Top 7 Best Attractions in Turkey
Turkey, an indescribable magical country, is a paradise for tourists. Turkey, an indescribable magical country, a paradise for tourists. The unique geographical location has ensured its richness - the border between Asia and Europe, with mountains (Cappadocia), water (Bosphorus Strait, Aegean Sea), natural scenery, humanities and art gardens, and world heritage sites City - Safranbolu (also known as Saffron City), the city of two continents - Istanbul, the Pearl of the Aegean Sea - Izmir, the White Secret - Pamukkale, and the easternmost part of Turkey to see there Ancient City of Ani. When you come to Turkey for the first time, don't be too greedy, because there are too many cities and scenery worth stopping by. What are the must-see attractions in Turkey?
1. Pamukkale
One of Turkey's most famous natural wonders, the pure white travertine terraces of Pamukkale ("Cotton Castle" in English) pour down the slopes and look like an anachronistic snow field in a green landscape. While the travertine itself is the highlight of a trip to Turkey, the vast and wandering ruins of the ancient spa town of Greco-Roman Hierapolis are scattered on the summit of this calcite mountain.
After exploring the old theatre, you can enjoy views across the countryside, as well as the remains of the city fair, gymnasium, cemetery and gates, and you can take a dip in the ancient swimming pools, rich in water that makes this ancient spa town famous. Afterwards, walk down Travertine Hill, through the pools of the upper terraces, to the modern hamlet of Pamukkale below. For the best photos, travertine glows at dusk when the sun sinks below the horizon.
2. Hagia Sophia Museum
One of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the stunning Byzantine glory of Hagia Sophia (AyaSofya) is not only one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but also in Turkey. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in AD 537, it is hailed as the greatest architectural achievement of the Byzantine Empire and has been the largest church in the world for 1,000 years. Much of its striking exterior is surrounded by elaborate minarets added after the Ottoman conquest, while the sumptuous and cave-like frescoed interior is a magnificent reminder of the might and power of old Constantinople. This famous monument is a must-do for every tourist visiting the country.
3. Cappadocia
The surreal rocky valleys of Cappadocia are every photographer's dream. Cliff ridges and summits are home to rippling panoramas of wavy rocks or oddly shaped pinnacles formed by the action of wind and water over thousands of years. If you don't want to hike, this is one of the best destinations in the world for hot air balloon rides.
Nestled in this unique moon-like landscape are frescoed rock-cut churches and cave-cut buildings from the Byzantine era, when the area was home to the monastic Christian community. In particular, the open-air museum and the multiple cave churches of the Ihlara Valley are home to some of the world's best surviving examples of mid-Byzantine religious art. The villages of Cappadocia, half-hewn into the hillsides that travelers base themselves on to explore the surrounding countryside, are an attraction in themselves, and their boutique hotels allow you to sleep in caves in full modern comfort.
4. Topkapi Palace
Unbelievably luxurious, Istanbul's Topkapi Palace will transport you into the sultan's fantasy, opulent world. It was here that the sultans of the Ottoman era started from here in the 15th and 16th centuries, building an empire that would stretch upwards into Europe and downwards into the Middle East and Africa. The interior, with its decadent exuberant tiles and lavish jewels, is an unforgettable peek into the power base of the Ottoman Empire.
In particular, don't miss the Imperial House of Parliament, where the business of the Empire was conducted by the Grand Vizier; the weapons collection displayed in the Imperial Treasury; the world-class collection of miniature paintings; and the dazzling harem designed by renowned Ottoman architect Sinan Room. The surrounding public gardens were once the only realm of the Royal Court, but are now open to the public, providing a peaceful green respite from the city streets.
5. Sultan Ahmet Camii
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, was built in seven years and is a landmark building in Istanbul. The walls are made of blue-colored glaze pasted porcelain fired in a famous Turkish porcelain town. The base is white and is engraved with rich patterns, making the entire mosque full of blue. The mosque is the largest dome building in Istanbul, surrounded by six minarets. It is the only mosque in the world with six towers and one of the top ten wonders in the world.
6. The Bosphorus
It is one of the top ten tourist attractions in Turkey and can be said to be a scenic place with beautiful sea and sky. When sailing by boat, you can feel the palaces and other buildings on both sides of the strait, and even overlook the whole city, giving a charming comfort.
7. Temple of Artemis
Located in the center of Selcuk, the Temple of Artemis is the temple of the goddess Artemis in Greek mythology. When it was first built, it was larger than the Parthenon in Athens. There are carvings, but in 356 BC, the temple was burned by the Greeks Herosstatus, and the rebuilt temple was later damaged by the Goths. The Temple of Artemis was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of the World along with the Pyramids and Hanging Gardens. The ruins of the Temple of Artemis were discovered in 1869 by archaeologist John Turtle Wood, and excavations continued until 1874. At the ruins of the Temple of Artemis today, people used excavated marble to form a stone pillar as a marker.
