Tourist Attractions & Monuments Turkey

It is very crowded but you will not regret visiting this museum which houses a fascinating collection of recent finds from the site of Ephesus presented in a thematic order. In room I, effigies of the phallic gods Bes and Priape, interesting miniatures, and a magnificent statuette of Eros on a dolphin. In room II, statues illustrating the adventure of Ulysses and the Cyclops Polyphemus. In room V, the marbles of Artemis, originally a mother goddess.

Start at Ayasoluk Hill where St. John the Theologian is buried. Enter through the Gate of Persecution built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. After his exile on the island of Patmos, Saint John returned to Ephesus around the year 97 and wrote his Gospel there. He died two years later, and on the site of his grave a small church was built. In the 6th century, it became a basilica destroyed in 1402 by Tamerlan. Go up to the Byzantine fortress. The tower of the ramparts offers a panoramic view of the region, the caravanserai and the Isa Bey mosque.

This is a beautiful example of a Seljuk caravanserai, built in 1229. Burned down, the building was rebuilt 50 years later and has been recently restored. There is a beautiful carved portal, in the center of the courtyard, an oratory(mescid), a huge pillared hall(ahır), a hammam, rooms... At its time, it is one of the largest caravanserais in Anatolia. The village of Sultanhanı, in the steppe landscape that separates Konya from Aksaray, offers a few guesthouses.

Located on the hill of Maltepe, this monumental mausoleum lined with columns was built between 1944 and 1953. Guards stand in front of the hall that houses the imposing marble cenotaph of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. In the adjacent museum (Atatürk müzesi) are displayed his personal objects, photographs and his car collection. In the courtyard to the right is buried the second president, Ismet Inönü.

The layout of the square and the pedestal of the monument are the work of the architect Monceri. The statues are by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica. On the side of the monument are scenes relating to the national liberation struggle led by Atatürk (1919-1921) while allegories of republican Turkey are on the opposite side. Statues representing Turkish soldiers holding banners are installed. The monument was inaugurated on August 8, 1928.

The impressive head of Medusa with its hair of snakes welcomes you. Originally, it decorated the frieze of the temple; its twin sister is in the basilica cistern in Istanbul. The sacred well is just below it. The pilgrims who wished to question the pythia, paid a sum varying according to the nature of the problem and sacrificed an animal to Apollo. Before the sacrifice, the priests sprinkled the animal with cold water from the well and, according to its reactions, decided whether the god wanted to answer the question asked. Then the pilgrim entered the sanctuary through a forest of 108 gigantic Ionic columns. Although only three of them have kept their original size, one can imagine the effect of this temple which was one of the three largest in the Hellenistic world - the other two being that of Artemis in Ephesus and that of Hera in Samos. Notice the rich decoration of the bases of the columns. After climbing a few steps, one descends to the pronaos, the vestibule of the sanctuary where the visitor formulated his question to the priest. The walls are preserved, but originally the vestibule was covered with an elaborate ceiling. The priest, after having crossed a room and a corridor, arrived at theadyton, interior court with a small room sheltering the statue of Apollo, and transmitted the message to the pythia. This one, after having tasted the water of the sacred source, chewed laurel leaves and entering in trance, was delirious in an often confused language.

Built in 1890 especially for the famous Orient-Express which linked Paris to Istanbul. It is the work of the German architect Jasmund, who has managed to reconcile the different architectures present in the city. The exterior walls in stone and brick are in Byzantine style; the windows are topped with horseshoe-shaped arches. Lines to European cities are still operating from Sirkeci station. It also has a typical café where nostalgic people can stop for a break.

Lake Kovada (kovada gölü) is located in a national park at 908 m above sea level. With an area of 4 km², it is connected to the Eğirdir Lake by the Aksu River (25 km) and is surrounded by expanses of apple and peach trees. Fishy and 7 m deep, it offers an enchanting setting for fishing (between June and the end of September), picnicking and hiking. There is a possibility to camp. Note that the Kasnak forest is nearby.

This is a trophy that the 31 Greek cities reported on the temple of Apollo Pythium in Delphi after their victory over the Persians during the Battle of Platée in 479 B.C. This pointes, formed by the winding of three snakes, supported a large tripod and a gold vase. Constantine the Great reported it from Delphi to install it on the Hippodrome square, while the tripod and the vase had already been looted. Snakes, demonic symbols par excellence, rained neither the Byzantine nor Muslims afterwards, and were maimed several times. Mehmed the Conqueror himself broke the mouth of one of the snakes after the capture of Constantinople. But, according to legend, this episode was followed by an invasion of snakes in the capital and then made the decision to protect them. All heads have nevertheless disappeared over time. One fragment of one of them is exhibited at the Archaeological Museum.

One hour by ferry (20 minutes by hydrofoil), this island of the Dodecanese does not offer a very different face from that of Bodrum except for the Turkish doner which becomes the Greek gyros. You will go there for its beaches or for a walk. The ideal is to rent a scooter to go around the island. Remember that Hippocrates (460-357 BC), the founder of the first school of medicine, is from Kos. The beach of Tigaki is often crowded. On the other side are the beaches of Kefalos, the most beautiful beaches of the island: quiet with clear water.

On the avenue (continuity of Cumhuriyet Caddesi), it is distinguished by its pinkish architecture and colour. The building where Ataturk lived from 1918 until 16 May 1919 was acquired by the Istanbul municipality on 28 May 1928. This house, where Ataturk began his thoughts on the struggle for national liberation, opened his doors to the public on 15 June 1942 under the name of the Kemalist Revolution Museum to highlight his personality and his radical reforms. A new exhibition of exhibition spaces is undertaken by the municipality as of May 19, 1989. An important part of the museum's collections is the personal clothing and objects of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Photographs relating to his civilian and military life, written documents of his hand are also exposed.

Pleasant hikes in a deep canyon of 50 to 150 m in perspective! More than 50 churches are dug on both sides of the road, such as Camii Kilise ("the mosque church"), the largest in Güzelyurt or Yüksek Kilise ("the high church"). This valley would have sheltered many people in monasteries and churches. Of the 28 churches, 7 are double nave, 17 single nave and one triple nave. These places date from the Byzantine period and can be visited.

The oldest imperial sanctuary in the city, the mosque of Beyazıt is the first illustration of the central dome shape counter-butted by two half-domes. You can admire a kind of synthesis of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture. Located on the ruins of the Theodosius Forum, this mosque is pleasant to visit and somewhat changes from the classic Ottoman architectural canons. This is the second imperial complex of mosques built in Istanbul after the Ottoman takeover of Constantinople. This complex was built between 1501 and 1506 for the Sultan Beyazıt II (1482-1512), son of Sultan Mehmed. Composed of a mosque, a medersa, a popular refectory (which now houses a library), a caravanserai, a school, a hammam and mausoleums, the külliye has been damaged by various earthquakes and has undergone several repairs and restoration. In a style inspired by Saint Sophia, the large prayer room is topped by a dome resting on four large square pillars, counterbalanced by two half-domes. Other elements, such as the columns and buttresses that support the domes, are inspired by the Fatih Mosque. The side naves are connected to the central space by two large arches that were originally dervish convents. Today, note that this mosque is a high gathering place for the city's fundamentalists. Impressive during the Friday prayer.

Researchers have unearthed 9 successive layers representing the different periods of Troy's history, from the Bronze Age to the Roman period. At the entrance, a kitsch reconstruction of the famous wooden horse, as well as the house where Schliemann stayed during his research. A signposted route makes the visit easier. You can also distinguish the walls built at different periods, a birch tree from the 9th century BC and a Roman temple dedicated to Athena.

Carved into the rock face, located at the northern end of the city on a hill, is a Hellenistic theater. Built in the 4th century BC, the monument has been restored. Originally, it could accommodate 13,000 people. Walking on the steps of the theater is the ideal walk to enjoy the sun setting over the bay of Bodrum and the castle. The view is splendid. In the summer, many concerts and shows are given in the enclosure, it is complicated to park but it is the promise of nice evenings.

One of the seven wonders of the world. The tomb of king Mausole is the symbol of the city. With its 46 m height, it was out of the ordinary: its rectangular base supported 36 Ionic columns surmounted by a roof in the shape of a pyramid and it was decorated with statues of Mausole and Artemisia on a quadriga. After its destruction by an earthquake and its plundering by the knights, there is not much left of this marvel of antiquity. Archaeological excavations have brought its foundations to light. The models still help to get an idea.

It is a private museum born of the will of Mr. Rahmi Koç, son of the founder and powerful industrial, Mr. Vehbi Koç (1901-1996). The Koç family is one of the best known in the country, with Sabancı (the SON we see everywhere). It is almost impossible to find a Turkish who does not know it. As for the museum, he has elected a home in a historic building, the Lengerhane, which serves as a main building, while an exhibit room is attached to it by a transparent ramp. Probably built in the time of Ahmed III, the building was a foundry and produced essentially marine anchors, hence its name De literally meaning in Turkish «house of anchors». Restored under Selim III, the building was then made available, after the proclamation of the Republic, to the State monopoly for tobacco and alcohol. Devastated by a fire in 1984, it was acquired by the Museology Koç Museology and Culture Foundation, restored and opened to the public on 13 December 1994.

The majority of the Museum's objects were selected from the private collection of the Rahmi Koç industry. These are genuine scientific, mechanical and industrial machinery, tools and objects, or their models. In 2001, the museum acquired a 93 m long submarine. Originally from Portsmouth Shipyard (1944), he served at the end of the Second World War and was transferred to the Turkish army in 1971. His visit is arranged according to the schedule displayed at the entrance. It is useful to note that the site is private, we can organize visits, provided that it is a group of at least 10 people.

A collective of French-speaking and Francophiles Turkish Turks is at the origin of this pleasant site that has been working for many years for a greater development of the Franco-Turkish friendship. History, civilization, humour and stories of Turkish Turks populate the site of White Blue. Unavoidable.

Commercial site but full of information about ethnic music, turners turners and their ceremonies, calligraphy and miniature. Very informative, in Turkish, French and English.

A pleasant walk through Saraçhane, Horozlu Bayır and Imaret avenues leads to the Tunca River and the 15th-century religious center of Beyazıt, which originally grouped, around its mosque flanked by four minarets, a medical school, a lunatic asylum, a travelers' hostel as well as a medersa. The complex, completed in 1488 by the architect Hayrettin, represents the largest and most complete monument in the city. The style of the mosque borrows from the Three Galleries Mosque (Üç Şerefeli) and the Selimiye Mosque. The interior, meanwhile, is reminiscent of the Yeşil Camii in Bursa and houses the imperial lodge. Preceded by a traditional ablutions courtyard, the prayer hall is topped by a large dome 20 m in diameter, resting on the walls. Two buildings have been nicely renovated into a museum: the hospital and the medical school. They house the Health Museum (Sağlık Müzesi) attached to Trakya University, the first of its kind in Turkey. The place, dedicated to the history of Arab medicine, presents the sometimes original treatments and protocols that were implemented there until 1909. Musicology, for example, was used to treat madness. Mannequins dressed as doctors and patients show the procedures of the time. And explanatory panels enhance the visit. Around the building, gardens offer a welcome break. Don't hesitate to discover the surgical tools room.

It is, without question, the most beautiful building in Edirne. And it is the work of the brilliant architect Mimar Koca Sinan, to whom we also owe the imposing mosque of Soliman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye Camii) in Istanbul. The Selimiye Camii, a magnificent imperial religious building, was built on the highest point of the city, between 1569 and 1575, by order of Sultan Selim II. This square mosque sits at the center of a remarkable architectural and social complex (külliye) with schools and stores. Its single main dome of 31 m in diameter (slightly larger than that of the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Istanbul) creates a bright and airy prayer space. Eight pillars, buttresses and several arches support the 48-ton dome. The four minarets of 71 m direct the building towards the sky and give it an enchanting silhouette that dominates the ancient Ottoman city. The interior adorned with Iznik earthenware testifies to the heyday of this craft. Behind, in the garden, we see Ottoman steles in line. Originally, the Selimiye Mosque was surrounded by a series of buildings housing several Koranic schools and libraries. Today, the Koranic school (medersa) is a museum of Turkish and Islamic art. The ensemble is considered the most harmonious expression of the Ottoman külliye. Also, in 2011, the mosque and the surrounding architectural ensemble were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mount climbing can take place in 2 days, with one overnight camp. Depending on the season, crampons and picks may be necessary, guides on site. The view is incredible! One of the two «founders» of Cappadocia, now extinct, houses a ski resort (between 1 800 and 3 000 m) with 1 lifts and 2 ski lifts running from November to May and about tracks.

With an altitude of 2,640 m and largely dominating the region to the west, Mount Davraz is in the continuity of the Dedegöl, Akdaş and Barla mountains. Still little known until recently, it is a resort installed at 2,160 m. Interesting ski area with a variety of slopes, there are also equipment rental companies, cafes. The Sirene Davras Mountain Resort with its 123 rooms welcomes skiers. To get there, it is best to be motorized, otherwise buses go there from Isparta in season.

This bright blue freshwater lake is the fourth largest in the country (517 km²). Several viewpoints offer exceptional panoramas. There are beaches that allow safe swimming. Until the 20th century, the peninsula and Yeşilada (Green Island) were separated. The peninsula was then an island, occupied mostly by a population of Greek origin, which, after the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923 imposing the exchange of populations between the two countries, was forced to leave. The pensions usually offer boat tours.

Yüksel Kilise and Manastir is a religious complex. As its name suggests, it consists of a monastery and a church perched on rocks overlooking the Güzelyurt Lake. It is especially for the panorama which the area offers, on the water, the mountains and the mount Hasan, among others, that the stroll is worth the blow. Indeed, the buildings that appear massive from afar are unfortunately covered inside with inscriptions and graffiti.

You have to be brave to swim in Marmaris, the city offers only small pebble beaches. It is better to go to Içmeler (10 km away) and Turunç (20 km away) in the southwest direction. From April to October, water cabs go there and it is very convenient. Another (better?) idea is to explore the surrounding coves and islands on a boat. Local tourist agencies offer interesting packages. Day trips allow you to travel along the water, to discover beautiful panoramas and to swim more quietly.

Founded in 1732 by the main imperial architect Mehmet Ağa for Sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754). Beautiful facades decorated in the purest rococo style and a white marble cage.

The beach of Sarmısaklı, 8 km away, accessible by dolmus, is the most beautiful in the area. It is a large sandy spit that stretches for 4 km south of the town. Don't be afraid of the translation of its name!(Sarmısaklı plaj means "the garlic beach"). The beach is very crowded as it is one of the stops for tour operators and a large part of it is overrun by hotels and restaurants. But if you are willing to walk a bit, you will discover secluded corners like Badavut Bay, further west, where there are small, quieter restaurants.

A protected nature reserve of 46 hectares, it is 8 kilometres from Beykoz, within the limits of the village of Tokat. It is a rare and endangered ecosystem, in which a colony of fir trees has settled and developed naturally. In Turkish göknar means fir tree, hence the name given to the reserve. Chestnut, linden, hazelnut and hornbeam are the other species present in the park. On hot summer days, you will enjoy this shady area. Very easy access from Beykoz.

Despite the multiplication of industrial sites in its surroundings, Polonezköy has managed to preserve its natural biotope, which is totally characteristic of the flora of the western Mediterranean. The forest is rich in chestnut, lime, elm and alder trees. They are home to an intense sub-flora of plants and a particularly dense wildlife. Storks and some species of birds of prey stop here during their autumn and spring migrations. The geomorphological structure of the place has all the specificities of a plateau.

The grove is part of one of the last legacies of the Ottoman Empire because it is due to the rich vizier of Armenian origin, Ibrahim Paşa (1830-1918). Passionate about hunting, the Pasha owned several residences around the Bosporus. Bought by the State in 1887, it became a public domain. The grove has a large number of species and a diversified flora. Cascades, hiking and jogging trails, observation areas, restaurants and tea rooms are installed.

Monumental in appearance with its immense facade, it was completed in 1908 by two German architects and more than 1,000 Italian stonemasons. This is where trains departed for Ankara, the East or the Southeast. In 2015, the station is no longer in operation and becomes a museum and exhibition space. In any case, it is possible to visit it and sit at the station café for tea, coffee or even a full meal. For an unforgettable sunset, go on the steps, facing the sea, at nightfall.

After spending more than seven years in Istanbul, the author of this site had to share his passion for the city. This site is very comprehensive and offers a slightly shifted but still fair approach of the istanbul society. From transportation to culinary specialties, all or almost everything has been reviewed.

This collective, specialized in the organisation of musical events, has worked hard for the coming of world-renowned artists in Turkey, be it in trendy clubs or festivals. Thanks to Pozitif, Istanbul youth can now wiggle at the rhythm of the most trendy artists in the international music scene.

The park features pebble beaches that give water a magnificent colour, animal observation points, waterfalls, hiking trails or cycling trails, botanical trails… The site is really superb and richly deserves displacement. It is possible to spend several days without getting tired. Many beaches are often very crowded on weekends. But in the week, you may only have 2 or 3 people.

The village of Güzelçamlı is adjacent to the park and is an excellent option for those who wish to enjoy the region while avoiding the overloaded atmosphere of Kusadasi.

Sea lovers will be able to visit the tiny fishing museum on the coast. Contact the fishermen. Original and picturesque!

In the vicinity of Kemer, on a hill, is this artificial village of nomads. Tents, local specialities and folklore.

National Park, part of which is devoted to the conservation of wild deer and goats.

This park was created in 1966, and there were only 7 deer and 200 goats left in the region, 15 years later, in 1981 there were 450 deer and 4 000 goats. You can go there picnic from Termessos. Approximately 3 km further, the Güver kanyon is a deep hole of 115 m.

This waterfall is located in the heart of Milli Park, a national park. There are small restaurants and cafés, but you can also picnic there. From the picnic area, you have to descend to the waterfall and its pond populated with turtles, crabs and fish. Enter the grotto hidden behind the water curtain and take the path along the river, the vegetation is rich and varied. This haven of peace and freshness is very popular with the Turks who go there many times on weekends, but there is a way to escape the crowd.

12 km north of Antalya. Bus from the Doğu Garaj. Very beautiful waterfall. The waters of this river coming from the Taurus follow a semi-subterranean route. They come first underground in Bıyıklı to disappear for 14 km and reflect to Varsak Çukuru and disappear again a little further for 2 km. They can be found in Düden Başı where you can admire them in waterfall and caves. Then the river separates into several beds that meet, lower, to make a 40 m dive in the Mediterranean, these are the Lara Falls. By renting a boat in the port of the old town, you can admire the waterfalls of Düden falling to the sea at the end of Lara Beach.

Access by boat only from Belcekiz beach. In addition to the sublime beach, it is possible for a few pounds to access a waterfall (30 minutes walk in the middle of vertiginous rocks) where hundreds of species of butterflies are found in spring. To visit early in the morning before the tourist boats invade the beach. The beach is exploited by young ecologists who are a little bit roots (possibility to volunteer or to rent a tent).

You can also visit by boat the island of Aghios Nikolaos, with its Byzantine ruins, and its magnificent view on the coast. Sublime at sunset.

In fact, this island is, since the construction of a bridge in 1964, a peninsula and one can go by bus, but it is much more pleasant to take one of the boats that leave the port several times a day. This ancient resort, where the rich Ayvaliotes spent the summer, had 15 000 inhabitants at the time. Today, there are about 2 000. You have to walk through the streets to the ruined houses and the deserted churches where birds are hunted. Cunda has some pensions and the coast is strewn with small coves where you can swim, but most visitors come mainly to taste the mezze and fish used by the port's restaurants. Bikes can be rented to tour the island.

Metin Özcelik is a professional guide working for the municipality but also on its own account. He speaks English but also has French-speaking contacts.

Several information about the city. Also a cultural centre trying to preserve the Kurdish musical Tradition Dengbêji. Every Saturday between 17 a. m. and 19 p. m., dengbêjs meet to sing together or alternately on the themes of love or heroism. Event (free) very expected and guaranteed emotions.

Küçük Cakil is located in the city, opposite the Koza Hotel. This small pebble beach is welcome before or after a break on the surrounding terraces. The water is clean and translucent blue, which has earned it the "blue flag" status. It is overlooked by two bars-restaurants that have privileged access to the sea from the rocks: on the right the establishment Derya, on the left Çınarlar.

The other beach of Büyük Cakilis located 1 km further on the same road, you can go there on foot, it is a lovely little cove.

Kaputaş is a beautiful little beach in a cove that is 20 km from Kaş on the road to Fethiye. All buses and dolmuş that go in this direction can drop you off. There are steps leading up to this little piece of paradise. The turquoise water is irresistible. It is advisable to arrive early (or late) in season. The spot is popular and places are expensive. There are toilets, changing rooms and showers and there are cafes. Do not miss to stop there.

Zelve's open-air museum offers an incredible setting of rocky peaks and valley sides. If the place is less famous than Göreme, the setting is no less picturesque. Great walks in sight, punctuated by churches and abandoned houses. The three valleys were inhabited until 1952. Don't miss: the mosque built in the rock, the Fish Church (Balıklı Kilise), the Grape Church (Üzümlü Kilisesi) and the Deer Church (Geyikli Kilise).

Much less tourist, it was discovered by chance in 1972 by the owner of the land which is also the imam of the village. Gradually released, two levels are visible and open to the public. According to them, it would extend under the village. There are some differences with the most visited underground cities such as the strange "telephone system" or larger rooms. Nestled on the flanks of the Idiş mountain, Özkonak is worth a visit. The underground city can be a pretext, because the typical village can observe the rural life of the region. The population, increasingly accustomed to tourism, is very welcoming.