A mix of the exotic and the familiar, Turkey is much more than a “bridge between East and West”. Turkey combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities; snowy mountain tops meet with turqoise sea and traditional meets with the modern. We listed 10 must visit places in Turkey.

1. İstanbul
Once serving as the capital of many civilizations including the the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and one of the most crowded cities of the world. Stretching across the Bosphorus that connects Asia and Europe, Istanbul has many things to offer. Along with historic sites, museums and architectural wonders, Istanbul combines the sightseeing with a vibrant and colorful daily life.

2. Nevşehir, Cappadocia
A historical region in Central Anatolia, Cappadocia is famous for its fairy chimneys and underground cities to protect locals against invaders. Ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages. Thousands of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out houses, churches and underground cities to the soft rock.

3. Ephesus
Ephesus was one of the largest cities in all of the Roman Empire by the 1st century BC. The ruins of Ephesus are well preserved and contained within a large archaeological site, making it one of Turkey’s most popular tourist attractions. Hosting one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis, Ephesus site also includes a massive theater, the Temple of Hadrian and the magnificent Celsus Library, a two-story structure that was built to house more than 12,000 scrolls.

4. Antalya
Located at the Mediterranean coastline, Antalya is a large, vibrant city welcoming tourists with numerous resorts, hotels, bars and restaurants. The vibrant city is enclosed by many beaches and lush green mountains with a number of ancient ruins. Antalya offers many activities like swimming, sailing, mountain climbing, hiking, trekking, sightseeing, relaxing and family fun.

5. Blue Lagoon, Fethiye
Blue Lagoon is located in Ölüdeniz. It is the most popular beach destinations in Turkey because it is very beautiful scenery, calm atmosphere and very crystal clear water. Also, you can do variety of water sports. For the most famous water sports is Paragliding (should not be missed). There are also very safe place to swim for children as well.

6. Bodrum
Located in the southern Aegean region of Turkey, Bodrum is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Turkey with its characteristic white washed houses, stunning beaches and narrow streets. Bodrum was once home to the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. No visit to Bodrum would be complete without seeing the Castle of St. Peter, also known as Bodrum Castle which dates back to 1402.

7. Konya
One of the oldest cities of the world Konya is best known for its remarkable Seljuk architecture and Whirling Dervishes, A large city in Central Anatolia Region Konya was a capital city In the 12th and 13th centuries under the rule of the Seljuk Dynasty. Today, attractive buildings from that era can still be admired such as the Alaeddin Mosque and the ruins of the Seljuk Palace.

8. Mardin
Built on a hilltop overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia in southeastern Turkey, Mardin is one of the oldest settlements in the region. Mardin is best known for its cultural diversity and Old City of sandstone buildings that cascade down the hill.

9. Troy, Çanakkale
An ancient city located in northwestern Turkey, Troy is made famous in Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad. According to Iliad, this is where the legendary Trojan War took place in the 13th century BC here on the Trojan side. Today, on the World Heritage List of UNESCO it is an archaeological site popular with travellers around the world.

10. Sümela Manastırı
Sümela Monastery is a spectacular rock-hewn monastery perched dramatically on the narrow ledge of a steep cliff in the forests south of Trabzon. In the year 2000 the Turkish Government took over the maintenance of this historical site and it has also been added to the tentative list for the UNESCO World Heritage site.