Türkiye (Turkey) holidays

Welcome to Antalya, Türkiye’s famous seaside getaway. Explore Roman ruins and cobblestone streets with views of the Mediterranean. Or sip raki at glamorous beach clubs and shop at colourful bazaars.

Located on Türkiye’s southwest coast, Bodrum lets you marvel at ancient ruins, swim in turquoise seas and party all night long — all in the shadow of a fairy-tale castle.

The good life comes easy in the town of Dalaman. Sunbathe on hidden beaches, soak in thermal springs, and hike to ancient ruins in this laid-back Turkish destination.

A megacity with ancient roots and a modern identity, Istanbul overwhelms you with its riches, from Byzantine churches and trend-setting spas to one of the oldest and largest bazaars on the planet.

Find a perfect introduction to Turkish cuisine and culture in Izmir. Beaches, nightlife, museums — Türkiye’s third-largest city has it all in one affordable, user-friendly package.

In Türkiye’s storied capital, history lessons go hand in hand with legendary eats. Spend your days visiting grand citadels and castles, then hunt down the best kebab in town.

Get ready to be wowed by examples of Ottoman, Byzantine and Seljuk-style buildings. You can’t miss the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, two of Istanbul’s most celebrated monuments. On the Black Sea coast, the Sümela Monastery is perched on the face of a sheer cliff. For one of Türkiye’s most impressive castles, visit Alanya Kalesi, which has 140 towers.

When it comes to ruins, Greece and Italy have nothing on Türkiye. Visit UNESCO-listed Ephesus, an ancient city and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. And not far from the coast of Çanakkale, you’ll find the ruins of Troy. In Istanbul, stop by Sultanahmet Square, once the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

One of the essential things to do in Türkiye is to shop at a bazaar. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is the most famous, but there are others worth seeing. Find souvenirs at Gaziantep’s 19th-century Coppersmith Bazaar, or browse traditional textiles at the Old Silk Market in Bursa. In Izmir, spend a day exploring Kemeraltı Market’s shops and tea gardens.

With more than 8,000 kilometres of coastline, Türkiye has beaches to suit any taste. Relax on the white sands of Lake Salda, often called the ‘Turkish Maldives’, or ramp up the action with a day of surfing at Damlataş and Keykubat beaches in Alanya. For one of the country’s most picturesque spots, swim in Ölüdeniz’s blue lagoon, with its soft sands and turquoise waters.

One of Türkiye’s most famous natural wonders is Pamukkale’s natural hot springs, set among petrified waterfalls and calcified hills that look like a field of cotton. Another unmissable natural sight is in the region of Cappadocia, where rock castles, cave dwellings and conical rock formations called ‘fairy chimneys’ give it an otherworldly feel.

There’s much to try when visiting restaurants in Türkiye. Mediterranean, Central Asian and Middle Eastern flavours influence dishes like ‘köfte’ (meatballs), ‘mantı’ (dumplings) and ‘lahmacun’ (flatbread topped with mincemeat). If you’re craving something sweet, try ‘baklava’ (sweet, flaky pastries) or ‘lokum’ (Turkish delight). And the day isn’t complete here without a glass of strong Turkish tea.

In Istanbul, you’ll want to visit the Topkapi Palace Museum, one of the most famous museums in Türkiye. Hagia Sophia reverted from a museum to a mosque in 2020, but non-Muslims can still visit. See the rock-cut dwellings and cave churches of the Göreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. And learn about Turkish art at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the largest of its kind worldwide.

Spring and autumn are considered the best times to visit Türkiye, with April, May, September and October offering blue skies and warm weather. July and August are the hottest months, and most visitors tend to hit the coast during this time. As a result, the cities are usually less crowded — good news for bargain travellers.

If you’re organising a cheap holiday in Türkiye, plan to spend about 300 Turkish liras (TRY) for an inexpensive meal and around TRY100 for a coffee. If you need to travel by taxi, a short ride will usually cost around TRY115.