From Bazaars to Beaches: The Best of Turkey
Turkey is renowned for its beaches and coastal resorts, but is much more than just a ‘sun sea and sand’ destination. As well as enjoying the coastal locations you can hike in the mountains, explore ancient cities and fall in love with the local cuisine on holidays to Turkey. Here are some of the highlights.
At the heart
If you want to get to the heart of Turkey, you have to visit the big city. There you’ll find the historic palaces and mosques of faded empires, as well as bustling bazars full of spices and souvenirs. It’s the city where you best immerse yourself in culture past and present— relax in a historic bathhouse by day and visit stylish coffee shops by night. Give your senses a treat at the Spice Bazaar where mountains of many colored spices, nuts, dried fruits and Turkish sweets spill from shop fronts. In the Grand Bazaar’s hundreds of shops you’ll find all the souvenirs you could wish for from ornate Turkish tea sets and lanterns to traditional pottery and textiles. Haggling is expected and adds to the fun!
Experiencing a wonderland
One of the most captivating landscapes in the Middle East, Cappadocia is a geological wonderland where natural spires and chimney rise straight from rosy-hewed rock. Take a hot air balloon over the landscape for the most magical views, and stay in one of the region’s cave hotels to complete the experience. Cappadocia is also the place to enjoy adventure sports and outdoor activities, from horse riding and quad biking to hiking and cycling.
Going coastal
The beaches of Turkey can take on any beach in Europe, from the busy resorts and port towns to Antalya and Bodrum to the secluded coves of Butterfly Valley and Kaputas. The Antalya region is known as the Turkish Riviera, with 400 miles of white sandy beaches to explore. Here you’ll find luxury resorts as well as secluded coves that are best reached by boat. Adventure seekers should head further east to Dalaman, where there are gorgeous beaches such as Olu Deniz and water sports centers.
Historic Highlights
Turkey’s ancient history has left a wealth of relics, with the ruins of ancient cities and empires to explore. The theatre at Aspendos is one of the best preserved in the world, as is the ancient Roman library of Celsus. Mount Nemrut in the south east is crowned by enigmatic crumbling statues that are still shrouded in mystery.
Whether you choose an adventure holiday or a beach holiday, city break or historic tour, Turkey is an ideal destination. You could even combine them all on a whistle-stop tour. Wouldn’t that be an adventure!
Images by Michael Clarke stuff and astique, used under Creative Commons license.
