Tourist Attractions & Monuments Turkey

Timetable

The administrations and services are generally open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, as are most museums, but for the latter, the days of closure vary. For more information on the opening hours of sites, museums and monuments, consult their websites. Hours may vary during the high or low season.

To be booked

Reservations are rarely necessary, except for guided tours offered at fixed times to visit certain sites or monuments, and for popular brands (restaurants, bars), especially at the time of year when tourist numbers are at their peak. On the other hand, if you want to avoid waiting in line at the ticket office, it is a good idea. Especially since most attractions offer online booking.

Budget & Tips

We can't stress this enough: if you can, take advantage of the low season to get away, when the beaches are yours, and prices for hotels, restaurants and other services are at their lowest due to the drop in visitor numbers. The months of October and March are very pleasant, each in their own way, and the flow of travellers is quite reasonable at this time. During the winter season, you're bound to come across Asian tourists, who love the ancient sites and the cooler temperatures.

MuseumPass. The best way to visit Turkey's museums and monuments at lower cost is with the MuseumPass, designed for tourists. At the start of 2025, the MuseumPass Turkey costs €165 and gives access to all monuments and museums in Turkey, including the must-see sites: Pamukkale, Ephesus, Göreme in Cappadocia...

Please note! The pass must be used within 15 days of its first use. The MuseumPass is also available in a "1 region at a time" variant (between 5 and 7 days' use): Istanbul (€105), Mediterranean Sea (€90), Cappadocia (€65) and Aegean Sea (€95). Visit https://muze.gen.tr/MuseumPasses

Note that, following the economic crisis of 2018, the country revised all its entrance fees for major sites, monuments and museums... upwards, needless to say: prices sometimes going from simple to triple, or from free to paying. Changes continue to evolve, so don't be surprised if some of the prices announced in this edition differ from those you'll encounter on site. Prices generally increase every November¹ .

Main events

Many events, both large and small, take place throughout the year in Turkey. No matter what season you go, you won't have time to be bored! Tulip festival, oil or camel wrestling, dervish ceremony or commemoration of the birth of the Republic... in winter or in summer, you will always have an opportunity to celebrate!

Guided tours

Often neglected by tourists, you should know that great professional and passionate French-speaking (and English-speaking) guides exist in Turkey. In addition to their solid knowledge of the country's sites, monuments and history, you will learn a lot more about current Turkish society. And, let's be honest, it's much nicer to talk to a person than to be led around by an audio guide. Moreover, the more you are, the more you pay.

Tourist traps

There are several kinds of guides. The sworn guides, who wear a badge with their number, photo, first and last name, and who have de facto access to tourist sites. And then there's the second category, those who will lure you in by offering you a complete tour at a lower price than that offered by an official guide. It's a tempting offer, and of course you're bound to meet some nice people, but you should be aware that in the vast majority of cases, you'll be dealing with impostors who, while costing less, will also teach you less, and the tour will last less time... Almost the same, but not as good.

Finally, there's a third variation: the "guides" who offer to take you around "for free". They often have the same approach (friendship, desire to develop the language, etc.). And, unless you're surprised, it all ends in a store belonging to a "friend" or "cousin". Their favorite neighborhoods are naturally the historic heart of the city, such as Sultanahmet, the Blue Mosque and the most popular sites in Istanbul.

What's very local

Hot-air ballooning in Cappadocia is the region's must-do activity. Many agencies offer flights at sunrise or sunset, most of the time. If you're staying at a hotel, you're sure to find a suitable agency. The more people, the cheaper the flight, so for your comfort, avoid flights with 20 people in the gondola! We'll pick you up at your hotel and bring you back. The experience usually lasts between 1 and 2 hours. And if you don't fly, watching them from the terrace in the morning is a superb spectacle. Flights don't take place in bad weather.