Choose from 196 Fun Things to Do in Turkey
Asklepion
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Galatasaray
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Dalyan
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Avanos
Situated on the banks of the longest river in Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), the lovely old town overlooks the red silt of the river which has been both the lifeblood and the destiny of Avanos. Small pottery workshops still cluster in the narrow streets of the old town and here you can learn how to throw a pot and buy the local ceramics. There are also larger warehouses on the outskirts of town.
Avanos is also a great base for exploring the rest of Cappadocia: the fairy chimneys at Zelve, the underground cities of Ozkonak, Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, and the rock churches with their Byzantine frescoes in the Göreme National Park.
From Avanos you can also go hot air ballooning, walking, biking, canoeing, horse-riding and rafting, all within the spectacularly-eroded volcanic landscapes that make up the cliffs and valleys of Cappadocia.
Fountain of Trajan
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Dalyan Mud Bath
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Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi)
The Grand Bazaar, or Kapali Carsi, is the mother of all markets, a treasure trove of gifts, souvenirs, essentials and fripperies. Heading into the cavernous bazaar from the daylight, it takes a minute for your eyes to adjust to this Arabian Nights visual feast of glimmering Turkish lights, brightly colored rugs and flickering candles.
Crammed into more than 60 domed alleys or streets, around 5,000 stallholders hold court in the labyrinthine covered market, parts of which date back to Byzantine days.
Calligraphy, carpets, beaded bracelets, gold and silver jewelry, curly-toed slippers, multicolored lanterns, flower-bedecked ceramics and belly-dancing outfits are just the tip of the iceberg in this shoppers’ cornucopia.
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The Grand Bazaar is a few streets back from the waterfront in Sultanahmet. It's best reached from Divan Yolu, Sultanahmet's main thoroughfare.
Galata Tower
The medieval Galata Tower adds a fairytale element to the hilly Beyoğlu district, on the north side of the Golden Horn.
Capped with a conical tiled steeple and gold finial, the 67 meter (220 foot) stone tower was built by the Genoese in 1348.
Visit the outdoor observation area at the top for a stunning panorama across to Sultanahmet, have dinner or a snack at the tower-top restaurant, or watch a Turkish belly-dancing show at the nightclub.
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The Galata Tower is in Beyoğlu; elevators take you from ground level to the top floors.
To get here, cross the Golden Horn via the Galata Bridge and make your way up the hill. It’s a short walk from the Tunel metro.
Galata Bridge
- The Galata Bridge is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Istanbul.
- The bridge is a great spot for watching the ferry boats crossing the Bosphorus, and taking in the city’s mosque-dotted skyline at sunset.
- Wear comfortable shoes as you walk across the bridge and through the city.
Ataturk House & Museum
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Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Muzeleri)
Opened in 1891, the museum features archaeology in the main building, a grand classical affair with columns and pediments. The art of the ancient orient is housed in a separate building, and the historic Tiled Kiosk, commissioned by Sultan Mehmet II in 1472, houses a museum of Islamic art.
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The Archaeology Museum is in Gulhane Park, near Topkapi in Istanbul’s Eminönü district.
Derinkuyu Underground City
The city has been open to the public since 1965 but only about half of it can be visited. There are around 600 doors down into the city, leading from the courtyards of the above-ground buildings. In the underground city you’ll find the various levels of stables, cellars, storage rooms, kitchens, wineries, churches and more. The upper floors can be reached by narrow, sloping passageways, while from the 3rd and 4th floor down there are staircases. The lowest floor houses a church.
It’s unlikely that these underground cities were meant for full-time residency, but more likely made to withstand attacks from marauding tribes over long periods of time. Derinkuyu had everything needed for day to day life including wells and around 15,000 ventilations shafts.
Derinkuyu is 24 miles (40 km) or about half an hour’s drive from Göreme, the main tourist town in Cappadocia.
Damlatas Caves
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Dedeman Aquapark
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Atlantis Waterpark
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Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm II
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Bursa
Merchants have gathered at Bursa’s Koza Han caravanserai since 1490, and the covered market dates back to the 14th century. Shop for traditional shadow puppets and sensuous silks, before visiting the vast imperial Great Mosque with its 20 domes and dozen pillars.
While you’re here in Bursa, enjoy a doner kebap in the town where this favorite Turkish snack was born. Bursa serves up the original and best kebaps in Turkey, topped with tomato sauce, yogurt and melted butter.
Dalyan River
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Butterfly Valley (Kelebekler Vadisi)
From the secluded beach at the entrance to the verdant gorge that leads to a 60-foot waterfall at the back, the setting is simply delightful. Although there is a well-trodden path to the waterfall it’s a good idea to bring waterproof shoes, as some wading through the streambed is necessary.
Butterfly Valley makes an easy day trip by boat from Ölüdeniz, but in order to fully soak up the atmosphere you might want to stay a few days. Accommodations are decidedly rustic – bungalows and camping tents can be rented – and a mellow, hippie-like atmosphere pervades. For getting off the grid, this place can’t be beat.
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Admission is 5 TL for non-guests.