What to See in Turkey

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Turkey has around fifteen sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

West Coast:

• Aphrodisias (2017):

• Cumalikizik (2014):

• Ephesus (2015):

• Istanbul (1985):

• Selimiye Mosque in Edirne (2011):

• Pamukkale-Hierapolis (1988):

• Pergamon (2014):

• Troy (1998):

Central:

• Divriği (1985):

• Göreme (1985):

• Hattusa (1986):

• Safranbolu (1994):

• Xanthos-Letoon (1988):

East:

• Ani (2016):

• Diyarbakir (2015):

• Mount Nemrut (1987):

West Coast

Marmara Region

This is the northwest of the country, around Istanbul and on either side of the Bosphorus Strait.

• Ayvalik :

• Balikesir :

• Bursa :

• Cumalikizik :

• Edirne :

• Enez :

• Erdek :

• Igneada :

• Bozcaada Island :

• Imbros Island :

• Marmara Islands :

• Istanbul :

• Iznik :

• Kilyos :

• Kırklareli :

• Kiyiköy :

• Mudanya :

• Osmaneli :

• Gallipoli Peninsula :

• Polonezköy :

• Şarköy :

• Şile :

• Termal :

• Vize :

• Yalova :

• Zeytinbağı :

Aegean Region

This is the west coast proper, bordering the Aegean Sea, with Izmir as the main city.

• Akyaka :

• Alaçati :

• Altınoluk :

• Bodrum :

• Çeşme :

• Dalaman :

• Denizli :

• Dikili :

• Fethiye :

• Foça :

• Göcek :

• Izmir :

• Kuşadası :

• Marmaris :

• Mugla :

• Pamukkale :

• Datça Peninsula :

• Turkish Riviera :

• Selçuk :

• Şirince :

Ancient Sites

• Aphrodisias :

• Assos :

• Dalyan :

• Didyma :

• Ephesus :

• Miletus :

• Pergamon :

• Priene :

• Sardis :

• Troy :

Natural Heritage

• Saklikent Gorge :

• Dupnisa Caves :

• Lake Kus :

• Mount Uludağ :

• Kaz Dağı National Park :

• Dilek Peninsula National Park :

Central

Central Anatolia

This is the vast region at the heart of the country, encompassing the capital, Ankara, and Cappadocia.

• Ankara :

• Avanos :

• Beypazarı :

• Cappadocia :

• Derinkuyu :

• Divriği :

• Göreme :

• Kayseri :

• Konya :

• Nevşehir :

• Ozkonak :

• Uçhisar :

• Urgup :

Black Sea

The entire coastline along the Black Sea, from the outskirts of Istanbul (in the west) to the Georgian border (in the east).

• Akçakoca :

• Amasra :

• Amasya :

• Zilkale Castle :

• Giresun :

• Kastamonu :

• Sumela Monastery :

• Rize :

• Safranbolu :

• Samsun :

• Sinop :

• Tokat :

• Trabzon :

• Yusufeli Valley :

Mediterranean Region

This is the southern coast, renowned for tourism, with Antalya as the main city.

• Adana :

• Alanya :

• Anamur :

• Antakya :

• Antalya :

• Demre :

• Eğirdir :

• Iskenderun :

• Isparta :

• Kalkan :

• Kaş :

• Kayaköy :

• Kemer :

• Manavgat :

• Mersin :

• Lakes Region :

• Turkish Riviera :

• Silifke :

• Tarsus :

• Tasucu :

Ancient Sites

• Arycanda :

• Aspendos :

• Gordion :

• Hattusa :

• Kekova :

• Limyra :

• Olympos :

• Patara :

• Perge :

• Phaselis :

• Side :

• Termessos :

• Xanthos-Letoon :

Natural Heritage

• Karapinar Desert :

• Lake Tuz :

• Mount Chimaera :

• Kaçkar Mountains :

• Ilgaz National Park :

• Köprülü Canyon National Park :

• Ihlara Valley :

East

Southeastern Anatolia

This is the border area with Syria and Iraq, currently strongly advised against for security reasons by the French MFA for the zones closest to these two countries.

• Diyarbakir :

• Gaziantep :

• Harran :

• Hasankeyf :

• Mardin :

• Şanlıurfa :

Eastern Anatolia

This is the far east of the country, bordering Iran among others.

• Ani :

• Battalgazi :

• Doğubayazıt :

• Erzurum :

• Kars :

• Malatya :

• Van :

Natural Heritage

• Lake Van :

• Mount Ararat :

• Mount Nemrut :