Top 10 Things to Do in Turkey

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when talking about Turkey? Is it the Ottoman Empire? Or is it the Murder on the Orient Express? or just Doner kebab? In fact, no matter what you may be familiar with, there is always more to explore in Turkey. If you are dreaming of going to experience different cultures, extraordinary landscapes, and colorful activities, taking a tour to Turkey would be one of the best choices! Still hesitant? Let's dive into the top 10 things to do.

Visit the Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace, located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul and built between 1843-1856, is one the most important historical monuments in Turkey. It served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922 and the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans until the early 20th century.

Istanbul

This palace has great achievements in terms of architecture. It has a wide area of 45,000 square meters with 285 rooms and its design compromises the merits of traditional Ottoman, Baroque and Rococo styles. On the other hand, the palace is a very typical example of a traditional "Turkish House", where you can take a look at the layout of the function rooms. Showing the view of Bosphorus, the unique garden outside is one of the highlights.

Shop in Grand Bazaar

Being one of the largest and oldest shopping malls in the world, the Grand Bazaar is worth visiting. With an area of 30,700 square meters, the Bazaar's 64-covered streets and nearly 4,000 stores attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Traditional clothes, ceramics, evil Eye, nargile pipe, blankets, and second-hand objects can be found there. Oktay Ekinci, former President of the Chamber of Architects, says "Visiting Grand Bazaar is not just seeing a historical and mysterious place; it is the attractiveness created by the market tradition deriving from the past and by the human warmth intermingled with that, and even the feeling of trust." It's free to visit 24 hours a day, so no need to worry about the ticket!

Next to it stands the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, which is a mystical Eastern fantasy and the center of the spice trade in Istanbul. Lots of herbal medicine can be seen here and some Turkish residents have been coming here for old remedies and some everyday illnesses for centuries.

Get Close to Byzantine Art

The Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Turkey. Hagia Sophia has an amazing history. Built between 532 and 537 by the eastern Roman emperor Justinian I and served as the state church of the Roman Empire, it represented the epitome of Byzantine architecture until the conquest of the Ottoman Empire in 1453 when it was turned into a mosque. From 1925 to 2020, it became a museum until 2020, when the site again became a mosque.

Decorated with mosaics, and marble pillars in the interior, it has a huge 32-meter (105-foot) main dome supported on pendentives and two semidomes. Although most of the mosaics that adorned the upper parts of the walls have perished, the rest of it still survived and won the inclusion of Hagia Sophia in the list of the world's greatest buildings. (2.5h)

Take a Stroll on Istiklal Street

At the heart of Istanbul, Istiklal Street is a 1.4-kilometer pedestrian street, starting from Taksim Square and to the northern end of Galata Tower. It is very busy and bustling all day with enormous high-street brands, restaurants, boutiques, bars, and cafes. It is a great idea to take a rest here and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the local life or do some shopping here if you are a little tired after the tour journey in the daytime. There are also highly rated restaurants near Istiklal Street, where you have the opportunity to taste traditional Turkish cuisine such as saksuka, ezogelin soup, mercimek kofte, cag kebab, and so on.

At sunset, why not take a walk to the Galata Tower? It is an excellent viewpoint of the whole city, especially the Golden Horn and the Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu). Blended with the afterglow of the sun, the grand beauty of Istanbul will make your journey unforgettable.

Relax On Blue Lagoon Beach

Ölüdeniz, or the Blue Lagoon, is located in the conjunction of the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a relaxing beach resort, and the beach itself is a mixture of sandy and pebble. It has stunning beach scenery and well resort amenities. There are plenty of activities on offer. You can go paddleboarding on the lagoon, hire a small peddle boat, or just simply chill out on the beach and go for a swim.

Ölüdeniz

Along the coastline from Ölüdeniz, there is a famous tourist attraction known as Butterfly Valley. Many butterflies make the valley their home and that's the reason for its name. A thin and white sand beach lies down in the valley, with towering cliffs sitting on both sides of it. You can take a boat there from Ölüdeniz. Ships and yachts are also available to choose from.

Hike in the Kayaköy

A hike is also a great way to take in stunning coastal landscapes, mountain ranges, and invaluable history. Kayaköy is a historical and abandoned village near Oludeniz and attracts lots of hiking lovers to come. The town now is preserved as a museum village, consisting of around 500 Greek-style houses and churches that cover a large hillside. The hiking route starts from Kayaköy, ahead of Ovacik and Oludeniz. Distinct colors of signs and clear walking paths will help visitors on the right path. Along the route, it will take you through the historical ruins and natural views. Remember to put on your hiking boots and suitable clothing!

Dip in Pamukkale Hot Springs

Known as the "cotton castle", Pamukkale draws tourists' attention all over the world due to its carbonate mineral left by the thermal springs water. It is located in the Denizli Province, which is in southwestern Turkey. Those white sparkling travertines form a series of shallow milky-blue pools and petrified waterfalls. Based on the color motifs of turquoise blue and milky white, this place will make you feel like being in a dreamlike cotton castle.

Pamukkale

Soaking and relaxing in the milky white pools in Pamukkale is one of the best things to do. Like many turquoise blue pearls dotted, the huge limestone has many natural pools with hot springs. But not all of them are open to visitors, some now have been cordoned off to preserve them and only one particular section is allowed for travelers. Usually, the ones at the top are the most crowded and you will find emptier ones when you climb down

Visit the Sites of Hierapolis

Adjacent to the hot springs, an ancient Greek city called Hierapolis can be seen on the top of the travertine hill. This historical site, along with the Cotton Castle, was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988.

This ancient city was originally built as a spa town at the end of the 2nd century BC by the Attalid kings of Pergamon. The city was called Hierapolis because it revolved around the ancient cult of the mother goddess Leto. Today the remaining ruins with our own image may show a picture of public baths, a gym, and an ancient theater of ancient people.

There are at least three sites in Hierapolis worth a visit. Visitors can also check out the massive Hierapolis Theater, which is an architectural masterpiece and preserved with all original architectural materials. The second is the ancient Gate of Hell at the Plutonium. The third is a temple raised to Apollo Lairbenos, the town's principal god during the late Hellenistic period.

Sleep in Göreme National Park's Cave

Göreme village has around 2,000 people and sits in Nevşehir province in Central Anatolia. It is famous for the eroded rock formations, which was hollowed out to make houses for residents in the Middle Age. The Göreme village is within the famous Göreme National Park, which occupies an area of nearly 100 km2. besides the spectacular view of the eroded rock landscape, rock-hewn sanctuaries of Byzantine art in the post-Iconoclastic period, dwellings, troglodyte villages, and underground towns can also be seen there.

Göreme National Park

There you will have a unique chance to sleep in a cave! Many erstwhile villages have moved out of their original house and sold them for conversion into hotels thanks to the local tourism development plan. Many travelers will choose a great cave hotel to spend a few days there.

Explore the Underground City Derinkuyu

40 km far from the Goreme center, the Derinkuyu underground city is a lost city sheltering roughly 20,000 people in the Derinkuyu district in Nevşehir Province. Ancient Derinkuyu is carved into the rock, spanning eight floors and reaching depths of 85 meters. The underground city was originally built in the 8th-7th centuries BC and used as protection from Muslim Arabs during the Arab-Byzantine wars in the Byzantine era. In the later centuries, it was still primarily used as a hiding place for people of diverse cultures and cultures such as the Christian natives, Cappadocian Greeks, and local people. Squirreling yourself through a labyrinth of tunnels, you will see the complicated layout and design of functional areas where people could meet, eat, study and worship.

Turkey is home to many top attractions that are just waiting for you to visit and experience. Plan your trip with Odynovo and let us do all the research and booking for you. We can tailor-make your itinerary to fit your specific travel goals so that you can just enjoy your trip. Our staff will take care of everything, ensuring you and your family a hassle-free adventure that you will never forget.