10 places in Turkey that amaze tourists

Blue Mosque and Aya Sofia in Istanbul

Perhaps the most obvious places, but it would be a crime not to mention them. Two marvelous mosques face each other in the Sultanahmet district - in the heart of historic Istanbul. The Blue Mosque impresses with its size and the unusually beautiful blue paintings inside. Aya Sofia was originally built as a Christian temple, but during the time of the Seljuk Turks it was converted into a mosque. These sites are on the UNESCO List and on the must visit list of every traveler to Istanbul.

You can book a hotel in Istanbul with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Kekova Island

This picturesque island preserves the ruins of the ancient city of Dolichiste, part of which has forever remained in the depths of the sea. Like Atlantis, the city went underwater due to tectonic movements and people had to flee from this paradise.

To experience the underwater world near the island, you can take a ride/excursion on a clear-bottomed boat. Of course, it would be cool to scuba dive here, but, alas, it is strictly forbidden, the territory is guarded.

Although diving is available at many other points on the island (outside the Dolichiste Protected Area), and several local tour operators offer to explore the underwater world of the coastal waters.

The city of Ephesus

Ephesus is an ancient city. Ephesus is a cultural city. Ephesus is a historical city. Many people immediately think of the Turkish brand of beer, but this only emphasizes the popularity of the city among locals and foreigners.

The calling card of Ephesus is the Celsus Library built in 117 AD, which was also the tomb of Tiberius Julius Celsus. In ancient times it was the third largest library in the world! Some 12,000 manuscript scrolls were stored here.

Many religious sites have been erected in the city, the most famous being the temples of Artemis, Hadrian and Domitian. But this is only a small part of all the cultural monuments of Ephesus - there is a stadium, fountains, catacombs, chapels, places of worship, etc.

Pamukkale

Tourists this object is known first of all for its geothermal springs and pools-terraces. Dazzling snow-white color of the landscape gives the mineral travertine. There are as many as 17 springs in the region with temperatures ranging from 35 to 100°C.

You can book a hotel in Pamukkale with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

In addition, in Pamukkale there are many ancient buildings from the Roman Empire, because once there was an ancient city of Hierapolis. The Roman amphitheater is very well preserved.

Pigeon Valley

This natural treasure is located in the region of Cappadocia. The valley received its name due to the fact that on its expanses spread many rocks, in which once created pigeon houses. The landscape of the valley is reminiscent of fairy tales and fantasy movies about other planets.

There are a huge number of man-made and non-man-made tunnels to wander through for hours. We recommend visiting this valley, especially in the afternoon to watch the sunset.

Historical center of Mardin

Nestled in the southwest of Turkey is the ancient city of Mardin. This is a completely different Turkey, few tourists go to such an exotic area. And in vain, here live amazingly hospitable people, there are many beautiful and ancient sights, interesting culture.

The architecture of the city is not quite typical for Turkey, as the indigenous population of the area was Assyrians, but now there are many Kurds living here. In the nineties Mardin was closed for tourists, but now it is a very promising destination. It is here that you can hear the native language of Jesus Christ - Aramaic.

Lake Van

In the very east of the country, literally a few kilometers from the Iranian border, is the Mystical Lake Van with salt water and soda. It is a unique place that treats arthritis and rheumatism.

Lake Van is also home to the "pearl" mullet, an endemic fish that can't be found in other water bodies. In general, it is an amazing place! There is also a picturesque island of Akhtamar on the lake, where an Armenian church stands.

A bonus to a trip to Lake Van will be a visit to the city of the same name, which is simply overflowing with historical sights. It is a real paradise for lovers of history and culture of ancient states (for example, Urartu). It is worth visiting the local fortress and archeological museum.

Ishak Pasha Palace

On a high plateau with deep cliffs around the perimeter is the Ishak Pasha Palace, which has 336 rooms. Just imagine, they were built for 99 years.

It was the last large-scale construction of the "Tulip Era" - the heyday of culture and arts in the Ottoman Empire. And there is also a beautiful panorama of Ararat from there - it is enough to go outside the palace.

Göreme Open Air Museum

The museum is located in one of the most popular places - Cappadocia. It is a whole ensemble of cave passages, buildings, religious objects. It is best to come here early in the morning, by the opening, so as not to get into the "tourist anthill".

The main assets of the museum are the rock churches, most of which were carved in the X-XI centuries, as well as the nunnery. The wall frescoes in these churches are quite well preserved, which, apart from the faces of the saints, depict the life of nuns in those times. Among the main sites are St. Basil's Chapel, St. Barbara's Church, "church with apples" (Elmali Kilise), "dark church" (Karanlik Kilise), "church with a buckle" (Tokali Kilise).

Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara

This majestic mausoleum looks at first sight like the ancient Greek Parthenon, and the whole ensemble, together with the square, like an ancient Roman arena.

In fact, all this beauty was built to honor the memory of one man - Mustafa Ataturk. He did a lot for Turkey, and thanks to him this country became Europeanized and progressive.