Turkey Diary – What To See, Shop & Eat?

A globetrotter’s dream is to explore the most amazing places on Earth and one such destination is Turkey. Diverse ancient monuments, astonishing scenery, glorious landscapes, scrumptious food, and vast history define this wonderful country, Turkey. And, Byzantine and Ottoman splendors of Istanbul are one of its major highlights. Explore the best of Turkey by marking it as your next holiday destination.

Let’s take a stroll to know what you can include in your bucket list when in Turkey.

What To See?

There are endless things to see in Turkey. Starting from Istanbul, the Big Four is a must-visit which includes the beautiful Aya Sofya Museum, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar. Apart from this, there are other places like the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Hippodrome, Basilica Cistern, etc., which you can explore on your city tour.

One of the most pleasing tourist attractions of Istanbul is riding the Bosphorus cruise. There are abundant historical sightseeing spots in this city which are easily visible by spending a few hours on this cruise. This tour will be an unforgettable experience in Turkey for you. Also, you can book the private Bosphorus cruise to enjoy a secluded time.

Cappadocia is a semi-arid region located in central Turkey that is widely known for the cone-shaped rock formations, known as “fairy chimneys”. Other important sites include Bronze-age homes, Ihlara Canyon, Göreme open-air museum, and much more. Enjoy the amusing hot air balloon ride across the valley overlooking the beautiful landscapes.

A tour of the Goreme open-air museum is another enticing thing to do in Turkey. It is a massive monastic complex that has refectory monasteries having their own church. This place is one of the first two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Turkey. Most of the church in the museum belongs to the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries, which makes this place historically important.

The best part of Turkey is exploring the underground city of Ozkonak. This place is known as one of the best-preserved underground cities in the entire Cappadocia. A half-day underground city tour is enough for any traveler and afterward, you can visit Uchisar castle.

What To Shop?

Shopping for unique items or collecting souvenirs is almost mandatory when people travel to a different place. There are a lot of amazing things to buy from Turkey such as Turkish Tea, Turkish delight (Lokum), Evil Eye, glass lamps, Turkish towels, handmade natural soaps, coffee pot, carpets & rugs, ceramics, leather products, and much more. The best markets to purchase these products are Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Istiklal Caddesi Avenue, Sultanahmet Street, Arasta Bazaar, Bagdat Street, and many more.

What To Eat?

Turkey is considered as the melting pot of cultures and Turkish cuisine is known for its deliciousness and diversity. Try real Turkish food leaving aside the international food chain when you are in this country. Some of the must-try dishes are Menemen (a Turkish-style omelet), Meze, Kuyu Kebabı / Tandır, Adana Kebap, Künefe, Baklava, Kumpir, Kofte, Gozleme, Iskender Kebap, Turkish Delight, and various other delicious dishes.

A trip to Turkey is an awesome experience for any discerning traveler.