Ranked as the 37th largest country in the world in terms of area, Turkey has several historic sites, natural landscapes, mountains and beaches. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, this country offers tourists an opportunity to experience a cultural blend of the east and the west. Popular destinations in Turkey are Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Ephesus, Cappadocia and Gallipoli.
With numerous historical sites, mountains, beaches, sacred places and sea cliffs, there are lots of sightseeing options in Turkey. Some of the popular sightseeing attractions of the country are Sultanahmet Blue Mosque (Istanbul), Ayasofya (Istanbul), Cappadocia Region, Mount Nemrut and Ephesus. Tourists can also visit the South Aegean Coastline, the ancient city of Antioch and Konya, along with the Princes' Islands.
Dolmabahce Palace (Istanbul), Efes Artemis Temple (Izmir) and Karain Cave (Antalya) are major attractions. Tourists interested in the history of Turkey can visit Ankara Anatolian Civilisations Museum (Ankara), Canakkale Martyrs' Memorial (Canakkale), Halicarnassos Mausoleum (Bodrum) and Topkapi Palace Museum (Istanbul).
The shores of the country, surrounded by sea from three sides, are home to several beaches, island and ports. These shores are perfect spots for enjoying outdoor activities like swimming, water rafting, yachting, scuba diving, water skiing and canoeing. Moreover, tourists can also indulge in mountaineering, parachuting, paragliding, spelunking, hot air ballooning and hot spring bathing.
Shopping for souvenirs like leather, silk clothes, copper work, inlaid woodwork and carpets in the bazaars of Turkey is also popular. In Istanbul, shopping for leather, meerschaum pipes and handmade carpet at Grand Covered Bazaar and Sultanahmet area can be done. Kemeralti and Kizlaragasi Han are counted among the best places for shopping in Izmir.
Tourists can also splurge at Kizilay in Ankara and Dogugara market in Antalya. Cappadocian pottery, Bursa silk, Isparta’s soap and Marmaris pine honey, are some of the popular buys.
Whether it is street food like doner kebab or the national speciality shish kebab, Turkey has a wide range of food items. Some of the Turkish dishes that can be tasted are kofte, dolma, hamsili pilav, lokum and gozleme. Tourists can also try local specialties like iskendar kebabs of Bursa, spicy shish kebab of Urfa and yoghurt of Kanlica, Istanbul.
For exploring the country, tourists can take historic, religious or city tours that are arranged by tour operators in different parts of Turkey. Cross country tours like Turkey and Greece or Turkey along with Egypt are also available.
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