Beyond Istanbul: There’s more to Turkey than its largest city 6


Sharing is caring!

Often times, people don’t venture beyond visiting the largest city of a country. In the case of Turkey, this would be a devastating mistake to make. With both Asian and European influence, Turkey is climbing the ranks as a popular destination for travelers and it’s no surprise why. But Turkey’s charm extends far beyond the confines of Istanbul, its largest city.

Blue Mosque

Istanbul’s Blue Mosque

Don’t get me wrong; from the jaw-dropping architecture of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to the cute cafes and bars in the hip Taksim district, it’s clear that Istanbul is an amazing city with a rich culture. But there are many more things to do in Turkey beyond Istanbul.

Inside the Hagia Sophia

Inside the Hagia Sophia

So what else is there to see and do in Turkey? So much that Istanbul will quickly become a distant memory.

Rise above the clouds in Cappadocia

Cappadocia’s Mars-like terrain is intriguing. This region is full of ancient villages and monasteries made of caves and underground cities that can be explored on foot, but it pales in comparison to what can be seen from above.

Cappadocia Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

The fairy chimney rock formations are even more stunning when seen from a hot air balloon at sunrise. Waking up at the crack of dawn is so worth it when you can see your surroundings from a new and fresh perspective – literally. Cappadocia is one of the best places in the world to take a hot air balloon ride.

Cappadocia's fairy chimneys

Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys

Sail the Turkish Mediterranean

The Mediterranean Sea just might be one of the most gorgeous bodies of water in the world, and the Turkish Mediterranean region offers so many places to explore. Spending a few nights on a boat cruise is the best way to see the popular Antalya, hippyish Olympos, picturesque Kaş, lagoon-like Ölüdeniz, and hidden Butterfly Valley.

Turkish Mediterranean Cruise

Even if you’re swimming far offshore, you’ll be able to see clearly through the pristine waters of the Turkish Mediterranean. Adventurers can hike to a waterfall in Butterfly Valley, adrenaline junkies can paraglide in Ölüdeniz, or the laid-back traveler can simply relax and take in the tranquility of the sea. It’s impossible to be bored here.

Turkey Cruise

A boat cruise is the best way to see the best places in the Turkish Mediterranean without having to worry about the transportation. Sunrises and sunsets I saw on my 3-night boat cruise were so surreal that I had to pinch myself.

Sunrise as seen from the deck

Sunrise as seen from the deck

Bathe in the thermal hot springs of Pamukkale

Pamukkale Cotton Castles

Even if you’re visiting Turkey in the middle of the summer, you’ll want to bathe in the natural thermal pools in Pamukkale. These “cotton castles” are mineral hot springs that look like little white terraces filled with mystical blue water.

Pamukkale Sunset

Dip in the pools of water as you make your way to the top of the hill, and take in the Turkish countryside as the sun sets. Stepping in the soft, clay-like ground of the pools feels strange at first, but the water is warm and thermal pools just aren’t something you come across every day. The thermal pools are bright white; so don’t forget to wear sunglasses. Your retinas will thank you later.

Pamukkale

Step back in time in Ephesus

Turkey’s history is rich and diverse. A lesson in history can best be learned in ancient Ephesus, once a Greek city, later under Roman rule, and now home to some seriously fascinating ruins.

Library of Celsus, Ephesus

Library of Celsus

It’s impossible to imagine exactly what Ephesus looked like in its heyday when the Romans ruled this part of the world, but it is interesting to see how different this country is now from its ancient past. As someone who has never been to Greece, I found the Ephesus ruins to be very impressive.

Ephesus

First venturing east to Cappadocia, then south to the Mediterranean coast, and west to Pamukkale and Ephesus, you can cover half of Turkey and have seen some of the most beautiful sights you’ve ever laid eyes on.

What are you waiting for?

 

What other spots in Turkey would you recommend beyond Istanbul?

Sharing is caring!


About Lavi Nair

Lavi Nair quit her corporate finance job in NYC to pursue travel blogging and world wandering in 2014 and hasn’t looked back since! A lover of street food, craft beer, and all things adventure, you can find her chasing wanderlust across the globe and blogging about it at Lavi was here. Take a peek at her favorite photos on Instagram and read what inspires her on Facebook.

6 thoughts on “Beyond Istanbul: There’s more to Turkey than its largest city

Comments are closed.