Things to do in 

Turkiye

Beyond Istanbul’s big museums, lean into alternative things to do across Turkiye—street markets, artisan studios, and quiet villages—where hosts share stories over tea or a warm kitchen table.

Cultural experiences: In Istanbul, graze Kadiköy Market with a home‑cook guide and learn spice blends before ferrying to Balat for chats in antique shops, a gentle route for seniors. In Cappadocia, sit at the wheel in an Avanos pottery studio, then wander stone lanes in Mustafapaşa, a favorite for couples. In Ayvalık, taste new‑season olive oil at a tiny press and pair it with village cheeses. In Gaziantep, peek inside a baklava workshop off Şahinbey’s old lanes, a sweet stop luxury travelers often fold into a private tasting walk.

Day trip ideas: From Istanbul, sail to Büyükada in the Princes’ Islands for car‑free cycling and monastery views, then ferry back for mezes in Üsküdar. From Istanbul, go west to Edirne’s Selimiye Mosque and old bridges in about 2.5 hours. From Izmir, detour inland to Birgi’s timbered houses and Tire’s Tuesday market for warm flatbreads. From Antalya, hike up to Termessos in the morning cool, 40 minutes inland, or slip down the coast to Cirali for beach time and citrus groves.

Explore Turkiye's regions: The Aegean around Izmir and Bodrum blends olive towns, ruins, and islands a short drive apart. The Turquoise Coast from Antalya to Kaş swaps harbors and coves with easy boat days. Central Anatolia centers on Cappadocia’s valleys near Nevşehir, reachable by short flights from Istanbul. Southeast around Mardin and Gaziantep runs on spice‑scented bazaars and stone towns, while the Black Sea hills from Safranbolu to Rize feel lush and tea‑green.

Travel tip: Plan 10–14 days for Istanbul plus one or two regions; 18–21 days lets you add Cappadocia and a coast with time for slower village stops.

More places to see in Turkiye

Beyond Istanbul, you’ll find soft valleys, tea-bright hills, and old stones that sit quietly on their ridges. The days flow with early calls to prayer, clinked tea glasses, and long, simple meals.

Cappadocia: Be up before dawn to watch balloons lift over the chimneys from Sunset Point in Göreme. Walk the frescoed chapels at the Göreme Open-Air Museum mid-morning, when the paths are shaded. Later, cross to Avanos and try your hand at a pottery wheel by the Kızılırmak River before dinner.

Selçuk & Ephesus: Enter Ephesus early and step through the Library of Celsus before the tour buses fill the marble streets. Don’t skip the Terrace Houses; the mosaics and painted walls make the city feel lived-in. As dusk comes, eat on a side street in Selçuk while storks settle on the old aqueduct above you in season.

Black Sea Hills: Drive into the forested valley to see Sumela Monastery clinging to the cliff in the cool morning air. Back in Trabzon, try hamsi and bread at a Çarşı eatery for lunch. End the day tasting fresh-brewed çay in Rize’s Ziraat Botanik Çay Bahçesi, looking over the tea terraces down to the water.

Van & Lake Van: Start with a classic Van breakfast on Ordu Caddesi—honeycomb, herbed cheese, olives, and hot bread. Take the boat to Akdamar Island to see the medieval Holy Cross Church and its carved stone figures. In the evening, walk the lakeside as the light fades and the mountains turn a deeper blue.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Wander through Istanbul’s parks as April tulips explode during the Tulip Festival, then sip tea by the Bosphorus while ferries slide past. Hike flower-lined stretches of the Lycian Way or float over Cappadocia at sunrise when skies are crisp and crowds thin. During Ramadan, join lantern-lit iftar evenings and unhurried neighbourhood strolls.

Summer: Swim the Turquoise Coast from Antalya to Kaş, hop on a gulet or, for luxury travellers, charter one for a lazy day of coves and ruins; families mix beach time with easy boat trips. Start Ephesus or Pamukkale visits early to beat the heat, then linger over meze by the harbour as music drifts in.

Fall: Follow grape and olive harvests across Thrace and the Aegean, tasting new pressings in village markets; seniors and culture lovers appreciate cooler days for long walks through Pergamon or Aphrodisias. In Istanbul, galleries buzz with art weeks while the Golden Horn settles into softer light perfect for couples.

Winter: Warm up in historic hamams after unhurried visits to mosques, palaces, and bazaars now blissfully quiet. Head for snow in Cappadocia’s valleys or ski Uludağ, Erciyes, and Palandöken, then sip salep and tuck into smoky kebabs as city squares glow.

Mark the calendar for April’s Istanbul Tulip Festival and early May Hıdırellez spring celebrations in parks and neighbourhoods. Summer’s Istanbul Jazz Festival, the centuries-old Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling in Edirne, the Istanbul Marathon each November, and December’s Mevlana commemorations in Konya round out a year of storied traditions.