürkbükü is famous for its array of exclusive hotels, excellent seafront restaurants and trendy bars. Bitez, a popular place for windsurfing and sailing, attracts an upmarket crowd. Other popular Bodrum beach spots include: Yalıkavak, Akyarlar, Çökertme, Ortakent, Bardakçı, Torba, Camel Beach, Mazıköyü, Gündoğan and Akyaka.
Taş Tepeler
Taş Tepeler encompasses the expansive archaeological site that includes Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and related excavation sites. Dating back around 12,000 years, Taş Tepeler predates iconic landmarks such as the Pyramids, Stonehenge, and Machu Picchu.
Göbeklitepe: a striking example of the first Neolithic settlements
Göbeklitepe dating back to 11,500 years ago is located near Örencik village, 15 km northeast of Şanlıurfa province. Home to earliest vestiges about belief in the world, Göbeklitepe is one of the most important known centres of Neolithic Age. Göbeklitepe’s history traces to 9600 BCE and reflects an uninterrupted period of 1500 years. This time frame refers to neither one place, nor a given moment: the process had happened in a vast region and had remained dynamic for a long time. Anatolia is the place where today’s civilisation was born. It is also the place par excellence where humans established the first long-haul commercial relations, tried to tame animals and to do agriculture, founded villages for the first time, and built the world’s oldest monumental structures. All these constitute also the most important features of modern human life.
Communities who lived in this primaeval marvel, passed from hunting-gathering to sedentism and built monumental megalithic structures. The T-shaped limestone pillars set in the middle of the structures are one of the first manifestations of human-made monumental architecture. The monuments are believed to be used in social events and rituals.
Some structures are up to 20 metres in diameter, where terraces stretch along the walls and T-shaped and equally spaced stelae are installed in the middle. In the centre of 12 stelae around, there are two other stelae whose weight reaches 15 tons. The steles, some of which are 5.50 metres high, are decorated as if they were mythological representations: depictions of wild animals, geometrical figures, and few abstract depictions of humans.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, the mysterious and impressive Göbeklitepe promises its visitors a time-travel into the most unknown periods of human history.
The boar in Göbeklitepe: the first painted life-size statue
During the excavations conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, a life-size wild boar statue made of limestone was found in the D structure of Göbeklitepe. The sculpture, which shows red, white, and black pigment residues on its surface, is the first painted life-size example found from its period to the present day. The wild boar sculpture discovered in Göbeklitepe was found on a bench adorned with decorations, an H-shaped symbol, a crescent, two snakes, and three human faces or masks.
