Van Travel
Turkey has some of the most incredible landscapes and scenery in the world. Pair this with a history that spans all the way back to the neolithic period you know that there are going to be some truly epic places to visit in Turkey.
There are almost too many to choose from but here are 13 unusual, unique and truly amazing places to visit in turkey.
Table of Contents
01 – Sultanhani Caravanserai
Take yourself back in time thousands of years to discover the wonders of the Silk Road. Caravanserais were traditional inns and rest stops along the silk road and other ancient trading routes. Many still exist to this day and Sultanhani is one of the largest and most elaborate caravanserais in Turkey. It dates back to the middle ages, approximately 1229 and its grandeur and ornate details are truly magnificent.
Located in central Anatolia, only 110km | 68 miles northwest of Konya.
Directions: Sultanhani, Selçuk, 68000 Sultanhanı/Aksaray Merkez/Aksaray, Türkiye
Cost: 5TL
Inside Sultanhani
Sultanhani caravanserai
02 – Lake Salda | Salda Gölü
Want to know what mars and the Maldives look like? Look no further than Lake Salda. Nicknamed the Maldives of Turkey it has stunning azure and turquoise water and mineral-rich white sand. That mineral sand isn’t just appealing, it is cosmic. Scientists have researched that the minerals found here are similar to those found at Jezero Crater on Mars! It is the only place in the world like it. How unique and amazing is that?!
Location: Southwest Turkey, Burdur Province.
Directions: Salda Lake, Yeşilova/Burdur, Türkiye
Cost: Free
The Maldives of Turkey
Mineral rich Lake Salda
03 – Çatalhöyük
Welcome to the world’s first city. This archaeological site is the first of its kind. A neolithic site which dates back to around 7500 BC to 6400 BC. It’s been named the first-ever “proto-city” where people gradually came together and started to live in settlements and communities rather than hunter-gathering individually. This made way for the beginning of farming communities and cities, and civilisations as we know them today.
Location: South Central Turkey, 50km outside of Konya.
Directions: Küçükköy, Çatalhöyük Yolu, 42500 Çumra/Konya, Türkiye
Cost: Free
Worlds first city
Neolithic Art
04 – Basilica Cistern
This incredible place sits underneath the city of Istanbul. It is one of the hundreds of ancient water stores that live underneath the city. This cistern was built by Emporer Justinian 1 of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th Century and it looks magical inside.
Location: 150 metres southwest of the Hagia Sophia in the centre of the Old Town of Istanbul, Sultanahmet.
Directions: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Cost: 300TL
05 – Sunken City at Old Halfeti
The sunken mosque at Old Halfeti is such a unique and amazing place. Old Halfeti was a small village on the banks of the beautiful Euphrates River, just down the river from Rumkale. The village was sunken when the area was damned up in the 1990s. To this day you can see the top of the mosque sunken in the water. It is also a lovely boat trip along the Euphrates river.
Location: Old Halfeti: Gürlüce, 63950 Halfeti/Şanlıurfa, Türkiye
Directions: Go to Halfeti Marina and take a short -round-trip boat tour from there.
Cost: Tickets are around 50L per person for an hour boat tour.
sunken city of old Halfeti
Boat trip Euphrates
06 – Pamukkale
Have a dip in the thermals at this unique and historical place and UNESCO site. Pamukkale was formed when calcium carbonate-rich thermal springs erupted and began cascading off the side of a cliff. Over time the calcium cooled built up and hardened creating pools and travertines all the way up the hillside. Today you can walk through the thermals and dip in the many pools!
Location: Only 19 km from the city of Denizli in Denizli province.
Direction: Pamukkale, 20190 Pamukkale/Denizli, Türkiye
Cost: 200TL for Pamukkale & Hierapolis
Thermal pools Pamukkale
Thermal water cascading down hillside
07 – Azmak River
Stop for a rest or bite to eat at one of the most magical rivers in Turkey: The Azmak River. Pouring into the Gulf of Gökova, famous for its natural beauty, People flock here from all over far and wide around to relax and enjoy refreshments along the river. The Azmak river is sometimes called “the living aquarium” because of the bounty of different animal species that live there, from fish to otters to sea turtles, as well as different plant species, some of which are indigenous to tropical climates. The water is pristine and the most beautiful colour, taking a boat trip along this river is an amazing experience.
Location: Located in Mugla Province, The river and creek run straight into the sea.
Directions: Düzce, 35460 Seferihisar/İzmir, Türkiye
Cost: Free
08 – Derinkuyu Underground City
There are over 200 underground villages and cities in the Cappadocia region! These homes, settlements and villages often date back thousands. of years. You can visit and explore these underground cities, walk through the tunnels and explore what life would have been like underground! By far one of the most famous of them is the underground city of Derinkuyu. The city could house 20,000 people at a time and was around 85 Metres burrowed underground. How cool is that!
Location: Nevshire Province, Cappadocia, Central Anatolia
Directions: 9PFP+92 Derinkuyu, Nevşehir, Türkiye
Cost: 200TL
09 – Patara Sand Dunes
All around the ancient city of Patara are exceptional and unique sand dunes. They are often referred to as the hidden desert of Antalya. The sand dunes stretch for miles along the Mediterranean coast. they are incredible in the fact that the sand dunes are surrounded by mountains, crystal blue sea, ancient ruins and natural biodiversity. Over the summer the dunes and surrounding area can become a habitat for turtle nesting season.
Location: Along the Kas Coast in Antalya.
Direction: Gelemiş, 07976 Kaş/Antalya, Türkiye
Cost: Free
10 – Cleopatras Beach
Legend has it that Mark Anthony wanted to please and make Cleopatra feel more at home so he had several tonnes of sand shipped in from Egypt to her favourite place in Turkey: Cedar Island | Sedir Island. His lover, Cleopatra loved the island and beach area but felt that it was lacking in the pristine white sands that she was used to. Researchers have been studying this myth and urban legend for many years and recently concluded that it was actually true! The island has many ruins as it was once a Carian city and the ancient city of Kedrai is there. Cedar island is located on the Gulf of Keramos.
Location: North of Marmaris District in the Keramos Gulf.
Directions: Take a boat trip from Marmaris or Akyaka. 48710 Sedir Adası, Marmaris/Muğla, Türkiye
Cost: Boat trip arount 350TL per person
11 – Meke Golu Crater
Lake Meke is a volcanic crater lake, in the province of Konya. Meke Golu is around 4 million years old and was created when a volcano erupted. Today you can visit it and hike all the way to the top. The landscape and scenery from here are truly out of this world.
Location: located in Konya Province, central Turkey
Directions: Ulus, 42400 Karapınar/Konya, Türkiye
Cost: Free
12 – Galeri Ikman Carpet Emporium
Galeri Ikam is a fantastic, mesmerising place of colour and texture in the heart of Goreme, Cappadocia. It is a carpet shop bizarre, with authentic fabrics, wonderful rugs, hanging colourful carpets and many nukes and crannies to explore. If you are interested in buying a carpet it is free to go inside otherwise there is a fee to take a photo inside amongst the amazing old building and bohemian carpet dreams.
Location: In the heart of Göreme, Cappadocia.
Direction: hakkı paşa meydanı. roma kalesi yanı Kasabası /merkez Nevşehir TR, 50180, Türkiye
Cost: Free to shop, ask about fee to take photos
Carpet Bazaar
Vibrant colours at Galeri Ikman
13 – Yanartaş Mount Chimaera
Yanartaş which means flaming stone in Turkish is exactly that! Flaming stones up the side of a mountain that have been burning for over 2500 years. The natural geographical phenomena are caused by active underground methane and gas vents. There are two sets of burning flames; the upper flames: one at the top of the mountain and the lower flames: ones easier to reach about a 25-minute walk on an easy path from the bottom of the hill. Over time the fires and flames have gotten less powerful, so going at night and enjoying them during sunset and the dark evenings may be a better setting to experience them. Many people bring snacks and marshmallows to put over the flames. The area not surprisingly was very sacred to the ancients. Below the lower flames, you will see the ruins of the temple of Hephaestus, who was the Greek god of fire also known as the God; Vulcan during Roman times.
Location: Olympos Valley and Yanartaş National Park in Antalya Province, Southwestern Turkey.
Directions: Kuzdere, 07980 Kemer/Antalya, Türkiye
Cost: 5TL
Flames have been burning for millenia!
Hiking in Mount Chimaera
We hope you enjoyed reading as much as we enjoyed wirting, please feel free to sign up or leave a comment below if you enjoyed the read!
Our Newsletter
