Turquoise blue waters, snow-capped mountains, ancient ruins, bustling cities, great food — Turkey has it all! It’s also an easy place to visit; the roads are good, the people are friendly, and you can get around using English. Plus, you’ll likely make it to two continents in the same trip. Here are the top reasons to visit Turkey — now officially known as Türkiye — in more detail.

The Deep Blue Seas: The Beaches You’ve Been Dreaming Of

Searching for a place to swim, kayak, or just hang out on the beach? Look no further! Turkey’s coastline borders both the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas, so you’ll find plenty of options. One of the best ways to see these beautiful waters is by going out on a gulet (a traditional Turkish sailboat) for several days — it’s an unforgettable experience.

Roman Ruins: Ancient Majesty in Turkey

Who knew that the Romans spent so much time in Turkey? They were there for over 14 centuries! And you can still see the remains of their great cities at Ephesus, Perge, Aspendos, and more.

Balloon Rides: Magical Cappadocia Sunrises

Every morning (if the weather allows), dozens of balloons soar up over the rocks of Cappadocia. Being a part of this is a bucket list experience for many people, and I can’t describe how amazing it is.

Hiking & Walking: Quiet Paths Through Natural Wonders

There are all sorts of places to hike and walk in the great outdoors in Turkey, from the tall peaks of the Taurus Mountains to the high plains of Muğla to the volcanic soils of Cappadocia.

If you’re wondering about the shapes of the rocks above, well … there’s a reason that they were worshipped by the ancient Hittites who lived in the vicinity. That area in Cappadocia is now known as Love Valley.

Markets & Bazaars: Explosions of Color

Love shopping? Wow, is Turkey the place for you. In Istanbul alone you’ll find the Spice Bazaar, the Grand Bazaar (both largely filled with wares for tourists, but still wonderful), and so much more. Then there are small-town weekend markets, where you can find everything from fresh cheese and olives to fruit and spices …

… and regular stores in regular towns for regular people, which offer all sorts of different shopping options.

Domed Mosques: Ottoman Artistry

There are over 3,000 mosques in Istanbul alone, and nearly 80,000 more scattered over the rest of the country. Many are distinctively marked by one or more domes, an architectural feature that the Ottomans inherited from the Byzantines. If you’re visiting mosques in Istanbul, make sure to see the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia (the latter was originally built as a church, so it also fits into the next category).

Christian History: Saints Peter, Paul, and Nicholas in Turkey

Turkey may have a Muslim majority today, but Constantinople (now modern-day Istanbul) was once the heart of Orthodox Christianity — for years, the Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world. And Christian history in Turkey goes much further back than this: the Virgin Mary is said to have spent the last years of her life at Ephesus, Saints Peter and Paul both wandered around the countryside, St. Nicholas (of Santa Claus fame) was born in Turkey and became a bishop at a church in Myra, and monks built dozens of churches in the rocks of Cappadocia (you’ll see the now-bare walls of St. Nikola church in Mustafapaşa below).

Archaeological Museums: Turkey’s Ancient Civilizations

Turkey is rich in history, and it does archaeological museums well. You’ll find them dotted all over the place, including at the Istanbul Airport. We enjoyed both the Antalya Museum (above) and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum (below).

Big Cities: Turkey’s Vibrant Street Life

Love the bustle of an urban jungle? With over 20 million people straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is the place for you. If you want a smaller city — just 1 million people instead — give the busy but sweet resort town of Antalya a try.

Small Towns: Walkable Charm in Turkey

Big cities not your thing? Turkey has thousands of towns and villages, from medium-sized tourist meccas to tiny hamlets. I can happily recommend Şirince near Ephasusor Ortahisar in Cappadocia for a start.

Cisterns: Water-Saving Surprises

I have never thought of recommending a place for its water chambers, but wow, the people of Turkey went out of their way to build fascinating cisterns. The Byzantine-era Basilica Cistern is jaw-droppingly amazing — it was a highlight of my Istanbul trip. And the equally old cisterns out in the countryside look like little hobbit holes.

Whirling Dervishes: Traditional Turkish Culture

Sufi whirling, a type of religious meditation, began in Turkey. Sufis who practice this form of worship aim to reach a higher spiritual connection to Allah as they focus on spinning in a particular manner. You can see Dervishes in Cappadocia, and you can visit the home of this religious tradition at the surprisingly interesting Mevlana Museum in Konya.

Food: From Breakfast Feasts to Turkish Tea

The food in Turkey is delicious! Gözleme, stuffed vine leaves, lahmacun, smoked olives, string cheese … and desserts like candied beet and pumpkin, baklava, rice pudding … I’m still dreaming of everything I ate. For a finishing touch, it’s great to top everything off with a cup of Turkish coffee or tea.

Palaces: The Splendor of the Sultans

The Ottomans loved a good palace — and who can blame them? Most of them are concentrated in Istanbul on or near the Bosporus, though if you look hard, you’ll find a few others scattered elsewhere throughout Turkey. The great granddaddy of them all is Topkapi Palace, originally built in the mid-1400s by the sultan who conquered Constantinople. Today it’s a museum where you can see jewels, armaments,

caftans, and more.

Mini-Petra: Turkey’s Hidden Hillside Wonder

Ok, it’s probably not fair to call this mini-Petra, since the site has a name in its own right: the Necropolis of Dalyan, or the Tombs of Kaunos. And these tombs pre-date those at Petra by a century or three. Kaunos was once an important sea port, and while we still don’t know much about the ancient Kaunians, they’ve left behind some impressive remains.

Cats: Turkey’s Furry Ambassadors

I don’t usually tell people to visit a place for cats, but Turkey is special. Feral cats are all over the place, and the Turks take good care of them. Not only do you see people putting cat food out on the streets, but the entire country has a no-capture, no-kill policy. As a result, cats are plentiful and generally friendly.

Underground Cities & Fairy Chimneys: Life Inside the Rocks

People have been carving out homes in the rocks of Cappadocia for millennia, and some people still live in what are known as “Fairy Chimneys.” But long ago, when attackers came thundering across the hills, life in the chimneys wasn’t safe — so the people built entire cities beneath the earth’s surface. They would stay in these underground warrens — complete with stones crafted to block the attackers’ progress — until it was safe to reemerge.

Fortune-Telling Rabbits: Your Future in Fluff

This one has to be seen to be believed! If you pay a little money (around one US dollar), you can have a rabbit choose a fortune for you by nipping it out of a little tray of options. It’s bizarre, but it’s also a whole lot of fun.

Tips for Visiting Turkey

There are so many reasons to visit Turkey! Before you book your flight, ask yourself these questions to plan the perfect trip:

When Should You Visit? I would recommend sometime in the spring (April through mid-June) or fall (September and October) for the best weather. If you want true beach time, July and August are your best bets; if you want the fewest number of people, the chill of winter scares off most tourists from November through March (with the exception of Christmas).

How Long Do You Need to Spend? I would budget at least two weeks to get beyond Istanbul, especially if you want to see both Cappadocia and the southwestern coast.

Where Should You Go? There are so many amazing choices! Check out this post if you plan to stay in Istanbul, or read here if you want to explore beyond the capital.