10 ultimate travel experiences you can only enjoy in Turkey

Let’s be honest: consolidating thousands of years of colourful history into a ‘top 10’ isn’t the world’s easiest job; in a perfect world you’d certainly include the likes of Mount Nemrut, Sumela Monastery and Göbekli Tepe into the list and give travellers a solid six weeks to see everything.

Only got a couple of weeks? There are plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can tick off across the country, each one possible to experience with our Wellness, Wine & Wisdom: A Women’s Tour of Turkey with Dilvin Yasa. 

Why not: 

1.    Experience the other side of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque 

Boasting more than 20,000 turquoise Iznik tiles, there is little more captivating than taking a seat inside 17th-century Blue Mosque (known locally as Sultanahmet Camii). Time your visit at least an hour before the Call to Prayer begins, however, and you’ll have the opportunity to sit in the courtyard and listen to the call as it reverberates around the historic Sultanahmet area. 

2.    Soar across the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia 

There’s no shortage of ways to make the most of Cappadocia’s dramatic expanse of caves, valleys and towering conical formations. While hiking, quad biking - even horse riding - are all excellent options, nothing holds a candle to the wonder of gently drifting above the moonscape in a hot air balloon. 

3.    Enjoy a bath with a difference 

Fancy sprawling out on a heated marble slab while your skin is scrubbed, your hair is washed and your feet massaged? An integral part of Turkish culture since the 15th century, the hamam - or Turkish bath - wasn’t only about bathing, but about socialising and match-making. Today, it’s all about soaking, steaming, bathing and relaxing in a space that’s centuries old. A massage will cost extra but you’ll always be happy you said yes. 

4.    Grab a meal on the Bosphorus

Sure, there are plenty of fine-dining restaurants, ambient cafes and tea gardens dotted around the Bosphorus, but for an experience that anchors you in the city you can’t go past sharing your simit (a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds) with the seagulls. They’ll follow ferries too, but your best bet is to book a Bosphorus cruise to make the most of the city’s landmarks from the water.

5.    Shop a centuries-old marketplace (that isn’t the Grand Bazaar)

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar enjoys most of the attention with good reason: featuring over 4,000 stalls laid out across more than 60 covered streets, the market has been the city’s go-to for over 550 years. If you’d fancy a similar experience without the crowds, however, Izmir’s 17th century Kemeraltı Market is a labyrinth of antiques, leather goods, jewellery and kilims as well as tea gardens and coffee houses. Spend the day getting lost in its colourful streets and get ready to consume a ridiculous amount of tea. 

6.    Soak in a cotton castle 

It’s hard to resist a splash in a destination which directly translates to ‘Cotton Castle’. Located in western Turkey, Pamukkale provides an opportunity to walk through the brilliant white travertine terraces (formed by cascading thermal waters) and immerse yourself in the warm, mineral-rich pools celebrated for their therapeutic properties. Will you follow it up with a swim in the pool once enjoyed by Cleopatra? Why not? 

7.    Enjoy a feast of Sultans

Cereal and toast will always have their place - back home. In Turkey, breakfast isn’t about consuming a single dish on the go, but about giving yourself over to tens of flavourful dishes laid out before you in an artful display. Cheeses, olives, vegetables, breads, meat dishes, egg dishes and endless cups of tea; surrender to the full kahvaltı experience and come to understand exactly why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 

8.    Cruise the Mediterranean courtesy of your own private boat

Leaving the Mediterranean village of Kaş can be tough - even if it’s just for a few hours, but cruising the pristine turquoise waters will help you get over your newfound homesickness. Setting sail from this charming coastal town, a private boat tour reveals hidden coves, pristine beaches and ancient underwater ruins. Enjoy a barbeque lunch on board and soak up the sun between those all-important swimming and snorkelling spots. 

9.    Visit the ancient city of Ephesus 

A city since neolithic times, Ephesus first came to prominence under the ancient Greeks who built the Temple of Artemis one of the Ancient Wonders of the World), but became an important city under Roman rule in 133 BC. Difficult to comprehend? A day spent walking the ancient streets and bathhouses of the once-thriving metropolis provides  a vivid glimpse into daily life thousands of years ago. The cherry on top for history enthusiasts in particular, the town of Selçuk - home to the Virgin Mary’s House and St John’s Basilica. 

10.    Immerse yourself in the heady world of Turkish wine

Take 7,000 years of wine growing history and a region that accounts for more than half of the country’s wine production, there’s little more satisfying than saying yes to a day spent wine tasting around Şirince, a quaint Aegean town teeming with fig, olive and tangerine trees. Will you walk away with a couple of bottles of domestic varieties Emir and Öküzgözü, or try a little Cabernet? Possibly both - just don’t forget to try the local fruit wine (Blackberry is a popular favourite). 

This article was supplied by Dilvin Yasa, a Turkish-Australian journalist, author, and food enthusiast, who will be leading Wellness, Wine & Wisdom: A Women’s Tour of Turkey in April 2025