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The Türkiye Tourism Board has revealed that Indian travellers registered a 34 per cent increase in visits between January and May 2024 as compared to the same time last year. The news should come as no surprise since the country is brimming with the ruins of ancient empires, tall mountains, powdery beaches, idyllic villages, cosmopolitan cities, a mouthwatering cuisine, friendly people, and a culture that reflects its Turkism, Islamism and Westernism influences.
If you want to join the ranks of the 126,000 people who have visited Türkiye earlier this year then pack your bags and follow this seven-day itinerary.
Start your trip in Istanbul with a visit to the Fatih district which houses the historic areas of the city. Your first stop is the Blue Mosque. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque which was constructed between 1609 and 1617. The mosque’s classical Ottoman layout features a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall. It is fronted by a large courtyard and flanked by six minarets. On the inside, it is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in predominantly blue colours, which give the mosque its popular name.
Next, visit the iconic Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque which was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople between 532 and 537. Its interior is decorated with mosaics, marble pillars and coverings of great artistic value. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as a mosque after the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and became a museum in 1935. In 2020, the site once again reverted to a mosque.
Check out the Topkapı Palace, an Ottoman imperial palace which served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans from 1478 to 1856. Today it’s a museum that exhibits the imperial collections of the Ottoman Empire and maintains an extensive collection of books and manuscripts in its library. The sprawling complex housed 1,000-4,000 inhabitants, including up to 300 people in the harem. Don’t miss the treasury section which features an incredible collection of objects made from or decorated with gold, silver, rubies, emeralds, jade, pearls and diamonds.
Next, head underground to the Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. It was built in the 6th century during the reign of Justinian I. There are 336 marble columns inside the cistern, most of which are in the Corinthian style. One of its most striking features is the two Medusa heads. They can be found under two columns and offer an impressive view. The reason why the Medusa heads are here and what they are used for is still a mystery.
Time for a traditional Turkish bath to soothe any aches from all the walking you did today. Istanbul's hammams have been a source of pleasure and relaxation for visitors and locals. They are part of the city's rich cultural and historical fabric, representing a physical manifestation of Ottoman tradition. Choose among the Hurrem Sultan Hammam, the Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam, the Çemberlitaş Hamamı and the Çukurcuma Hamamı.
Visit the Galata Bridge which spans the Golden Horn, a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus River. The current Galata Bridge is just the latest in a series of bridges linking Eminönü in the Fatih district and Karaköy in Beyoğlu district since the early 19th century. The current bridge, the fifth on the same site, was built in 1994. Underneath it there are restaurants and cafés serving food and drinks day and night. Come here to enjoy a beer and freshly caught fish while watching the ferries come and go.
Check out the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered bazaar in the world and one of the oldest. Also known as Kapalıçarşı, it is a major tourist attraction and a popular shopping destination for locals and visitors alike. The bazaar dates back to the Byzantine era and is home to over 4,000 shops selling a wide variety of goods, including jewellery, carpets, textiles, souvenirs and more. Visitors will experience traditional Turkish culture here and find unique and authentic souvenirs.
Don’t miss a trip to the Sultanahmet Arasta Bazaar which is located just behind the Sultanahmet Mosque. It dates back to the Ottoman period and is one of the oldest and most authentic markets in Istanbul. There are several shops selling a variety of handmade goods but the place is well-known for its delicious Turkish cuisine.
Take a cruise on the Bosphorus River which separates Türkiye into its Asian and European sections. There’s no better way to see Istanbul’s skyline than at twilight. Book a private cruise or hop onto a public ferry from the waterfronts of Beşiktaş, Kabataş Eminönü or Ortaköy.
Take a flight to Cappadocia on day three. This Central Anatolian region has many areas with unique geological, historical, cultural and religious features. Start by visiting the Göreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site well-known for its fairy chimneys and eroded rock formations, many of which were hollowed out in the Middle Ages to create Christian churches, houses and underground cities.
The places you should visit here are the 11th-century Chapel of St Basil; the Chapel of St Barbara; the nine-domed Apple Church which contains well-preserved and colourful painted frescoes of biblical scenes; the Snake Church, also called the Church of St Onuphrius; the small Pantocrator Chapel and Nameless Chapel (İzimsiz Şapel) with their simple red-ochre geometric decorations and Maltese crosses; the stunning, fresco-filled Dark Church, the most famous of them all; the little Chapel of St Catherine; the 13th-century Sandal Church which is named for the footprints of Jesus Christ before he ascended to heaven; the Rahibeler Monastery at the bottom of the hill; and the Buckle Church, one of Göreme's biggest and finest churches. Photography is not allowed inside any of these places.
Visit the Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu underground cities. The former has nearly 100 tunnels which were used as storage areas, stables and cellars. Its tunnels are lower, narrower and more steeply inclined than that of Derinkuyu’s. Of the four floors open to tourists, each space is organised around ventilation shafts. This makes the design of each room or open space dependent on the availability of ventilation.
Derinkuyu is the largest excavated underground city in Türkiye. It could accommodate up to 20,000 people and had amenities found in other underground complexes across Cappadocia such as wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories and chapels. Unique to the Derinkuyu complex and located on the second floor is a spacious room with a barrel-vaulted ceiling which was supposedly used as a religious school.
The reason you have come to Cappadocia is for the hot air balloon rides at sunrise. You may have already seen gorgeous images of hundreds of hot air balloons hovering over an arid landscape on the internet but there’s nothing quite like seeing it with your own eyes. Book a spot in advance to soar above the fairy chimneys and epic rock formations which will make you appreciate this historic landscape all the more. In the summer, when the weather is dry and the wind is minimal, hot air balloons take off almost every day.
Explore the small town of Ürgüp. The back alleys of this place are home to many examples of the traditional stone architecture of this region. Walk the northern section of the old village up to Dere Sokak with its road-archway topped with a tiny mosque, or take a wander through the southern section by heading up Barbaros Hayrettin Sokak for its decoratively carved doorways.
The Three Beauties Fairy Chimneys beckons next. These three black-capped formations overlook the rolling countryside just outside of town and are Ürgüp's best-known landmark. The feature that distinguishes the Three Beauties from the others is the magnificent view of the Erciyes Mountain behind them. The fairy chimneys make for a spectacular vision at night.
Next, check out the Turasan Winery where you can sample some of the local produce. The abundant sunshine and fertile volcanic soil of Cappadocia produce delicious sweet grapes. Several wineries continue to carry on the Ottoman Greek winemaking tradition here. The Turasan Winery has been run by the Turasan family for three generations.
Wrap up your afternoon with a trip to the Wish Hill. At a height of 80m, visitors get a 360° panoramic view of Ürgüp, including enchanting views of the Three Beauties Fairy Chimneys.
Savour an authentic Turkish meal at the Janus Cappadocia Restaurant, the TIK TIK Kadın Emeği, the Logarto, the Sofra Restaurant or at the Apetito Restaurant.
Leave for Pamukkale in the Denizili province. The area is famous for a carbonate mineral called travertine left by the flowing of thermal spring waters and was home to the ancient Greek city of Hierapolis. Both of these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Check out Pamukkale's travertines by walking up or down the terrace ridge section that leads from the base of the hill in Pamukkale village to the Hierapolis ancient site on the summit. This is the only section that you can walk on, and you are only allowed onto the travertines barefoot. At the upper levels, the half-circle-shaped terraces hold pools of water that you wade across to reach the summit. The top of the hill has a wooden walkway that winds most of the length along the top edge of the travertines from where you can get panoramic photos of the countryside beyond.
Next, visit the historic site of Hierapolis where you can roam its ancient theatre, walk through the Frontinus Gate and North Byzantine Gate, see the ruins of the Temple of Apollo, gaze at the Nymphaeum shrine, observe the bath complex, and view an extensive necropolis. Don’t miss out on a visit to the Hierapolis Archaeological Museum which displays artefacts like terracotta pots, idols, stone works, coins of various metals from many historical periods, and reliefs of the stage building of the Hierapolis theatre.
You can’t leave Türkiye without witnessing the whirling dervish dance, a centuries-old spiritual practice of Sufi Muslims. These performances give visitors the chance to watch the dances and costumes of the dervishes, to listen to traditional music, and to understand the history and the main elements of their culture. Book your seat with any of the available tour outfitters if you like folkloric traditions and wish to experience an emotional and atmospheric evening.
Take a flight to İzmir to see the town of Ephesus. Originally founded as an ancient Greek settlement on the Aegean Sea, it later became the capital of the Roman government in Asia. The city was a key player in the East-West trade, and its Mediterranean harbour was one of the most significant for exporting products to the ancient world.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BCE), the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the House of Virgin Mary, agoras, bath complexes, aqueduct systems, the Temple of the Sebastoi and a theatre capable of holding 24,000 spectators.
Relax in the green beauty of the Kültürpark İzmir, a 420,000-square-metre park with nearly 8,000 trees. Its palm-lined paths and fountains with sculptures give off a peaceful ambience where you can people gaze and picnic as the sun goes down. Along with numerous exhibition halls, there is an open-air theatre, art centre, sports hall, amusement park, parachute tower, museum, a 1,850-metre-long running track, a swimming pool, tennis courts and a football pitch.
Fly back to Istanbul for your last day. Head to Istiklal Street, the busiest and most happening place in town. Step into the Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage), a historical arcade with rows of historic cafés, wine houses and restaurants; snack on baklava and lokma at the Saray Muhallebicisi; watch a movie at the Majestic Cinema which shows Turkish- and English-speaking films; and board the beautiful red trams of Istiklal Street for a unique experience.
If you’re a fan of literature then you know that the Turkish literary scene has an abundance of folk poetry, mystical texts and sweeping narratives that have survived various attempts at censorship and political crackdowns. Revel in the smell of new books and browse through Turkish titles at one of the city’s most beautiful bookstores: Minoa.
This independent bookstore in Beşiktaş opened in 2014 and has a rich collection of over 60,000 books in many fields, from literature to art, photography to graphic design, gardening to food and beverage culture, and children's books to comics. The three-storey place also has a delightful café with seating for 80 people. Sip freshly brewed coffee and get chatting with the locals sitting next to you. The bookstore hosts a plethora of cultural and artistic events so ask the staff what’s on for that day.
Wrap up your Türkiye visit with a boat trip to the Maiden’s Tower which has been a source of inspiration for artists, poets and writers for centuries. In the 5th century BCE, the islet where the Maiden’s Tower is located today served as a customs point for the inspection and taxation of ships coming from the Black Sea. In the 12th century, it was rebuilt to strengthen the defense of the city. It has served as a lighthouse and a quarantine hospital in the past but since 1983 the historical structure has been used for tourism purposes. The building has made frequent appearances in television shows and movies.
Take a flight to Istanbul Airport (IST) from New Delhi or Mumbai.
