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Europe Turkey See & Do

15 Places You Need to See Before You

Leave Turkey

Lake Van | © Adam Jones/Wikimedia Commons

FERIDE YALAV-HECKEROTH
UPDATED: 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

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Turkey is known for many of its most popular sights such as the Hagia
Sophia or Ephesus. However, there’s also plenty to see that’s not so well-
known and lies off the beaten track. From hidden ancient cities to natural
wonders, we have chosen some of the alternative sights you should see
while in Turkey.
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Aphrodisias

Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017, Aphrodisias was a small
ancient Greek city that is still relatively unknown to visitors. Named after
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, the site is located near the village of Geyre.
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Aphrodisias © Carole Raddato/Wikimedia Commons

Şirince

About an hour from Izmir, the small village of Şirince is an absolutely stunning
place with old stone houses that are completely in tune with the natural
landscape. Formerly inhabited by Greeks, the village is all cobblestone streets,
ornate wooden doors, and glorious nature.
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Şirince © Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

Hasankeyf

The historic town of Hasankeyf will soon dissolve underwater due to an

upcoming dam project and is therefore an essential sight to see before it
completely disappears. The ancient caves, as well as the historic bridge and
mosques, are all truly exceptional.

Hasankeyf | © Omer Unlu/Flickr

Lake Eğirdir
A destination on the famous 500 km St Paul trail, Lake Eğirdir is the perfect
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summer retreat where your only companions will beathe
citymountains that overlook

the water. Make sure to check out the Greek-Roman ruins of Sagalassos and
Antioch (Pisidia) while you’re in the area.

Lake Eğirdir © Klaus-Peter Simon/Wikimedia Commons

Ani

Completely abandoned in a stunning valley of deep canyons and looming hills,

the remains of the ancient city of Ani are a wonderful discovery. Once the
flourishing capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom, the dilapidated cathedrals,
churches, and citadels continue to mesmerize wandering visitors.
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Ani © William Neuheisel/Flickr

Lake Van

Another overlooked destination that is a true natural beauty, Lake Van is Turkey’s
largest lake and is most famous for Akdamar Island where the 10th century Holy
Cross Cathedral still stands overlooking the saline soda lake.

Lake Van © gozturk/Wikimedia Commons

T
Termessos
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a cityTermessos really
One of the most well preserved ancient sites in Turkey,

impresses with its grand theater as well as the view of the mountain range, since
the site is at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters.

Termessos © Ingo Mehling/Wikimedia Commons

Olympos

There are a lot of great things to say about Olympos, mainly that it’s located at the
end of a rather beautiful beach surrounded by pine covered mountains. After a
day relaxing on the beach venture into this ancient city to gaze at the historic
Lycian ruins.
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Olympos © Haluk Comertel/Wikimedia Commons

Ishak Pasha Palace

Another stunning sight in the middle of nowhere, the Ishak Pasha Palace looks
out over a wide mostly uninhabited expanse. Built between 1685 and 1784, the
structure is quite the rare example of Turkish palace structures.

Ishak Pasha Palace © Sara Yeomans/Wikimedia Commons

Kızkalesi
Kızkalesi
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Located on a small island off the coast of the Mersinaprovince,
city Kızkalesi is a

breathtaking sight that was believed to have been built during the Byzantine
Empire. Extensively rebuilt by the Cilician Kingdom of Armenia, the fortress was
captured by the Ottomans in 1471.

Kızkalesi © Zeynel Cebeci/Wikimedia Commons

Balıklıgöl, Urfa

This small lake full of carp fish is quite the sacred spot, as well as being
absolutely beautiful due to the impressive structure of the Halil-ur-Rahman
Mosque right next to it. Legend has it that it was here that the pyre, where
Abraham was supposed to be executed, was turned into a lake full of fish.
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Balıklıgöl © Anadolu/Wikimedia Commons

Kaleüçağız Köyü

The origins of the ancient tombs near the village of Kaleüçağız are still unknown
but are believed to be from the 4th century BC. The necropolis, sarcophagi, and
rock tombs mostly by the water’s edge are a real sight to behold and discover.

Üçağız © Nicola Feola/Wikimedia Commons

Özkonak Underground City

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Cappadocia is famous for its underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu,
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however the underground city of Özkonak has a feature that sets it completely
apart from the other two. The site, which was discovered in 1972 by a farmer, has

a communication system that allowed inhabitants to talk to the floors above or

below them.

Özkonak © Helen Cook/Flickr

House of the Virgin Mary

The rebuilt ruins of this historic house, near the Sultaniye village, are believed to
be where Virgin Mary spent her latter years. A chapel has also been built on the
site for visitors to leave their prayers and every year on August 15th (the Feast of
the Assumption of Mary), Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim clergy hold a joint
service.
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House of Virgin Mary © Mfryc/Wikimedia Commons

Trotsky House, Büyükada

Istanbul’s Princes Islands offer the perfect getaway from the city, especially
Büyükada, which also happens to have a pretty unique sight. In 1929, the Marxist
revolutionary Leon Trotsky lived in a house on Büyükada for four years writing an
autobiography and the History of the Russian Revolution. His house is currently
on sale for around 4 million dollars.
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Trotsky House © Bertilvidet/Wikimedia Commons

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