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Turkey 101: Some Basics to Help Plan a Turkey Tour

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There is so much to see and do in Turkey, with historical sites, rich culture and natural beauty stretching from coast to coast. In this post, we’ll limit the scope to the top attractions, the places that draw travelers to take a Turkey tour in the first place. Knowing these basics will go a long way in helping travel advisors and travelers understand what a Turkey tour has to offer.

 

 

ISTANBUL

Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world. Stradling the Europe-Asia border on the Bosphorus Strait between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, it has been a major trading hub for millennia and a cultural bridge between East and West. The Greeks established a city called Byzantium on the site in the 7th century BCE. In the 4th century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine made Byzantium his capital and changed the city’s name to Constantinople. While the Roman Empire in the West fell in the 5th century, the Roman Empire in the East, known as the Byzantine Empire, continued for another 1,000 years until the Ottoman conquest in the 15th century. At that time, Constantinople became Istanbul. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after WWI. So, Istanbul is incredibly rich historically and the city is full of exquisite architecture from the Byzantines and Ottomans. Besides all the history and historical remains, Istanbul is a thriving metropolis full of art, great food and shopping and the physical setting of the city is stunning.

Visitors to Istanbul need at least two full days to see the main attractions.

HAGIA SOPHIA

The Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It was originally built as a Christian basilica on orders of the 6th-century eastern Roman emperor Justinian. When the Ottoman Turks seized the city in the 15th century, Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque. The building was declared a museum in 1935 and remained so until 2020, when it was converted back to a working mosque.
The Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous buildings in the world and was influential in the history of architecture. The 6th-century emperor Justinian built Hagia Sophia as a Christian basilica. When the Ottoman Turks seized the city in the 15th century, Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque. The building was declared a museum in 1935 and remained so until 2020, when it was converted back to a working mosque.

 

Hagia Sophia is one of the top sites to see on a Turkey tour. The cavernous interior of the Hagia Sophia contains remnants of its use as a church and a mosque.
The cavernous interior of the Hagia Sophia contains remnants of its use as a church and a mosque.


BLUE MOSQUE

A short walk from the Hagia Sophia is the beautiful Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
A short walk from the Hagia Sophia is the beautiful Blue Mosque, officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

 

The Blue Mosque gets its nickname from the 20,000 hand-painted tiles that adorn the interior. It's a peaceful, uplifting space, where visitors (minus their shoes) are welcome to lounge on the carpet and soak up the splendor. The Blue Mosque pairs perfectly with the Hagia Sophia. Each is representative of a very different period in the city's history and very different ways of expressing religious devotion and state power.
The Blue Mosque gets its nickname from the 20,000 hand-painted tiles that adorn the interior. It’s a peaceful, uplifting space, where visitors (minus their shoes) are welcome to lounge on the carpet and soak up the splendor. As a tourist experience, the Blue Mosque pairs perfectly with the Hagia Sophia. Respectively, they represent very different periods in the city’s history and very different ways of expressing religious devotion and state power.


TOPKAPI PALACE

One of the top sites to visit on a Turkey tour is the Ottoman Topkapi Palace.
Now a museum, Topkapi Palace was a residence of Ottoman sultans until the late 19th century. The opulence knows no bounds!


GRAND BAZAAR

At nearly 600 years old, Istanbul's covered Grand Bazaar is among the world's oldest shopping mall!
At nearly 600 years old, Istanbul’s covered Grand Bazaar is among the world’s oldest shopping malls! It’s also one of the largest covered markets in the world, with over 4,000 shops. Great things to shop for in Turkey: handmade carpets and kilims, handmade textiles of all sorts, hand-painted ceramics, lanterns and jewelry, to name but a few.

 

Turks love the kitties and you will see a lot of pampered strays and shop cats on your Turkey tour.


BOSPHORUS CRUISE

The Bosphorus Strait forms part of the border between Europe and Asia and runs right through Istanbul. Most of the historical sights of Istanbul are on the European side of the Bosphorus. The strait is one of the world's busiest waterways, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. A cruise on the Bosphorus provides an excellent vantage on the historical layers of the city.
The Bosphorus Strait forms part of the border between Europe and Asia and runs right through Istanbul. Most of the historical sights of Istanbul are on the European side of the Bosphorus. The strait is one of the world’s busiest waterways, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Black Sea. For tourists, a cruise on the Bosphorus provides an excellent vantage point to the historical layers and jaw-dropping architecture and natural beauty of the city.

 

EPHESUS & OTHER AEGEAN COAST GRECO-ROMAN REMAINS

The remains of ancient Greco-Roman cities dot the Aegean coast of Turkey. Ephesus is the most famous, for good reason. Extensive excavations of this ancient major port city sprawl across hundreds of acres. Ephesus has wide appeal but it’s especially significant for Christians, as a place visited by Paul the Apostle and site of an early Christian church, recipient of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Ephesus is about 7 hours from Istanbul by car or an hour flight. We usually visit Ephesus as part of a longer tour so the drive from Istanbul is broken up into two or three days. Ephesus is a popular shore excursion from cruises stopping at the nearby port of Kusadasi.

Pergamum is another beautiful Greco-Roman site and, as one of the 7 Churches of Revelation, an important Christian site.

EPHESUS

Right at the top of the list on many a Turkey tour, the archaeological site of Ephesus is one of the largest in the region. Extensive restoration gives a good sense of the grandeur of Ephesus at its peak. At least a half day is needed here.
Right at the top of the list on many a Turkey tour, the archaeological site of Ephesus is one of the largest in the region. Extensive restoration gives a good sense of the grandeur of Ephesus at its peak. At least a half day is needed here.

 

Library of Celsus, Ephesus
Library of Celsus, Ephesus

 

Ephesus theater
Ephesus theater


PERGAMUM

The acropolis of Pergamum soars 1,000 feet above the modern town of Bergama, with ancient remains terraced into the steep hillside right down to the valley floor.
The acropolis of Pergamum soars 1,000 feet above the modern town of Bergama, with ancient remains terraced into the steep hillside. An hour or two here is usually sufficient.

See one of the world's steepest ancient theaters on your Turkey tour.

 

 

CAPPADOCIA

Cappadocia is a region of bizarre landscapes and deep history. Crazy conical and mushroom-shaped formations made of soft volcanic material have been carved into dwellings and early Christian churches. Networks of tunnels and towns were also cut underground during times of invasion and persecution. For general interest travelers, a day or two of touring in Cappadocia is sufficient.

Ask us about adding a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia to your Turkey tour!

 

See the rock-cut churches of Cappadocia on a Turkey tour. The so-called Apple Church is one of the more brilliantly painted early Christian churches cut into the rock formations of Cappadocia.
The so-called Apple Church is one of the more brilliantly painted early Christian churches cut into the rock formations of Cappadocia.

 

The underground city at Derinkuyu is the largest of several similar cities in Cappadocia. It may have been built as early as the 8th century BCE and was used by various populations over the centuries during times of invasion or persecution. This underground city could house 20,000 people along with their livestock.
The underground city at Derinkuyu is the largest of several similar cities in Cappadocia. It may have been built as early as the 8th century BCE and was used by various populations over the centuries. This underground city could house 20,000 people along with their livestock.

 

Visit our web site to browse our published Turkey programs (privately escorted, NEW small-group tours, and group bus tours) or contact us to plan a custom Turkey tour.

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