Before I get into all the amazing places to see in Turkey, I want to share a story of what happens when you do not do a little simple research before traveling to a new country.

We made the mistake of booking a flight to a small airport in Antalya without researching how to obtain a Visa for the country. Our flight arrived at 4am, we had no Turkish Liras and no Visa. This was a problem because the place where you purchase a Visa only accepted cash! Turkey switched mainly to e-visa not too long ago, therefore making it easier to enter the country (that is if you look that up before travelling - which most people would!). The only place to get cash was from an ATM past the passport control, so we had to get a police man to escort us through the passport check, to the ATM, get our Turkish Liras, and then get escorted back to purchase our Visa. All in all it turned out okay, however, it took a long time which made us miss our transportation pick up.

We were a little stranded and found ourselves wandering outside in the middle of the night with no transportation. We had already paid for a car rental, so we were determined to find the depot, but unbeknownst to us, the car rental we had booked wasn’t located at the airport like claimed. Meandering around, we figured we could catch a taxi to our car, but nobody would take our fare (they were either too tired to wake up from their nap or didn’t speak English). We had been traveling for 28 hours, we were locked out of the airport, no access to wifi and no transportation. I wasn’t sure if I should cry, scream, or laugh!

Almost at the breaking point, a nice man stopped and offered his assistance. I’m not sure if it was luck or just a pure coincidence, but he was headed to the city we were going to located 2 hours away. We made a deal for some payment, loaded our luggage and finally we made it to our hotel!

The moral of the story is to always double check what the entrance requirements are for every country. Even though most of the time it is very simple and easy to figure out, it only takes one little glitch to start a snowball effect of misfortune!

Turkey has a rich history full of many different empires, rulers, and religion. Because of this the country is littered with beautiful monuments, ancient cities and religious monuments. Not to mention the vast lands full of glorious landscapes. During our visit we were limited with our time, but we still wanted to immerse ourselves in the culture. We chose to narrow our stay to the west side of the country and travel by car. This allowed us to make stops along the way and not rush ourselves with a jam packed schedule. When visiting Turkey, most people will fly into Istanbul, however, we arrived in Antalya. Traveling either way will make no difference, just expect a few long driving days between the cities. Make sure you plan to sightsee along the way, as Turkey is a wonderful outdoor museum!

Check out the places we visited and the stops along the way!

Antalya is located on the Mediterranean Sea and it lends itself to beautiful mountain peeks on one side and the sea on the other. The city has become a major metropolis in Turkey, catering mostly to tourism. The old city is a wonderful place to spend your days walking up and down the narrow streets stopping in at the local shops and restaurants. Make sure to find yourself a meal overlooking the old harbour and soaking in the amazing views. If you want to escape the tight streets and people, drive over to the Düden Park and look at the waterfalls overflowing into the sea.

Only a short drive away from the downtown area, the country is full of ancient cities and ruins for you to explore. Perge is an amazingly well preserved city that is open for tourists to climb around and dream of the way life once was. For the hikers out there, take a drive to Termossos and enjoy the day crawling around in the rubble of the ruins, taking in the breathtaking views.

If you’re looking to hang out for a few days and just relax, take a drive down the coast to the beautiful city of Alanya. Mostly full of resorts and hotels, this is a great place to indulge in a traditional Turkish Bath, massages, the beach and a few sightseeing adventures.

During the summer months Dim Çayi is a cool place to spend the afternoon. The river is full of floating restaurants with waterslides, jumping platforms and swimming areas to help beat the summer heat. Although the winter might not be the best time to take a dip in the freezing river waters, it’s still worth the drive to go for lunch on one of the rafts, sip some tea and breath in the fresh air!

One of the most spectacular sights in the city is the Alanya Castle. Situated on top of the mountain that juts out into the Mediterranean, it has an overwhelming presence. Although there is not much left of the castle, you can’t beat the views. Take the gondola ride and hike around the old castle walls overlooking the city, mountains and sea. Don’t forget to stop over at the old harbour and enter The Red Tower then walk along the shoreline to the old ship yard.

On your drive out of the city, back towards Antalya make sure to stop at the Aspendos Theatre. It’s probably one of the most well in-tack amphitheatres in Turkey and it’s a grand experience to visit this architectural masterpiece.

Istanbul is an interesting city, full of so many different people and cultures. It is an important city in history, as it is the linking point between Europe and Asia. The architecture is full of rich history, telling a story on every corner. If you have an interest in visiting impressive mosques, this is the place for you! You can see the tall minarets all over the landscapes and hear the beautiful sound of the call to prayer throughout the day.

This city is not just about visiting mosques and monuments, it is a place full of life from the people that live here. The population is around 15 million, which obviously means diversity and culture. The old city is a great place to walk and people watch, enjoying the food shows put on by the street vendors and taking time to meander in and out of the bazars. The Grand Bazar is fun for everyone to visit and banter back and forth with the local merchants. When all is said and done, you can leave with some great textiles and delicious snacks! Just make sure you take the time to barter - not only is it entertaining, but it’s the only way to make sure you are paying a fair price.

With the streets being full of people and the streets being narrow, it’s important to make sure you take your time looking around the corners and finding the hidden little cafes and shops. Although you’ll find great food on the busy streets as well, there’s something to be said about the restaurant that has cats on cushions with the capacity for ten. Even though this is one of the largest cities in the world, it was the best place to visit by foot. Really experiencing it all, just as the locals do.

Turkey is full of so many amazing outdoor activities, diverse culture and warm people. Even though we visited in November and the weather was a bit chilly, our eyes were always full with beautiful sights. Please note that the prices to visit all of these attractions are very reasonable, ranging from 6-60 tl. It would be very beneficial to purchase a museum pass, as this will get you access to all of the different ancient cities, ruins, and attractions in Istanbul. Plus, if it’s busy you get to skip the lines!

Whether you’re visiting the country for one week or a month, you can fill your schedule with a variety of activities and still have more to see and do. Turkey is definitely on our list to visit again!