People come to Turkey for a number of reasons: these include its beautiful warm and sandy beaches along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, its fascinating variety of archaeological and historical sites and the exciting and bustling cities.

Istanbul

A good place to start for any tourist is the country’s largest city Istanbul. Most of the amazing historical sights for you to see in the city come from the time when it was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The internationally famous Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the "Blue Mosque") is one of the biggest draws for tourists and worshippers alike. Other highlights in the city include the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, the Galata Tower, the Basilica Cistern, Archaeological Museum, the Pera Palas and the Dolmabahce Palace. It is also widely seen as the cultural centre of Turkish life, the dividing line between Asia and Europe and one of the most exciting and forward looking cities on both the continents upon which it sits.

Other Places of Interest

For enthusiasts of military history, then a trip to the battle fields and memorials which commemorate the 250,000 British, Turkish and ANZAC troops that died on the Gallipoli Peninsula might well be an interesting place to visit. For more legendary and historical battle sites, then a trip to Troy, the place of the famous siege and Trojan Horse, is also a must.

Maybe instead you would like to check out one of the seven wonders of the world the Mausoleum of Mausolus, which is situated in the beautiful Aegean resort of Bodrum, which dominated by the Castle of Sat John and is a wonderful place for beach holiday and a party. If you take the boat across the Sea of Marmara, then you’ll arrive on the Prince's Islands and feel like a prince form an older time as the only form of transportation is horse drawn carriages.

The beautifully restored Roman city of Ephesus, which was founded in the 13th century BC, is one of the most amazing sites from the ancient world. For a more modern, but still amazing and historical city then you can take a trip to Safranbolu, which partly because of it stunning Ottoman architecture has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site and is situated between Istanbul and Ankara. Another beautiful and atmospheric place to visit is the Mediterranean city of Antalya, which has a brilliant Archaeological Museum and a charming little old town.

The beaches are of course a big draw both for Turks and for foreign visitors. There are many popular places, some more busy than others, but the most renowned include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kuşadasi, Cesme, Didim and Alanya.

Religious sites are also plentiful across the peninsula including the 14th-century Sumala Monastery, which has some amazing frescos to compliment its spectacular architecture. For Islamic religious sites, then Tour Konya, capital of the Selcuk empire, contains the monastery and Mausoleum of Mevlana Celâddin Rumi a celebrated mystic and moreover the founder of the Whirling Dervishes.

When Noah decided to park his ark, he parked it at of Mount Ararat, the country’s highest peak. In the shadow of the peak one can find the amazing Ishak Pasa Palace, situated in the town of Dogubeyazit way out in the East of Turkey. When looking for somewhere to stay you might consider some of the top hotels, but you might also consider a cave at Cappadocia, which as well as having a hotel boasts many cave houses and subterranean churches. Finally visitors might be drawn to the windy shores of Lake Van, where after sailing on a boat one can visit the crater lake of Nemrut Dagi or the island church of Akdamar.