Turkey - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Tour Highlights
- Take the Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul and appreciate the city skyline dotted with spires of countless mosques.
- Tour the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, which abounds with Byzantine and Turkish structures.
- Visit the Topkapi Sarayi in Istanbul, a longtime residence of the Ottoman sultans.
- Lay eyes on rich Christian and Islamic artwork in the splendid Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
- Discover Goreme in Cappadocia on foot and from the balloon. The region is an open-air museum renowned for interesting rock formations and Christian churches in cavities of large rocks.
- Enjoy calcium-filled waters that flow over white travertine terraces in Pamukkale, the mineral-bath spa. Pamukkale is the UNESCO site, located next to ancient Hierapolis, the Greco-Roman spa town.
- In the Turkish capital of Ankara, take a look at items and artifacts exhibited in the Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
- Visit spectacular and peaceful Oludeniz Beach and enjoy scuba diving, jet skiing and paragliding that reveals marvelous vistas.
Travel Tips
- Turks are great hosts and you will be welcomed regardless of your background.
- Just pay attention not to show disrespect to national symbols and local customs and you shouldn’t have problems.
- Same sex relationships are still not fully accepted in Turkey. Try to avoid same sex PDA.
- ATMs are available in most cities. You won’t have trouble to use your credit and debit cards in the tourist resorts and cities.
- Traffic in Istanbul tends to be chaotic, so pay close attention when you cross the street.
Turkey has seasonal weather so please do check up on the best time to visit Turkey before planning your tour. And if you’re still hunting for more things to do and places to explore in Turkey, do check out our Turkey Travel Guide for more information.
Popular Tour Types in Turkey
- Turkey private tours: If you are looking to explore this beautiful country with a personalized touch, our Turkey private tours are for you. Hike to the outstanding town of Rize or witness the iconic hot air balloons at Cappadocia at your own convenience and comfort. You will get to see and experience everything you want in Turkey, without large tour groups to crowd your holiday experience.
- Turkey group tours: Looking to make new friends and explore the vast history and culture of Turkey? Book onto one of our Turkey group tours, where you can wander the bazaars of Istanbul or learn more about the history at Ephesus, and more!
- Turkey luxury tours: If you are feeling like splurging on your Turkish holiday, why not opt for one of our Turkey high-end tours. Stay in 4 and 5-star hotels throughout your travel period while indulging in Turkey’s rich hammam culture and learning about the country’s storied past at sights like Gallipoli.
- Turkey customized tours: Sometimes you just want something a little more bespoke when it comes to traveling. Speak to our travel experts and create your dream Turkey tour, from sailing around the shores of Bodrum to historical walking tours of the ruins of Ephesus and beyond. You dream it, and we will make it come true with our Turkey tailor made tours.
- Turkey family tours: Traveling with little ones in tow? Find activities and excursions to suit the whole gang with our Turkey family tours. From immersing yourself in the culture in Ankara to enjoying the open water on a boat trip from Fethiye, our family tours are made to ensure fun times for kids and adults alike.
- Turkey budget tours: With more wallet-friendly accommodation items and plenty of optional excursions to take part in at your leisure, our Turkey budget tours are a great way to experience the country’s rich culture, all on a shoestring budget.
Activity Based Turkey Tours
- Turkey history tours: From ancient Greeks to the Ottoman empire, Turkey is filled to the brim with historical landmarks and artifacts. With influences from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, there is a lot to see and learn. See the ruins of temples in Ephesus and the Trojan horse in Troy to get your fill of medieval history.
- Turkey adventure tours: It is a well known fact that Turkey is a cultural melting pot with amazing food, historical landmarks and temples, but not many people know that it is also a great destination for adventure junkies. Go scuba diving in the Aegean, sail the Black Sea, zip down the rugged landscape on a bike or take to the sky on a hot-air balloon on your Turkish adventure tour.
- Turkey sightseeing tours: Natural as well as man-made marvels, Turkey has it all. See the unique fairy chimney rock formations in Cappadocia and then head to Istanbul to marvel at the Hagia Sophia. Then, wrap your head around the sheer genius of Roman architects in your trip to the ancient amphitheater in Ephesus on Turkey sightseeing tours.
- Turkey cruise tours: Turkey boasts a long and beautiful coastline, and one of the best ways to see the country is by hitting the water on a cruise. From bigger ferries to small, sleek, and private Gulet sailboats, there are plenty of options to enjoy. There are also plenty of rivers and canals, such as around Kemer, that are worth exploring during your Turkey holiday.
- Turkey beach tours: Turkey has a warm and sunny climate, making it an ideal destination for a beach holiday. Soak up the sun in Kas, journey around the coast in Fethiye, or go to the beach parties in Bodrum. Whatever beachside vibe you are looking for, our Turkey beach tours can provide.
- Turkey hiking tours: Turkey’s diverse and scenic landscapes offer plenty of amazing hikes and long distance trails. Follow the coast from Marmaris, complete the iconic Lycian Way, or hit up the Turquoise Coast for an outstanding backdrop to your trek on one of Turkey hiking tours.
Popular Durations for a Turkey Trip
We recommend a minimum of seven days to truly get a feel for this beautiful country. But depending on your time and your budget, there are plenty of holiday options in Turkey, from long weekend four day whistle stop tours, to a month-long escapades.
Turkey Tours - Top Destinations To Visit
- Marvel at Turkish architecture in Istanbul: A cultural treasure trove, Istanbul is one of the most popular destinations among travelers visiting Turkey. Explore this amazing city on a guided tour and learn everything about Turkish architecture. Visit sites like Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern. These landmarks have influences from the Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottoman empires. Explore these sites at your own pace by booking an Istanbul tour.
- Fly in a hot-air balloon in Cappadocia: If you look for Turkey, you are bound to find an image of hot-air balloons flying high over rugged landscapes in Cappadocia. But that is not all this place is. Discover the ancient underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli and take a hike in the Ihlara Valley and explore its deep gorges. Every picture you take on these sites will be postcard worthy. Book your tour to Cappadocia now.
- Relax in a thermal pool in Pamukkale: Famous for its mineral-rich thermal pools, Pamukkale is the perfect place to relax your travel-weary feet. Right next to Pamukkale is Hierapolis, where you can see ancient ruins and visit the archeology museum to see the artifacts from the Roman times. So, on your Turkish trip, do make it a point fo visiting Pamukkale.
- Sunbathe in the amazing beaches in Antalya: The ancient port city of Antalya is home to some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. This is also a resort city where you can walk on the cobblestone streets which lead you to museums with artifacts of the classical era, ruins from the period of Alexander the Great, and snaking rivers which are ideal for rafting. Your holiday to Antalya is bound to be a great one.
- Explore Turkish history in Ephesus: Known as Selcuk in the present day, Ephesus is heaven for a history buff. Located in the Central Aegean coast, Ephesus is home to several Greco-Roman ruins. Explore the Library of Celsus, see the Ephesus amphitheater, and marvel at the ancient paintings and mosaics. Ephesus is also a city with deep Christian ties. It is believed that it was in Ephesus where seven Christian followers (Seven Sleepers) hid inside a cave to escape religious persecution and woke up 200 years later.
- Go on a cruise in the Black Sea Region: Want to spend your time on a cruise? A tour to the Black Sea Region is ideal for exactly this. Go island hopping, view Sumela Monastery, visit the city of Trabzon and relax on the beach in the scenic coastal area. But the sea is not the only thing on offer if you are traveling in this region. If you are a tea lover, head to the tea plantations in Rize. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of the city while sipping a hot cup of tea.
Peak Season and Low Season Tours in Turkey
- Peak Season: The best time to visit Turkey is in the cooler shoulder seasons from April to May and September to October. These are the periods when Turkey’s rather oppressive heat has waned and the tourist crowds are sparse.
- Low Season: The low season in Turkey is between November and March. This is because the temperature drops and the beach resorts close down. But as the summer holiday ends, the Turkish ski season kicks in around this time. So if fun in the snow is something up your alley, the low season in Turkey could be a great time for you to visit.
Popular Turkey Trip Travel Guides
If you are planning a trip to Turkey, you will want to know about the best time to visit Turkey as well as checking out all the available Turkey tours. You may also wish to learn more about the top things to do in Turkey. Once you are sure about some of the activities you wish to experience in Turkey, along with the destinations you want to visit, you may want to consider how many days to stay in Turkey. We generally recommend to stay at least 7 days in Turkey, but to get the most out of your trip to Turkey you can stay 14 days in Turkey or more.
Next, we recommend you start thinking about the money you can allocate to the trip to know whether you should be looking for a budget tour, a luxury tour, or perhaps a completely customized tour to Turkey. If you are in doubt, check all our Turkey tours at the top of this page.
Turkey is an amazing country to visit, and there may be other key factors that you wish to consider before traveling there. Please check our ‘'Turkey travel guide” which will give you a lot of relevant information about traveling to Turkey.