Your ultimate guide to exploring and writing about Turkey
Turkey is an open-air museum, home to an astonishing number of historically significant places spanning nearly 12,000 years of human civilization. From Neolithic temples to Classical wonders, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman palaces, here is a categorized guide:
Göbekli Tepe (Şanlıurfa): The world's oldest known temple complex (c. 9600 BCE). It revolutionized the understanding of early human society, predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years.
Çatalhöyük (Konya): A massive 9,000-year-old Neolithic proto-city with fascinating mud-brick houses and elaborate wall paintings.
Hattusa (Çorum): Capital of the Hittite Empire (c. 1600-1200 BCE). Famous for its monumental gates (Lion Gate, Sphinx Gate), royal citadel, and the cuneiform tablet archives.
Troy (Çanakkale): The legendary city of the Trojan War, immortalized by Homer. A multi-layered archaeological site showing 4,000 years of occupation.
Ephesus (İzmir): One of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean. Must-sees: the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, the Terrace Houses, and the Temple of Artemis (one of the Seven Wonders) nearby.
Hierapolis-Pamukkale (Denizli): The spectacular white travertine terraces ("Cotton Castle") with the vast Roman spa city of Hierapolis on top, including a monumental necropolis and an intact theatre.
Pergamon (İzmir): A major Hellenistic and Roman capital. The Acropolis boasts the steepest theatre of the ancient world, the Temple of Trajan, and the renowned Altar of Zeus (now in Berlin). The Asclepion was an ancient medical center.
Aphrodisias (Aydın): Dedicated to Aphrodite, goddess of love. Famous for its stunning marble sculptures (from its own quarry and school) and its well-preserved stadium.
Perge & Aspendos (Antalya): Perge is a grand Greco-Roman city with a long colonnaded street. Aspendos has the best-preserved Roman theatre in the world, still used for performances.
Mount Nemrut (Adıyaman): The stunning tomb-sanctuary of King Antiochus I (69-34 BCE) of Commagene, famous for its colossal stone heads of gods and kings at sunrise/sunset.
Hagia Sophia (İstanbul): A masterpiece of world architecture. Built in 537 AD as the cathedral of Constantinople, it was the world's largest cathedral for nearly 1,000 years. A museum from 1935-2020, now a mosque.
Chora Church (Kariye Mosque) (İstanbul): Home to the most exquisite Byzantine mosaics and frescoes in the world, depicting biblical scenes with incredible detail and vibrancy.
Basilica Cistern (İstanbul): The magnificent underground water reservoir built by Emperor Justinian, with 336 columns and an atmosphere of mystery.
Sumela Monastery (Trabzon): A 4th-century Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to a sheer cliff face in a remote, forested mountain valley.
Sultanhani Caravanserai (Aksaray): One of the largest and best-preserved Seljuk caravanserais on the Silk Road, showcasing Seljuk stonework and architecture.
Divriği Great Mosque & Hospital (Sivas): A UNESCO site renowned for its uniquely elaborate and asymmetric stone carvings on its portals, unlike any other Islamic architecture.
Mevlana Museum (Konya): The tomb of Jalaluddin Rumi, founder of the Sufi Whirling Dervish order. A place of pilgrimage and spiritual significance.
Topkapi Palace (İstanbul): The administrative heart and royal residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. A vast complex with harem, treasury (home to the Spoonmaker's Diamond), and holy relics.
Süleymaniye Mosque (İstanbul): The grand architectural masterpiece of Mimar Sinan, built for Suleiman the Magnificent, dominating the Istanbul skyline.
Edirne (Former Capital): Home to the Selimiye Mosque, Sinan's greatest architectural achievement, with its soaring single dome and pencil minarets.
Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar (İstanbul): Historic covered markets that were the commercial centers of the empire for centuries.
Ishak Pasha Palace (Doğubayazıt): A stunning 18th-century palace blending Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, Persian, and Armenian architecture, set on a remote hilltop.
Cappadocia (Nevşehir): Famous for its "fairy chimney" rock formations, vast underground cities (Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı), and hundreds of rock-cut churches with Byzantine frescoes (Göreme Open-Air Museum). Best viewed from a hot air balloon.
Lycian Way (Antalya to Fethiye): A long-distance hiking trail passing numerous Lycian rock-cut tombs carved into cliff faces (like in Dalyan and Myra) and ancient city ruins like Patara, Xanthos, and Olympos.
Ani (Kars): The hauntingly beautiful "City of 1001 Churches," a ruined medieval Armenian capital on the Silk Road, located on the border with Armenia.
Museum Pass: Consider the Turkey Museum Pass (nationwide or regional) for significant savings if visiting multiple paid sites.
Guides: Hiring a licensed guide at major sites (Ephesus, Göbekli Tepe) greatly enhances understanding.
Season: Spring (April-June) and Autumn (September-October) offer the best weather for exploring.
This list is just the beginning. Almost every town in Turkey sits atop layers of history, making it a dream destination for history enthusiasts.
These places represent Turkey's deep historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage. Each site has its own unique story and significance, making them important not just for visitors, but for understanding the nation's identity and evolution over centuries.