Turkey’s way more than just Istanbul, though you’d never guess it from most travel itineraries. Sure, the city’s incredible with its Byzantine churches, Ottoman palaces, and that whole “where Europe meets Asia” thing—but focusing only on Istanbul is like visiting the U.S. and never leaving New York City.
The rest of the country is packed with ancient ruins, bizarre geological formations, Mediterranean beaches, and mountain villages that feel completely untouched by tourism. Most first-time visitors stick to the usual suspects: maybe Istanbul plus a quick trip to Cappadocia if they’re feeling adventurous. But Turkey stretches from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, covering landscapes and cultures that are absolutely mind-blowing once you venture beyond the obvious destinations.
Here are 19 incredible things to do in Turkey that’ll show you sides of the country most tourists never even know exist.
Explore Cappadocia’s Underground Cities
Everyone knows about Cappadocia’s hot air balloons and fairy chimneys, but the underground cities are where things get seriously wild. Derinkuyu and Kaymakli go down eight levels deep, with tunnels connecting rooms that once housed thousands of people.
Crawling through these narrow passages feels like exploring an ancient ant farm—claustrophobic but absolutely fascinating. Early Christians carved these cities to hide from Arab raids, creating entire subterranean communities complete with churches, storage rooms, and ventilation systems.
Hike the Lycian Way
This 330-mile coastal trail between Antalya and Fethiye ranks among the world’s great long-distance walks, though most people tackle shorter sections rather than the whole thing. The path winds along clifftops with views of turquoise Mediterranean waters, passes through ancient Lycian ruins, and connects traditional mountain villages where locals still offer tea to passing hikers.
Spring and fall are ideal for hiking—summer heat can be brutal, while winter brings rain that makes some sections impassable.
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Discover Pamukkale’s Thermal Terraces
These white calcium terraces look like frozen waterfalls cascading down a hillside, but they’re actually formed by mineral-rich hot springs that have been flowing for thousands of years. You can wade in the warm pools while gazing across the Menderes River valley, though crowds can be intense during peak tourist season.
The adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis adds historical depth—Roman emperors once came here for the supposedly healing waters.
Experience Ani’s Ghost City
Near the Armenian border, the ruined city of Ani sits abandoned on a high plateau, like something from a post-apocalyptic movie. This was once a major medieval city with over 100,000 residents, but wars and earthquakes left behind only churches, walls, and empty buildings that slowly crumble in the harsh Anatolian climate.
Getting here requires effort—it’s remote and involves border formalities—but standing among these ruins with views across to Armenia creates an incredibly haunting experience.
Sail the Turquoise Coast
The stretch of coastline between Marmaris and Antalya offers some of the most beautiful sailing in the Mediterranean, with hidden coves, ancient ruins, and charming fishing villages accessible only by boat. Traditional wooden gulets (Turkish sailing boats) offer everything from day trips to week-long adventures where you can swim in crystal-clear waters and explore ruins without any crowds.
Kas and Kalkan make excellent bases for boat trips, while the Twelve Islands near Fethiye provide endless exploration opportunities.
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Relax in Oludeniz’s Blue Lagoon
This protected bay near Fethiye features water so blue and clear it looks artificially colored, surrounded by pine-covered mountains that reflect perfectly in the calm lagoon. Paragliders launch from nearby Babadag Mountain, creating this constant aerial show overhead while beachgoers lounge on the pebble beach.
The lagoon stays relatively calm even when the open sea gets rough, making it perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Wander Through Ephesus
One of the world’s best-preserved ancient cities, Ephesus gives you a real sense of what Roman urban life was like 2,000 years ago. The Library of Celsus façade is absolutely stunning, while the Great Theatre still hosts performances occasionally.
Walking down marble streets worn smooth by centuries of foot traffic, you can almost hear the merchants, philosophers, and citizens who once made this place one of the ancient world’s most important cities.
Trek Mount Ararat
Turkey’s highest peak, at 16,854 feet, Mount Ararat dominates the eastern Anatolian landscape like a massive volcanic pyramid. Climbing it requires permits, guides, and serious preparation—this isn’t a casual weekend hike. The mountain holds deep cultural significance as the supposed resting place of Noah’s Ark, while the views from the summit encompass Armenia, Iran, and the vast Anatolian plateau.
Base camps offer incredible stargazing in the air so clear it feels like you could touch the Milky Way.
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Explore Sumela Monastery
Clinging to a cliff face in the Pontic Mountains near Trabzon, Sumela Monastery looks like it was placed there by divine intervention rather than human engineering. The Byzantine monastery dates to the 4th century and required a recent restoration after years of neglect.
Getting there involves a forest hike that’s beautiful in itself, while the monastery’s location, 3,900 feet above sea level, provides incredible views across the green valleys of Turkey’s Black Sea region.
Discover Goreme Open Air Museum
This UNESCO World Heritage site contains the world’s largest concentration of rock-cut churches, carved by early Christians into Cappadocia’s volcanic tuff. The Dark Church preserves some of the best Byzantine frescoes you’ll see anywhere, while the complex layout shows how entire communities lived and worshipped in these cave systems.
Early morning visits avoid the worst crowds and offer better light for photography.
Experience Turkish Bath Culture
Forget the touristy hammams near major attractions—seek out neighborhood baths where locals actually go to relax and socialize. In places like Bursa or Ankara, traditional baths operate much like they have for centuries, with marble slabs, steaming rooms, and attendants who’ll scrub away layers of skin you didn’t know you had.
The ritual takes hours and leaves you feeling like a completely new person.
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Visit Ancient Troy
While the actual ruins might disappoint fans of Homer’s epic (it’s mostly foundation stones and walls), Troy’s historical significance makes it worth visiting for anyone interested in how legend and archaeology intersect. Nine different cities were built on this site over 4,000 years, and walking among the excavations while pondering the Trojan War creates this fascinating blend of myth and reality.
The nearby museum helps explain what you’re actually looking at.
Explore Hasankeyf Before It’s Gone
This ancient town on the Tigris River represents 12,000 years of continuous human settlement, with cave dwellings, medieval bridges, and Ottoman architecture all crammed into a dramatic riverside setting. Unfortunately, a controversial dam project is flooding much of the site, making this a ‘see it before it’s gone’ destination.
The remaining caves and clifftop castle provide glimpses into how people lived here from prehistoric times through the Ottoman era.
Raft the Coruh River
Eastern Turkey’s Coruh River offers some of the world’s most exciting whitewater rafting, with Class IV and V rapids cutting through dramatic mountain scenery near the Georgian border. The season runs from May through September, with peak flows in June creating the biggest thrills.
Local outfitters in Yusufeli provide everything from half-day trips to multi-day expeditions that combine rafting with camping and village visits.
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Discover Lake Van
Turkey’s largest lake sits 5,400 feet above sea level in the country’s far east, surrounded by volcanic peaks and hosting Akdamar Island with its beautiful Armenian church. The lake’s alkaline waters support only one fish species but create this incredible blue color that changes throughout the day.
Swimming is popular despite the high altitude chill, while boat trips to various islands provide historical and cultural insights into this remote region.
Explore Nemrut Dagi
King Antiochus I built this mountaintop monument around 50 BC, creating giant stone heads that now lie scattered around the summit like ancient Easter Island statues. Sunrise and sunset visits are traditional when the lighting makes the carved faces seem almost alive.
Getting here requires a substantial drive through remote eastern Anatolia, but the bizarre sight of these massive heads emerging from rocky terrain makes the journey worthwhile.
Experience Safranbolu’s Ottoman Architecture
This UNESCO World Heritage town preserves Ottoman residential architecture better than anywhere else in Turkey, with narrow cobblestone streets lined by traditional wooden houses that lean out over the roadway. The town once controlled the saffron trade (hence the name), and walking through the old quarter feels like stepping back several centuries.
Local families still live in many of the historic houses, maintaining traditional crafts and offering glimpses into Ottoman domestic life.
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Relax at Patara Beach
This 12-mile stretch of sand near Kas remains relatively undeveloped because it serves as a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles. The beach, backed by ancient Lycian ruins, creates this perfect combination of natural beauty and historical significance.
Swimming and sunbathing are allowed, but development restrictions keep crowds manageable even during peak season. The nearby village of Patara provides simple restaurants and accommodation.
Trek the Kackar Mountains
Turkey’s most dramatic mountain range offers alpine hiking through landscapes that feel more like Switzerland than the Middle East. The region between Rize and Artvin features glacial lakes, wildflower meadows, and traditional Laz villages where locals still practice seasonal farming.
Trekking routes range from day hikes to multi-day expeditions, with mountain huts and village homestays providing accommodation for longer adventures.
Turkey’s Hidden Depths
Beyond Istanbul’s well-deserved fame lies a country that could keep curious travelers busy for months without repeating experiences. From underground cities that once sheltered thousands to mountain peaks that test serious climbers, Turkey offers adventures that range from relaxing beach days to challenging wilderness expeditions.
The country’s position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East created this incredible cultural mixture that shows up in everything from architecture and cuisine to music and religious practices. Many of these destinations remain relatively unknown to international visitors, meaning you can often explore ancient ruins, hike mountain trails, or relax on beaches with only local company.
The infrastructure exists to reach almost anywhere, but the willingness to venture beyond standard tourist routes opens up a version of Turkey that most visitors never discover—one where every region tells its own story and every landscape offers its own rewards.
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