Best Holiday Destinations Guide in Turkey
The best holiday destinations in Turkey attract visitors from all over Europe, the Arab States, and further afield, and the vast history, beautiful sandy beaches, warm climate, and vibrant cities keep people returning year after year. Turkey has become more popular thanks to affordable flights, fantastic package deals, and decent exchange rates, and its popularity continues to soar.
Hence, you might wonder where to go, whether you are planning a return visit or this is your first time in Turkey. The following suggestions are places that stand out on the tourism scene for their fame. Each has something unique to offer so that you can match a destination with your idea of the perfect holiday.
Nine of the Best Holiday Destinations in Turkey
1) Istanbul for Historical Sites
This stunning destination and cultural hub is the world’s only city where you can immerse yourself in Asian and European flavours in one holiday. Istanbul brims with impressive architecture and historic sites, such as the iconic Blue Mosque with ceramic tiles, Topkapi Palace, and Hagia Sofia landmark building. However, the city's charm is that it seamlessly mixes the old with the new.
Fine dining, exclusive shopping and incredible nightlife await you in Istanbul, all with exotic twists. Every day in Istanbul presents you with new and different experiences. Discover Turkish delights in one place as a multicultural hub, from Gaziantep's incredible, spicy cuisine and performances of Whirling Dervishes of Konya to traditional shopping at the Grand Bazaar. Whether it’s a long weekend or an extended trip, Istanbul should be your first stop for a city break.
2) Cappadocia for Unforgettable Holiday Experiences
A landscape of friendly attractions greets the eye, full of hidden underground cities, medieval fortress complexes, and archaeological sites. Large-scale hotel development is banned in Cappadocia, so book an authentic cave hotel and enjoy historical attractions on a red or green tour.
Walk the plains between the fairy chimneys, go mountain biking, discover hidden churches, and witness stunning sunrises from your hot air balloon ride. Göreme town, the ideal place to stay, and carved into volcanic rock and is the gateway to Goreme National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nearby, Ürgüp excels in Turkish wine production, and Avanos village earns fame for fantastic pottery and excellent restaurants.
3) Dalyan Resort on Turkey’s Southern Coast
Dalyan, a small, traditional town hidden between the charming village of Köyceğiz and the stunning Iztuzu Beach, boasts ancient ruins, mud baths, and loggerhead sea turtles. Surrounded by turquoise water, enjoy boat tours to see highlights of Dalyan and Lake Köyceğiz, with water taxis that also take you to Iztuzu Beach. Dalyan is ideal for relaxing holidays since the nightlife is sit-down rather than party until dawn.
There is plenty to do in and around town, and local bus services are pretty good, but Dalyan is small and compact, a few miles square. Go bar hopping, get to know locals, and practice Turkish over traditional meals, or get active and hike the mountains, hire a car, and explore surrounding areas, catch a water taxi to spot turtles, swim in Köyceğiz lake, or grab yourself a quad bike and have some fun rolling around town. Dalyan is the answer for quiet beach holidays.
4) Antalya for Beautiful Beaches
A city that has something for everyone, Antalya has always been a popular choice for golden sands. Nestled along the beautiful Turkish Riviera on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Antalya is a vibrant city with several resorts, hotels, bars, and restaurants. The Old Quarter offers a step back in time, with narrow streets that wind around historic structures like the Clock Tower and old city walls.
The scenery impresses, with lush green mountains towering over the picture-perfect coastline, with water sports and sailing on offer. The bonus is that Antalya airport has 40 minutes of transfer time. However, this famous place demands respect as Turkey's top beach destination. Lara Beach and Konyaalti, with clear waters, are two of the best blue flag beaches. Also head up the coastline to Alanya, a separate town that belongs to the larger Antalya province, and enjoy Cleopatra Beach, which is highly ranked, as well as the famed Alanya Castle. (More about Antalya.)
5) Bodrum for Lively Nightlife Scenes
Home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum, Bodrum’s historical ruins, stunning beaches, and cliff-top resorts attract global tourists. The Bodrum Castle of St Peter, built by the Knights Hospitaller in 1402, displays ancient shipwrecks, and Bodrum’s ancient theatre offers marvellous coastal views. However, if after-dark is your fun idea, Bar Street will delight.
This coastal city is the perfect place for celeb spotting. With a superyacht marina, boutique hotels, and a designer shopping centre in Yalikavak, it has often hosted celebrities and billionaires. Stroll from the marina, and you will find yourself lost in a beautiful maze of little cobbled streets and traditional Turkish buildings.
The thing to note about Bodrum is that the crowded city centre is excellent, but many people spend their holidays in coastal resorts along the peninsula with the same name. All have gorgeous beaches, blue waters, and beautiful restaurants that keep holidaymakers returning year after year. Gumbet Beach and Resort is a popular choice for British holidaymakers. (Learn about Bodrum.)
6) Fethiye for Family Holidays
Backed by the Taurus mountains, this former fishing village has become an excellent choice with expats and families looking for cheap holidays. Dalaman airport is only about 30 minutes away, which makes the town easy to get to. If you don’t fancy staying in Fethiye, the local area has several family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts with pools and countless beaches nearby. Hire a car. The south coast is your oyster, with plenty to do in every direction.
But most people enjoy a 12-island boat trip since Fethiye sits on the Turkish Riviera, called the Turquoise Coast. At the same time, paragliders descend from Babadag Mountain onto the white sand of Oludeniz Beach, which sits near the famous Blue Lagoon. Also, catch the water taxi and head to the secluded Butterfly Valley, which has a beach bar named after the butterflies that breed there. Patara Beach is a short drive, or visit the white outdoor pools of Pamukkale Cotton Castle.
Fethiye itself is a large area, and you can book hotels or self-catering apartments in Fethiye city centre, Olu Deniz, Hisaronu, Ovacik, and, of course, Calis Beach resort, which earns fame as a popular holiday destination for fantastic sunsets. Hillside Beach Club is one of Fethiye’s most popular hotels for all-inclusive holidays, and Fethiye is the finishing point of Turkey’s famed Lycian Way if trekking is your passion. (Fethiye in Turkey.)
7) Bursa City for Cultural Experiences
Forget about beach time and blue waters because Bursa is the perfect place for cultural heritage and the mountain of gods. Bursa, about 200 miles west of Ankara and approximately 50 miles south of Istanbul, is surrounded by large, beautiful nature preserves that offer remarkable flora and fauna, and is popular with Arab tourists. Uludağ National Park is the most popular, particularly in winter when fans flock for skiing. Uludağ means ‘sublime mountain’; you will understand why when you are there.
The city has four impressive mosques, but the Muradiye Complex is an important historic place. The complex is the resting place of Sultan Murad II, the last Ottoman sultan to reign in Bursa, the original capital city. The site is extensive and worth exploring to see the twelve tombs, mosque, madrasa, hospice, fountain, and epitaphs.
Bursa, nicknamed the ‘Royal Springs’, is also renowned for hot mineral waters since Byzantine and Roman times. Several hot springs surround the city, and several bazaars and caravanserais exist to explore!
8) Belek Resort for Golfing and Spa hotels
A luxury resort town on the Turkish Riviera, Belek features over thirty-four five-star hotels with idyllic beaches. Often hosting World Championship golf tournaments, the town attracts famous players and offers alternative holiday activities to nearby Antalya city. Beach lovers adore Belek and the surrounding areas because they are renowned for their mineral waters. Being a high-end destination, several good spas operate around town. The land of legends theme park is also Turkey’s version of Disneyland.
When you’re not golfing or swimming, the Hellenistic Perge is nearby, rated second best preserved after Ephesus. The Kurşunlu Waterfall attracts over 100 bird species and is an incredible hidden cave worth exploring. For some cultures, visit Aspendos ancient amphitheatre, over 2000 years old but still seats over 20,000 people. During high season, the venue still hosts open-air classical, ballet, and opera festivals, which are incredibly popular.
9: Kusadasi for Water parks and Ancient Sites
Sitting on Turkey’s western coast, near Ephesus, an ancient city, this beautiful place wins great favour with families thanks to two large water parks. Aqua Fantasy doubles up as a hotel, in case the youngsters want to spend most days having water-splashing fun. Otherwise, the Ladies beach is another excellent area to stay. It belongs to Kusadasi but sits on the outskirts, like a mini resort. Plenty of hotels have private beaches for guests only.
If you can tear yourself away from water themes, visit the nearby ancient Ephesus, one of Turkey's top attractions. By the 1st century BC, Ephesus was home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Temple of Artemis. The well-preserved site contains a massive theatre, the Temple of Hadrian and the incredible Celsus Library, a two-story structure built to house 12,000 scrolls.
More About Holidays in Turkey
Interesting Facts: Turkey is often misunderstood or stereotyped. However, the diversity is evident everywhere, from the food to the culture, geography, and history. One would have to explore intensely from East to West to gain good insights into the country, but this would take a lifetime. So, for newcomers or holidaymakers, here are some intriguing facts to get you started.
Favourite Places for Brits: From the sun-kissed shores of Turkey's Aegean and Mediterranean coasts to populous cities like Istanbul, Antalya, and Bursa, each region tells unique stories, beckoning travellers to embark on discovery. In this blog article, we delve into Turkey's geography, focusing on the distinct preferences of British tourists, property buyers, and wannabe ex-pats.
Turkey Guide: To round up this article about the best holiday destinations in Turkey, we have also listed some introductory facts to start planning your holiday. Discussing the money, food, regions, and more, enjoy your time in Turkey.
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