The 15 most beautiful cities and tourist places in Turkey 2023

Aside from the shore, Turkey is a mountainous country with an average elevation of 5,165 meters (Mount Ararat). As well as at this summit (also called Mount Agri).

Hikers flock to the central areas in droves. Ankara, Turkey’s capital, has sovereignty over Cappadocia (Central Anatolia). Nature, too, provides the ultimate excitement at every bend and every route from here. Volcanic eruptions have created strange landscapes full of beautiful granite cones.

Turkey also has a fantastic sea environment. It competes with several places in terms of coastal tourism, being bordered by the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.

tourism in Turkey

Because of the attractiveness of Turkish beaches and their natural charm, many modest resorts have sprung up and expanded. Antalya is one of those hidden treasures by the Mediterranean, with plenty of venues to party!

Visiting Turkey is an opportunity to learn about the country’s rich cultural legacy. Many of its cities, such as Antioch, were marked by the arrival of early Christians. Homer and Hellenistic legends are responsible for the fame of other cities, such as Bergham (near Izmir).

In this country, Islam has mostly superseded Christianity. What are the outcomes? Converted churches, such as Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, which is a must-see destination.

These cultural developments demonstrate Turkey’s full development and ability to adjust to changing circumstances. This is especially evident in Istanbul’s Grand Market, where every visitor is delighted to come and shop because the bazaar has managed to retain its authenticity from the Middle Ages.

The cost of tourism in Turkey 2022:

A week-long medium-cost tourist trip in Turkey for two people costs around 900 US dollars, which includes lodging, meals, transportation, and sightseeing but excludes flight tickets.

Turkey, like all other nations around the globe, takes preventive precautions to prevent the coronavirus from infecting visitors of all nationalities:

• Fill out an electronic form at the following link before flying into Turkey’s airports (click here). After filling out the information, the visitor to Turkey will receive a health code, also known as a “HES Code,” which he will need to enter the country. This code will be required by visitors visiting Turkey to receive an Istanbul card for transit and access to malls and tourist attractions. You can take a picture of the code (Code QR) with your phone and display it on demand while saving the document that was printed after filling out the form. Everyone over the age of six is required to fill out the application.
• A negative 72-hour PCR test or a 48-hour antigen rapid test is required for everyone over the age of 12. Persons who can demonstrate that they have received a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before the test or that they have been hospitalized with COVID-19 during the last 6 months are excused from displaying a negative COVID-19 test.
• Travelers who arrive in Turkey and are allowed to enter after demonstrating the procedures outlined in points 1 and 2 are randomly sampled.
• To protect the public’s health, wearing a protective mask is required both inside and outside airports.

1.  Istanbul:

Istanbul

However, this metropolis, constructed on two continents and separated by the majestic Bosphorus, has a lot to offer!

Byzantium and Constantinople have always had a certain allure to them! Istanbul, a very old city, has a fascinating history! Byzantium was a successful trade city that was founded by the Greeks.

It gradually fell until the fourth century, when the Roman Emperor Constantine (the first Christian emperor) made it his capital, New Rome, which would become known as Constantinople.

There are several monuments and palaces in the city, but just a few remain today. The Hagia Sophia Mosque (originally a church) in Istanbul, on the other hand, remains the eternal symbol of Byzantium today.

Following the conquest, Istanbul became the Ottoman Empire’s new capital. The old Christian city was thereafter converted to Islam.

So, while the city served as the capital of three empires, it did not serve as Turkey’s capital for long. When the Ottoman Empire fell apart following World War I, the capital was soon relocated to Ankara, a more centralized and traditional city.

2. Cappadocia Region:

Cappadocia

These lands are dotted with caves, cliffs, and religious ruins, all of which have a rich and fascinating history tinted with legends. The region of Cappadocia is situated in the heart of Anatolia.

Cappadocia provides us with one-of-a-kind scenery. Hundreds of volcanoes have carved fairy chimneys, and erosion and rain have carved valleys that are distinct from one another.

Natural works of art can be found among the other, green, and yellow tufts. Cappadocia’s successive civilizations also left precious treasures, such as Goreme’s rock-cut churches. You can stay in one of the adjacent cities, such as Grudem or Nosehir, to go to Cappadocia.

3. Antalya:

Antalya

Of course, there are plenty of resorts and activities along Antalya’s shore, but the area also boasts enough activities to keep any traveler entertained.

You will have a great time in Antalya, from the ancient sites of the city’s historical center to the natural beauty of Turkish landscapes.

4. Izmir:

Izmir

The Turkish city of Izmir, or Izmir, is located at the bottom of the Aegean Gulf. The city gradually extends along the ridges that encircle it. It has everything nice about it: swinging in the breeze, breathing pure sea air.

Izmir is a massive metropolis with a population of over 4 million people on the Aegean Sea near the Gulf of Izmir. The city was formed in 3000 BC and is a symbol of the Hittite kingdom, which stretches back thousands of years, as proven by the archaeological sites spread throughout the city’s historical core.

5. Mugla City:

Mugla

Mugla is a great place to start exploring the Turkish Riviera and its beautiful beaches in Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, and other coastal towns and villages.

6. Denizli City:

Denizli

It is well-known for its advanced economic growth. In reality, there are a lot of textile industries there, and unemployment is almost non-existent. As a result, Denizli is an excellent tourist and business location. The people are welcoming and friendly.

Because the area’s terrain is so diverse, you’ll have plenty of options for activities.

7. Ankara:

Ankara

The city, however, is old, having been held by the Hittites, a very ancient civilization. Ankara later became part of the Roman and then the Byzantine Empires, and it still bears vestiges of these eras, such as the Julian column and the Byzantine citadel.

During the long Ottoman period, however, the city was of modest importance. According to the will of Ataturk, the creator of the Turkish Republic, Ankara was finally elevated to the role of capital of Turkey in 1923. His mausoleum, which is now the capital’s main historical landmark, is located in Ankara.

8. Trabzon:

Trabzon

Trabzon has become a shipping center for the export of grain, livestock, and tobacco thanks to its modern port. The Trabzon region produces tobacco, citrus, corn, potatoes, and hazelnuts. Copper, wire, and iron are also mined.

The mosques, such as the Mosque of Our Lady of Spring, the historic Church of Saint Eugen from the 13th century, and the Fatih Mosque, are the primary things to see (the old Byzantine church).

9. Bursa City:

Bursa

Bursa is also known for its hydrotherapy, which has been practiced since the Roman era. It was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and is positioned on the way to Izmir. It is now a modern, commercial, and industrial environment.

10. Aksaray City:

Aksaray

Apart from its central plaza, Aksaray is a city that has lost a lot of its allure, owing to immigration from nearby villages. With the advent of many squatter buildings, intensive urbanization has generated pandemonium. After all, strolling through the neighborhoods surrounding the city center and the river can be enjoyable.

11. Urgup City:

Urgup

Walk through the old quarters hewn into the white cliffs and take in the spectacular scenery, which includes Urgup’s famous fairy chimneys. Hoods are eroded rock formations in the shape of cones with a “hat” on top.

12. Alanya:

Alanya

Despite this, the city has managed to conserve a lovely collection of ancient homes, which are dominated by the 13th-century Seljuk walls.

Alanya is worth visiting for a day to see the historic city. Finish your tour with a fishing boat excursion, where you can take in the spectacular views of the walls and fortifications.

13. Kusadasi City:

Kusadasi

The good news is that while some activities have high entrance prices, many others are completely free, making them ideal for budget tourists.

14. Edirne:

Edirne

It takes a 2.5-hour drive across fields as far as the eye can see to reach this picturesque tiny village, which is located on the Bulgarian-Greek border.

Edirne can be visited in half a day or throughout the weekend. Only for its magnificent mosques, especially the most exquisite masterpiece of the great architect Sinan, Selimiye, is it a destination worth seeing!

15. Bodrum City:

Bodrum

Every summer, hundreds of thousands of visitors, both locals from Istanbul’s bourgeoisie and foreign tourists, flock to the Gulf of Kos in the southwestern province of Mugla.

Despite everything, the city, which is bordered by the Aegean Sea, has managed to keep its unique charm: witness its narrow streets of white, Cycladic-style villas, fragrant with flowers and painted with colorful decorations.

Furthermore, the ruins of the ancient city of Halicarnassus are a must-see for history buffs, as they will be able to see rare antiquities.