Ancient Ruins, Iconic Sites and Historical Places to Visit in Turkey

Every year, millions of tourists descend on Turkey. Some are seeking sun, sea, and sand of the coastal beach resorts. Others prefer to indulge in sports pursuits such as scuba diving, paragliding, skiing, or trekking. Many, however, are interested in the vast range of historical places to visit in Turkey, and they are rarely disappointed.

The colorful timeline of the country spans many centuries. During this time, great civilizations and empires have risen, lived, and fallen over the lands. Subtle and prominent traces of their existence still exist in buildings, ruins, artifacts, and in some cases, entire cities. Indeed, these unique sites are one of the major reasons to visit Turkey whether you are young or old. We've picked the best to help you, plan a journey into the bygone days.

The Best Historical Places to Visit in Turkey

1: Ancient Ruins of Ephesus

By far, the most visited and iconic old site is Ephesus in the Aegean region. Although its foundation's date from 1000 BC, most of the excavated and restored landmark buildings, date from the Roman period when Ephesus flourished as a highly successful sea trading port. It is considered as the World Heritage by UNESCO and hosts the Temple of Artemis which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Notable landmarks receiving much admiration include the two-story Celsius Library, Roman terrace houses, public latrines, and the large Grand Theatre, a scene of the famous Artemis riots in the Bible.

2: Gobeklitepe

To understand why Gobekli Tepe has the classical world in frenzy, you need to know just two things: The ancient temple is 6000 years older than Stonehenge and 7000 years older than the great pyramids of Egypt. Either way, it is known as the world's first worship center and disputes all arguments that Neolithic man was simply a hunter and nothing more. Sitting in the Sanliurfa district of southeast Turkey, now, archaeologists have only uncovered a small section but excavations are ongoing, giving high anticipation as to what will be found in the future.

3: Goreme Open Air Museum

In the heart of central Anatolia, the Cappadocia landscape is a surreal sight to see. Over thousands of years, wind formations have slowly crafted the Tufa Rock into weird shapes such as the fairy chimneys. Mankind also took advantage of the soft Tufa Rock to build cave homes and churches and a small selection of them are open to the public in the Goreme Open Air Museum.

Although the man-made caves are impressive in themselves, restored 13th and 14th-century Biblical frescoes adorning the ceiling and walls intrigue historians and Christians alike. While you are in Cappadocia, extend your visit more than a single day and visit ancient sites such as the underground cities and caravanserais which are highly preferred accommodation options on the old Silk Road during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

4: Mount Nemrut Statue Heads

Nemrut is mostly described as a mountain but actually, it is more of a tumulus. A tumulus can be defined as a tomb with the resemblance of a hill or a mountain. It is built for the tomb of King Antiochus and consists of 5 god statues (Antiokhos, Kommagene / Tyche, Zeus / Oromasdes, Apollon / Mithras - Helios - Hermes and Herakles / Artagnes-Ares), lion and eagle statues, and a tablet written in Greek. Time eroded the stone though causing the heads to fall from the bodies. The site is not as well documented or researched as others, yet experts warn the heads are in danger because yearly bouts of cold weather are eroding the stone. It might simply be a case of seeing it while you can.

5: Old City Part of Istanbul

Istanbul is established as a metropolitan city hosting people with different ethnicities from all around the world since its foundation in 330 as Constantinople. The Historical Peninsula of Istanbul covers a large area with many historical buildings such as Hagia Sophia, The Sultanahmet Mosque, The Basilica Cistern, etc. The Topkapi Palace which was the first home of the Ottoman rulers and the Great Palace of the Byzantine emperors were located in this region. The Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirene Church, The Basilica Cistern, The Palace of Ibrahim Pasha (which is now Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts) can be described as must-visit places in the region.

6: The Ruined City of Ani

Few people venture to Ani city ruins. Sitting close to the border with Armenian and Kars city that is ideal for overnight accommodation, it struggles to garner attention from the outside world. This is regrettable because Ani is in desperate need of funds to continue excavation and preserve current landmarks. Its addition to the UNESCO World Heritage site list may provide just that. (Read more about UNESCO) It was the capital city of the Bagratid kings of Armenia, and iconic religious buildings include the Church of Saint Gregory, the Church of the Redeemer, and the massively impressive Ani Cathedral with its large conical roof.

7: Sumela Monastery

The most surreal place is Sumela Monastery in the northeast Macka national park. This place is a protected haven where flora and fauna thrive. Views of the tumbling green mountains and thick forests covering 4800 hectares are enough to excite any nature lover.

Its location clinging to the side of a mountain makes it seem like it could tumble down at any minute, yet it has withstood the test of time for hundreds of years after monks first built it there because they found a statue of the Black Madonna in a nearby cave. As well as touring the sleeping quarters and kitchens, a superior room is a church with its magnificent Biblical frescoes adorning the ceilings and walls.

8: Kayakoy Ghost Village

On the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, the eerie Kayakoy ghost village has a fascinating historical timeline portrayed through old houses, deserted cobbled paths, and abandoned churches and schools making up the community. Before the Turkish war of independence, it was a flourishing village where Greeks and Turks lived side by side. Unfortunately, the Treaty of Lausanne population exchange was the catalyst for the abandonment of the village. The fiction book by Louis de Bernieres called " Birds without Wings" intimately attempts to tell its story through a love affair between a Greek girl and a Turkish boy.

9: The Trio: Priene, Miletus and Apollo Temple in Didyma

In Aegean Turkey, many travel agencies sell a full day trip tour to visit the ancient cities of Miletus, Priene, and the pagan worshipping Apollo Temple. Priene city boasts of a magnificent temple of Athena and houses where Alexander the Great once stayed. While the prime landmark in Miletus is the grand theater with its intact back passages and rooms. Lastly, Apollo Temple in Didyma was an ancient sacrifice center for citizens of ancient Miletus. Had construction continued when it was in its prime, it would have revealed the Delphi in Greece. Out of all the historical places to visit in Turkey, these three are the quaintest, and watching the sunset over the temple is a photographic moment to be remembered.

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Merve Tuncer

AUTHORMerve TuncerAssistant Brand Manager

Created: 28.06.2017, 00.00Updated: 21.10.2021, 08.01

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