Turkey Adventure Travel 2024/2025

Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey Tours Things To Do

• 
  Visit the Blue Mosque UNESCO World Heritage Site

  The iconic Blue Mosque is a symbol of Istanbul. It's visible from all around the city with its large domes and towering minarets, but a trip to the landmark will give you much more appreciation for its history and beauty. The Blue Mosque, or officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, was built in the early 17th century during the Ottoman Era. The UNESCO World Heritage Site derives its name from the blue tiles hand-painted on its interior and the blue lights illuminating the exterior at night. There are also tales of sailors noting the blue sea reflecting off of its domes upon arriving in Istanbul.  

  Best Time To Visit

  The Blue Mosque is an active mosque that hosts daily prayer. Arrive early in the day to avoid the crowds and have more room to explore in the limited sections designated for tourists.

• 
  Take a tour of the royal exhibitions inside the Topkapi Palace

  Walk the grounds of the Topkapi Palace to learn about the former royal residence of Ottoman sultans. The palace now operates as a museum open to the public to explore many rooms, courtyards, and gardens. Topkapi Palace is an impressive palace with highly detailed architecture. The entire palace features decorative tiles adorning the walls and ceilings. Some of the palace's highlight areas for tourists include the harem, treasury, and exhibitions showcasing one of the largest diamonds in the world and religious artifacts from the Prophet Mohammed. Preserved clothing, armor, weapons, and manuscripts are also displayed.  

  You Should Know

  Guided tours of Topkapi Palace provide lots of information about the history and significance of the various areas in the complex. It's the best way to experience the importance of the site.

• 
  Bargain prices in the Grand Bazaar for the best Turkish shopping experience

  Visit the world's first shopping mall by walking the stalls of the Grand Bazaar. The covered market is one of the oldest markets in the world that receives hundreds of thousands of visitors every day for shopping and sightseeing. The Grand Bazaar covers an area of 61 streets, making it among the world's largest. It has over 4,000 shops and vendors lining the streets for one of the best places to shop in Istanbul. You'll find everything here: textiles, jewelry, clothing, furniture, food, souvenirs, handicrafts, etc. Walk through the market to experience the sights, sounds, and smells or the bustling area in Istanbul.  

  You Should Know

  Price bargaining is standard practice at the Grand Bazaar. Many shops sell similar items, so bargain between shops to find which will offer the best price.

• 
  Admire the interior decoration of the Hagia Sophia mosque

  The beauty of the Hagia Sophia mosque is unmatched by any other mosque in Istanbul. It's a favorite tourist destination to see the religious worlds of Christianity and Islam merge in one incredible structure. Hagia Sophia started as an ancient church built in year 537 until transitioning into a mosque in later centuries. The mosque closed temporarily and re-opened as a museum, but it's classification as a mosque was reinstated. Visitors can tour the interior of the mosque, decorated with over 30 million gold tiles. The massive dome and decorative wall paintings give it an opulent appearance.  

  Best Time To Visit

  Hagia Sophia restricts many areas during prayer times and post-prayer cleaning. Visit during the early morning or the evening to explore more of the beautiful mosque.

• 
  Discover the Ephesus Ruins to see a lost Ancient Greek City

  The ancient Greek city, Ephesus, has biblical origins dating back to the 10th Century BC. Today, the city is reduced to ruins, leaving only evidence of the major city, including one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Ephesus Ruins are a popular tourist destination to walk through the city to see what remains. Some of the notable ruin sites include the Temple Artemis, The Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, The Tomb of John the Apostle, and the Gate of Augustus. It's one of the most extensive Roman archaeological sites in the world.  

  You Should Know

  You can download an audio guide for the ruins before arriving to get more information about each site. The guides can provide additional information to supplement guided tours around the Ephesus.

• 
  Soak in the Pamukkale Hot Springs’ healing waters

  Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its thermal hot springs heated by volcanic activity underground. The natural thermal pools surround the cotton castle, creating a picturesque site and a fun place to swim. Pamukkale Hot Springs is open to the public to swim in the cascading natural pools. The blue waters reflecting off the white limestone are the perfect scenery to enjoy the water. The waters have healing powers thanks to their calcium-rich properties.  

  You Should Know

  Be sure to explore the ruins of Hierapolis, adjacent to the cotton castle. The ruins are also a protected site for preserving their history.

• 
  Decide which Trojan horse monument is the best to represent Troy

  The ancient city of Troy is a famous site popularized by the story of the Iliad by Homer and the Trojan War. One of the most iconic figures of the city is the Trojan Horse, used by soldiers to secretly enter the city during the war. Turkey has two Trojan Horses, so you can visit both to decide your favorite. The first Trojan Horse monument is located within the city of Troy on the archaeological site. It's a wooden horse that visitors can climb into for views of the ruins. The second horse is a replica Trojan Horse monument created for the 2004 film Troy. The monument was acquired after the movie finished and installed in the Çanakkale waterfront, nearby Troy.  

  You Should Know

  In addition to viewing the horse, visitors can walk the archaeological site to see the city's ruins. Many structures are unrecognizable, but guided tours are available to learn more about the city's history.

• 
  Explore early civilization dwellings in the Cappadocia Caves

  Cappadocia has many tourist attractions for exploring the beautiful natural landscape, but the caves are always a highlight for visitors. The Cappadocia Caves are unique formations created by humans to transform the naturally-formed caves into personal dwellings. Cappadocia Caves represent an entire community of residences, storehouses, churches, and more, carved in the rocks. The caves eventually became religious refuges, but today, they are open to the public to explore the incredible craftsmanship of early civilizations.  

  Best Time To Visit

  Visit the caves during the morning for a fantastic viewpoint over the Göreme valley as the iconic hot air balloons ascend into the sky. The entire scenery makes for unbelievable photos.

• 
  View the Changing of the Guards ceremony at the Mausoleum of Atatürk

  When traveling in Turkey, a must-visit site is the Mausoleum of Atatürk, a memorial tomb built to honor Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The tomb is the final resting place for the country's first president and leader of the Turkish War of Independence. The Mausoleum of Atatürk was completed in 1953 atop observation hill overlooking Ankara. The massive concrete structure measures 27m high and over 57m long. It's placed at the head of the sizeable Ceremonial Ground, which also includes a history museum. Stop by the museum to learn more about Turkey's history and information about the mausoleum.  

  Best Time To Visit

  Arrive during the changing of the guards ceremony, which happens every day.

Turkey Tour Packages

• Spring – March to May – Best Season

  Spring is the best time to visit Turkey because of the ideal weather for exploring the country's attractions. Many of the popular sites are outdoors, like visiting mosques or exploring ruins of lost cities.

• Summer – June to August – Peak Season

  Summer in turkey coincides with the popular summer travel months for international travelers. It's the hottest time to visit the country, so the heat may be harsh during the peak sunlight hours. If you're planning to visit the beaches or natural pools, the summer is the ideal time.

• Fall – September to November – Great Season

  Fall is ranked as the second-best time to visit Turkey. If you visit during the earlier half of the season, you'll experience the great weather from the summer at a slightly cooler climate. The weather also tends to remain dry in the early fall. Fall is preferred over visiting during the summer because of fewer tourist crowds.

• Winter – December to February – Low Season

  Turkey has a moderate climate all year, but the winter months are the coldest. It's also when the country receives the most precipitation.

Turkey Tours Frequently Asked Questions

• What are Turkey Tours?

  Turkey Tours provides travelers with a combination package for visiting the top tourist attractions and cities in turkey. Turkey is an enchanting country with historic cities, cultural hubs, and natural wonders that you'll get a taste of everything during your trip to Turkey.

• What’s included on a Turkey Tour?

  Turkey Tours explore more than just the widely popular capital of Istanbul, but other notable destinations like Ankara, Cappadocia, Troy, Pamukkale, Goreme Valley, and more. Take the tour to see some of the major Turkey visitor attractions like the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Cappadocia Caves, and the Troy Trojan Horse, and the Mausoleum of Atatürk.

• What’s the best Turkey Tour?

  There are various Turkey Tours for all types of travelers – you can dive into Turkey's cultural heritage, go on adventure excursions around the country, or discover the extensive history hidden inside museums and ruins.

• How much do Turkey Tours cost?

  Turkey Tours range in prices to make them suitable for all budgets. Don't let the price steer you away from traveling to one of the best countries in the world. Book all-inclusive multi-city tours for less than $1,000 USD that include visits to several top European travel destinations such as Italy, or spend several days traveling around major cities in Turkey.