Discover Turkey

Historical Places in Turkey

Turkey has hosted many civilizations on its beautiful lands from the past to the present. With its geographical location, it is also privileged to be one of the world's most important transit routes. It is evident that Anatolian lands have a unique character of their own. The fascinating traces of the past and the historical texture that still maintains its impressiveness amazes those who see it. If you want to get to know the historical and touristic natural beauties of our country and listen to their stories, this content is just for you! If you are also curious about the answer to the question "what are the places to visit in Turkey?", then you are in the right place. We have listed the historical and touristic places in Turkey that include many precious natural and historical beauties inherited from many civilizations that have hosted them from east to west for years.

Şirince

Starting our list with Şirince, which is one of the first places that come to mind when it comes to Turkey's natural and historical beauties. Şirince, located in the Selçuk district of İzmir, is a village nestled among the hills and successfully preserves its original historical architecture. The village, which is reached by following a road where the beauty of olive trees and the pleasant smell of tangerine trees are blended, is known for welcoming its guests with old Greek houses and the enchanting smell of grapes used for making wine.

Topkapı

One of the first places that come up in search engine queries with the phrases "places to visit in Turkey" and "touristic places in Turkey" is Topkapı Palace. Let's talk a little bit about its history. Topkapı Palace is located in Istanbul Sarayburnu. It is known for being used as the administrative center of the state for 400 years in the 600-year history of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman sultans also lived in this palace. It is even said that around 4,000 people used to live in it in the past.

Harran

When we think of Turkey's natural and historical beauties, Harran is one of the first places that comes to mind. Harran is a district located in Şanlıurfa, Turkey. It is also located close to the Syrian border. It is about 44 kilometers away from the center of Şanlıurfa. It is also known as one of the first science centers in the world. Moreover, the first university established in the world is located here. Harran University in Şanlıurfa also takes its name from this historic district. When we say "where are the places to visit in Turkey?", Harran takes its place on our list.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, located in Istanbul, stands out among Turkey's most beautiful works with its unique architectural structure and long history. As one of the most important structures in Turkish Islamic history, the mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque due to its historical motifs and blue hue. It holds significant value among our historical heritage and is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 and is a must-see place in Turkey.

Sümela Monastery

Continuing our list of historical places in Turkey, we cannot skip the Sümela Monastery. Let us tell you a bit about its history. This impressive structure was built on steep cliffs 300 meters above the valley it is located in, enchanting visitors with its magnificent architecture and breathtaking views. The first bricks of this historical monastery were laid during the Byzantine Empire. Over the centuries, it underwent various changes and gained new features as cultures in the region evolved.

The frescoes made in different periods point to the multicultural structure of the region. The frescoes inside the monastery depict the life of Jesus and Virgin Mary. The main rock church, library, sacred spring, chapels, and rooms where monks and students used to stay in the past are all located within the monastery. One of the first answers to the question "What are the historical and touristic places in our country?" is this monastery, which is one of the best-known historical sites in Turkey worldwide.

Fairy Chimneys / Cappadocia

What are the historic and natural structures in Turkey? We will talk about a place that is almost an answer to this question. Cappadocia, which has a significant place among the natural beauties of our country and is under the lens of people from many countries around the world, is a place that fascinates its visitors. Fairy chimneys, which have been formed naturally over millions of years due to the erosion of the ash layer by rain and the combination with wind, are a gift of nature to humans. The area around it was evaluated as a church, shelter, and monastery by the people who lived there in the historical process. There are also underground caves and underground cities around. We recommend that you visit Cappadocia and see it up close if you haven't already, as nature and history combine to create an impressive atmosphere.

Hasankeyf / Batman

Turkey has hosted many civilizations in its beautiful lands from past to present. Geographically, it also has the privilege of being one of the world's most important transit routes. It is clear that Anatolian lands have a unique character. The enchanting traces of the past and the historical texture that still maintains its appeal fascinate visitors. If you want to get to know the historical and tourist natural beauties of our country and listen to their stories, this content is just for you! If you are also curious about the answer to the question "What are the places to visit in Turkey?" then you are in the right place. Our unique country, which has hosted many civilizations from east to west for years and contains many valuable historical and natural beauties inherited from them, we have listed Turkey's historical and tourist places for you.

Zeugma Museum / Gaziantep

Another historical site with a popularity that goes beyond the country's borders among Turkey's historic and touristic locations is the splendid Zeugma Mosaic Museum with its impressive history. Zeugma, known as the world's largest mosaic museum, is located within the borders of Gaziantep province. The museum is located 20 kilometers away from the city center. Zeugma Ancient City stands out with its god statues, fountains, and columns. The fact that the mosaics exhibited in the museum are made up of hundreds of pieces further increases the value of the historical museum. If you visit the museum, we recommend you to definitely see the gypsy mosaic. We can guarantee that you will experience a truly fascinating few minutes with the gypsy portrayal's eyes that follow you.

Pamukkale / Denizli

Pamukkale, which has been a healing center since ancient times, is home to many historical structures in our country. It is also one of the most well-known tourist destinations abroad. Important archaeological cities such as Laodikya and Hierapolis Ancient City can be found among the historical places to visit within Pamukkale boundaries. Another historical site that must be seen in Pamukkale, which is of great value among historical structures in Turkey, is the ancient pool. Moreover, it is possible to swim in this ancient pool located within the boundaries of Hierapolis. Swimming in an ancient pool that has been used as a treatment center for centuries offers a fascinating experience. Other historical places in the region include St. Philippe Martyrion Church, Pamukkale Archaeological Museum, Karahayit, and others. Don't forget to add Pamukkale to your list of places to visit in Turkey.

Ephesus Ancient City / Izmir

Ephesus Ancient City, which has a great importance in Anatolian and world history, still hosts thousands of tourists from both domestic and foreign countries today. The historical story of Ephesus Ancient City dates back to 8,000 years ago. Ephesus, which is also a port city, was one of the most important science, culture, and art centers of the region at the time. It also hosts the Artemis Temple, which is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world. However, we regret to inform you that only a few marble blocks have survived from the temple until today. In addition to these, there are many historical beauties such as the Celsius Library, the Seven Sleepers Cave, and the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus Ancient City, which is among the most important historical values of Turkey.

Aspendos Ancient Theater / Antalya

Aspendos, located in the pearl of the Mediterranean, Antalya, was built by the Romans. The famous ancient city of Aspendos Theater in the region has managed to be preserved quite well throughout the historical process. The capacity of the ancient theater is recorded to be around 15 thousand. We recommend that you definitely add this impressive ancient area, where history is blended with art, to your list of places to visit in Turkey.

Anıtkabir / Ankara

Anıtkabir, where the mausoleum of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is located, is in the Çankaya district of Ankara. We would like to remind everyone that it is a place that every Turkish youth must visit. This historic site, which everyone should see, is visited by millions of people from both domestic and foreign countries every year.

Cunda Island / Balıkesir

Cunda Island, located in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir, gives the impression of an open-air museum with its unique architecture and historical beauties. Especially for those who plan a holiday in the summer and come to Balıkesir, we recommend that you must see it. It is one of the tourist attractions that must be seen in Turkey and can be a refreshing option for your vacation route, combining the sea with history.

Salt Lake

Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake) is located in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is one of the largest hypersaline lakes in the world and is a popular destination for tourists. With its unique landscape and the opportunity to observe wildlife, it is a must-visit place for nature lovers and those who are interested in natural wonders.

Manavgat Waterfall / Antalya

Manavgat Waterfall is a famous and magnificent waterfall located on the Manavgat River in the district of Manavgat, Antalya. It is situated 72 km away from the city center. The waterfall, which takes its name from the district where it is located, is entirely natural. It is known to have formed when the river waters fell from a 3-4 m high cliff. This natural beauty, which welcomes domestic and foreign visitors every year, is one of the most important tourist attractions in our country.

Yedigöller / Bolu

Yedigöller National Park is one of Turkey's most well-known and visited national parks. Located in Bolu, the park enchants visitors with its natural environment. There are seven lakes in the national park, which were formed over time as a result of landslides closing the front facades of the valleys. This is why they are named Yedigöller (meaning "seven lakes" in Turkish). In addition, there are seven lakes within the national park called Serin Göl, Derin Göl, Büyük Göl, İnce Göl, Nazlı Göl, Kuru Göl, and Sazlı Göl. Yedigöller, which was declared a national park in 1965, has managed to preserve its magnificent nature since then. We would like to remind those who plan to visit that the park is quite large and requires a lot of time. We recommend adding this unique natural beauty of our country to your list.

Salda Lake / Burdur

Salda Lake is located within the boundaries of Burdur province. It is a slightly salty karstic lake surrounded by rocky terrain and small alluvial plains. As part of the Lakes Region, the lake has a closed basin structure with no external flow. Salda Lake has also become the focus of NASA's attention. We recommend adding this natural beauty, which is visited by domestic and foreign tourists every year, to your list.

Kaz Mountains

Kaz Mountains, which are like the lungs of our country, host thousands of local and foreign tourists every year. With its natural beauty and rich vegetation, Kaz Mountains have a very diverse plant cover. The stunning Kaz Mountains are home to beech, black pine, oak, chestnut and beech trees. Moreover, Kaz Mountains have the distinction of being the region with the second highest oxygen content after the Alps. We recommend this magnificent place to those who want to get away from the crowds of the city.

Gallipoli Battlefields

The Gallipoli Battlefields, which have great historical importance, are one of the places that must be visited within the borders of Turkey. The area, which has been declared as the Gallipoli Peninsula Historical National Park, has the characteristic of hosting one of the greatest epics in history. This historical place in Çanakkale, which fully reflects the spirit of the War of Independence, should not be forgotten to be added to your list.