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🇹🇷Things to Do in Turkey
From Istanbul's Hagia Sophia to Cappadocia's hot air balloons - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Turkey sits across two continents, and the trip usually reflects it: Istanbul's mosques and bazaars on one leg, Cappadocia's surreal rock landscape on another, and the Aegean coast's ancient ruins and beaches as a third option entirely. Domestic flights make combining two or three of these regions manageable in under two weeks. Here are 8 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
A nearly 1,500-year-old building that has been a cathedral, a mosque, a museum, and now a mosque again - each era leaving visible traces inside. Entry is free but modest dress and a headscarf for women are required.
📍 Istanbul
🚉 Nearest station: Sultanahmet on the T1 tram, which stops between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque - the two face each other across the park.
Cappadocia Hot Air Balloons
Sunrise balloon flights over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and cave dwellings, one of the most photographed experiences in Turkey. Book the evening before - flights are weather-dependent and often cancelled or rescheduled on short notice.
📍 Cappadocia
🚉 There is no passenger railway into the valleys: fly to Nevsehir or Kayseri, take the airport shuttle to Goreme, and the balloon operators collect you from your hotel before dawn.
Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops across 61 streets. Haggling is expected - starting around half the first quoted price is a common approach.
📍 Istanbul
🚉 Nearest station: Beyazit-Kapali Carsi on the T1 tram, at the bazaar's main Beyazit gate; Vezneciler on the M2 metro is a similar walk.
Pamukkale
White calcium travertine terraces filled with warm mineral pools, next to the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis. Visit early to avoid both crowds and the day's peak heat on the exposed white terraces.
📍 Pamukkale, Denizli Province
🚉 Denizli is the nearest station, with sleeper trains from Istanbul and Izmir, then a 20-minute dolmus minibus to Pamukkale village at the foot of the terraces.
Ephesus
One of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Mediterranean, including the Library of Celsus facade. Most visitors combine it with a stop at the nearby House of the Virgin Mary.
📍 Ephesus, near Selçuk
🚉 Nearest station: Selcuk, on the Izmir-Denizli regional line, then a 3km taxi or dolmus to the site gates - Izmir Adnan Menderes airport is an hour away by the same train.
Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Named for the blue Iznik tiles lining its interior, directly across from Hagia Sophia. It remains an active mosque, so it closes to visitors briefly during the five daily prayer times.
📍 Istanbul
🚉 Nearest station: Sultanahmet on the T1 tram; the mosque's courtyard entrance is a two-minute walk across the square from Hagia Sophia.
Turkish Riviera (Antalya)
Turquoise-coast beaches and resort towns along the Mediterranean, with Antalya's old town (Kaleici) worth a wander beyond the beach itself.
📍 Antalya
🚉 Antalya has no intercity railway - arrive by plane or coach, then the city's Antray tram and buses reach Kaleici, Konyaalti and the museum; the resort towns are served by frequent dolmus minibuses.
Cave Hotels, Cappadocia
Hotels carved directly into the region's soft volcanic rock, many built around centuries-old cave dwellings - staying in one is as much a Cappadocia experience as the balloon ride.
📍 Cappadocia
🚉 Goreme and Urgup have no stations; the practical arrival is a flight to Nevsehir or Kayseri plus the shuttle, or an overnight coach from Istanbul into Nevsehir's otogar.
Mark Turkey, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Turkey?
A week covers Istanbul plus Cappadocia well, connected by a short domestic flight. Ten days to two weeks lets you add the Aegean coast or the Turkish Riviera.
What's the best time to visit Turkey?
April-May and September-October have mild weather across most of the country. Summer is hot, especially inland and on the coast; Cappadocia's balloon flights run year-round but have the best odds of clear skies in spring and autumn.
Is Turkey good for a first-time visit?
Yes - Istanbul is an easy, walkable introduction, and domestic flights make Cappadocia and the coast simple add-ons without much extra planning.
Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?
Many nationalities can apply for a Turkish e-Visa online in a few minutes for short tourist stays; some nationalities are visa-exempt or need a different process, so it is worth checking your specific passport. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.gov.tr.
What are some things to do in Turkey on a tight budget?
The Blue Mosque and most other mosques are free to enter, Istanbul's public ferries double as a cheap way to see the Bosphorus, and browsing the Grand Bazaar costs nothing unless you buy something.
Can I rent a car in Turkey, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it is the usual way to link the Cappadocian valleys or the Lycian coast, where buses are slow. Most foreign licences are accepted for up to six months, but carry an International Driving Permit alongside it - rental desks routinely ask for one, and it is expected if your licence is not in the Latin alphabet. The minimum age is generally 21 with at least a year of driving experience, and a credit card is needed for the deposit. Motorway tolls are collected electronically through the HGS sticker, which the rental company bills you for afterwards. Official traffic and licence information is published by the transport ministry at uab.gov.tr; cars are available from Avis, Europcar and the Turkish network Garenta.