TURKEY
Vacations and Sightseeing

Basic information
Official language	Turkish
Capital	Ankara
Area	783.562 km²
Population	85,927,644  (2021)
Currency	Turkish lira  (TRY)
Web	.tr
Code.	TUR
Tel.	+90

Cities in TURKEY

Akyarlar	Alanya	Ankara
Antalya	Beldibi	Belek
Bodrum	Colakli	Fethiye
Gumbet	Içmeler	Istanbul
Kemer	Konakli	Kumkoy
Kusadasi	Lara	Marmaris
	Side

Vacations and Sightseeing

Tourism is a rapidly growing source of income for Turkey. The accommodation for modern mass tourism is not yet as extensive as in Greece or Italy. Many tourists use last minute flights to Turkey.

Balloon flights over Cappadocia, Turkey_{Photo: Mr Hicks 46 CC 2.0 Generic no changes made}

However, the possibilities for luxury beach or sun holidays are plentiful, not only along the Aegean coasts, but also in the south on the Mediterranean and in the north on the Black Sea. For the tourist in search of culture, Turkey is a true paradise. Cities like Istanbul and Izmir have always attracted many tourists, as well as the remains of Troy and places like Ephesus and Bursa.

World famous are the remains of Hattasud, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, and the limestone terraces at Pamukale.

Aya Sophia Istanbul, Turkey_{Photo:Adli Wahaid CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

In addition to many Islamic monuments, Istanbul has the main work of Byzantine architecture, the Aya Sophia (6th century). Another city worth seeing in European Turkey is Edirne with, among other things, the mosque designed by the important architect, Sinan (16th century). Manisa is the main Turkish-Islamic cultural center in the Aegean area, including many mosques. The seaside town of Çesme has a medieval fortress. Kusadasi (Bird Island) is a modern, busy seaside resort. The seaside resort of Antalya is the tourist center of the Mediterranean coast.

Theatre of Myra, Turkey_{Photo: Hippolyte CC 3.0 Unported no changes made}

This coastal area also contains remains from ancient times, including a number of Roman theaters. At Demre are also the ruins of Myra, the city of Nicholas of Myra (Sinterklaas), above whose grave a church has been built. In addition to a theater, Perge is also an antique stadium, intended for 27,000 spectators. More to the east are tourist places: Alanya, a fortress from the Seljuk period with mosques, a covered bazaar and a palace within the double walls; the Damlatas dripstone cave near Alanya; the seaside resort of Anamur with a large medieval castle; the seaside resort of Silifke with a crusader fortress; Mut with a 14th century fortress.

Roman mosaic Antakya Archaeological Museum, Turkey_{Photo: Dosseman CC 4.0 International no changes made}

Antakya (Ancient Antioch) with a renowned collection of Roman mosaics in the museum. The Black Sea coast has a mild climate. This is where most of the rainfall in Turkey falls, so that there are extensive forests. Giresun is one of the more modern seaside resorts. Trabzon (Trebizond from the Byzantine era) has interesting architecture. South of this, above a steep precipice, lies the 14th-century Monastery of Sumela (Byzantine frescoes). In Western Anatolia, Bursa and Iznik are worth seeing. At Çanakkale is the ruined hill of Troy.

Pontic graves Amasya, Turkey_{Photo: Michael F. Schönitzer CC 4.0 International no changes made}

Amasya has mosques and rock tombs of Pontic kings. In the south, the pilgrimage town of Konya is known for the 'whirling dervishes'. The south of Eastern Anatolia is occupied by the (historical) landscape of Cappadocia, which is best known for groups of jagged rocks with many natural caves, which have served as a residence, church or monastery. The other parts of Eastern Anatolia are worth seeing: Tokat with a castle with 28 towers and mosques from the 12th-16th century; Kars with remains of the Armenian city of Ani (10th-11th century); Diyarbakir with numerous old buildings, including a mosque from about 1090 and a 5 km long basalt (thus black) city wall with 72 towers; From Lake Van, where rock graves have been found.

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Sources

Brosnahan, T. / Turkey
Lonely Planet

Graven, R. van den / Reishandboek Turkije
Elmar

Te gast in Turkije
Informatie Verre Reizen

Turkije
Het Spectrum

CIA - World Factbook
BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated March 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info