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Places to Visit in Turkey

With 4,00,000 years of human habitation, Istanbul is a melting pot of rich culture and history. The location of the city at the edge of Europe and Asia makes it a beautiful amalgamation of  mystic beauty of eastern culture and the tinge of a contemporary carnival. Istanbul has a personality of a storyteller who unfolds its beauty, people, food, architecture and culture one at a time. Istanbul boasts the historical charm of Hagia Sophia, picturesque architecture of the Blue Mosque, splendid shorelines with avant garde restaurants like Ulus 29 and Mikla overlooking  impeccable scenic views.

The Bosphorus strait holds the division between the two continents making it a perfect line of fusion. You can keep walking across the Istiklal Avenue and Grand Bazaar to enjoy the local shopping experience. Climb all the way up to the top of Galata and Maiden tower to witness the mesmerizing view of the city. Explore the magical elements inside the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and get mesmerised with the beauty of the Basilica Cistern. Istanbul city will keep fascinating you with all kinds of experiences with every passing day. From drinking the Turkish chai, relaxing in the Hammam to taking the tour of the city in the hot air balloon, cruising the Bosphorus and cycling around the Prince Islands,  Istanbul will give you the time of your life.

Istanbul tourism is undoubtedly at its peak most times of the year as it is topographically diverse and experiences sub climates in different parts of the city. The best time to visit Istanbul is between the months of March to May and September to November to experience the comfortable temperature. The summer months experience extremely high temperatures with humidity and temperature can go as low as minus 15 degrees during winters.

Antalya City is one of the prominent and modern cities of Turkey that has a number of tourist sites. As the city encompasses the Mediterranean coastline, it has plenty of stunning beaches and scenic destinations for the tourists. Some of the regions have mountains on the backdrop along with the blue sea which makes them even more alluring. The mesmerizing waterfalls, rivers and lush green of Antalya are exceptional.

An inevitable part of Antalya tourism is the rich past of the province. As Antalya had been a part of Byzantine, Ottoman, Greek and Roman Empires over the course of history, the tourist destinations here share a rustic past from the time they were built. There are remnants of ancient cities that give a lively feeling of how these cities of ancient Antalya had flourished once. There are various museums that exhibit the excavation findings from these sites in a sophisticated manner in order to simplify the otherwise complicated history of Antalya. The Old town Kaleici is particularly a major attraction of Antalya as it is a blend of the primeval Ottoman Empire as well as modernities.

Besides the natural beauty and historical places, Antalya also has a zestful nightlife. The city comes alive with the beats of music at the clubs, bars, and pubs. If you want to feel the essence of Turkey then you must visit the local bazaars of Antalya that keep buzzing with the locals and vendors. Since Antalya experiences a large number of tourists every year for various reasons, the city has got some most eloquent resorts and hotels which is why it is also known as the resort city. If you plan to visit Antalya then you must book a resort with a sea-facing because these are the ones that will give you the real pleasure of being at Antalya.

Ankara is the capital of the Republic of Turkey and is the second-largest city in the nation. Ankara City is home to many universities and a huge number of historical relics and museums are present here, so much so that it can safely be called the City of Universities or the City of Museums. Many international tourists stop at Ankara just to visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilization which houses the rare and precious findings of human history dating back to the Paleolithic age. Ankara Turkey is quite resplendent in its share of attractions like these which are rare and not to be found elsewhere in the world.

Ankara Tourism welcomes thousands of tourists from across the world with warm hospitality and facilities that beckon a visitor to explore the city at their own pace. To give an example, the public transport system is extremely convenient for any newcomer to the city, with a great number of state-owned as well as private buses, metro, subway, and taxis that are widely available and not expensive. How can one talk about Ankara and not mention the mouth-watering Turkish delicacies? In fact, Ankara is the city where one should embark on a gastronomic cruise through the endless bistros, cafes, and restaurants offering mezzes, baklava, kebabs, kofta-s, pide-s and not to forget the Turkish coffee at very affordable prices.

There is a thing in Ankara for tourists of all tastes - nature lovers, skiers, party hoppers, theatregoers. From lakes to ski resorts, nightclubs to ballet houses, Ankara caters to the needs of all its visitors. Few cities in the world are such a unique juxtaposition of history and the contemporary. While the Ankara Castle and  Roman Baths tell stories about Ankara's history, the Atakule, Anitkabir, and Kocatepe Mosque are emblems of its urban relevance. No wonder Ankara had a record-breaking 51.9 million visitors in the year 2019.