Historical Places in Turkey

Arguably the most spectacular example of Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia has been a cathedral, a mosque, and today is a museum and one of Istanbul's biggest attractions. Explore its vast interior, admiring the breathtaking domed ceiling, intricate frescoes, and impressive marble designs. All visitors (non-Muslims included) are allowed to enter. Guided tour is available.

The ancient city of Ephesus is located in the Aegean region alongside the coast of Lonia. Full of historical sites and ruins of temples and monuments from the Neolithic Age, Ephesus is home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, i.e. Temple of Artemis. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ephesus also houses the Gospel of John, one of the seven churches in Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

This huge and beautiful Sultan Ahman Mosque sits right opposite the Hagia Sofia and houses hundreds of thousands of detailed decorations. It is famous for its blue interiors and is also known as the Blue Mosque. It is Istanbul's most picturesque building, complemented by the breathtaking architecture inside.

Basilica Cistern is the largest cistern in the city of Istanbul, built underneath the Stoa Basilica. It has hundreds of decorated columns and is a simply breathtaking piece of architecture. There is only a few feet of water in the cistern today, above which platforms are built for people to tour it.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goreme Open Air Museum is a monastery complex with a cluster of Church ruins carved in Cappadocian stone. This historical site is nestled in the Nevsehir region and is quite popular for its signature landmark, the Dark Church. Goreme is visited by hundreds of thousands each year for the fascinating churches adorned with beautifully painted frescoes along the walls.

Translating to “Potbelly Hill”, Gobekli Tepe is a must-visit place for you if you are fond of architecture and history. Situated around 12 kilometres from Urfa city, this archaeological site is located in the Southeast Anatolia region of the country. The place was discovered by German archaeologist Klaus Schmidt, who believes that the site possesses the ruins of world’s first temple! Even the ruins present here date back to nearly 11,000 years, around 5,000 years older than the Stonehenge! With such an interesting site present in Turkey, you must visit the place during your trip.

Kayakoy is an abandoned ghost town that serves as an open air museum with 3 preserved churches and 500 houses. The largest church is the Basilica of Panagia Parigoritissa which exhibits beautiful Gothic style architecture. There is a private museum which displays the history of Kakakoy and a fountain situated in the centre of the town.

Situated regally atop a high peninsula, Alanya castle offers a walk through the history of Turkey itself. In sharp contrast to the modern city centre, these highly fortified walls enclose the remnants of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman dynasties. One can climb to the top floor of the Red tower to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean views, complete with lush vegetation surrounding the area. It can be reached by Alanya cable car.

Sumela Monastery is an ancient monastery located on a cliff in Macka region of Trabzon. It is a 1600-year-old Orthodox monastery whose walls are decorated with beautiful frescoes from the 18th century, depicting biblical scenes of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Its location is prominent as it is surrounded by dense forest, and one can also engage in mountain climbing and trekking to reach there.

Situated close to the Antalya province of Turkey, Aspendos is a famous historic attraction that was once a Greco-Roman city in Pamphylia. It is divided into the Lower and Upper City and is renowned for its magnificent architecture dating back to the Antiquity. The most famous attraction here is a Roman theatre which is among the best-preserved ones in the world. Aspendos is mostly visited on a tour from Antalya and Side.

The Derinkuyu Underground City is the deepest underground city in Cappadocia, with an impressive depth of 85 metres. It is a giant labyrinth of cave-like rooms with an elaborate ventilation system, connecting passageways, and discrete entrances. With huge well-lit passages, explore every part of the city, including churches, schools, wine cellars, livestock and food storage places, graveyards, and communal places where people could eat, meet, and worship together.