Choose from 196 Fun Things to Do in Turkey
Rose Valley
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Rumeli Fortress
In addition to three main towers, the fortress had one small tower and thirteen watchtowers, as well as three main gates next to the three main towers. It also had wooden houses for soldiers, a small mosque and a large cistern that distributed water to the fortress through three wall fountains. The shaft of the mosque’s minaret and one of the water fountains remain in the fortress today.
After the conquest of Constantinople, the fortress served as a customs checkpoint before later becoming a prison for foreign prisoners-of-war. It was completely abandoned by the 19th century, allowing a residential neighborhood to pop up inside. In 1953, Turkish president Celal Bayar ordered the residents to be relocated so the fortress could be renovated. It reopened as a museum and open-air theater in 1960 and as functioned as such ever since.
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Rustem Pasha Mosque
The Rustem Pasha Mosque is unique in that it sits on a high terrace above the hustle and bustle of the bazaar – many visitors don’t even realize it is there. Two staircases lead from the street up to the terrace and a colonnaded porch that stands in front of the diminutive mosque. However, the mosque may be best known for its extensive use of colorful Iznik tiles set in a variety of floral and geometric designs. Indeed, it could be considered one of the most lavish mosques in Istanbul, with tiles covering the outer façade, interior walls and four large pillars.
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Sultanahmet District
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Walls of Constantinople
- The Walls of Constantinople are a must-visit for all first-time visitors to Istanbul, especially history buffs. Kids enjoy climbing around on them, but be watchful as the walls’ steps and tops can be uneven.
- Wear comfortable shoes to explore the walls and tote drinking water.
- Most sections of the wall are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but there is no ramp access to the top of the walls.
Suleymaniye Mosque
- The mosque is closed to visitors during prayer times.
- Suleymaniye Mosque is a must-visit for history and architecture enthusiasts.
- Prayer times are longer on Fridays, so the mosque will be closed for more of the day. Make sure to check on any Muslim and Turkish holidays, as that can also affect opening hours.
St Mary's House
Serving as sacred territory for Christians and Muslims alike, the significance of the house has called hundreds of thousands of visitors and pilgrims since its discovery in the 19th-century. Remnants of the chapel date as far back as the 6th-century, and serves as the place where its caretakers, the Lazarist Fathers, conduct mass every day. Despite the altar placed within, the house still contains a bedroom and kitchen, decorated with pictures of Mary and candles.
Many believe that the spring that runs beneath the house is blessed and possesses the power to heal, and once you enter the house, you can see left behind crutches and other apparatus’ that were apparently left behind amid miracles.
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Sapanca Lake
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Sapadere Canyon
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Saklikent Gorge
From the entrance, a boardwalk built into the cliff face leads to a spit of land that juts out into the water at the point where the Gökçesu and Ulupınar springs emerge vigorously from the canyon. Built out over the water on wooden platforms are a handful of eateries – a relaxing place to grab a simple bite or drink as you sit back and listen to the sound of rushing water below.
From here, you can make your way into the narrows by wading through the ice-cold water, which – depending on the season – may come as high as the waist. Adventurous travelers wanting to traverse the entire length of Saklıkent Gorge may wish to join a guided canyoning tour, as the sheer rock faces can be slippery and difficult to navigate. Other activities offered included river rafting, and there are even rustic treehouses where visitors can stay overnight.
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It’s open daily, May to October 8am - 7pm, November to March 8am - 4pm and admission is 6 TL.
St Anthony of Padua Church (Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova)
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Pamukkale Thermal Pools
- The Pamukkale pools and Hierapolis are a must-visit for history buffs.
- Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as you will have to remove them when you enter the site.
- Bring a bathing suit if you want to swim in the pools.
- Some of the pools are knee-deep, so make sure to wear pants or skirts that can be rolled up so they won’t get wet.
St John's Basilica
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Taksim Square
- Taksim Square is a main meeting place and hub in Istanbul and can be crowded.
- The area is a must-visit for people-watching and shopping.
- Wear comfortable shoes, if you are planning on walking down Istiklal Avenue.
Taurus Mountains
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St Nicholas Church
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Vialand
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Sardis
For a time Sardis was renowned throughout classical antiquity as the richest city on the planet, known for its legendary supply of gold washed down from the Tumulus Mountains. The term ‘rich as Croesus’ refers to that gold and the last Lydian ruler, King Croesus, who is thought to have invented gold coins.
In fact, settlement here dates back to Paleolithic times, but most of that history lies underground, destroyed by millennia of earthquake activity. Nowadays, the site is famous for its impressive Roman ruins, built hundreds of years after the city’s initial burst of fame, in around the 2nd century AD.
On a visit to the site you’ll see a grand double-story framework of columns and architraves outlining the extent of the Roman-era gymnasium. The baths here date from the 3rd century AD, and shops once lined the nearby street of marble stone. Fine capitals carved with acanthus leaves and classical curlicues have survived, along with mosaic tiled floors and statues.
You’ll also see the Synagogue with its marble court and mosaics, the acropolis and the celebrated Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Don’t miss the example of the Romans’ communal toilets, with a shared row of seating suspended over a latrine. The town’s arena was destroyed by an earthquake nearly 2,000 years ago, and there are more recent ruins dating from the Byzantine period.
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St Polycarp Church
St Polycarp Church dates from the mid-1600s and is Izmir’s oldest church. Dedicated to Saint Polycarp, a bishop who was martyred by the Romans in 155 AD, the church was been repeatedly damaged by earthquakes and its present building dates from 1690.
Saint Polycarp was converted by John the Apostle and later became Bishop of Smyrna. His views on Christianity were apparently not appreciated by his Roman overlords, who tried to burn the 86-year-old Bishop at the stake. Legend has it, the flames would not burn Bishop, so the Romans resorted to stabbing him to death instead. A white dove is said to have flown up into the sky from the spot where he died.
The Church is now used by the catholic minority as a place of worship and pilgrimage. The murals were restored at the beginning of the century by the French architect Raymond Pee.
St. Polycarp Church is across from the Izmir Hilton. Only tour groups are allowed to enter the church by prior arrangment.