Choose from 196 Fun Things to Do in Turkey
Hodjapasha Cultural Center
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New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
- The New Mosque is a must-visit for first-time visitors to Istanbul, especially architecture enthusiasts.
- This is an active mosque and is closed to visitors during prayer times.
- Bring a scarf or wrap to cover up appropriately before entering, and wear shoes that are easy to remove.
Kekova Island
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Kursunlu Waterfalls
The Kursunlu Waterfall is a small cascade set amid a cool, pine forest. While not as impressive as the more visited Duden Waterfalls, the Kursunlu falls feel a little more remote due to their setting and access via a short and pleasant walk through the forest.
Only 20 minutes from central Antalya, the surrounding area offers plenty of walking opportunities, especially along the Aksu river. While the falls are more of a trickle in the summer months, it is sometimes possible to spot trout and turtles in the pools that form here.
Practical Info
It’s a good idea to bring a picnic – there are plenty of picnic areas along the river.
Kursunlu Falls are about 19km (12mi) northwest of Antalya along the Antalya-Alanya highway.
Ortakoy
During the Ottoman area and in the early years of the Turkish Republic, the area was home to a mix of Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Though the population today is primarily Muslim, remnants of the neighborhood’s historic diversity are still visible in the form of Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and other Christian structures.
On the waterfront, you’ll find the Ortakoy Mosque, built in the mid-19th century and featuring a blend of baroque and neoclassical influences. Behind the mosque looms the Bosphorus Bridge, which makes for a classic photo opportunity exemplifying the old-meets-new character of Istanbul. You might also check out the Ciragan Palace. Built in 1871 by Sultan Abdulaziz, it was also used as the Ottoman Parliament building until a fire damaged the building in 1910. Today, it has been completely restored and is one of the most luxurious hotels in the city.
Practical Information
Hippodrome (At Meydani)
- The Hippodrome is a must-visit for history buffs.
- Wear comfortable shoes to stroll around the Hippodrome.
- The Hippodrome is flat and handicap accessible.
Fethiye
Despite its enormous popularity, however, Fethiye has managed to maintain much of its village charm. Particularly popular with British travelers, Fethiye (along with Ölüdeniz) was chosen as the best tourism center in the world by The Times and The Guardian newspapers in 2007. It’s easy to see why: the marina is excellent, living is inexpensive and there is a bustling nightlife scene during the summer. Scuba diving, paragliding off mountain peaks and hiking ancient trails are just a few of the activities possible in and around Fethiye.
In Fethiye’s town center you’ll find an antique theater that dates to Roman times, as well as a two-story sarcophagus. A ruined Crusader tower, constructed by the Knights of St. John, stands on a hillside east of the city, while on the cliffs above town there are a number of rock-cut tombs, some dating as far back as the 4th century BC.
Beyond the attraction of the town itself, Fethiye has a number of great options for day trips to the surrounding region. Not only does Fethiye mark the beginning of the Lycian Way, a gorgeous 500-km hiking trail that runs along the Mediterranean coast all the way to Antalya, but it is also the starting point for popular cruises during the summer. These consist of three to six days of utter relaxation and sparkling blue waters aboard a Turkish gület, which will take passengers from Fethiye to Olympos and back, or around to a number of the area’s nearby islands. There's also a day-long 12-island yacht cruise of the bay, with stops at such sites as Gemiler Island, which is full of Byzantine ruins.
Also nearby is Ölüdeniz, also known as the "Blue Lagoon," one of the nicest beaches in Turkey and a center for extreme sports such as paragliding. Butterfly Valley and Kabak are also relatively close; both are isolated canyons bordering the sea to the south of Fethiye, and both feature waterfalls and secluded beachfront campsites.
Priene
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Kusadasi Cruise Port
How to Get to Kusadasi
It is an easy walk from the cruise ship terminal to downtown Kusadasi.
One Day in Kusadasi
Chances are you won’t be spending much time in Kusadasi itself as most cruise passengers join half or full day excursions to nearby Ephesus. If you do stick around, think of it as a chance to kick back and relax for a day. Try a Turkish bath, head to the beach to soak up some sun or cool off at the wave pools and water slides at one of the city’s aqua parks. You may also like to take a walk out to the small hilltop fortress on Pigeon Island, accessible by a footbridge just across from the port.
If you want to get a glimpse of historic Kusadasi, head to the Kaleici neighborhood, just north of Barbaros Hayrettin Caddesi, the main pedestrian street in town. Wander the narrow streets and visit the Kaleiçi Camii, a mosque built in 1618, and the Öküz Mehmet Pasha caravanserai, built the same year.
Of course, you shouldn’t leave Kusadasi without checking out the bazaars, the perfect places to try your hand at haggling and do some souvenir shopping – carpets, copper goods, jewelry and ceramics are all popular.
Port Information
The cruise ship terminal is part of a modern mall with a variety of Western-style shops and eateries. The official currency is the Turkish lira, although Euros and US dollars may be accepted at some stores. Turkish is the official language, but locals may know some English.
Pierre Loti Hill
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Oludeniz and the Blue Lagoon
Beachgoers flock to two separate areas here: a long, wide strip of open beach facing the Mediterranean, known as Belcekız; and the more sheltered shoreline of the Blue Lagoon, which is inside the boundaries of a protected natural park (entrance fee) and has a dramatic backdrop of mountain scenery behind it – Babadağ, one of Turkey’s top destinations for paragliding.
Since Ölüdeniz is extremely popular, be prepared for large crowds on the beaches, particularly on weekends in the height of summer – this isn’t a place for those seeking peace and quiet – and for the inevitable slew of generic restaurants and tacky souvenir shops along the waterfront.
As if the lagoon weren’t entrancing enough, there are also daylong boat trips that leave from here for scenic coves and beaches nearby, as well as to points of interest including Butterfly Valley. In addition, Ölüdeniz is the starting point for the Lycian Way, a 510-km (315-mile) hiking trail that runs from Fethiye to Antalya along the coast.
Practical Info
The natural park is open from 8am to 8pm and admission is 4.5 TL.
Fener District
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Kaymakli Underground City
Built under a hill known as the Citadel of Kaymaklı, the city consists of 8 underground levels made up of low, narrow, sloping passageways. The city is arranged around the ventilation shafts which bring in air. Early inhabitants chose to live some of the time underground as protection against the heat and the marauding tribes who regularly passed through the region looking to attack and plunder.
The city was opened to visitors in 1964 although only 4 of the 8 levels are accessible. The first level was meant for stables, the second level had a church and some living areas, the third level was kitchens and storage. Current inhabitants of Kaymaklı still use parts of the undergound city for storage, stables and cellars.
Pigeon Valley (Guvercinlik)
The unique rock formations known as fairy chimneys, or peri bacalar, which are made from wind and water erosion on soft volcanic rock, rise high from the valley floor like chimneys and are dotted in their tops with birdhouses. Some reach at tall as 130 ft (40m). Pigeons live in these dovecoats carved into the rocks and cliffs. Years ago the pigeons were used to carry messages from this remote region, and their droppings have long been used by local farmers for fertilizer. Today, however, there are fewer pigeons in the valley.
Pigeon Valley is a great place for hiking. The whole area around Göreme is made up of valleys with almost no fencing and there are well-marked trails. The mildly hilly trail through Pigeon Valley is free of charge and about 2.8 miles (4 km) long running between Göreme and Uçhisar.
Red Tower
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Ortahisar
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Marmaris Marina
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Public Latrine
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Kayakoy
The story of the village (renamed “Eskibahçe”) and its inhabitants has been fictionalized by Louis de Bernières in Birds Without Wings, a sweeping novel that takes place during the late Ottoman Empire and WWI.
Walking among the crumbling, empty houses and through the narrow lanes can be rather eerie, but the deserted village has a surreal beauty to it. There are a couple of churches and chapels, of which the most significant is the Panayia Pyrgiotissa (built in 1888), where a few fragments of frescoes and mosaics can still be seen.
Several cafes and restaurants are housed in atmospheric old buildings on the edges of the village.
Practical Info
It’s open daily, May to October from 8:30am - 6:30pm and November to April from 8:30am - 5pm. Admission is 5 TL.
Hierapolis & Pammukkale
Hierapolis is an ancient city of the Lycus River valley famed for its sacred hot springs. Its ruins are a popular day trip from Antalya as are the spectacular white cliffs of Pamukkale.
As you near the ancient city ruins of Hierapolis, you won’t be able to miss seeing Pamukkale’s iced-white terraces. Easily viewed from the ruins, these terraces are created by a natural build up of calcium carbonate, a by-product of the hot spring water that flows down the slopes.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pamukkale shares its World Heritage status with Hierapolis, whose original inhabitants built the city to take advantage of its proximity to the hot springs.
Hierapolis’ most popular attraction includes the thermally heated Sacred Pool where you can swim among the remains of ancient Roman columns, toppled into the water by various earthquakes.
Among the ruins at Hierapolis are the remains of the Temple of Apollo (Apollo was believed by ancients to have been the divine founder of the city), the Gate of Domitian, the tomb of Flavius Zeuxis, necropolis (graveyard), the Plutonium (a cave believed to have been the entrance to the underworld), and the theater.
Among these, the theater is perhaps the most well-preserved. Constructed around 200BC, it could hold 20,000 spectators in its day. These days, just 30 rows remain.
Practical Info
Hierapolis & Pamukkale are 178km (110mi) northwest of Antalya.