15 Top Things To Do in Turkey

If you are planning to visit the beautiful country of Turkey, then you must be very much interested to know about the top things to do in Turkey. These top things to do in Turkey should help you plan your Turkey Trip:

1.Get Amazed with the Sultan Ahmed Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a sight to behold from afar, with sky-cutting minarets and ascending domes and, but once you enter the mosque the excitement will instantly turn to awe, amazement and pure admiration. The interior is spacious and filled with great lighting system, wondrous mosaics and flashy stained glass. What will make your visit here really worthwhile is the chance to witness people while practicing their faith in the most solemn way. Visiting turkey and not admiring the beauty of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a great miss. So, admiring the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the top things to do in Turkey.

2. Get healed in the Pamukkale Thermal Pools

Many people visit the Pamukkale thermal pools for healing sessions. The wonderful frosty setting of amazing immaculate calcareous castles was formed by thermal springs full of limestone, which allow the calcium deposits to grow into cataracts, potholes and stalactites. The water I said to have healing properties for certain illnesses like rheumatism, asthma and skin and eye diseases.

3. Be Hypnotized by the Whirling Dervishes

If you want to relax and watch something that you may not see every day, you watch the whirling dervishes as they perform Sufi ceremony called Sema, with their whirling clothes, controlled ecstasy, spiritual fervor and communal recitation. The Dervishes perform regularly at the Muammer Karaca Tiyatrosu. This is surely one of the top things to do in Turkey.

4. Visit the Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited attractions in Turkey and for more than ten centuries, it held the title as the world’s largest cathedral. It was initially a patriarchal basilica that was later converted into a mosque. Today the Hagia Sophia is a splendid example of Islamic and Byzantine architecture. So, in no way you can keep visiting Hagia Sophia from the top things to do in Turkey list.

5. Take a Blue Cruise

The Blue Cruise is a term used for sea voyage along the beautiful and fascinating Turkish Riviera. Typically, the cruise starts in Bodrum and ends in Antalya port. The cruise will take you to charming bays, picturesque ancient cities, pleasant busy ports, and lovely deserted coves. You also have the option to rent a gulet privately or join a group cruise. Surely, this is one of the best things to do in Turkey if you want to experience the best of Turkey.

6. Explore the Ruins of Ephesus

The Ruins of Ephesus is home to the Temple of Artemis, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ruined city is also popular for its biblical connection with the Evangelists and the Blessed Virgin, as well as for many other archeological remains like the Theater (where Paul believed to have preached the pagans) and the Temple of Hadrian.

7. Have Coffee and Take a Puff from Hookah Pipe at the Nargile Bars

Coffee and Turkish tobacco are lovingly served at the Nargille Bars. And you should miss this unique experience if you truly want a real Turkish adventure. The nargille calming vapors have been popular since the Ottoman Empire and they are currently experiencing a great revival all over the world. The nargile bars are very popular to the locals and the tourists for their trendy cafes where coffee is served with traditional water-pipe vaping service. This is surely one of the must things to do in Turkey.

8. Hike and Go Kayaking to the Çoruh River Valley

The Çoruh River offers kayakers and hikers with great adventures. This place is also a great destination if you simply love nature.  The entire area smells of orchids and it is recognized as one of the few biodiversity hotspots in the world. The white waters of the river, the beautiful species of fauna and the magnificent surrounding are the best reason why you should visit this valley.

9. Discover the Archeological Site of Troy

The Archaeological Site of Troy has four thousand years of history that should not be overlooked. Homer was able to perfectly immortalize the site in his brilliantly written Greek poem, Iliad. The remains in the site is extensive and it comprises of several fortifications, temples and altars, and were important in learning and understanding the early history of European civilizations.

10. Enjoy Shopping at the Grand Bazaar

Shopping has always been a part of traveling and if you are in Istanbul, Turkey, you can have a truly great shopping experience at the Grand Bazaar. This place is simply magnificent and exciting. It is colorful and noisy and crowded, but it will surely give you one of the most memorable Turkey experience ever. Here you can buy almost anything you can think of; carpets, jewelries, hand-painted ceramics, spices, embroideries, and antique pieces. Visiting Turkey and not shopping at the Grand Bazaar is something uncommon for almost all the travelers, making it one of the top things to do in Turkey.

11. Climb Mount Nemrut

The Mount Nemrut or the Nemrut Dağı is place of unique beauty. Sadly though, it is also a place that is a bit hard to reach. But, if you are very much into physically challenging activities, climbing this mountain should be easy enough for you. The extraordinary sight of enormously-sized heads and huge carved monuments of the Ancient gods looking at you in combination with the spectacular scenery are surely going to make the climb worth your while. For adventure lovers, this is surely one of the top things to do in Turkey.

12. Follow the Footsteps of James Bond

The Basilica Cistern is located just across the street from Hagia Sophia and it was a place prominently featured in the James Bond movie, From Russia with Love. The basilica offers soothing smoothness that will surely revitalize your mind and body.

13. Relax in the Parks of Ankara

Ankara is the country’s capital and it may not be as popular as Istanbul, but it offers something that the other city lacks, several great parks. This city is simply filled with numerous pleasant and charming open spaces and immense well-landscaped parkland districts that it can really entice nature lovers from all parts of the world. Some of the best parks to see are; Atatürk Farm and Zoo (for milk lovers), Kurtuluş (ice skaters’ favorite), Gençlik (has an amusement park), Kugulu, and the Harikalar Diyarı (Europe’s biggest urban park).

14.    Trek to Mount Ararat

For an authentic trekking experience, you should try heading off for Mount Ararat. It is a huge, yet inactive, volcano that towers over the arid Eastern Turkey steppes. This volcano is believed to be the final resting ground for the Noah’s Ark, and that is one of the many reasons why mountaineers, researchers, geologists and the Ark hunters have been coming to this mountain for many decades now.

15.  Enjoy a Bosphorus Ferry Ride

A Bosphorus ferry ride allows you to enjoy looking into palaces and fortresses as your boat slowly glides through one of the most strategic waterways in the world. The best thing about this adventure is that you get to be in the waters that separate Asia from Europe; it is like being in an open museum big great displays and rich history.

These are the top things to do Turkey for you. I hope you enjoyed and would leave comment and let us know what else could have been added to this list.