Where Two Continents Meet in One Journey
Turkey is a transcontinental country spanning south-eastern Europe and western Asia, known for Istanbul, the ruins of Ephesus, the rock landscapes of Cappadocia and a long coastline on the Aegean and Mediterranean. Its capital is Ankara, but the great cultural stage is Istanbul, a city divided by the Bosphorus and layered with Byzantine and Ottoman grandeur. The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar sit within a short walk of one another, and a ferry across the water moves the traveller from one continent to the other.
The country is also one of the world's great storehouses of antiquity. Ephesus, with its Library of Celsus, and the Greek and Roman ruins of Pergamon and Aphrodisias tell of cities that shaped the ancient world, while Göbekli Tepe in the south-east is celebrated as one of the oldest monumental sites known. Pamukkale's white travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis above them are another UNESCO-listed highlight. Neighbouring European and Mediterranean destinations rarely offer so many eras in a single holiday.
Cappadocia Skies and Aegean Turquoise
Cappadocia is the image many travellers carry home: soft, wind-carved rock formations known as fairy chimneys, cave hotels cut into the hillsides and, at dawn, dozens of hot air balloons rising over the valleys. Walking trails through Göreme and the Rose Valley, underground cities and painted rock churches add depth to the scenery. In the west and south, the Turkish Riviera around Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye brings pine-fringed coves, gulet cruises and a long season of sun and sea.
Food is a destination in its own right. Breakfast arrives as a spread of cheeses, olives, honey, clotted cream and fresh bread, while the day moves through meze, kebabs, pide, fresh fish and baklava with strong Turkish coffee or tea. Istanbul's hammams and bazaars suit rainy afternoons, and a hotel group can package a city break, a cave stay and a coastal retreat into one itinerary. Sun-seekers comparing coasts often look to Paphos or Croatia as alternatives, but Turkey offers the widest range.
Read the full Türkiye guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitTurkey.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.