As we mentioned here in our Turkey overall post, Turkey is huge. We spent a month there and still only got to see half of the country! While I can’t recommend every smaller city we went to, I wanted to make sure to give you as much information about them as possible. So here is a quick run down of some other cities in Turkey.
Bursa, Turkey
We wouldn’t recommend a stop in Bursa unless you need to break up a road trip like we did. Or if you are an avid skier and want to hit the slopes of Uludağ mountain in the winter. They have a market known for its Ottoman-era architecture which sells items for local life with suits, wedding dresses, jewelry, and a fruits/veggies market. It definitely isn’t a place to get souvenirs to bring home.
If you do decide to visit the town, their Grand Mosque is interesting because it’s the first mosque we’ve seen with a water fountain on the inside in the middle. With kids running around and families lounging, it felt very homey and different from other mosques we’ve been to. Also located about a 20 minute walk away is the Muradiye Complex which houses the tombs of many sultans. If you are looking for some delicious fish, we recommend Arap Şükrü Çetin restaurant. The hosts were friendly and the fish was delicious at a reasonable price.
We tried to hike Uludag in the summer but it was honestly harder to find trails than most mountains we’ve been to. There weren’t many places to pull over on the long windy road up the mountain. We found a trail at the top that followed the Teleferik or cable car, but it wasn’t the best hiking. We may have missed something but it was harder to find information online for trails here. The big draw is skiing in the winter. In the summer, the ski town is deserted.
Izmir, Turkey
Izmir is a region and also a city. This section is specific to the city. Honestly, I would not recommend a stop in Izmir unless it’s on the route to where you are going and you need a stop over. Then one night will suffice. It’s a big city that has had a lot of crime recently. While we didn’t experience it, many locals complained of theft, murder and general crime on the rise in the area. We visited the major tourists highlights like Konak Square and the Clock Tower (nice but small), Kemeraltı Bazaar (felt more local with underwear, shoes, general shopping), Konak Pier (a defunct shopping mall with all the stores inside closed, but really cute and nice restaurants on the perimeter facing the water with a great breeze!) and Alsancak neighborhood which felt like a washed up college town with tons of graffiti, old bars, and tattoo shops.
So although we didn’t love the main attractions, here are three rather interesting things we did find 1) a free train museum 2) a nice neighborhood 3) a beautiful park.
1) Walking through Alsancak, we found a free train museum, TCDD İzmir Müzesi, that was actually informative and interesting. It’s rather small but gives some history of the British helping to build a train system in Turkey. 2) If you are looking for an adorable neighborhood that is tree lined and feels like a cross between a Persian street ambiance and NYC high end, look no further. Nestled between the water on the west and Kültürpark İzmir on the east, Doktor Mustafa Enver Bey Cad on the north and Vasıf Çınar Blv on the south, this few block neighborhood had the cutest coffee shops, restaurants, and shops. Definitely take a stroll through. 3) While you’re on the stroll, head over to Kültürpark İzmir. This park has the best tree lined shaded walking path. It goes around the whole park and is just the most pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
One restaurant we would highly recommend is Pizza Locale. It had 10 amazing gluten free options and the regular pizza was amazing too. Such interesting flavors on pizza like goat cheese and balsamic or mushroom and truffle. The price was so cheap as well compared to the rest of the country so definitely check it out!
Çeşme, Turkey
If you are looking for a classic adorable summer beach town, we’ve got you. Çeşme is rocking the summer waves of the Aegean Sea. With hot summer days, the cool waters are a refreshing treat. The Marina area has so many cute shops and restaurants in a wide variety of ranges from high end near the yachts of the marina to Burger King down by the swimming area. One of my favorite things are the Adorondac chairs that are set up at Güneşlenme Terası right on the water to watch the sun set.
This is a great place to try local fish. The fish is caught daily and brought in fresh so you know it’s good. With so many restaurants on the walkway around the marina, it’s hard to go wrong. We had a great experience at Leon’un Meyhanesi.
Pro tip: if you want to swim but don’t want the sand, trust me on this. We saw so many locals swimming right off the walkway just in front of this strip of restaurants before sunset like 4-7pm. There are a few ladders here so it makes getting into the water so easy. Join the locals for a refreshing swim!
The main event here is swimming. The most well known beach is Ilıca Beach but it gets crowded quickly for good reason. The sand is pure white, fine grain. The waters are crystal clear with a beautiful blue gradient out to the sea. Pro tip: park for free just slightly west of the beach near the Swissotel on the side streets. Then walk to the beach on the side alley touching the west side of the Swissotel. Here you will find less people as the private hotel beaches cut off access on both sides. But you still get to enjoy the same sand and water, just less people!
After your fill of the beach, head into Alaçatı Çarşı for the most adorable, Greek Island-esque, charming neighborhood. This walkable city center has tons of restaurants, coffee/tea houses, beachwear and jewelry stores. You can get lost in the beautiful pink bougainvillea-draped walls covering all the cute boutique hotels.
If you are looking for a more adventurous outing, check out the numerous windsurfing rentals on the southern side of Alaçatı. There are many places to rent from all located in one central area. Search Myga Surf City // Alaçatı. Even if you don’t want to windsurf yourself, it’s a fun place to grab a bite to eat and watch everyone else try!
If you are looking for a place to stay, we’d recommend Kandıra Butik Hotel as it’s run by a local guy and his wife, who just had a baby while we were there! His mom does all the cooking for breakfast and they are just the nicest. The room is a little basic but it was clean. The atmosphere he’s created with great hang out spaces, a pool, and a balcony off every room is so relaxing. It was only a 15 minute walk from the marina. Very nice!
Nysa, Turkey
The town of Nysa is very small. I would not recommend going out of your way for this town but if you happen to be driving by, it’s worth a stop to see Nysa Meclis Binası. This ancient town is fun to walk around because it’s more on the side of a mountain/hill with trees and olive gardens than in open flat land (like many other ancient cities in Turkey). You could definitely spend some time hiking here. The grand theater is open to walking around. If you need a quick spot of lunch, stop at Kardeşler Aperatif. While this small cafe doesn’t have a big menu, we definitely recommend the kofta sandwich!
Antalya, Turkey
Antalya is a proper big city. In 2023, it was the 4th most visited city in the world so the airport traffic here is intense. The city has everything: modern shopping malls, movie theaters, an old city, an international airport, many museums, a variety of neighborhoods to stay in, the list goes on and on. From the few days we spent here, I get a sense that Antalya is also a gateway to other places. For example, most excursions and tours advertise attractions that are more than an hour away. The surrounding area has A LOT of beach resorts as it’s right on the Mediterranean Sea. So if you are looking for a relaxing all inclusive resort, there are hundreds of them lining the coast. More on that below.
In the City Antalya
Kaleiçi is the historical city center of Antalya. The city was originally built in this small bay for protection. Today the old houses remain which are adorable but half of them seem to be crumbling. The area is most adorable from above. Walk through Tophane Parkı to get a good view of the historical neighborhood. When walking the streets of Kaleiçi, we found one of three things: shops selling goods for tourists (carpets, jewelry, pottery), luxury hotels and restaurants (but no parking to be found anywhere), or dirty night clubs and bars. It was a rather odd mix of things. We were not there at night so I cannot confirm how late the night clubs are open but judging by the amount of bottles and trash, it seems like people were having a good time. The Mermerli Plajı (beach) is right here. With no sand around and very limited space, you can pay a fee to rent a lounge chair and swim right off this pier. If you don’t want to pay, just a few steps away near the lighthouse, people were swimming off the big rocks. It doesn’t look comfortable to get to but many people were doing it. The water is crystal clear here so you can see what you are diving into! If you happen to be in the area on a Friday, swing by the Friday Market. It’s a large farmers market selling all sorts of fresh fruits, veggies, handmade cheese, dried fruits, nuts, herbs. Bring cash. Almost none of the vendors speak English so come prepared with knowing a few numbers or at least be quick with your phone for the calculator app. If you are looking for a larger beach, check out Konyaaltı Beach. Running most of the western coast of the city, this beach is large enough for everyone. It often doesn’t feel crowded even though there are lots of people. It is a pebble beach so come prepared with water shoes if you don’t like walking on rocks. Also you are able to rent chairs, umbrellas, and tables from one of the many vendors here.
Outside the City Antalya
If you have a car, going just west of the city to the mountains was our favorite thing.
One of my absolute favorite things we did the whole trip was hike to the Termessos Ancient City Ruins. I was unfamiliar with this city or its history but fascinatingly enough Homer mentioned the Solymans (people who lived here) in his Iliad, the story of Troy, as brave warriors. Also this was one of very few cities that Alexander the Great was unable to conquer due to its advantageous position in the mountains. The Turkey Museum pass gets you in here. After entering the park with your pass (or buying a ticket), you drive about 7.5 km up the road and park at a small parking lot. There are bathrooms up here. Then you hike about 2km. It’s a proper hike through the mountains. As you are hiking, you will come upon different parts of this Termessos ancient city. The gymnasium, the temples, the houses, the quarry, the stone coffins, and the theater. This place is mind blowing as nothing has been excavated. Most ancient cities we’ve visited have all had to be excavated and “rebuilt” to show you what they think it was like. This city is all still standing from the original builders. It’s absolutely incredible. Also something that literally moved me to tears was the theater on the side of a mountain with the most breathtaking views of mountain peaks in the background.
If you enjoy hiking, make sure to check out any part of the Lycian Way. This 509 kilometer long hiking trail from Fethiye to Antalya connects 18 ancient cities. You are able to hop on and off of it at many different sections. Most sections cost money to enter as it’s part of a national park. If you are looking for some free hiking, follow a pin on Google Maps to Göynük Canyon. There is a free parking lot here. To enter the canyon/National Park, you need to pay $5, but if you want to go rafting or ziplining here, the entrance fee is included in your rafting/ziplining cost. However, we did find an extensive network of free hiking trails here. Instead of entering the canyon/national park, on the north side (right hand side) of the parking lot you’ll find what looks like a gravel road. Walk up this. When you see the first red marked arrows or Russian writing, you’ll know you are in the right place. Basically legend goes that a guy named Ali created an extensive system of hiking trails, all marked with red markers on rocks. We took the path to the “cave” which is on Google Maps as “Пещеры возле каньйона”. This was an honestly hard hike. The cave is less cave and more overlook, but it’s absolutely stunning hiking into these beautiful mountains. It took us a little less than an hour up and an hour back. The down was scary as the incline is steep and lots of slippery gravel. Do wear proper hiking shoes and bring water!
Another amazing natural phenomenon is found at Mount Chimaera. Here you will find the eternal flames. Literally there is gas coming out of the mountain in a few spots that is on fire and has been so for thousands of years. After a short hike, just 1-2 km, you will see the flames. If you are able to make a night visit around dusk, people bring marshmallows and roast them on the flames. Don’t forget to bring a headlamp or flashlight as there is NO lighting to help you get back to your car on the path at night!
Additional Things
- If you are looking for outdoor rock climbing, some of the best in the country is found here in the town of Geyikbayırı.
- Going east to Lara, you will find some incredible resorts. We drove past amazingly huge resorts like Titanic Mardan Palace, Kremlin Palace, and Delphin Imperial Hotel. With many water parks, outlet shopping, and amusement parks, there is literally something for everyone out this way.
- Keep going east to Belek and you’ve found the luxury golf courses. Antalya Golf Club has two 18-hole golf courses: The PGA Sultan and The Pasha Course. Tiger Woods even played here.
Konya, Turkey
Konya is by far the cutest city we went to in Turkey. Konya is straight out of an old time fairy tale. The market/bazaar Bedesten Çarşı reminds me of an old Swiss village with clean neat shops on the bottom and idyllic housing on top. However the shops aren’t selling touristy things. Instead they are selling actual everyday life things like tennis shoes, dresses and suits, flower bouquets and containers used for celebrations. There are a few beautifully laid out old town squares with people sitting in the shade on benches, having kahve and çay (coffee and tea). The alleyways between the shops are brick walkways with benches and planters. It’s honestly adorable.
Speaking of adorable, the first thing we noticed when we got here is how well dressed everyone is. Maybe because it was a Saturday afternoon but everyone seemed more put together, dressed up with makeup. It really felt like a more elegant and elevated city. We read that the city overall is more conservative muslim which seemed to be true in the style of women’s dress with more hijabs and abayas here than anywhere else we experienced in Turkey.
Walking around the town was our favorite thing to do. We stayed at Think Hotel just west of Mevlana Museum. I highly recommend staying downtown here because everything was within walking distance which made for a great experience. Walk through Bedesten Çarşı market area. Grab lunch at Celal Bey Etli Ekmek. Etli Ekmek is like pide but it is super thin. Think of the flattest flat bread. They bake it fresh in the oven and you can watch it. You can get meat or cheese. It was very good. Walk over to Alaaddin Hill Park. This adorable park is a round hill. You can walk around it or through it to the other side. The lush green grass and beautiful blooming flowers had many people picnicking and playing in the shade of the trees.
All the museums we went to were free except for Karatay Madrasa which is a museum of tile work. It was only €3 but since it’s included in the Turkey Museum Card, it was free for us. It’s a very small place but the ancient tile work they have saved inside is incredible and very stunning to see. Kültür Park is a must see. Again, another park that is well laid out, well taken care of, lots of shade, beautiful trees and grass. There were so many college kids hanging out in the lawns and kids playing. Kultur Park also has fountains that put on a nice light show at night! While you’re in the area, walk over to Atatürk Müzesi. This house, now turned into a museum, was gifted to Ataturk (the founder of modern Turkey) on his visits to the city. Again, a super small museum with just a few rooms, but some good history. Konya Archeological Museum, again free, is worth the short stop. It has a few artifacts from Çatalhöyük Archaeology site (45 minutes outside the city) detailing how the city was built with no walkways, roofs were used to cook and get from place to place, and the most interesting were the bodies that were buried under the houses. They have a fully intact skeleton of a baby and an adult.
No stop to Konya would be complete without a stop at Mevlana Museum and Tomb of Mevlana Rumi. Located in the same complex, again free, this small courtyard style museum has many dervish artifacts. The mausoleum of revered Sufi mystic Rumi is located inside the mosque. This area is known for the whirling dervishes. Their mystical artistic practice combines dance and meditation. The Mevlana Cultural Center, just a 10 minute walk east, hosts a live performance of the whirling dervishes every Saturday at 7pm. It’s only 100 tl per person. The performance lasts about an hour. It’s astonishing to watch these men spin for up to 15 minutes at a time.
Tuz Gölü Tesisleri, Turkey
I wouldn’t go too far out of my way for this stop but it was interesting. Translated as Salt Lake, this is the 2nd largest lake in Turkey that produces 60% of the salt used in the country. Depending on the time of year you go, you’ll find different amounts of water. We went in August and there was no water. The lake was dried up leaving just miles of pink salt to walk on. It’s pretty incredible and a little overwhelming. People stop for photos. You can walk on it either in your shoes or barefoot. It’s free to enter but they’ll charge you 10 tl for washing your feet, 10 tl to use the bathroom. In terms of amenities, this little truck stop gift shop and restaurant leave a lot to be desired. I wouldn’t go here for good food. Either bring your own or leave enough time to make it to the next big city (Aksaray or Ankara).
Beypazarı, Turkey
We had read a lot about this small town just an hour and half north of Ankara. It described it as an idyllic mountain town with a cute market square area that serves carrots as the local delicacy as the region grows the produce so well. So we went an hour out of our way to get here and while it was a nice town, it wasn’t the cutest or most special thing. The food we found was just ok and the carrot juice was kind of odd. Our current recommendation is don’t go out of your way for this town. However I will say the drive on the road D140 through the changing landscape from red and yellow mountains to lush green tree covered mountains was stunning. There weren’t many towns to stop in but the scenery was impressive.
Şile, Turkey
Are you looking for an adorable seaside village just an hour and half from Istanbul? Then look no further than Sile (pronounced like the American woman’s name Shelia). Located on the northern border of Turkey and the southern coast of the Black Sea, this town is outstandingly beautiful. The cliffs meet with the sea in dramatic sweeping views. The sea is a crystal clear aqua blue that makes for a beautiful backdrop to pictures. The area is known for its seafood for good reason. It’s so fresh and delicious. I’d definitely recommend you try the sea bream and the palamut. There are local, quick fry places where prices will be cheaper. Or you can go high end for a fancy night out and spend more on a fish dinner. We tried both and definitely recommend them both. We did a quick local spot in our swimsuits after taking a dip in the water. And then we went to a fancy place after dressing up one night. For great service, the most amazing view, and some delicious fish, I’d recommend İskandil Restaurant located right next to the lighthouse. If you want a beautiful view of the water, the zipline, and some great Turkish Coffee, stop at Kavala Cafe right at the lighthouse.
While the beaches are great, instead of paying the parking fee and getting all sandy, we decided to go more local and swim at Şile Merkez Plaj. It was within walking distance of our hotel, we set our stuff on the rocks and swam all day for free.
