Top Things to Do and See in Turkey

Turkey's sights range from Byzantine domes and Ottoman palaces to Greco-Roman cities and volcanic valleys. These are the ten experiences most worth planning a trip around, grouped by region so you can build a realistic route.

Istanbul's historic peninsula

• Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque: the sixth-century Hagia Sophia, a working mosque again, faces the six-minaret Sultan Ahmed Mosque across a garden square. Seeing both in one morning is easy.
• Topkapı Palace: for centuries the seat of the Ottoman sultans, with shady courtyards, a dazzling treasury, the tiled rooms of the Harem and terraces looking over the Bosphorus.
• Basilica Cistern: a vast, dimly lit underground water reservoir from the Byzantine era, held up by forests of columns, two of them resting on carved Medusa heads.

Go early: queues at all of these build quickly by late morning.

Istanbul beyond the monuments

• The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar: browse lamps, textiles, ceramics, spices and lokum, and treat bargaining as part of the fun.
• A Bosphorus ferry: the regular public ferries double as a sightseeing cruise, passing palaces, wooden mansions and fortress walls. For a longer outing, the full Bosphorus tour boats sail up towards the Black Sea and back.

Cappadocia

• A sunrise balloon flight: on calm mornings, dozens of balloons drift over the valleys of fairy chimneys; even watching from a hilltop is unforgettable.
• Göreme Open-Air Museum and the valleys: rock-cut churches with remarkable frescoes, then a walk through the Rose, Red or Love valleys, or a descent into an underground city such as Kaymaklı.

The Aegean: Ephesus and Pamukkale

• Ephesus: one of the finest ancient cities around the Mediterranean, with the facade of the Library of Celsus, marble streets and a great theatre. Base yourself in Selçuk or Izmir.
• Pamukkale and Hierapolis: brilliant white travertine terraces filled with warm, mineral-rich water, with a ruined Roman spa town on the plateau above. Shoes come off to walk on the terraces.

The Turquoise Coast

• Boat days and paragliding: from Kaş, boat trips glide over the sunken ruins at Kekova; from Fethiye, tandem paragliders launch off Babadağ mountain above the Ölüdeniz lagoon. Antalya adds Kaleiçi's old lanes and the Roman theatre at Aspendos, still used for summer performances.

Booking tips

• Book a balloon flight a few days ahead and keep a spare morning, as flights are cancelled when the wind is too strong.
• Big state museums and archaeological sites sell tickets online, which saves queuing, and a museum pass can cover several sites if you plan a lot of sightseeing. Check what it currently includes.
• Mosques close to sightseers during prayers, so check prayer times on the day.
• In July and August, visit Ephesus and Pamukkale early or late in the day, as there is little shade.
• Choose boat trips and paragliding once you have seen the forecast, with established operators your accommodation can recommend.

Stay connected in Turkey

Timed tickets in your inbox, a balloon operator confirming tomorrow's flight the evening before, a map of the ruins at Ephesus: much of a sightseeing day in Turkey runs through your phone. A HelloSIM eSIM is data-only, goes on your phone before you leave and comes online when you land, so you can buy tickets and check changes on the move. Calls and texts stay on your usual SIM.