TURKEY

 

 

Sitting on the edge of the Islamic world and the European Union, visiting Turkey is one of the easiest and most fascinating ways to explore the Islamic culture. Between the incredible food, the richness of history in Istanbul, the hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia, and the stunning mosques, it’s no wonder that Turkey is the 6th most-visited destination in the entire world!

 

For ideal weather, visit during the spring months—the days are long, and the heat hasn’t quite hit yet. Because the temperatures are almost perfect, this is the high season for cities like Istanbul and Cappadocia.

Summer brings plenty of sunshine and hot weather, meaning locals and tourists alike flock to the beaches.

Fall is also a wonderful time to visit. The days are shorter, and there is a higher chance of rain come October, but the weather overall is very mild. Winter is cold and rainy, but because of this, there are far fewer travellers.

 

TOP Places to Visit

  1. Istanbul

Once serving as the capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires, Istanbul today is the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest in the world. Istanbul stretches across both sides of the Bosphorus, a narrow strait that connects Asia and Europe, making it the only city in the world spanning two continents. Impressive architecture, historic sites, dining, shopping, nightlife and exotic atmosphere all make Istanbul one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

 

 

  1. Cappadocia

Situated in Central Anatolia of Turkey, Cappadocia is best known for its fairytale landscape of unusual formations resembling chimneys, cones, mushrooms and pinnacles. Natural processes such as ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages, with some of them rising as much as 130 feet (40 meters) high. However, thousands of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out houses, churches and underground cities from the soft rock.

 

 

  1. Ephesus

Europe’s most complete classical metropolis, Ephesus is an ancient site located in Aegean Turkey. By the 1st century BC, Ephesus was one of the largest cities in all of the Roman Empire, boasting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis. The ruins of Ephesus are well preserved and contained within a large archaeological site, making it one of Turkey’s most popular tourist attractions.

Ephesus was declared a Roman settlement in 133 BC, although it did not reach its peak until some 200 years later. At one point, when the city was the capital of Roman Asia Minor, Ephesus housed more than 250,000 permanent residents. St.Paul lived in Ephesus, fostering Christianity among many other religions.

  1. Bodrum

Located in the Mugla Povince in the southern Aegean region of Turkey, Bodrum is the site of the ancient fortified city, Halicarnassus, which was once home to marble buildings, temples, statutes, paved streets and the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

After falling into ruins, the city remained a quiet fishing village until the 20th century when Turkish intellectuals brought popularity to it through their writings. Today, Bodrum’s intriguing ruins, stunning beaches and cliff-top resorts attract people from all over the world.

On Bodrum’s eastern side, tourists will find a beautiful beach overlooking brilliant blue water. Near the beach are plenty of cafes, bars and nightclubs. On the western side of town is the marina, shopping centers and restaurants.