There’s so much to see and do in Turkey (officially called Türkiye)! It’s huge — slightly larger than the state of Texas, it’s one of the forty largest countries in the world by area. I’ve just spent a little over two weeks there, and I was constantly amazed by how much it had to offer. You really can’t go wrong if you’re planning a trip. But here’s where I would go if I could do it all over again: the best of the best.

Cappadocia

Ah, Cappadocia, I didn’t think you would live up to the hype. But you did! Balloons, fairy chimneys, underground cities, whirling dervishes, weird and wild rock formations — you have it all!

You even have a Hair Museum, but I didn’t (and wouldn’t) go. I loved you instead for your otherworldly landscape …

… your distinctively-shaped geographical formations …

… and your many, many rocks with churches and homes carved out of the soft tuff.

Oh, and the balloons … I could go on and on about the balloons, both riding in them.

… and seeing them float high up above the earth.

Antalya (+ Perge and Aspendos)

Antalya, I loved you for all the reasons one would expect: your turquoise ocean, your mountain views, and your quaint (if overly touristy) old city. But I loved you even more for all of your history, both yours and that of nearby ancient cities: Perge and Aspendos, Xanthos and Myra, Antioch and Termessos. You have a wonderful archaeological museum …

… and it was a delight to visit nearby archaeological sites. Perge was vast and sprawling …

… with monumental towers (currently being reconstructed) …

… but my jaw-dropping favorite was the theater at Aspendos, one of the best-preserved theaters of the entire Greco-Roman world.

Lastly, Antalya, I loved you for this very strange and glorious phone booth — because who wouldn’t?

The Turquoise Coast

The coastline between Antalya and Fethiye boasts some of Turkey’s most stunning beaches tucked in between long segments of jagged, rocky coastline. If you’re a beach person (or even if you like to do a bit of hiking), this is the area for you.

Fethiye to Marmaris

Everyone should have the chance to take a gulet (traditional wooden sailing boat) cruise along Turkey’s spectacular southwestern coast.

This coastline is the real deal: crystal-clear, warm waters, dramatic mountains, and interesting sights along the way. Every gulet does its own thing, but you may be able to swim, kayak, get out for a hike, or even take a smaller boat to a local archaeological site.

Being out on the sea also means amazing sunrises (if you’re the getting-up-early type).

Ephesus

Yes, the ruins of Ephesus are, in fact, all that. If you’re asking (as my mom did), “another Roman ruin?” the answer is “absolutely.” Though it’s filled with waaaaaaaaay too many tourists, Ephesus is the showstopper of Turkey’s giant archaeological scene.

My very favorite ruins at Ephesus were the Terrace Houses — this was a chance to peek into the houses of the rich, which have been well-excavated and preserved for visitors.

You’ll need to buy an extra ticket to visit the Terrace Houses, which sit inside the main archaeological site, and it’s worth every nickel to get to see the mosaics, frescoes, and building techniques. First of all, you’re likely to have the place nearly to yourself — but more importantly, I’ve been to a lot of other archaeological sites, and I’ve never seen anything else like this.

A few other notes on Ephesus:

• You can skip the Temple of Artemis — though it was once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, there’s hardly anything left today.
• The Ephesus Archaeological Museum is a great spot to see ancient remains if you have time for a visit.
• I would stay in nearby Kusadasi (a huge seaside resort town) or Şirince (a small village in the hills) rather than Selçuk.
• Other nearby trips include a morning in seaside Izmir and a day in the enchanting towns of Çeşme and Alaçatı.

What About Istanbul?

This is a tricky one for me, because I’m not a huge fan of giant cities. Istanbul has two million people, lots of noise and some of the worst traffic in the world. But it probably needs to be on every visitor’s list, just because it has so much historical and cultural importance (there’s a reason it’s the top tourist destination in the country). If you’re a first-time visitor, I would make absolutely sure to hit four things: the Blue Mosque (above), the Topkapi Palace Museum …

… a Bosphorus cruise …

… and my very favorite of all, the glowing, larger-than-life Basilica Cistern:

Spending more time in Istanbul? This post will help you plan the very best visit.

Still wondering whether to visit Turkey? Discover 18 amazing reasons to make it your next vacation destination.