Sometimes, words and pictures don’t do a destination justice – you simply have to go and see them for yourself, and Türkiye boasts many such places! Türkiye is a vast and diverse country with more than its fair share of natural wonders and cultural delights. From beautifully preserved ancient sites to underground cities, fairytale chimneys to blue lagoons, Türkiye is a country that mesmerises those who visit. If you’re looking for some travel inspiration, consider these bucket list locations in Türkiye.

INCREDIBLE BUCKET LIST LOCATIONS IN TURKEY

Mount Nemrut

Travel inland to the eerie summit of Mount Nemrut and marvel at one of Türkiye’s most extraordinary and unique archaeological sites. See the remnants of giant stone statues depicting the heads of forgotten Gods staring over the barren mountainscape that glow gold at dawn and dusk.

Mount Nemrut is known as the “Throne of the Gods”, but little is known of its origins. Historians believe it was once the heart of the ancient Armenian Kingdom of Commagene, and King Antiochus commissioned the stone heads in around 62 BCE as enduring monuments of his life and dynasty. Although Mount Nemrut is in one of Türkiye’s most remote locations, a trip to the summit is a genuinely memorable experience and one that can be combined with a tour of the beautifully preserved Cendere Bridge, the burial site of Karakus and the city of Arsameia.

Ephesus

Many would say that you can’t come to Türkiye without visiting Ephesus at least once as it’s one of the worlds most notable ancient cities and remarkably well preserved. Its location in Izmir Province, 3 km southwest of modern-day Selçuk, means it’s within easy reach for those cruising the Aegean and a must-see for anyone onboard that’s interested in history and culture.

Dating back to 6,000 BC, Ephesus is an ancient Greco-Roman city and that once homed over 250,000 people. It’s easy to spend an entire day exploring this Greek site where highlights include the Great Theatre where you can stand where St. Paul first preached to the Ephesians, and St. John may have written his gospel. Take a look around the House of the Virgin Mary, where she lived until the ripe old age of 101, and marvel at the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the Temple of Artemis considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A trip to Ephesus is one of our most popular excursions, so do book a private tour with Senem as you’re unlikely to be disappointed. (Read our article on Why Ephesus is a must-see in Türkiye)

Aspendos Theatre

Take a half-day trip to the town of Serik from either Antalya or Side and visit the theatre of Aspendos, one of the best examples of a classical theatre still standing in the world. Colonists from Argos founded the site and its ancient city, and it was at its height during Roman times. The colossal theatre can hold up to 12,000 people and is still used for concerts and performances today. Aspendos is a truly impressive site and one that made it on to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2015 due to its historic value, so certainly worth a visit, if you’re in the vicinity.

Kaunos, Dalyan

According to ancient belief, the higher up the cliffside the tomb, the more important they were considered to be. This makes the six tombs of Kaunos carved high above the river in Dalyan town extremely important!

Kaunos, or Caunus in Latin, is an ancient Carian city and was an important seaport dating back to the 9^th century BC. Today, most tourists take a riverboat trip past these magnificent rock tombs, take a few photos as they chug past, then carry on with their day trip at the local mud baths or beach. Yet, the ancient city of Kaunos found behind the cliffside tombs is also worth exploring and rarely busy. Here you can view a Byzantine basilica, ancient Greek theatre, Roman bath, acropolis and the old harbour. An excursion around Dalyan is an easy and enjoyable trip to take from Ekincik Bay –  Ask us to arrange a tour.

Cappadocia

Take a 45-minute flight from Istanbul and discover a Türkiye that feels a world away from the coast. Spend a few days in a landscape that’s more like a sci-fi movie set, with spectacular cave homes, underground cities, phenomenal food and culture  – all topped with a sky full of hot air balloons floating above fairy chimneys.

Yes, a visit to Cappadocia is spellbinding and one of the ultimate bucket list locations in Türkiye. It’s a destination like no other that will leave you with memories for a lifetime. Highlights include the Goreme open-air museum where you can view a vast array of churches and monasteries dating back to the 10^th century, the vast underground cities, or taking to the air in a balloon at sunrise to marvel at the fairy chimneys. See our blog, Captivating Cappadocia for more details.

Oludeniz

Most that cruise the coast of Türkiye pay a visit to Oludeniz, as this beautiful bay and its famous blue lagoon is one of Türkiye’s most popular destinations. But have you ever taken to the sky to appreciate the location from a different perspective? If not, get the heart pumping and take to the air!

For those seeking a bucket list experience, a tandem paragliding jump from the lofty heights of Babadag and landing on Oludeniz beachfront can be arranged. Take a private jeep safari or cable car trip to the summit, where a professional tandem pilot takes you through a short briefing before you run a few steps down a slope and take to the sky. Seeing the blues and lagoon from above is pretty hard to beat and a great way to get that all-important Instagram photo of your feet dangling over the lagoon.

Istanbul

There’s no denying, the metropolis that is Istanbul indeed boasts a remarkable history. Like London, Paris or Rome, Istanbul is a dizzying mix of the very old sat next to the new, and it’s home to many bucket list locations and experiences.

Istanbul is a city jam-packed with character and intrigue, where historic sites, mosques, traditional bazaars and palaces are located right down the street from designer stores, boutiques and trendy hotels. Istanbul is one of the worlds bucket list cities and a place to explore and make memories. Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Underground Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar are all must-see locations – so sign-up to 360 News below for a special insight on the bucket list locations in Istanbul in the coming weeks.

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360 Yachting are specialists in organising bespoke tours and short getaways. If you fancy taking a trip to any of the bucket list locations in Türkiye mentioned, please CONTACT US.