Since the beginning, it has been ruled by a number of nations and ethnic groups, and its strategic location near the Black Sea has made it one of the area’s cultural, artistic, and economic hubs for centuries.

Now with a population of nearly 15,000,000 residents, Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world.

It lies at the junction of Europe and Asia and features an alluring mix of exotic cultures and history, as well as contemporary attractions that make it a big hit with travelers from all over the world.

Below are 15 of the best tours of Istanbul.

1. Hagia Sophia Skip-the-Line Ticket and Guided Tour

Source: Darkdiamond67 / shutterstock

The Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul’s most prominent attractions.

It features majestic and awe-inspiring architecture that reflects elements of Christian and Muslim design, and over the years, it has served as both a church and a mosque.

Guests of this walking tour will meet their local guide at the Sophia’s entrance, get an overview of the things they’re about to experience, and waltz past the long lines of visitors waiting to explore the fantastic site.

Tours include both guided and free time for sightseeing and quiet reflection and are often one of the most memorable experiences of many visitors’ trips.

2. Basilica Cistern Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Source: Sergey Dzyuba / shutterstock

This short but popular skip-the-line Basilica Cistern tour is proof that you don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to have an amazing travel experience.

The cistern was originally built in the 4th century to store water for the Great Palace, and it’s now one of the city’s most historically significant attractions.

It’s also a marvel of engineering that is capable of storing more than 70,000 cubic yards of water; this is delivered by a complex system of aqueducts that carry water from a reservoir near the sea.

Tours last about 30 minutes and include the site’s entrance fee and an English-speaking guide.

3. Bosphorus Sunset Cruise on a Luxurious Yacht

Source: Travel Turkey / shutterstock

According to previous tour guests, watching the sunset over the ancient city of Istanbul from a luxurious yacht on the Bosphorus is a truly breathtaking experience.

It’s a big hit with those traveling in small groups, and for couples interested in spending a romantic and unforgettable evening away from the crowds.

You may feel like you’ve taken a giant leap back in time as you experience towering minarets bathed in shades of bronze and rose, warm desert breezes, and exotic aromas drifting across the waterway.

Tours include live commentary, seasonal fruits, fresh sherbet, and a complimentary traditional Turkish beverage.

4. Istanbul Aquarium and Aqua Florya Shopping Mall Tour

Source: ymphotos / shutterstock

There aren’t many attractions that combine retail therapy and biology into one convenient package, but the Florya Shopping Mall and Istanbul Aquarium do just that.

After being picked up from their hotel, guests of this five hour, mid-morning tour will spend a truly memorable day with their local guide.

The aquarium features more than a dozen individually themed areas that are home to hundreds of species of fish and marine animals from all over the world.

Perennial favorites include sharks, rays, and octopus in tanks that resemble their natural environments.

Tours also include unguided shopping time at the multi-level mall that features restaurants, coffee shops, and internationally known apparel brands like Lacoste and GAP.

5. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Source: Tminaz / shutterstock

Whether you’ve got 24, 48, or 72 hours to spare, hop-on-hop-off bus tours are fun and inexpensive ways to see lots of attractions.

Unlike traditional tours, guests can focus on the things that interest them the most and ignore those that don’t.

While on the bus, participants will have access to complimentary headphones, so they’ll learn about the things they’re seeing. If the spirit moves them, they can get off and explore individual attractions at their own pace.

Highlights include the Port, Naval Museum, and Galata Bridge, to name a few.

Entrance fees to some sites are included, and tours feature complimentary route maps and free Wi-Fi while on the bus.

6. Lonely Planet Experiences: Istanbul Market Tour and Picnic

Source: Wojtek Chmielewski / shutterstock

For lovers of food and culture, there’s really no better way to experience immersion than by visiting a bustling market.

On this 3 ½-hour tour, guests and their guide will delve into Istanbul’s famous Spice Bazar and experience exotic sights, sounds, and aromas that they aren’t likely to find elsewhere.

Along the way, participants will visit many stalls, talk with vendors, and sample a variety of products, ranging from local cheese and baked goods to dehydrated beef and Turkish olives.

Tours end with a casual stroll along the Bosphorus and a relaxing drink at a traditional tea shop.

7. Half-Day Turkish Coffee Tour with Tasting

Source: vsl / shutterstock

Turks prefer their coffee dark and strong, and on this half-day tasting and tour, guests will learn about coffee’s cultural significance and enjoy it in all its splendor.

Tours get underway at a popular museum that details the history of coffee in the region dating all the way back to the early 16th century, when it was originally brought by Ottomans from Egypt.

Guests and their guide will visit some of the city’s most historic coffee houses, learn the basics of preparing traditional Turkish coffee, and sample a number of blends with unique flavor profiles.

Tours include hotel pick-up and entrance fees and begin in the early afternoon.

8. Whirling Dervishes Show at the HodjaPasha Culture Center

Source: evantravels / shutterstock

Whirling Dervishes dance shows have been an Istanbul tradition for more than 800 years, and for many visitors, they’re the most iconic of all the city’s attractions.

The HodjaPasha Culture Center is housed in a Turkish bath facility left over from the era of Ottoman rule more than 500 years ago, which adds to the already amazing dance spectacle.

Events include an introduction to the area’s dance traditions, alluring music, a memorable dance performance by professional performers in vibrant garb, and a complimentary drink upon arrival.

This event is among the most authentic of its kind, but restrictions apply, so click the link below.

9. Bosphorus Cruise with Dinner and Entertainment

Source: Denis Dymov / shutterstock

For those looking for a memorable executive-class combo tour, this Bosphorus cruise with dinner and entertainment would be a great way to spend an evening.

Tours last about 5 hours and include free pick-up from your hotel between 7:00 and 8:00 PM.

Once on board the cruise ship, guests will enjoy a complimentary beverage as they relax, take in the sights along the Bosphorus Straits, and enjoy a traditional performance including music, and belly and folk dancing.

Tour sights include illuminated bridges, Ottoman palaces, and impressive views of the city skyline. At the end of the evening, guests will be transported back to their hotels by midnight.

10. ‘Big Night Out’ 7-Hour Pub Crawl

Source: Roman Samborskyi / shutterstock

Though it doesn’t often rank as one of the world’s biggest party destinations, the nightlife scene in Istanbul is surprisingly vibrant.

This 7-hour pub crawl includes transportation to and from a convenient meeting point near the city center, after which guests and their guide will visit a number of the city’s trendiest after-hours venues.

The cost of the tour covers admission, and at each location, participants will enjoy a complimentary welcome drink.

It’s common to meet an eclectic mix of locals and international travelers, and each group gets a free bottle of Raki Turkish liquor as well.

11. Contemporary Art Walk

Source: IV. andromeda / shutterstock

In addition to being a center of history, culture, and cuisine, Istanbul also features a trendy contemporary art scene that is well worth checking out for amateur artists and all-around art appreciators.

This four-hour guided walking tour gets underway in the morning and takes participants to several galleries and museums that display works by many of the city’s most renowned and cutting edge artists.

Though art is definitely the tour’s focus, elements of history, culture, and socioeconomics are also present, making for a comprehensive overview of what makes the city such a unique place.

Tours visit a number of neighborhoods and require a moderate amount of walking.

12. Istanbul Old City Full-Day Tour

Source: Boris Stroujko / shutterstock

Istanbul is a dizzying array of glimmering mosques, Ottoman palaces, royal tombs, and some of the region’s most bustling and exotic bazaars.

Needless to say, for many visitors, it’s like no place else they’ve ever seen, and it really should be experienced with a knowledgeable local guide.

This full-day tour hits many of the city’s most prominent attractions like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the Roman Hippodrome, and the Church of St. Sophia.

It’s a whirlwind experience that’s a perfect fit for those who want to pack as much value as possible into their tight vacation schedules, and it touches on many different aspects of local culture like architecture, history, and religion.

13. Dolmabahçe Palace Guided Tour with Admission

Source: AlxYago / shutterstock

In generations long past, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire spared no expense when it came to setting themselves and their families up in the lap of luxury.

The Dolmabahçe Palace is one of the largest and most opulent royal palaces in Istanbul. This tour includes the cost of admission and the services of a local English-speaking guide.

Tours begin inside where guests will see priceless works of art, massive chandeliers, and ceiling mosaics inlaid with real gold.

Though the palace was last used as an official residence in the early 1920s, it retains much of its splendor and is one of the city’s must-visit attractions.

14. Historical Turkish Bath Experience

Source: myhsu / Flickr | CC BY-ND

Rumor has it that the Çemberlitaş Hamam Turkish Bath has been serving customers since the end of the 16th century.

It’s conveniently located just a short walk from the city center and is the perfect place to experience a true Turkish bath experience in its most traditional form.

Another of the city’s must-experience activities, it is the perfect place to spend a relaxing few hours after a long day on your feet.

Though you may be new to the Roman-inspired bathing culture, you’ll get all the guidance you’ll need at every step along the way.

Admission, scrubbing, foaming, and towels are also included.

15. Samatya Armenian District Walking Tour

Source: Kayihan Bolukbasi / shutterstock

Though it doesn’t get as much foot traffic as many of the city’s other attractions, the Samatya Armenian District is a fun and culturally significant place to explore with a local guide.

It sports an abundance of mosques and churches that feature some of the city’s most impressive architectural elements with a variety of ethnic influences.

Guests will learn about the history of Armenians in the country that stretches back more than 1,000 years, see many photo-worthy sites, and visit one of Istanbul’s largest and busiest fresh seafood markets.

Tours last about four hours and include hotel pick-up and drop off.

The post 15 Best Istanbul Tours appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

In the centuries before, cities had cropped up nearby, all over the ancient Pamphylia region, some falling to Alexander the Great, and some resisting his conquest.

The magnificent ruins of Termessos, Perge and Aspendos are tantalisingly close, and have also given up many thousands of artefacts now on display at the excellent Antalya Archaeological Museum.

Antalya is being developed at a dizzying rate, with malls, glitzy hotels and beach clubs crowding the coastline east and west of the city.

But there’s also spellbinding natural splendour to be found, at waterfalls, luxurious beaches and the colossal Bey and Taurus Mountains.

1. Kaleiçi

Source: IgorZh / shutterstock

As you make your way through the knotted alleys of Antalya’s old town you may get a little thrill to think that people have been walking these streets for more than 2,000 years.

As well as being strewn with traces from Antalya’s distant past, Kaleiçi is a walkable enclave of peace in an otherwise hectic city.

We’ll talk about the grand Hadrian’s Gate and the Fluted Minaret a little later, but another of the structures that defines Kaleiçi silhouette is the Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret). This mosque, badly damaged in a 19th-century fire has stonework from a Roman temple and Byzantine basilica, and in 2019 its minaret was given a new conical crown.

Another icon is the crenellated clock tower standing sentry at the entrance to the old town opposite the 17th-century Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque.

This is one of the last of the 80 towers in Antalya defensive walls.

2. Düden Waterfalls

Source: IgorZh / shutterstock

Now, the first thing to note about the Düden Waterfalls is that there are two locations several kilometres apart.

The must-see is the lower falls (Karpuzkaldiran Waterfall), set between Antalya and Lara.

Here the Düden River plunges 40 metres over the tawny cliffs into the Mediterranean.

A park has been set up to help you get the most out of this natural wonder, complete with playgrounds for little ones, scenic terraces and a zip-line crossing the river just before it hurtles over the cliff.

You can view the falls from the water on a cruise setting off from Antalya’s old harbour.

Inland, the upper falls also deserve your time, where the river spills over a small rocky ledge rich with vegetation, and you can take a path that leads you behind the curtain of water.

3. Antalya Archaeological Museum

Source: saiko3p / shutterstock

Being in the ancient Pamphylia region which extended from the Mediterranean coastline into the Taurus mountains, Antalya has a first-class archaeological heritage.

No shock then that the Antalya Archaeological Museum is one of the best in the country, and an obligatory stop on any holiday to the city.

More than 5,000 pieces are on show at any time, across 13 halls covering every period from prehistory to Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times, as well life in the Antalya countryside in the early 20th century.

Of course, the ancient artefacts inspire the most fascination, running from coins, to status, sarcophagi, wine bowls, jewellery and figurines.

One outstanding piece is a 2nd-century marble sarcophagus with reliefs depicting the Twelve Labours of Hercules, while the statuary hall is loaded with 2nd and 3rd-century Roman carvings of Mythological figures like Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hecate, Hermes and Minerva, to name a small few.

4. Kurşunlu Waterfall

Source: muratart / shutterstock

Northeast of Antalya, one of the tributaries of the Aksu River descends from the plateau to the coastal plain through a canyon two kilometres long.

There, in a 600-hectare nature park you’ll encounter the gorgeous Kurşunlu Waterfall.

Surrounded by pine forest, this has one main drop, from a height of 18 metres, but there’s a chain of seven splash pools in the canyon, each fed by smaller cascades.

You can take in this natural wonder along a walking loop, cut from the rock and taking about 45 minutes.

And as there’s ample shade and a cooling mist the walk never feels taxing.

By the entrance to the park there’s also a picnic area and viewing terrace, served by a restaurant and playground for wee ones.

Three buses shuttle between the centre of Antalya and the falls, but a taxi our organised tour may be the most comfortable options.

5. Perge (Perga)

Source: Karavanov_Lev / shutterstock

The first of a few ancient sites that need to be visited is the city of Perge about 15 kilometres east of Antalya.

Perge was inhabited as early 1209 BCE, and in turn was ruled by the Persians, Athenians, Alexander the Great, the Seleucids and then the Romans.

One renowned inhabitant was Apollonius of Perga, the astronomer and geometer from the 2nd century BCE who defined the geometric terms “parabola”, “hyperbola” and “ellipse”. Perge has been excavated over the last 70 years and there’s much to discover, like the agora and its intact pillars, the Roman theatre with remarkable bas-reliefs in its skene, the Roman baths and palestra (wrestling school) in front, the nyphaeum, necropolis and solemn city gates.

Work is ongoing at Perge, and in the last few years some masterful Greek mosaics have been unearthed, including an image of the sacrifice of Iphigenia in 2017. Check out the “Perge, Side, Aspendos & Waterfalls Guided Tour” on GetYourGuide.

com for an action-packed day zipping from one ancient city to the next, pausing at the Kurşunlu Waterfall on the way back to Antalya.

6. Hadrian’s Gate

Source: IgorZh / shutterstock

This magnificent triumphal arch, just off Atatürk Boulevard, was built in the 2nd Century BCE to mark the visit of Emperor Hadrian to Antalya.

The gate has three arches, between which are four columns on each side.

If you’ve got an eye for classical architecture you’ll notice that the column capitals are composite, combining Ionic volutes with Corinthian acanthus leaves.

The gate is flanked to the north and south by tough defensive towers, both of which have stood here in some form since Roman times.

Also take a look at the entablature over the arches, which has kept hold of many of its original rosettes and lion heads on its frieze and cornice.

7. Konyaaltı Beach

Source: IgorZh / shutterstock

Seven kilometres from edge of the city down to Antalya’s modern container port, Konyaaltı Beach is the most convenient public beach to the centre of Antalya.

A mix of coarse sand and pebbles, the beach has moderate surf, although it pitches quite steeply in the sea at times.

As you relax you’ll see Antalya at the apex of the gulf, and can look down to the epic Bey Mountains to the southwest through the haze.

One of many things to love about the beach is its promenade, through an avenue of palm trees and bordered by grassy spaces with playgrounds and cafes.

8. Tünektepe Teleferik

Source: beaslan / shutterstock

There’s an undeniable allure to the Bey Mountains, the sharp slopes of which can be reached behind the container port.

Here you can catch a cable car running for 1,700 metres up the vertiginous face of the 618-metre Tünek Tepe hill, to a lookout with a hotel, nightclub, cafe, rotating restaurant, playground and bazaar for traditional crafts.

Like so much of what you see in Antalya, the cable car is a recent arrival, begun in 2013 and ready for the 2017 season.

In 2020 an adult ticket was 15TL (approx $2.40). Needless to say the panoramas are fabulous, and you can peer through binoculars back to over the gulf to Antalya.

9. Karaalioglu Park

Source: Kartinkin77 / shutterstock

Southwest of the walls and within a short walk of Kaleiçi is a park hoisted on the cliffs, with views of the Gulf of Antalya.

Here you can take a leisurely walk, sipping Turkish tea under the pines and stopping on the main terrace to see the Mediterranean and the shadowy Bey Mountains.

Karaalioglu Park has a smattering of cafes, as well as a children’s playground, and some key landmarks like the mayor’s office, municipal theatre and the historic Hıdırlık Tower.

This coastal defence in the northwest corner has a Roman base from the 2nd century, topped by an Ottoman cylindrical tower.

However you spend your time in Antalya, try to be in Karaalioglu Park when the sun goes down.

10. Old Harbour

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Walking Kaleiçi’s alleys it’s just a matter of time before gravity beckons you down to the harbour that gave birth to Antalya, squeezed into a craggy recess in the coastline.

Skirted by the crenellated walls of the old city, the frenetic, tree-lined quaysides are in the old harbour are the point of departure for boat trips out to sights like the Lower Düden Waterfall.

You won’t need an agent to book a seat, but you may need to haggle.

These cruise boats are port-to-starboard with all sorts of other vessels, from private yachts to little fishing boats.

Walk out along the southern wall to the beacon at the harbour entrance for a complete view of the quays, jetties, Antalya’s rocky coastline and those sturdy old defensive walls.

11. Aspendos

Source: muratart / shutterstock

Just past Serik, off the Antalya-Alanya highway (D400) you’ll come to the ruins of a city that for a time was the most important in the ancient Pamphylia region.

Aspendos grew up on a plateau, a short way inland from the mouth of the Eurymedon, and reached its apogee in the 5th century BCE, trading wool, oil and salt via the navigable river.

The headline at Aspendos is the theatre from the 2nd century BCE.

Praised for its incomparable level of preservation, this monument is almost 100 metres in diameter and can seat 12,000. It’s a breathtaking venue for the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival every September.

Nearby are the ruins of an aqueduct, basilica, nymphaeum, agora and the Roman bridge on the Eurymedon that was rebuilt in the 13th century.

The remains at Aspendos are all the more spectacular against the craggy mass of the Taurus Mountains, commanding the horizon the north.

12. Termessos

Source: fotopanorama360 / shutterstock

On this excursion you’ll travel up into the Taurus Mountains to discover one of Turkey’s best-preserved ancient cities, wreathed in pine forest on a rocky podium in the Mount Güllük-Termessos National Park.

This rocky perch has ensured its survival and also made it unconquerable: Alexander the Great gave up in the 4th century BCE.

You’ll hear Termessos described as a “Turkish Machu Picchu”, and like Aspendos, the show-stopper is the theatre.

High behind the stage is the monolithic peak of Mount Solymos (Güllük Dağı) and the mostly intact auditorium enjoys a staggering view over the Pamphylian plain.

The road into Termessos is lined with ancient rock cut tombs, and some other sights waiting for you are the agora, city walls, gymnasium, odeon and the vestiges of six temples.

13. Lara Beach

Source: Funtay / shutterstock

Past the airport east of Antalya proper is another Blue Flag beach, along a stretch of coast that is almost unrecognisable from just 20 years ago.

On the coastal road behind Lara Beach are statement hotels and high-rise apartment blocks, interspersed with shopping malls and new tourist attractions.

Down on the beach, much of this long, dusky sweep of sand and shingles is private, and has rows of sun-loungers attached to hotels.

The public end is to the west, at the eastern terminus for a handful of bus lines from Antalya.

Evenings are special at Lara, when you can watch the sun setting behind the Bey Mountains across the gulf.

14. Yivliminare Mosque

Source: Leonid Andronov / shutterstock

The Anatolian Seljuk Sultan, Kayqubad I (1188-1237) ordered this mosque, which was destroyed in the 14th century and reconstructed in the 1370s on the foundations of a Byzantine church.

An abiding part of the Kaleiçi cityscape is the 38-metre minaret, called the “fluted minaret” for the eight long grooves in its red brick shaft.

In the mosque’s heyday these flutes were clad with blue glazed tiles.

The Yivliminare Mosque is a functioning place of worship, paced on the tentative list of Turkish UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2016. For non-Muslims it’s a beautiful waymarker appearing from time to time between the houses as you plot a course through Kaleiçi’s alleys.

15. Antalya Aquarium

Source: waldru / shutterstock

Moments from Konyaaltı Beach is an aquarium that opened in 2012 and has more than 60 themed and labelled tanks, the largest of which holds over five million litres.

You can experience this environment through a 131-metre glass tunnel, the biggest in the world and with sharks, rays and tropical fish swimming overhead and around the wrecks of an aircraft and submarine.

Try to be here at 12:00 when you can see the aquarium staff in scuba gear feeding this marine life by hand.

The 1,500-square-metre Snow World is an ice museum, with a new sprinkling of snow every night and a constant temperature of -5°C.

The aquarium’s WildPark is a tropical space keeping venomous snakes, chameleons, frogs and crocodiles in terrariums, while you can watch a thrilling underwater show at the XD Cinema.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Antalya (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Didyma has a 2,300-year-old Temple of Apollo in a fantastic state of preservation and linked to the ancient city of Miletus, a few to the north, by a “Sacred Way”. You don’t need to be a classicist to be wowed by the temple, and the ruins of other ancient cities that once lined a gulf that was wiped from the map hundreds of years ago when the Meander River Delta silted up.

Added to all this ancient history, modern Didim shines for its beaches on sandy bays and tiny rocky coves, all with crystal clear waters.

1. Didyma

Source: Multipedia / shutterstock

The sprawling archaeological site on the northwest side of modern Didma was hallowed ground for Ancient Greeks.

Didyma was a sanctuary, renowned for its oracle of Apollo, and with a temple famous throughout the ancient world.

The Temple of Apollo is in a wonderful state of preservation and we’ll devote a whole paragraph to it next.

While this is the high point, there’s a lot more to dive into at Didyma, including some recent discoveries.

You’ll come across a Roman theatre, a stadium and the large foundations of a temple of Artemis.

Excavations have also revealed the Sacred Way, a pilgrimage route lined with Roman baths and linking Didyma with the city of Miletus to the north.

2. Temple of Apollo

Source: Multipedia / shutterstock

Didyma’s showpiece, then and now, is one of the largest ancient temples ever built.

This Hellenistic structure was begun in the 4th century BCE on the site of two predecessors going back another 400 years.

The platform (crepidoma) for this building has seven steps and measures nearly 60 metres by 120 metres.

The temple was surrounded by a double row of Ionic columns, each nearly 20 metres tall, two of which remain at their original height.

Then atop the monumental staircase is a vestibule (pronaos) with three rows of four columns.

One of these survives in near-perfect condition.

When you enter the sanctuary within the walls (sekos) you’ll be aware of just how impressive this space was, as the walls still rise several metres around you.

Lining this space, on the ground are capitals from the interior pilasters, still bearing their intricate reliefs, some depicting griffins.

3. Altinkum Plajı

Source: Birol Aydin / shutterstock

Didim’s main beach has an undeniable appeal.

On a scallop-shaped bay, about 500 metres long, there’s a wide crescent of soft and light sand.

This is tourism central in Didim, and the coastal Yalı Cd. behind is crowded with apartment blocks, with cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and souvenir shops on their ground floors.

In between is a paved promenade tracking the bay and benches and flower beds under swaying palms.

Something to love about all the public beaches in Didim is how shallow and calm the surf is, even on windy days.

There’s a beach club every few steps if you want the added comfort of a sun lounger.

At the eastern end is a small harbour for excursions but also water activities like banana boating and jet-skiing in the bay.

4. Miletus

Source: Aliye Enginsu / shutterstock

In antiquity Didim was on the south side of a peninsula that jutted out into Aegean.

On the north side was the ancient city of Miletus, a harbour at the entrance of the now dried up Latmian Gulf.

Miletus has Neolithic origins dating back 5,000 years, and enjoyed its golden age before the Persian Invasion in the 6th century BCE.

Up to that time this was one of the richest and most powerful settlements in Ionia.

This was the birthplace for the mathematician and philosopher Thales, remembered as the first Greek to break from mythology and use science to explain the natural world and universe.

There’s tons of history at Miletus, from the Bronze Age to Ottoman times, although much buried beneath the silted up banks of the Meander River.

What you will find are the harbour, magnificent Grand Theatre, baths, a nymphaeum, the course of the Sacred Way, numerous temples, a Byzantine basilica and episcopal palace, a Byzantine-Ottoman castle and an Ottoman mosque.

5. Miletus Archaeological Museum

No surprise that Miletus has given up a lot of artefacts, even if many found their way to Europe in the 19th and early 20th century.

The Miletus Archaeological Museum is worthwhile for some extra context on the many stages of this city’s past.

The galleries are arranged chronologically, and you’ll begin with the Minoan and Mycenaean periods, when Miletus had strong ties with Crete and Ancient Greece.

The bulk of the displays are from the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods, and include sphinxes from the Sacred Way, lots of ceramic vessels, Hellenistic gold cups, abundant jewellery, terracotta figurines and an imposing statue of the river god Meander from the Baths of Faustina.

6. Manastır Koyu

Source: Feridun Sengul / shutterstock

Southwest of the centre of Didim, the coastline cuts in and out on a series of little coves, with almost no sign of mass tourism to be found among the rocks and scrub.

One such cove is Manastır Koyu, which is named for the site of a nearby monastery.

This place has the bare minimum in terms of amenities, which is part of its appeal.

The cove is headed by a small, curving sandy beach, in front of which is a big spread of shimmering turquoise water.

Like most of the beaches in Didim, this is a child-friendly place, as safe as a paddling pool.

There’s a makeshift cafe on the edge, and rows of sun loungers and parasols three-deep.

7. Lake Bafa

Source: M Selcuk Oner / shutterstock

Now 15 minutes inland from Didim, this lake, protected as a nature park, was once the eastern crook of the Latmian Gulf around which many of the ancient cities in the area were located.

The coastline shifted west down the centuries as the delta of the Büyük Menderes River silted up.

If you have a car, the D525 road runs high along the southern shore, with superb views over the lake to the mountainous and unspoiled north shore peppered with a mix of wild and cultivated olive groves.

All around the shoreline there are places to stop and savour the landscape, and catch sight of the flamingos and diversity of other birds that inhabit the lake.

There are a couple of places on the water to grab a drink or meal, and on the east shore are the ruins of the city of Heracleia by Latmus, which we’ll talk about later.

8. Priene Ruins

Source: Waj / shutterstock

Another city on the Latmian Gulf was Priene, which now commands the plain from the steep foot of the mountain Mycale, by the Dilek National Park.

A mid-sized settlement, Priene sits in a grid pattern on a series of terraces rising to almost 400 metres above sea level.

It moved to this location in the 4th century BCE and was planned as a model city, constructed entirely in local marble, by Mausolus of Halicarnassus and Alexander the Great following his conquest of the region.

The Temple of Athena from this time sits dramatically against a cliff-face, and was dedicated to Alexander the Great, although the inscribed dedication is now at the British Museum.

Among the other compelling things to see are the agora, the Bouleuterion (government council chamber), the theatre, a variety of temples, a gymnasium, Roman baths and the lattice of city streets, with water supply and drainage systems easy to identify.

9. Tavşan Burnu Tabiat Parkı (Rabbit Nose Nature Park)

Source: tolgaildun / shutterstock

Only ten minutes north of Didim proper is a compact nature park, encompassing a 16-hectare parcel of coastline.

The park is open to day visitors and also has a campsite hiding in the pine forest, where you can rent a tent for the night.

The campsite here comes with a shop, showers, restaurant, sports facilities, electrical outlets and picnic tables.

On the coast is a long beach that wins a Blue Flag year on year, and has a narrow strip of sand by tranquil, shallow waters.

10. Saturday Market

Source: Kirill Smirnov / shutterstock

There are markets on specific days all around Didim, but the most convenient for visitors is the frenetic but enticing one at Altinkum on Saturdays.

This is simply one of those things you have to do in a Turkish town, and haggling is at the heart of the experience.

Piled on tables will be spices, dried fruit, nuts and all kinds of grains, but this is also somewhere to look for souvenirs like leather bags, pashminas, brass ornaments, tea sets, embroidered slippers and designer fakes.

There’s also a nightly market, trading from around 18:00, ten minutes away in Mavişehir and easily reached by dolmuş (share taxi in a minivan).

11. Heracleia by Latmus

Source: Seda Yalova / shutterstock

This ancient city was established on what was then the easternmost point of the Latmian Gulf, and is ruins now rest in a scenic spot of the east shore of Lake Bafa.

A Carian settlement that became a member of the Delian League of Greek city-states, Heracleia was conquered in the 4th century BCE by Mausolus of Halicarnassus, after which it was totally rebuilt and fortified.

Those strong defensive walls, reinforced with gates and towers, are standing strong considering their great age.

Cresting a hilltop are the ruins of a temple to Athena, while you can make out the south wall of the agora, as well as traces of the Roman baths, a theatre and a Byzantine castle right on the water.

Outside the castle are sarcophagi fashioned from the rock, some now submerged by the lake.

12. Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park

Source: Serj Malomuzh / shutterstock

A day trip that you have to keep in mind is this 27,500-hectare national park at the rugged Dilek Peninsula and the delta of the Büyük Menderes River.

What you do once you arrive depends entirely on how you like to spend your time: This environment is extremely biodiverse, growing more than 800 different plant species, while the delta supports profuse birdlife, including water birds like Dalmatian pelicans, pygmy cormorants, little egrets and Kentish plovers.

Caracals, striped hyenas, golden jackals and Eurasian lynxes are known to prowl the deep forests of the peninsula.

Signs of ancient civilisation are everywhere, at the breathtaking sanctuary, Panionium and the cities of Karina and Priene.

You can trek through the 18-kilometre Olukdere Canyon, tour the Ottoman Greek village of Doğanbey Village and enter the Cave of Zeus.

Or you could do as little as possible at one of the peninsula’s four paradisiacal coves.

13. Cennetköy Plajı

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Follow the coastline east of Altinkum Beach and within a few hundred metres you’ll be at a beautiful sandy cove.

Cennetköy Plajı (Paradise Beach), about 150 metres long, is separate from the resort, with only sparse holiday communities behind.

Not many people make the trip, and the facilities are basic, though there is a shower/restroom as well as a cafe renting out sun loungers.

The reason to come is for the sea, which is perfectly transparent if you pick a calm day, and safe for youngsters and less experienced swimmers.

14. İmbat Koyu

The next cove along from Manastır Koyu is a lovely place to take swim, with the same shimmering clear waters.

İmbat Koyu is rockier on the shore, but once you’re in the water there’s a bed of soft sand.

You’ll need to wade out a long way to be able to swim, which is good news for families with smaller children.

If there’s a drawback, it’s that sea urchins sometimes lurk in the rocks, so you may want to wear water shoes.

Although the cove is shared with a luxury resort (Aquassis), which has built a wooden pier for sunbathers, facilities are limited at İmbat Koyu, which will be no problem for more intrepid visitors.

15. Lunapark

Source: H1nksy / shutterstock

One handy and cost-effective way to close out a family day in Didim is this small amusement park on the cliffs just west of Altinkum Beach.

Lunapark has fairground rides like spinners, bumper cars, a pirate ship, carousels and a ferris wheel.

There are a couple of white-knuckle rides for teenagers, but most of the attractions are aimed at kids up to the age of 11 or so.

Entrance is free and you pay for each ride.

At the time of writing in spring 2020, this was 7.5 TL per ride (approximately $1.25).

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Didim (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

Fethiye was once Telmessos, part of ancient Lycia, a confederation of independent city-states.

The Lycians were known for their unique burial habits, and have left behind 2,500-year-old sarcophagi in the streets of Fethiye, and marvellous rock tombs in the cliffs outside the town.

Fethiye is a holiday resort today, and a convenient entry point for the remote ruins of other Lycian cities, the 18-kilometre Saklıkent Canyon and the extraordinary beach and lagoon at Ölüdeniz,. But there’s much to love about the resort itself, from its authentic weekly market to its first-rate museum and the cool, shaded alleys of its old town.

1. Ölüdeniz Beach

Source: Olena Rublenko / shutterstock

Around the headland, a mere ten kilometres south of Fethiye’s old town is a scene of rare beauty.

The Blue Flag Ölüdeniz Beach is a crescent of white pebbles, with clear waters a mesmerising shade of turquoise that glows in the sunlight.

Lots of things combine to make this place so special.

One of these is the sky-scraping mountainscape on its margins: The peak of Babadağ, a mountain just shy of 2,000 metres, rises only five kilometres in from the coast and faces off against the 1,400-metre Karatepe.

Behind the north end of the beach is a lagoon, a darker shade of blue but just as clear, and protected as a nature reserve.

There are beach clubs on the lagoon’s shores, with sun loungers where you can just slip into the warm, shallow water or rent a pedal boat for a little voyage.

2. Tomb of Amyntas

Source: M. Unal Ozmen / shutterstock

You can see captivating traces of ancient Telmessos in the high limestone cliffs that form Fethiye’s southern boundary.

There you can follow a steep footpath up along the base of the bluffs to get a better look at the Lycian tombs.

These were fashioned from the rock face and can be remarkably grand, with friezes, pediments and Ionic columns.

The finest of all is at the highest point, and commands exhilarating views back on Fethieye and its gulf.

This is the Tomb of Amyntas, carved around 350 BCE, which has a scale unmatched in this ensemble and has a sort of narthex in front of its tomb chamber.

An inscription on the side reads “Amyntou tou Ermagiou”, (Amyntas, son of Hermagios).

3. Lycian Sarcophagi

Source: Michael Kalafatas / Wikimedia

A quirk of Lycian culture is that, unlike in Ancient Greece, the dead were buried all across the town, rather than in one necropolis.

This was the case in Fethiye, and what’s exciting is that these monuments, built from local limestone, were left standing as the modern city grew up around them.

So you can turn down a side street in Fethiye and come face-to-face with a tomb dating back some 1,300 years.

These can be richly decorated with reliefs, and rise to three storeys.

The most ornate can be found in the garden of the town hall (Belediye), designed like a two-storey house and sporting reliefs on its walls, including a depiction of soldiers carrying shields on its roof.

4. Fethiye Museum

Source: Svetlana Eremina / shutterstock

Given Fethiye’s archaeological wealth, a visit to the town’s museum is something that needs to be done.

You can cast your eye over a massive hoard of artefacts, from the Bronze Age through the Archaic, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.

There are coins minted across hundreds of years, as well as pieces of jewellery, amphorae, busts, grave stelae, figurines, amulets, pottery, altars and architectural fragments like column capitals and plinths.

You can see a whole tomb, brought here from the ruins at Tlos, but maybe the most important find on show is the “Trilingual Stele”. This has identical inscriptions in Lycian, Greek and Aramaic.

This one piece has been the key tool to help scholars decipher the Lycian language.

5. Saklıkent National Park

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Deep into Fethiye’s rocky hinterland you can journey to the Saklıkent Canyon, some 40 kilometres east of the resort, in a national park created in 1996. The statistics for this natural wonder are mind-boggling: The canyon is 18 kilometres long, up to 300 metres deep, and narrows to just two metres across.

This was all carved out by the, Karaçay a branch of the Eşen River, and which can be violent between November and March.

The rest of the year you can walk about four kilometres of the gorge, traversing wooden walkways attached to the wall and exploring waterfalls and a series of caves.

The canyon gets almost no sunlight and is fed by cold springs from the Bey Mountains, so this is a prime spot to flee the summer heat.

Bring water shoes if you’ve got them, to navigate the slippery rocks and be ready to get wet up to your waist if you want the full experience.

6. Tlos Ruins

Source: boyoz / shutterstock

Something to combine with a day-trip to the Saklıkent Gorge is this ruined Lycian city resting on a rocky plateau.

Tlos first took shape as early as 4,000 years ago, and is unusual for Lycian settlements as it was inhabited Romans, Byzantines and then Ottoman Turks, right up to the 19th century.

Part of the fun of adventuring through Tlos is working out which ruins are from which era.

For instance, the decaying fortress at the top is Ottoman, but with walls that have Lycian and Roman stonework.

There Lycian rock tombs, the grandest of which is the temple-like Tomb of Bellerophon, with a relief on the porch showing the namesake hero riding Pegasus, and a carving of a lion or leopard within.

There’s a theatre from the Roman period with carved garland details, as well as a stadium, market hall and an early-Christian basilica.

7. Fethiye Market

Source: KENAN MUTLU / shutterstock

On Tuesdays a giant bazaar sets up just east of the old town opposite the minibus station, where Atatürk Caddesi merges with İnönü Boulevard.

Something great about the market is that it’s favoured by people who live in Fethiye, as well as surrounding communities like Ölüdeniz and Çalis.

So this is a great chance to take the pulse of daily life and pick up some local specialities and typical ingredients like nuts, pickled and smoked olives, dried fruit, a wide variety of grains, lentils, all kinds of spices and cheeses.

If it’s your thing, there’s also tons of up-to-date fakes, from clothes and accessories, to bags to belts, shoes, football shirts, watches and sunglasses.

Don’t forget, haggling is part of the fun!

8. Fethiye Old Town

Source: Alastair Wallace / shutterstock

Directly east of the marina is Fethiye’s old town, or Paspatur.

You can duck into this mesh of tight, walkable alleys, and mill around shops selling souvenirs, Turkish carpets, tea sets and the like.

The scent of spices floats on the air, and even when the sun is beating down Paspatur stays dark under a mantle of vines on pergolas, or large awnings covering the width of the alleys.

In this dim and cool environment there are plentiful cafes and restaurants with terraces.

Look out for the 18th-century minaret of Eski Cami (Old Mosque), and for a snapshot of local life the fish market is nearby.

Head west, and above the marina you’ll come to the Hellenistic theatre of Telmessos, raised in the 2nd century BCE and heavily restored, although it’s not hard to discern the ancient stones from the modern ones.

9. Çalis Beach

Source: Natalia Sidorova / shutterstock

North of Fethiye’s natural harbour, the coasts opens out onto a long bay.

This is Çalis Beach, which goes on for kilometres and has a mixture of dusky sand and pebbles, lapped by low-to-moderate surf.

The resort continues on a promenade behind, and you’ll never have to travel far for a bite to eat or supplies for a blissful afternoon in the sun.

The length of the beach means there’s space for everyone to relax, which suits the older, more laid-back crowd that comes here.

And as you’d expect from Fethiye, the views are a joy, especially when the sun goes down and the gulf and sky take on a gold tone.

10. Kayaköy

Source: Grinchenkova Anzhela / shutterstock

Eight kilometres south of Fethiye is a ghost village, formerly inhabited by a majority Greek Orthodox Christian community but abandoned in the turbulent first decades of the 20th century.

Ottoman Greeks had lived within the empire in relative peace for hundreds of years, but that changed after WWI, with the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922 followed by a population exchange.

Kayaköy (Livissi) had a population of 6,000 at the time it was abandoned, and has a history going back at least as far as the 7th century when it was a Christian Bishopric.

There are Lycian-style tombs here, but most of the houses, school buildings and churches are from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Some of this architecture has been restored but most has been left as an open museum.

Allow as long as possible to scramble around the steep, winding alleys, and seek out the 17th-century fountain in the heart of the town.

11. Fethiye Harbour

Source: Julia56 / shutterstock

The waterfront in Fethiye is open to the public, with a promenade that lines the bay for hundreds of metres, as far as the marina on the south side.

All along, the views are special, out over the Gulf of Fethiye or west to the little wood-cloaked peninsula that protects the harbour.

As you go south you’ll see boats moored at the quayside, from traditional gulets (schooners) to opulent modern yachts.

There’s shade from palms and pine trees, lots of restaurants and cafes and a designated path for cyclists.

Just by the marina you can catch a water taxi up to Çalis Beach, soaking up the scenery on the way.

12. Butterfly Valley

Source: Travel Turkey / shutterstock

South of Ölüdeniz there’s a beach that is practically inaccessible by land as it sits at the end of a canyon with rocky walls that tower to 350 metres.

Butterfly Valley, so called because of the many species (more than 80) that dwell in this habitat, is a popular day trip by boat from Ölüdeniz.

You’ll be dropped off at the pristine sandy cove with crystalline waters, all dwarfed by those soaring walls of rock.

There’s a little cafe on the beach , and you can decide if you want to journey up the valley.

Be aware that the butterflies are naturally seasonal and peak in numbers between June and September, but there’s also a pair of waterfalls flowing year-round and that are also worth the hike.

13. Blue Lagoon Ölüdeniz Tandem Paragliding from Fethiye

Source: Darkdiamond67 / shutterstock

For a lifelong memory, you can take to the air from the summit of Babadağ on a flight over Ölüdeniz and its beach and lagoon.

Offered through GetYourGuide.com, this is a tandem flight so you won’t need any prior experience.

You’ll be strapped onto your experienced pilot, so you can just take it easy, savour the views and take as many photos as you can.

The flight takes just over half an hour, as you’re lifted on the thermal currents, swooping to a gentle touchdown on the beach.

Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included.

14. Kadyanda

Source: Seda Servet / shutterstock

If you still have an appetite for ancient Lycian history you can venture to the ruins of Kadyanda, close to the town of Üzümlü around 25 kilometres from Fethiye.

Kadyanda, roosting on a hilltop, was inhabited from around 5000 years ago until the 7th century CE.

This was a prominent city, as the extent of the ruins show: There’s an agora, a stadium, theatre, baths, impressive tombs, a defensive wall and the remnants of several temples.

Hiding in pine forest, Kadyanda is well off many tourists’ radars, and there’s a chance you may have this enchanting ancient city to yourself when you come.

15. Lycian Way

Source: Favious / shutterstock

Ölüdeniz is the western trailhead for an epic footpath that weaves through South Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean regions to Geyikbayırı, not far from Antalya.

The trail is around 540 kilometres long and is waymarked with red and white stripes, delivering you to ruined cities, tombs and far flung villages.

Snaking over some brutal but uncommonly beautiful mountainscapes, the route follows ancient footpaths and mule trails, and is best tackled in spring.

Even though walkers spend long spells under the cover of pine trees this is obviously not a challenge for the fainthearted or unprepared, and is the route for a multi-day ultramarathon at the end of May.

The good news is that the Fethiye end is mostly on a coastal ledge and has some of the lightest and most rewarding stretches.

If you’re feeling fit you could hike down to the Butterfly Valley from the resort, making the spellbinding descent to Faralya.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Fethiye (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

You’ve got the universal joys of long sandy beaches, countless restaurants, dreamy views, family water parks and golden sunsets.

But minutes away is the famous ancient city of Ephesus, which was a Roman provincial capital and has left behind an archaeological site of real scale and grandeur.

So on the same day you can ponder the columns of the Library of Ephesus, discover a forgotten bay in the biodiverse Dilek National Park, zip through the scrub on a quad bike and lie back on a sun lounger watching the sun setting over the Aegean.

1. Ephesus

Source: muratart / shutterstock

One of the largest and most important archaeological sites in the Eastern Mediterranean lies a few minutes out of Kuşadası at Selçuk.

Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protecting a city founded around 3,000 years ago, becoming one of the 12 members of the Ionian League and reaching its apogee in the Roman era as provincial capital of Asia.

Ephesus was a coastal city, which is hard to imagine now as the coastline has since drifted several kilometres west.

Awaiting you is the solemn facade of the Library of Celsus, the jaw-dropping 25,000-capacity theatre and the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

There’s tons more to see, like the sophisticated aqueduct system, the Trajan Fountain, the bathhouses, the 6th-century Basilica of St John, preserved terrace houses with frescos and Selçuk’s Medieval Ottoman fortifications.

2. Ephesus Archaeological Museum

Source: Vladimir Zhoga / shutterstock

The vast archaeological site was first surveyed in the 19th century, and inevitably many pieces have ended up at the British Museum and Ephesos Museum in Vienna.

But the ancient city has yielded enough artefacts to fill several museums, and the Ephesus Archaeological Museum is an ideal complement.

There are objects in these nine rooms from every stage of the city’s past, from Mycenaean to Ottoman.

Each room specialises in a different category, be it coins, the terrace houses of Ephesus, the city’s nymphaeums or the cult of Kybele.

There are Mycenaean vessels, sarcophagi, busts of Socrates, Emperor Augustus, Livia and Balbinus, as well as magnificent sculptural groups from monuments like the Fountain of Domitian.

The high point is the pair of statues of Artemis from the world-famous temple: Colossal Artemis (1st century CE) and the impeccably preserved Beautiful Artemis (2nd century CE).

3. Güvercinada (Pigeon Island)

Source: Sam and Brian / shutterstock

Kuşadası’s own historical wonder is a citadel in the bay at the end of a 350-metre causeway.

This defence was built on the orders of Hayreddin Barbarossa (1478-1546), and the low, outer walls date from the Greek Orlov Revolt in the 1770s.

Güvercinada is laid out like a kind of city park, with a raised wooden platform, and excellent photo opportunities from the battlements, gazing back to Kuşadası and its harbour and backcountry.

There are information boards here and there describing the local animal and plant life, and every so often you’ll see a rabbit hopping around.

One interesting curiosity on show is the skeleton of a fin whale that was found at the Dilek Peninsula a few kilometres south in the 1990s.

4. Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park

Source: Serj Malomuzh / shutterstock

The mountains of this 27,500-hectare national park hover on the horizon south of Kuşadası, and it’s a journey well worth making.

The park is made up of a rocky peninsula with Mount Mycale along its spine, while to the south, in a much wetter landscape, is the delta of the Büyük Menderes River.

There’s dazzling biodiversity in the park from 800 different plant species to waterfowl like pelicans, egrets and plovers, to hyenas, jackals and lynxes in the mountainous woodland.

You can venture here in search of remote coves with crystalline seas, and hunt down the remnants of ancient civilisation at Karina, The Panionium and Priene.

5. Ladies Beach

Source: Preisler / shutterstock

Fifteen minutes on foot or a brief ride on the minibus, this beach is one kilometre of soft sand, on a west-facing bay.

The name “Ladies Beach” is a holdover from the Ottoman days of segregation, and the shore here is lapped by low, rippling waves.

This is a beach for families, thanks to a smooth slope and large shallow area where non-swimmers can paddle.

Understandably, it’s a popular place to pass a warm afternoon, and there are beach clubs all around the bay, renting out sun loungers and parasols.

The promenade, brimming with restaurants, cafes and shops, is set slightly above the beach and has a seriously romantic view across to Samos at sunset.

6. Uzun Plaj (Long Beach)

Source: Nadir Keklik / shutterstock

True to its name, this sandy beach around the headland from Ladies Beach is 18 kilometres long and is traced by tourist infrastructure for its entire length, all the way down to the town of Güzelçamlı.

The first thing to say about Uzun Plaj is that the views south are majestic, to the formidable ridge of Mount Mycale on the Dilek Peninsula.

Like Ladies Beach, Uzun Plaj has low, rolling waves, but even though this bay is more exposed to the sea, it shelves gently and there’s a lot of knee-high water so children can splash in safety.

At the top end, close to Kuşadası proper is the Tortuga Pirate Island Theme & Water Park, one of two big water-themed attractions in the area.

7. Şirince

Source: muratart / shutterstock

Eight kilometres east of Selçuk is a picture perfect village in the mountains.

Until the population exchange after the First World War Şirince was mostly home to Ottoman Greeks.

The village has signs of habitation going back well before, including the remains of Roman-era aqueducts that would have fed Ephesus.

With white Greek-style houses cascading down the side of a valley, the village is in an idyllic landscape of vineyards, cypresses, peach orchards and olive groves.

You can come to investigate Şirince’s knot of twisting, traffic-free alleys, framed by whitewashed houses and walled gardens.

In summer there are plenty of stalls selling spices, handicrafts and local wine, and if you need a pit-stop you can pause for a hit of Turkish coffee.

8. Meryemana (House of the Virgin Mary)

Source: Murat An / shutterstock

The story goes that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was brought to this house by John the Apostle, and lived here until her Assumption.

The site is highly venerated by Muslims as well as members of the Roman Catholic faith.

Meryemana was discovered in 1891, on the basis of the reported visions of the German Augustinian Canoness, Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824). What is known is that this building, most likely a very early chapel, is approximately 2,000 years old, and a red line has been painted on the walls to show what is original and what has been restored.

Outside the shrine, the “Wishing Wall” is plastered with strips of paper or fabric, on which thousands of pilgrims have written their requests.

Three popes, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, have visited the shrine since the Second World War.

9. Kuşadası Harbour

Source: AndyRidgway / shutterstock

Partly because it’s the main way of reaching Ephesus by water, Kuşadası has a lively harbour, bookended by Güvercinada on the south side and an opulent new marina to the north.

In the years up to 2020 Kuşadası received 600 cruise boats annually.

And if you’re up for a day trip to the Greek island of Samos, this is the place to embark.

The harbour is a prime place to amble, shop, watch the sun go down, cool off with a drink, grab a bite and just see and be seen.

Along the modern-looking Atatürk Boulevard there’s something for every palate, including international chains like Starbucks and Domino’s.

Roughly halfway along, on a little nub of land is, El Heykeli, a scenic viewpoint with a sculpture of a hand releasing doves.

10. Öküz Mehmed Pasha Caravanserai

Source: Volker Rauch / shutterstock

Close to the waterfront in the very centre of Kuşadası you’ll find yourself at the crenellated walls of a 17th-century caravanserai.

Built in the 1610s on the orders of two-time Grand Vizier Öküz Mehmed Pasha, this was a custom house and inn for merchants arriving by water.

The grand marble entranceway is oriented north to face the harbour, and there’s an information board right here telling the 400-year story of the building.

The caravanserai was in ruins come the 1950s but was restored in stages up to the 1990s.

There’s a 25-room hotel here now, and an open-air restaurant in the courtyard.

Still, you can go through to get a sense of this space and the two levels of galleries with pointed arches around it.

11. Çamlık Railway Museum

Source: Birol Aydin / shutterstock

A short journey inland from Kuşadası is Turkey’s largest railway museum, with an formidable collection of steam engines.

There are 33 steam locomotives here, dating from the 1890s to the 1950s, 18 of which are set around a impressive 18-rail turntable.

Among the manufacturers are Krupp, Henschel, NOHAB, Borsig and Mafei, while the oldest from 1891 is by the British firm Stephenson.

You’re free to hop into all of the locomotive cabs, and there are nine historic carriages to check out.

On a more sombre note, also sitting outside is engine 45501, which was involved in the Yarımburgaz Train Disaster of 1957, a head-on collision claiming the lives of 95 people.

12. Adaland

Source: Preisler / shutterstock

In a holiday full of history and culture you may be ready for a different kind of exhilaration.

Kuşadası’s Adaland might be just what you need, and is a cut above most resort water parks.

There’s fun for all-comers here, including some truly outlandish attractions like a pair of slides with a genuine 360° loop at the bottom of a long drop.

Adaland claims the “world’s longest family slide”, Water Coaster, at an epic 406 metres, while Kamikaze has a heart-stopping 50-metre drop and Slide & Fly’s splashdown launches you several metres into the air.

Lots of the rides involve inflatable rafts, and there’s no shortage of pools and slides for smaller thrill-seekers.

13. Gazibegendi Hill

Source: S. Vincent / shutterstock

Northeast of the of the marina there’s a sharp slope climbing to what is the best lookout in Kuşadası, especially at sunset.

Gazibegendi Hill commemorates Turkey’s modernising statesman Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), who came to this town in 1924 and 1937. The name Gazibegendi literally means, “Loved by the Veteran”, Atatürk’s nickname.

The story goes that he was especially taken with the view of the indented Aegean coastline from this vantage point, and to honour him there’s a Turkish flag and a bronze statue of Atatürk contemplating the vista down to Güvercinada.

A cafe/restaurant opened up here in 2014, and there’s a little playground atop the terraces a few metres away.

14. Full-Day Boat Cruise

Source: www.getyourguide.com

Maybe the easiest way to encounter the many bays and coves on the Aegean coast near Kuşadası is by water.

This package, available through GetYourGuide.com, gives you a whole day sailing from one enchanting beauty spot to the next.

With each stop you’ll have an hour to bathe and snorkel in transparent sea, before weighing anchor and moving on.

The Full-Day Boat Cruise is seven hours in all, and lunch is made fresh on board, with a menu of grilled chicken, meatballs, pasta, salad and fruit.

15. Kuşadası Quad Safari

Source: Jensdw / shutterstock

On the coast west of Ephesus is the kind of beach that you don’t come across very often in the Turkish Aegean.

Pamucak Beach is a wide sandy bay, several kilometres long and remaining quiet even when Kuşadası is at its busiest.

There’s very little development here, and the woods, riverbanks and wide open scrubland in its hinterland is just the setting for an off-road adventure.

Offered through GetYourGuide.com, this 90-minute quad safari includes insurance, all equipment and hotel pick-up and drop-off in the price.

After bouncing across the scenery you’ll end up on Pamucak Beach where you can get your breath back and grab a drink.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Kuşadası (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

To give you a sense of how much this place has taken off in the last 50 years, the population was just 3,000 in the 1960s and now swells to more than 250,000 in the summer.

For good reason too, as Marmaris has pretty much all you could want from a Mediterranean holiday.

There’s blissful nature at uninhabited islands, coves and pine-decked hills, but you’ve also got the heady fun of a modern resort full of bars, nightclubs and countless places to dine.

There’s culture too at archaeological sites and a superb museum in town, while boats set sail from the resort’s chic marina to coastal nature reserves and remote islands.

1. Marmaris Castle and Archaeology Museum

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

This town was fortified as long ago as 3000 BCE, but the origins of the castle on the little peninsula between the main beach and marina are 16th-century.

Marmaris Castle was reworked at this time by Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566) during his Rhodes campaign.

That building took heavy damage from French warships in the First World War and came through a ten-year restoration in the 1980s.

You have to go in for the exceptional archaeology museum, a repository for artefacts unearthed at digs all around the Marmaris and Muğla areas.

There’s pottery, glassware, architectural fragments, coins, amphorae and much more, from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine periods.

The museum also has an ethnographic section, displaying the local crafts and ways of life during the Ottoman era.

2. İçmeler Plajı

Source: StockphotoVideo / shutterstock

While Marmaris has a perfectly serviceable beach, if you’re willing to travel the extra mile your reward will be the kind of beaches that photos can’t do justice.

A good place to begin is İçmeler, 15 minutes around the Bay of Marmaris and walled by pine-cloaked hills.

This slightly smaller resort has a fabulous 500-metre beach, tucked into a cove and with sea buffered by Keçi Island a little way offshore.

İçmeler Plajı is a perennial Blue Flag beach, for its hygiene and facilities, and has mostly soft sand, a light shade of brown.

The water is like a swimming pool, and just as clear, so children will be able frolic in safety.

3. Sedir Island (Cleopatra Island)

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

The contrast between modern, bustling Marmaris and this gorgeous uninhabited island on the north side of the peninsula could hardly be starker.

To get to Sedir Island you’ll need to make the relatively easy trip to the village of Çamlı, and from there you can make the short boat crossing.

The island is often named after Cleopatra, as a legend has it that Cleopatra and Mark Antony bathed here 2000 years ago.

The island can be traversed in a few minutes on foot, and in a cove on the north side is the paradisiacal Cleopatra Beach, with a big sweep of glimmering turquoise water that stays shallow for almost 100 metres.

Sedir is also home to the ancient settlement of Cedrae, the remnants of which are peppered throughout the island and include an agora and theatre.

4. Marmaris National Park

Source: alexfan32 / shutterstock

If the resort at Marmaris ever feels chaotic you’ve always got almost 30,000 hectares of protected nature all around you.

The national park surrounds Marmaris on land and encompasses the islands in the bay.

The landscape is one of tall rocky hills under a mantle of pine, sweet gum and eucalyptus.

Wild boar and wild goats are common while Eurasian lynxes have been recorded in the national park, and a variety of kestrels, falcons, eagles and hawks have their territory here.

The panoramas in the park’s hills are sensational and the terrain attracts walkers, mountain bikers and horseback riders (more later). If you have a car, Turunç, down the west side of the bay, is near the site of the ancient city of Amos, where the ruins of a temple, theatre and sculptural plinths are clearly visible in a beautiful coastal setting.

5. Marmaris Marina

Source: Denis Belitsky / shutterstock

No self-respecting 21st-century resort could be without an upscale marina, but the harbour in Marmaris is all the more alluring against the castle and hills of the Marmaris National Park.

The quays and jetties are paved and you can go on a stroll to check out the forest of masts, the superyachts and the rugged topography around the bay.

The main quay has a line of cafes, boutiques and restaurants, which continues along the west bank of the river and then along the action-packed Bar Street, which we’ll come to later.

The marina is also your stepping stone for boat tours of Marmaris Bay and voyages to the Dalyan River Delta.

6. Dancing Fountain

Source: Julia Kuznetsova / shutterstock

One symptom of Marmaris’ high-speed regeneration is Youth Square, a plaza at the heart of the resort that took the place of a run-down building from the 20th century.

What grabs your attention here, at the lower end of Ulusal Egemenlik Cd., is the circular fountain.

This has two basins, and draws the crowds at 21:00 and 22:00 in the high season when there’s an automated light and music show.

The Dancing Fountain looks especially pretty at night against the clock tower on the north side.

7. Turunç Plajı

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Half an hour south of the resort by road is the village of Turunç facing east on the Bay of Marmaris couched in a bowl of rocky hills covered with forest.

The beach withdrawn from the coastline, in a cove where the water is a darker shade of aquamarine and as calm as can be.

The beach at Turunç is Blue Flag and has a blend of coarse sand and pebbles, covered with sun loungers and parasols for a blissful afternoon in the sun.

There’s also a small promenade fringing the cove, and if you’re in the area you can head down to the railings first thing to watch the sun come up.

8. Incekum Plajı

Source: 0meer / shutterstock

There are scores of far flung beaches waiting to be discovered on the Marmaris Peninsula’s indented coastline.

This sublime example on the north side, opposite Sedir Island, is a cove lapped by clear and shallow turquoise waters.

Incekum Plajı has fine sand, strewn with large rocks and backed by pine trees that give extra shade to bathers.

The beach faces back to the Gulf of Gokova, with Sedir Island and Muğla’s coastal mountains looming dramatically behind.

The whole beach is attached to a restaurant and there’s a small fee to enter.

Road traffic is prohibited here, and instead there’s a brief tractor ride from the car park a couple of kilometres along the coast.

9. Marmaris Safari

Source: www.getyourguide.com

A great way to traverse the rugged landscapes of the Marmaris National Park is on horseback.

On this outing listed with GetYourGuide.com you’ll be saddling up within half an hour of departing your hotel.

You won’t need any previous riding experience, and will take a leisurely trek through fragrant pine forest, beside orange groves and through traditional little villages.

Your horse will be calm and steady, and all you’ll have to do is it in the saddle and watch the scenery roll by.

Children will be able to ride along, provided a parent is in the group, and of course a helmet will be provided.

10. All-Inclusive Boat Tour with Lunch

Source: mihta / shutterstock

Such is the amount of natural beauty around the Bay of Marmaris that it’s a good idea to sit back and just be shown around on a cruise.

This experience, also through GetYourGuide.com, is a seven-hour odyssey on a comfortable, well-equipped boat to see the best of the bay, its islands and innumerable coves.

You’ll step ashore at paradise island, lounge on deserted beaches and swim in the strange, phosphorescent waters of the Phosphorus Cave.

Your vessel will also call in at Turunç, which we talked about above, as well as another picture perfect bay at Kumlubük a little way south.

There’s lunch on board, cold drinks when you need them, and room to stretch out in the sun on deck.

11. Marmaris Beach

Source: Hazar Doga Yeter / shutterstock

While you’ll be rewarded if you’re willing to travel to find the perfect beach, the main beach in the busy centre of the resort, is well-maintained, convenient and slopes gradually into crystal clear waters.

There’s a hectic promenade tight behind with an endless row of cafes and restaurants.

Many of these, together with the waterfront hotels, manage the beach clubs all along the shore, leaving barely a patch of gravelly sand without regimented lines of sun loungers.

Facing out to sea, the view of the Bay of Marmaris, its pool-like water, islands and rocky terrain, will help you forget your cares.

The public section can be found towards the north end.

12. Dalyan River

Source: Debu55y / shutterstock

Further out, the Dalyan Delta, about 30 kilometres east of Marmaris proper, is a nature conservation area set up to protect the loggerhead sea turtles that nest in the sandy beach and can be spotted swimming in the water.

With GetYourGuide.com the “Full-Day Dalyan Boat Tour from Marmaris with Lunch” is an exciting trip along delta’s tangle of channels.

The marshy environment here feels like a world away from the craggy coves of Marmaris, and there will be some unforgettable moments on the trip.

You’ll stop at sulphur springs and mud baths to be caked from head to toe (if you like), and around one bend you’ll be wowed by the spectacular tombs hewn from the cliff-face over the ancient Lycian city of Kaunos.

Finally the trip makes a pause at Turtle Beach at the mouth of the river, where you can while away an hour or two sunbathing and swimming.

13. Marmaris Bar Street

Source: a.payyu / shutterstock

The place to go out in Marmaris is one street in from the waterfront next to the marina.

True to its name, Bar Street is rammed with bars and clubs catering to people in their late-teens and twenties.

Come high season the place is heaving, and each venue starts to fill up around 23:00, with the party continuing until daylight.

Special mention to Greenhouse Dance Club, Backstreet Disco, Crazy Daisy Bar & Nightclub, Club Areena and Rock Bar.

Most tastes are catered for, whether you’re into EDM, rock, pop, Turkish pop, reggae or want to hear some live music.

Some venues are also geared towards certain nationalities, be they Turkish, Russian or British.

14. Marmaris Atlantis Waterpark

Source: Mila Demidova / shutterstock

Handy if you’re holidaying with children and teenagers, there’s a waterpark near the south end of the main beach in Marmaris.

Although space in the middle of the resort is at a premium Atlantis Waterpark has eight slides, varying in speed and length, as well as a wave pool where you can lie back in an inflatable ring.

There’s also a kids’ pool with its own play equipment and fountains, soft play areas, a mini golf course, restaurants, bars and lots of sun loungers under parasols and awnings.

15. Grand Bazaar

Source: Suat Eracar / shutterstock

Put it down as one of those touristy things you can’t avoid in a Turkish resort: The Grand Bazaar in Marmaris has grown to serious proportions, on a series of interconnected alleys under a vaulted roof and with shops manned by eager, even pushy traders.

We’re talking rugs, pottery, colourful lamps, pashminas, Turkish delight, tea and coffee sets and a whole world of fakes.

You can haggle here, and if you’re patient you can get a discount of up to half of the quoted price.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Marmaris (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The scenery is defined by a 250-metre-high promontory, sticking out into the Mediterranean and fortified since time immemorial.

In Alanya, your days will be spent lazing on an enticing beach and adventuring through those lofty castle ruins, which can be reached by a cable car that opened in 2017. This is one of a few projects that have helped turn Alanya into a 21st century beach resort.

The city is also a jumping off point for scuba diving, cruises and trips into the Taurus Mountains where you can hike in canyons, explore caves and bathe in cool mountain streams.

1. Alanya Castle

Source: HSBortecin / shutterstock

The city’s steep peninsula, protected on three sides by the Mediterranean, is topped by a 13th-century castle with 6.5 kilometres of fortified walls.

This rocky mass is a natural defence, and today’s castle was built on earlier Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine enclosures.

In all there are 83 towers and 140 towers in the walls, and many of the 1,200 original cisterns continue to fulfil their original role.

Alanya Castle is one massive archaeological site that warrants hours of exploration.

The starting point has to be the citadel or Kale on the southwest side, where you’ll come to the Byzantine Church of St George, later adapted as a mosque.

The north side of the promontory is the scene of the Seljuk Ehmedek Fortress, built on Hellenistic vestiges and holding a military garrison, arsenal and Sultan’s treasury for hundreds of years.

Here you’ll discover countless ruins, together with historic 19th-century houses that went up after the castle had lost its defensive purpose.

2. Red Tower (Kızılkule)

Source: Oleg_P / shutterstock

Alanya’s emblem is a 13th-century Seljuk defensive tower, getting its name from the red brick that makes up the structure’s upper storey and parapet.

The Red Tower has an octagonal footprint and climbs to 33 metres with marble blocks on its lower walls.

This rare piece of Medieval defensive architecture was constructed to protect Alanya’s harbour and shipyard, and greeted people’s arrival to the city for many centuries.

There’s a cistern inside, still able to collect rainwater, and you can make out the historic siege-repelling murder holes, through which boiling water and pitch would be dropped on helpless invaders.

On the first floor is a small ethnographic museum with tools and handicrafts reflecting the Turkmen culture in the Taurus Mountains.

3. Kleopatra Beach

Source: evp82 / shutterstock

Starting at the western foot of that promontory is Alanya’s main beach, a long gentle arc of coarse sand bathed by low-to-moderate surf.

Kleopatra Beach is wide, tapering only a little the further north you go, and gives you unbroken views of the castle and the brooding mass of the Taurus Mountains.

There are beach clubs with sun loungers at intervals along the beach, and between the sand and Atatürk Boulevard is a wide promenade, blessed with those same panoramas, under swaying palms and buffered from the street by a strip of greenery with playgrounds and flowerbeds.

4. Alanya Teleferik

Source: SvetlanaTestova / shutterstock

On the east side of the beach is the lower station for a cable car that opened in summer 2017, whisking you up to the castle promontory.

The Alanya Teleferik climbs 250 metres on a 900-metre line, and one of its 14 gondolas will depart every 19 seconds.

On board you’ll be treated to astonishing 360° views, out over the Gulf of Antalya, across the resort and beyond to the Taurus Mountains.

When we wrote this article in March 2019 a round trip was 28TL (about $4.50). Sunset is of course a great time to make the journey, and from street level the gondolas are lit in green and blue at night.

5. Sapadere Kanyonu

Source: Jan Miko / shutterstock

It’s impossible not to be awed by Taurus Mountains, and if you want to break out and experience this stirring landscape your best bet is the Sapadere Canyon, about 40 kilometres northeast of Alanya.

The temperature is a few degrees lower in the mountains, and something that will strike you right away is the lack of humidity.

On GetYourGuide.com there’s a seven hour tour taking you into the mountains for a trek via 750 metres of wooden walkways along the gnarled walls of the gorge, past waterfalls with bracing, clear pools that you can bathe in.

Afterwards you’ll stop at Sapadere village for lunch and to see rural life in the Antalya Province up close.

6. Damlataş Cave

Source: Volodymyr Martyniuk / shutterstock

In 1948 when Alanya’s peninsula was being quarried for stone for the harbour, workers stumbled upon a cave brimming with stalagmites and stalactites.

At the foot of a stairway, the Damlataş Cave is 50 metres long and up to 15 metres high, and those bizarre concretions are carefully illuminated.

Now, something to note about the chamber is its high humidity (96%), elevated carbon dioxide and constant temperature of 22°C.

This might put off some visitors, but since it was first discovered the Damlataş Cave has been hailed for its therapeutic effects for people with respiratory complaints.

Tens of thousands of asthma sufferers visit each year, and take a 21-day treatment course involving four hours in the cave each day.

Their slot is 06:00-10:00, before the cave opens to the wider public.

7. Alanya Harbour (Limani)

Source: O'SHI / shutterstock

Alanya’s port for tourist cruises and diving excursions is defended to the south by Kızılkule, and is as good a place as any to potter around and see where your curiosity takes you.

Along the water there’s a promenade, hemmed by gardens with palms, lawns and topiaries.

There are lots of spaces to just park up and soak up the views out to sea, down to the castle or up to the Taurus Mountains, a constant, imposing presence all along the coast.

You’ll never be far from a cafe for a hit of Turkish coffee, and for the best views you can walk along the harbour’s south arm to ponder Alanya and its mountainous hinterland.

8. Alanya Archaeological Museum

Source: saiko3p / shutterstock

In ancient times, the surrounding region known as Pamphylia had a cluster of cities, many of which are compelling archaeological sites today.

So while you’re on the Turkish Riviera a visit to an archaeological museum will always be worthwhile.

Alanya’s is famed for a bronze statue of Hercules, dating from the 2nd century CE and just over half a metre tall.

Also on show are intact amphorae from the 2nd century BCE, coins going back as far as 700 BCE, an inscribed Phoenician tablet from 625 BCE and a 46-line letter by the Roman emperor Septimus Severus.

The museum also has an ethnographic section detailing local ways of life down the years, as well as an outdoor space showing ancient agriculture techniques, and funeral customs from ancient times through the Islamic era.

9. Alanya Tersanesi

Source: Oleksandr Berezko / shutterstock

In 1228 the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Kayqubad I ordered the construction of this remarkable shipyard, facing east across the bay, just south of Kızılkule.

In Medieval times Alanya was the Seljuk Empire’s prime shipyard on the Mediterranean, and what remains is in great condition and open to the public for free along a wooden boardwalk.

There’s a row of five pointed arches, more than 55 metres long in total, and these vaulted bays go back 44 metres inland.

The shipyard was oriented east to get as much sunlight as possible, and is flanked by a mosque and guardroom.

Slightly back and posted on the rocks on the south side is a defensive tower once armed with cannons.

10. Dimçayı

Source: MarcinSl1987 / shutterstock

The Dim River weaves down the east side of Alanya from the Taurus Mountains.

As well as nourishing an abundance of vegetation on its banks, the river is wonderfully cool, even during the fierce heat of the summer months.

It’s a local family tradition to visit the river below the Dim Dam to paddle in its calmer stretches, come fishing and take a barbecue on the banks.

And catering to the many day-trippers are dozens of restaurants, many with shaded terraces on little wooden jetties or even on pontoons floating on the water.

Some of these river restaurants have pools, slides and diving boards on the river, and others will give you a fishing rod to catch your own trout.

Upstream from Dim Dam you can go rafting on a 5.5-kilometre course, setting off from Akköprü, and with lots of places to stop for a picnic on the banks.

11. Dim Cave (Dim Mağarası)

Source: muratart / shutterstock

On your visit to the Dim River make time for the largest cave system in the Alanya area, carved out by water over millions of years but only discovered in 1999. The Dim Cave is 360 metres long, and worthwhile for its many concretions.

Something to remember is that there are lots of steps and narrow walkways, so the Dim Cave isn’t accessible to all.

As with the Damlataş Cave there’s high humidity at 75%, although the cave does offer respite from the summer heat, with a temperature never rising above 19°C.

12. Alanya Belediyesi 100. Yıl Atatürk Parkı

Source: Artur Romanov / shutterstock

One of the things to love about this park is its location, right by the cable car station, tourist office, Damlataş Cave and archaeological museum, at the east end of Kleopatra Beach.

Within a few steps north along Güzelyalı Cd. there are dozens of places to eat.

As for the park, it’s somewhere to escape the heat for a few minutes, under a palm tree or one of the enormous ficuses.

There’s a mini-golf course, a fishpond, flowerbeds and pieces of public art like a ceremonious statue of Cleopatra.

This is also somewhere to witness Alanya’s affinity for its stray cats, which roam the lawns freely and have special wooden shelters and feeding stations.

13. Seyir Terasi

Source: Mariia Boiko / shutterstock

To those in the know, the best panorama in Alanya can be had from this belvedere in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains.

By car or cab you can get up to the Seyir Terasi in under 15 minutes, and once you’re there you may not want to leave.

From this leafy vantage point you’ve got the best view of the castle’s peninsula, the tessellated white blocks of modern Alanya, as well as the harbour and the aqua-blue expanse of the Mediterranean.

There’s a telescope on the terrace and a cafe-restaurant above, and in the evening families will come to the park to light barbecues.

14. Alanya Boat Trip with BBQ Lunch and Drinks

Source: muratart / shutterstock

Of the many views to cherish in Alanya, some of the very best are from the water.

On a cruise departing the old harbour, you’ll see the castle, shipyard, Kızılkule and the Taurus Mountains through the eyes of a Medieval sailor.

The coastline in the Antalya Province is also fabulous, and there are three sets of caves within a short sail Alanya.

Occasionally on this six-hour voyage the boat will drop anchor and you can lie back on deck or plunge into the cool turquoise sea.

Cold drinks are provided and there’s also a barbecued lunch on board.

This outing is available on GetYourGuide.com.

15. Scuba Diving Tour With Lunch

Source: Leonardo_o7 / shutterstock

You may want to spend a whole day descending into the clear waters off Alanya.

This experience is open to divers of all experience levels, and includes hotel pick-up and boat trips from the harbour to two dive sites, with a cooked lunch aboard the yacht on the way to the second site.

Beginners are well looked after, diving in groups no larger than two per instructor.

Non-divers can also come along for the trip, and you can bring your own snorkel and mask, or rent them from the boat, and pass a carefree day swimming in the crystalline sea and sunbathing.

Book online: Scuba Diving Tour With Lunch

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Alanya (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

In Medieval times marble and polished stone from that vast monument were reused for a castle by the Knights Hospitaller, and a lot of the masterful sculpture eventually found its way to the British Museum.

There are clues from the city of Halicarnassus all over town, at the theatre, Myndos Gate and the site of that mausoleum.

Bodrum is on a craggy peninsula where bays with clear, glistening waters are sheltered between headlands.

Here you can divide your time between thrilling archaeology and a sun lounger by a shimmering cove.

1. Bodrum Castle (Castle of St Peter)

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

On a promontory east of Bodrum’s harbour stands Bodrum Castle, built in the beginning of the 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller.

This location has been fortified for more than 3,000 years and is the likely setting for the palace of Mausolus from the 4th century BCE.

One of many absorbing things about this building is that stonework from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was recycled for its walls, either turned into dust to make lime, or simply re-used.

The castle was an international project, with its four towers named for the people who built them: German, Italian, French and English.

The castle fell to Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century and became a prison in 1895.

2. Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Since the 1960s the castle has hosted a fascinating museum dedicated to the underwater finds made at Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern shipwreck sites around the Turkish Aegean.

This is the largest museum in Turkey devoted to this field, presenting a thrilling hoard of Mycenaean copper ingots and vases, Ancient Egyptian seals, royal Carian jewellery, Roman amphorae, Medieval Islamic glassware, a Spanish four-Real piece from the 16th century and loads more.

These pieces are spread throughout the castle’s historic interior and accompanied by interesting snippets, like for example, a chronology of the development of Amphorae.

The museum also features two reconstructed shipwrecks from the Bronze Age and Medieval period.

3. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

Source: Alex Ovchinnikoff / shutterstock

The magnificent tomb that first defined the term “mausoleum” was built in Halicarnassus for the Carian satrap Mausolus (d. 353 BCE). Set on a massive podium, this was a monument of incredible grandeur, 45 metres tall and with reliefs on each facade carved by one of the preeminent Greek 4th-century BCE sculptors, Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus.

It was toppled by earthquakes between 1100 and 1400, and was the last of the six ruined wonders of the ancient world to be destroyed.

Most of the marble blocks and polished stone became spolia for Bodrum Castle, but, however modest, the original site of the mausoleum is a humbling place because of what it represents.

Many of the finer sculptures were removed in the 19th century and have ended up in the British Museum, but until they’re returned the surviving reliefs, fluted columns and a stairway give a tantalising glimpse of what came before.

Also here is a small exhibition with a video breaking down the chronology of the mausoleum, amphitheatre and castle.

4. Theatre of Halicarnassus

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

A couple of streets up from the mausoleum site is the Greek-style theatre, constructed during the reign of Mausolus in the 4th century BCE and later enlarged by the Romans in the 2nd century CE.

Its architect had an eye for the spectacular, as the theatre has a stirring view out to the Aegean from its cavea.

In its heyday this venue could seat around 13,000 people, and enough survives today that it can be used as a stage for cultural events throughout the high season.

You can look at the excavated hillside to see where the cavea continued up the slope.

5. Zeki Müren Arts Museum

Source: Dreamer Company / shutterstock

The coiffed singer and actor Zeki Müren (1931-1996) is a colossal figure in Turkish popular culture and spent much of his life, especially the last few years, here in Bodrum.

Müren starred in dozens of films and recorded 30+ albums, and his influence is hard to overstate.

After he died, his home on his namesake street in Bodrum was turned into a museum.

Müren had a Liberace-esque taste for the flamboyant, and while there’s lots of stage costumes and photographs to back this up, the home itself is pared-down and gives a touching impression of a man seeking a quiet life.

As for memorabilia there’s lots of jewellery, hi-fi equipment and paintings that he composed, while an English introduction at the entrance will bring you up to speed on Müren’s career.

6. Bodrum Deniz Müzesi (Maritime Museum)

Source: Bodrum Deniz Müzesi / Facebook

Bodrum has been involved in shipbuilding since antiquity, and the industry was given a boost in the early 19th century when Ottoman warships were launched here.

When demand waned in the middle of 19th century, that shipbuilding knowhow was put to use building three-masted gulets (schooners) for trade, fishing and sponging.

In 2011, Bodrum’s maritime museum moved into the old bazaar building (bedesten) by the castle, and has scores of models for the various wooden boats built in Bodrum.

Much of what you see, including 6,000 shells from around the world, is from the personal collection of Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı (1886-1973), a Crete-born writer, exiled to Bodrum in 1925. He is nicknamed the “Fisherman of Halicarnassus”, and is credited with raising Bodrum’s profile and bringing it to the attention of the Turkish literati in the 20th century.

7. Bitez Beach

Source: Luciano Mortula - LGM / shutterstock

While the public beach in Bodrum is more than adequate, if you’re willing to travel a little you’ll come across some outstanding beaches within a few kilometres.

The Blue Flag Bitez Beach is a short way west, and regarded as one of the best on the entire peninsula for families with smaller children.

Shielded to the east by a long headland, Bitez Beach is a scallop-shaped bay with gravelly sand (bring flip-flops) and a big spread of shallow, warm and transparent water.

And like all the touristy beaches around Bodrum, the bay is lined with eateries, many of which rent out sun loungers with the price of a drink or two included, or for free with the price of a meal.

But in spite of all this business, the resort is far quieter than Gümbet and Bodrum around the headland.

8. Ortakent-Yahşi Beach

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Some ten kilometres west of Bodrum proper is one of the longest beaches on the peninsula, at the place where two villages, Ortakent (east) and Yahşi (west) have formed a single municipality.

The two ends of the beach have a different character: Yahşi is oriented towards tourism and has restaurants and shops, as well as a jetty for boat excursions, while Ortakent, over the Uludere river inlet is more peaceful and backed by hotels and holiday rentals.

Come the high season, every inch of the crescent-shaped pebble beach will be covered with sun loungers and parasols.

Drinks are normally included in the rental price, and you can cool off wading out into the clear Aegean waters.

There’s also a strip of greenery edging the beach, used by for outdoor seating by bars and restaurants, and occasionally furnished with cabanas and hammocks among the palms.

9. Pedasa

Source: Authentic travel / shutterstock

High on the Bodrum Peninsula’s rugged spine are the ruins of the ancient Carian settlement of Pedasa.

You can hike to Pedasa from Bodrum’s Konacık, and the experience maybe a welcome antidote to resort life, climbing through maquis shrub, and hushed forest under the cover of pines, cedars and larches.

The ample shade means you could attempt this hike on a summer’s morning, if you bring plenty of water.

The evocative ruins at Pedasa are from between the 11th and 6th century BCE, and a recent excavation has brought to light a temple to Athena.

The site is spread across several hill-tops, giving you stunning 360° panoramas of the peninsula and Aegean.

10. Windmills of Bodrum

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

The Bodrum Peninsula is littered with quaint reminders of a time before tourism, dating back as far as the 1700s.

These windmills are in various states of repair and set high on ridges to catch the breeze.

The most convenient to Bodrum proper is a row of eight, along the peninsula between this resort and neighbouring Gümbet.

Whitewashed, these circular buildings stand out against the blues and browns of the land and sea beyond.

As much as anything the windmills are a vantage point where you can survey the clear turquoise waters of the bays, the sprawl of the resorts and the coniferous hills in all directions.

11. Bodrum Harbour

Source: Ahmet Cigsar / shutterstock

It’s fascinating to think that vessels have been docking at Bodrum Harbour, tucked snug behind the castle, for upwards of 3000 years.

On the west side of the harbour is the Milta Bodrum Marina, hailed as one of the most prestigious marinas on the Aegean.

This is a Blue Flag facility, with 450 berths, some filled by ostentatious super yachts.

For landlubbers the harbour with its wide quaysides, palms and eucalyptus trees is a prime place to mill around and watch the ferries come and go, particularly in the evening when the sunset are wonderful.

And along the street at the back there’s an unbroken string of restaurants and cafes taking advantage of these views.

The harbour is also where you’ll find those traditional three-masted gulets, built right here in Bodrum.

12. Bardakçı Koyu (Bardakci Cove)

Source: Kayihan Bolukbasi / shutterstock

On the east side of the headland with the windmills is a delightful little cove with pool-like waters.

The drawback to Bardakçı Koyu is that there’s no public beach, and you’ll have to pay for a sun lounger belonging to one of the three hotels that crowd the cove (about 50TL or $8.50 in 2020). The good news is that you can get there the scenic way, buy catching a water taxi across the bay from Bodrum Harbour, departing every ten minutes or so.

It’s a fun way to arrive, and when you get there you can swim in sparkling waters with soft sand underfoot and hardly a trace of seaweed.

13. Myndos Gate

Source: ColorMaker / shutterstock

The last vestige of the seven-kilometre walls of the Halicarnassus can be found in the west of Bodrum.

These defences were constructed in the 4th century BCE by Mausolus, the satrap of Caria, and the Myndos Gate was one of two monumental entranceways.

Although the stonework on the gate’s two towers is a modern interpretation, there’s a lot of archaeological interest, and vaulted tombs from the Hellenistic and Roman periods have been discovered nearby.

You can make out 50 metres of the surrounding ditch, known to have slowed down Alexander the Great’s capture of the city in 334 BCE.

Around the site are information plaques explaining its historical significance.

14. Midtown Shopping Centre

Source: Midtown Alışveriş Merkezi / Facebook

As a sign of the times, a plush mall has opened in Ortakent under ten kilometres west of Bodrum proper.

On a scorching day you may be ready for an air-conditioned behemoth like this.

At Midtown Shopping Centre are plenty of brands you’d expect from a European high street, like Marks & Spencer, Gap, L’Occitane, Mango, H&M, Yves Rocher and MediaMarkt.

There’s also a giant food court, where you might try out popular Turkish chains like Simit Sarayi, alongside worldwide fast food names like McDonalds, Burger King, Popeyes and Starbucks.

And like most malls, Midtown has a multiplex cinema showing Turkish and international movies, although these tend to be dubbed.

15. Full-Day Orak Island Boat Trip

Source: goldisworld / shutterstock

Orak Island is in the Aegean east of Bodrum, looking back to a long, mostly uninhabited stretch of the peninsula.

You can visit on a day-long cruise through GetYourGuide.com.

After setting sail from Bodrum Harbour in late-morning the cruise will make a stop at the exquisite Red Bay, before dropping anchor at Orak Island Bay, where you can swim and snorkel in shimmering turquoise waters and laze on a white sandy beach.

Lunch is prepared on board and normally involves a fresh salad and grilled chicken.

And after departing the main bay, you’ll make two or three more swimming stops, and enjoy the views of the peninsula in the late afternoon light over a slice of melon and cup of Turkish tea.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Bodrum (Turkey) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

The hustle and bustle of daily life will most definitely keep you entertained but as with all big cities, may also wear you out.

The good news is that Istanbul is ideally located nearby to some of the most enviable destinations in Turkey that are perfect for taking a break from city life.

From iconic architectural sites to idyllic beaches and historic towns, the area surrounding Istanbul is rich in culture and nature alike.

Get ready for some downtime as you take a break from the metropolitan hustle and bustle with the 15 best day trips from Istanbul.

1. Princes Islands

Source: Paul Vinten / shutterstock

Wildly popular amongst the locals of Istanbul, the Princes Islands provide the perfect getaway for those looking to spend a quiet day away from the hectic urban center.

You can get there by catching a ferry from Kabatas and in only half an hour you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous beaches backdropped by forests on islands peppered with traditional Ottoman-style houses.

For the best sunbathing and swimming, head to Heybeliada Island and if you’re keen to learn about the island’s history, stop off at Büyükada Island where you’ll find the Museum of The Prince’s Islands.

2. Kilyos

Source: sevdin / shutterstock

In the often scorching Turkish summer, another popular haven for sun-seekers and revellers takes shape in the form of the beaches of Kilyos, a coastal resort on the northern coast of Istanbul.

The long, beautiful sandy bay is the perfect place to cool off and relax and the local scene caters to a youthful and energetic crowd, with beach parties soundtracked by international DJ’s lasting late into the night.

Ideal for a relaxing day trip at the beach or for an overnight stay and some fun, Kilyos is one of Istanbul’s prime coastal destinations.

3. Belgrad Ormani

Source: Resul Muslu / shutterstock

One of the things most notably lacking from Istanbul is the presence of serene and calm natural spaces, which is exactly the reason why a day trip to Belgrad Ormani is a favourite among locals looking for some tranquillity.

Translating to Belgrade Forest, Belgrad Ormani offers 5000 hectares of stunningly beautiful forested land a mere 40 minutes away from the city center, where residents and travellers alike can enjoy quiet strolls amongst the trees.

With some excellent hikes in the area, you’re also likely to come across some hidden historical remains from the Ottoman Empire such as dams and beautiful abandoned churches.

4. Bursa

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

As one of the most historical cities in the country, Bursa enjoys frequent visitors from all over the world to come and walk the streets of the Ottoman Empire’s first ever capital and to marvel at its impressive buildings.

Concentrated in the center, you’ll find gorgeous mosques and tombs such as the Ulu Camii and Yeşil Camii, both incredibly attractive works of architectural ingenuity.

Just around the corner are the famous central markets, where you can spend hours browsing traditional wares.

Finally, if you want to explore outside the city, Bursa’s Uludağ Mountain is known for its excellent skiing during the winter and breathtaking views of the city during summer.

5. Anadolu Kavağı

Source: OPIS Zagreb / shutterstock

A charmingly quaint seaside village that is not only beautiful but also steeped in history, Anadolu Kavağı is a great way to get to know a wildly different side to Turkey without having to travel far from Istanbul’s city center.

Here, you’ll find a coast lined with vibrantly coloured little wooden houses overlooked by the famous Yoros Kalesi fortress that dates back nearly a millennia.

To get here, jump on the Bosphorus Cruise from Istanbul and enjoy scenic views of the coast before you even arrive.

Work up an appetite by hiking up to the fortress and then enjoy mouthwatering, freshly caught fish at one of the waterside restaurants.

6. Gallipoli Historical National Park

Source: Nadir Keklik / shutterstock

Located on the impossibly scenic Gallipoli Peninsula with its verdant shores and idyllic coastal vistas, you’ll find the also beautiful Gallipoli Historical National Park, dedicated to memorialising and honouring soldiers from both sides of the First World War.

The cemeteries themselves, though melancholy, are stunning to look at and it’s easy to spend hours wandering around being captivated by them and the various other memorials.

The highlights here are Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair and 57 Alay, all with their distinct but fascinating historical significance.

7. Çanakkale

Source: AlpKaya / shutterstock

Widely recognised as a place with a very similar energy to Istanbul, but much more manageable in size, is the thriving seaside town of Çanakkale.

Found near the Gallipoli Peninsula, the town is abuzz with youthful energy as well as a number of intriguing historical points of interest.

Çanakkale is the nearest center to the archaeological site of Troy and is a good base from which to plan a trip.

Not to mention the huge Trojan Horse monument stood on the town’s waterfront promenade, which is what most visitors come to see.

Overnight stays here can be tempting, thanks to the town’s developed but not over-the-top nightlife scene.

Young adults and families alike can be found socialising and enjoying themselves outside bars long after the sun has set.

8. Troy

Source: zebra0209 / shutterstock

Having possessed the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site for over 20 years now, Troy is one of the most iconic ancient sites in the world, thanks to our fascination with its mythological back story fuelled by popular media and history lessons.

The site is home to ruins of the outer walls, fortified towns and a Temple of Athena, which, though they leave something to the imagination, are all fascinating to wander around.

It was also the meeting place for many Mediterranean civilisations meaning it holds a great deal of importance for understanding how they interacted over the centuries.

A worthwhile trip for history buffs and ancient myth fanatics alike!

9. Golden Horn

Source: Mirelle / shutterstock

Acting as a crucial port to the vast stretch of water known as the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn is an incredibly beautiful natural harbour that is home to a number of fascinating historical sites as well as being a gorgeous stretch of coast.

The seven-kilometre-long inlet has been built on since the medieval era and once played a pivotal role in shipping throughout the region.

If you get off at Hasköy, you’ll have the chance to visit the opulently adorned Aynalıkavak Kasrı pavilion before heading up to the equally as impressive Eyüp Mosque, built 500 years ago and magnificent to this day.

10. Şile and Ağva

Source: Anna Soelberg / shutterstock

Over on the coast of the Black Sea, you’ll find the extraordinarily attractive fishing village of Şile, which, thanks to its gorgeous white beach, transforms into a beach resort during summer where you can go and frolic in the crystal clear waters.

If you want to explore a little, you’ll find a small offshore castle built on a rocky outcrop from whose peak you can get breathtaking views.

For an even quieter area surrounded by peaceful coastal scenery where you can really unwind, head over to the nearby Ağva.

11. Edirne

Source: canyalcin / shutterstock

Famous for being the second capital of the Ottoman Empire, Edirne is an astonishingly opulent city positively brimming with heritage listed buildings including mosques, museums and an enchanting and mysterious Old Town.

When it comes to culture, Edirne is at the forefront of the Turkish cities, with its wildly popular annual oil-wrestling contest spearheading the year’s events.

In terms of notable buildings, the Selimiye Mosque is one of the finest buildings in the country complete with captivating spires and a monstrously large central dome.

Also worth a visit is the Edirne Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, housed within the mosque’s courtyard and exhibiting fascinating ceramic, cloth and woodworks from the Ottoman reign.

12. Kilitbahir Fortress

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Near the town of Çanakkale, overlooking the Dardanelles Strait, you’ll find the positively gigantic fortress of Kilitbahir, built in the 15th Century and still standing to this day.

Its size alone means that when you climb to the highest ramparts, you’re rewarded with incredible panoramic views of the strait and the peaceful fishing village of Kilitbahir below.

Take a guided tour to learn more about how the fortress played a pivotal role in defending the crucial waterway for generation upon generation.

13. Ephesus

Source: Tatiana Popova / shutterstock

Ephesus is a day trip that really shouldn’t be missed when visiting Istanbul.

Although the most cost and time-efficient way to get there is by plane, its more than manageable over the course of a day and definitely worth the time.

The ancient city has got some of the most incredibly well-preserved monuments on Earth, including the House of Virgin Mary, where she supposedly spent her last days.

Also not to be missed is the Temple of Artemis, which is officially one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Unless you want to explore by yourself and save a bit of cash, the best way to visit is on a guided tour, where you’ll be taken to the best spots and not have to preoccupy yourself with transport plans.

14. Iznik

Source: Nejdet Duzen / shutterstock

Formerly known as Nicea, the town of Iznik is another ancient fortified settlement that is brimming with Turkish, Greek and even Roman history.

It’s a wonderful place to explore on account of one of its main traditions, which was to produce and trade pottery and tiles.

As a result, the town is full of reproductions and the architecture itself is a joy to look at.

The icing on the cake is the gorgeous lake just outside the town where you’ll find restaurants and cafes serving delicious traditional food to whet your appetite.

15. Pamukkale

Source: muratart / shutterstock

Another full day commitment that includes a flight, Pamukkale is around two hours away from Istanbul including a plane journey and overland transfer.

Without a doubt one of the country’s most popular attractions, Pamukkale is a series of startlingly white thermal pool terraces cascading onto one another in the gorgeous flats of Turkey’s southwest.

What’s more, it’s also the site of the Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis, which has been incredibly well-preserved and adds to the entire surreal experience.

The dramatic landscape is most definitely worth the trip, offering endless opportunities to relax, snap incredible pictures, and explore one of the most unique places in the world.

The post 15 Best Day Trips from Istanbul appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.