Turkey has so much to provide, with its history, and natural and cultural diversity. The following are the top 10 things to do in Turkey and how much it will cost in GBP (as of 2024). Prices vary based on season, exchange rate, and whether you book a tour or go it alone. At the end of the post, you will find a summary of costs.
Table of Contents
1. Explore Istanbul’s Historical Sites
On the map of the world’s urban landscapes Istanbul, the pivot of continents, is surely the most extraordinary, glorious, and defiant. Straddling two continents, it is a city of contradictions. At the heart of the old town stands the toppled columns of the Hagia Sophia — the greatest church and, latterly, the greatest mosque — the monumental eye of the Byzantine Empire, which looked across the water and cast an imperial gaze across the whole East. A few minutes walk away stands the Blue Mosque with its 20 sapphire minarets and sublime turquoise tiling of the interior. At the city’s center are the lofty domes of Topkapi Palace, the magnificence of the Sultan’s world, and the Grand Bazaar, its tangle of shops, streets, lanes, alleys and teeming humanity: past and present, the stuff of the city’s myth. Hardly anywhere summons up the memory of history with more vigor.
2. Take a Bosphorus Cruise in Istanbul
Enjoy the view of Europe and Asia on either side of the Bosphorus and the silhouette of Istanbul from the cruise experience. You’ll sail by the architectural masterpieces including Dolmabahçe Palace and Ortaköy Mosque, and the majestic castle Rumeli Fortress on the European side of the Bosphorus. The waters are still, and the reflection of modern Istanbul on the water gives you an insight into city life. The cruise along the Bosphorus passes the waterfront mansions and the locals going about their daily activities. On one side, the green hillsides reveal small orchards and vegetable plots while the majestic mosques stand against the skyline, and the glittering windows of hotels sparkle against the bright blue sky. No matter if you go for a cruise in the daytime when the sun shines over the horizon, or go after dark, when stars reflect on the water, the Bosphorus is always an inspiring experience.
3. Visit the Ancient City of Ephesus
Ephesus, a 30-minute drive from the modern town of Selçuk in Turkey, is a rock-and-ruin treasure trove that puts you in the middle of a tug-of-war between the Greek and Roman empires. Step through the city’s marble gate and your eyes are immediately drawn to the colossal Library of Celsus and its row of columns lining the Great Theatre’s perfect semicircular stage, made for audience sizes of up to 25,000. The Temple of Artemis, referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, speaks of the city’s once-prosperous, fertile life – and its purist religious devotion. Everywhere you look there are signs of the city’s former grandeur from monumental plazas and ornate facades to the cups and dishes arranged in one of Ephesus’ many opulent homes.
4. Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia
A hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia is unforgettable. As the yellow flames underneath the balloons burn quietly, the balloons float slowly up into the sky, allowing for the ultimate view of the region’s otherworldly landscapes with its stone chimneys (known as fairy chimneys), outcrops and the cave dwellings that puncture the cliffs below. The gentle sway in the skies of Cappadocia is peaceful, the first light of day warming the rocks with its golden hues below. It’s such an out-of-this-world sight. Flights over Cappadocia are a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that etch itself into the heart and memory of those who have the chance to experience its magic.
5. Pamukkale’s Thermal Pools
Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) is a place renowned for its white travertine terraces. The site is on a hillside, meaning that the terraces are seen to flow down the hillside like a patchwork carpet. Thermal pools also run down the stone steps at the site, providing holidaymakers with an opportunity to relax and have a soak. There are many taps where you can walk barefoot, and the warm water is healing. The views of the surrounding area are stunning, and you are able to bathe in the water that falls from these rock terraces, which eventually ends in thermal pools. A short distance away from Pamukkale is the ancient Roman city of Hierapolis, famous for its luxurious baths and theatre.
6. Explore Antalya’s Beaches and Old Town (Kaleici)
A place of sun-kissed beaches and picturesque old quarters, Antalya offers a tantalizing glimpse into Turkey along the Mediterranean coast. The sunbathing and water sports beaches of Lara and Konyaaltı offer golden sands and clear, blue waters with majestic views of the Taurus Mountains in the background. In the old quarter of Kaleici, a maze of narrow cobbled streets invites tourists into the well-kept Ottoman heritage and local bazaars and street eateries. Other notable sites include the ancient Hadrian’s Gate and the Antalya Museum, with the first being the last remaining gate from the period of the Roman Empire and the latter depicting more than 1,000 years of the town’s cultural history. Antalya is an ideal destination for tourists looking for a successful and pleasant blend of natural beauty and extensive history.
7. Visit the Underground Cities of Cappadocia
Underground Cities of CappadociaThe Underground Cities of Cappadocia were built by ancient peoples as a network of subterranean dwellings and passageways carved out of soft volcanic stone that would protect them from invasions. Tourists can take guided tours to examine ingeniously designed multi-level tunnels full of communal spaces such as kitchens, store rooms and chapels in which ancient civilizations survived under siege and citizens lived a millennium or more ago.
8. Paragliding in Oludeniz
Fly a tandem paraglider ride at Oludeniz, where vivid blue skies dance over brilliant blue waters below. From the heights of Babadag Mountain, you will soar and sweep down to the sandy beach below. While your heart is in your throat, you can take in endless views of the beautiful lagoon and forested mountains at their end. Your paraglider flight will literally give you a bird’s-eye view of what must be one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines.
9. Explore the Ruins of Troy
Epic poems about the legendary siege of Troy brought Europe’s storied past to life and enticed visitors to explore the Trojan city itself – although it was not until the 1870s after Robert Koldewey unearthed the site that became known as Troy, that tourists could jump back into the Bronze Age. Today, where the city of Troy once stood, visitors can walk along the walls, wander through the excavated dwellings, and tour the museum that displays artifacts from the site to illustrate the stories of the gods, heroes and battles that brought Troy fame. The Trojan Horse, towering above it all, connects myth with historical reality.
10. Visit Mount Nemrut
A trip to Mount Nemrut confronts the traveler with the greatness of another time and place. It is known for its giant stone statues erected for King Antiochus’s dynastic shrine, set amid a remote mountaintop surrounded by snow-capped peaks and valleys and with a road that leads only to the top. There, visitors can stand face-to-face with a past generation’s gods and wait for the setting sun to reveal their fading eyes, and here they can mingle with other devotees of history, like tomb-hunters and mountaintop trekkers.
Summary of Costs
- Istanbul’s Historical Sites: £10-15
- Bosphorus Cruise: £5-60
- Ephesus: £10-60
- Cappadocia Balloon Ride: £150-250
- Pamukkale: £10-15
- Antalya Beaches/Old Town: £0-5
- Cappadocia Underground Cities: £5-50
- Paragliding in Oludeniz: £80-120
- Ruins of Troy: £5-40
- Mount Nemrut: £4-80
Costs can vary based on time of year, package deals, and currency fluctuations. Guided tours generally increase the cost, but also add to the experience with more context and convenience.
