Important Things to Do on a Tour of Turkey
Turkey straddles between Asia and Europe like a bridge and is at the heart of much of Europe’s history and culture. It offers relaxing beach holidays or strenuous mountain trekking. There is a wealth of history to absorb and some of the best cuisine and wine in the world.
Istanbul
Start your adventure travel at the old imperial capital of Istanbul. This was the capital city of the eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. On a Bosphorus Tour you can see how Istanbul spreads over low hills between Europe and Asia and three seas, which are the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Take a Bosphorus Cruise across the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea.
Visit the Topkapi Palace, the home to Ottoman sultans for over 400 years. Located on a high promontory, it commands a view over the Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara. Spend at least half a day walking through the courtyards, imperial halls, gardens and harems. Move on to the Hagia Sophia, once an orthodox cathedral, then a mosque and today a museum. Its dome is the most famous example of Byzantine architecture. Sample traditional foods at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and dine out in the evening like a sultan on the banks of the Bosphorus.
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Peninsula is in the European part of Turkey with the Aegean Sea to its west and the Dardanelles (the narrow seaway that separates Europe and Asia) to the east. This is the site of prolonged battles during World War 1 between Ottoman troops on one side and British and ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand) forces on the other.
Mediterranean coast
Adventure tours along the western coast of Turkey begin at the ancient site of Troy, just opposite the Gallipoli Peninsula. Take the road south of Troy to ancient Smyrna, today’s Izmir, which was the birthplace of Homer, the poet who wrote about the Trojan War. Ephesus is just an hour from Izmir. One of the most important cities and ports in the ancient world, its commanding temple to Artemis, or Roman Diana, the goddess of hunting, is made of pure marble. The hills above Ephesus were home to the Virgin Mary during her last years.
The Mediterranean coast, south of Ephesus is known as the Turquoise Coast and bustles with the popular beach resorts of Marmaris and Bodrum. Rest awhile on the beach before heading further south to Antakya (ancient Antioch). This was the Roman Empire’s fourth largest city after Rome, Alexandria and Ephesus.
Mountains
Head for the Kackar Mountains along the Black Sea coast to start your adventure tours in earnest. Jason and the Argonauts sailed by here as they searched for the Golden Fleece. Turn south into central Anatolia, the home of such ancient people as the Hittites, Phrygians and Lycians.
The sources of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates lie further east in the mountains of eastern Anatolia. The wild beauty here draws few tourists. Visit ancient and medieval monuments built by Turkish, Islamic, Armenian, Russian and Georgian settlers between Trabazon, Erzurum and Kars. The ancient Armenian capital of Ani is just east of Kars on the border with modern Armenia. Continue along the Armenian border until you reach Mount Ararat, the final resting place of Noah’s Ark after the Great Flood.
Whether classical antiquities, biblical sites, medieval monuments or modern beach resorts, Turkey has treasures for all tastes.
Sally Palmer writes regularly on adventure travel for a range of tourism websites and blogs.
