This older travel roundup looks at seven popular summer destinations in Turkey and offers inspiration for a trip through a country rich in history, coastline, and architecture. One of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks is Hagia Sophia. Built under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, it is one of the great achievements of Byzantine architecture. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque. It later served as a museum from 1935 until 2020, when it was reclassified as a mosque, and it remains one of Istanbul’s major cultural landmarks.
Summer Destinations in Turkey: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul
Another especially famous Istanbul landmark is the Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. This impressive building was constructed between 1609 and 1616 under Sultan Ahmed I. Its interior is decorated with more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles, which gave the mosque its popular name. It easily earns a place among Turkey’s most memorable destinations.
Summer Destinations in Turkey: The Beaches of Oludeniz
Oludeniz is a small resort village on Turkey’s southwest coast. Its white sand and blue lagoon make it a favorite place for summer holidays and relaxation. The beach is one of the country’s most photographed coastal landscapes.
Mount Nemrut
Another remarkable destination is Mount Nemrut near the city of Adiyaman. The 2,134-meter mountain is known for the funerary sanctuary built by King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, where enormous stone heads and statues still recall the ancient history of the site.
Bodrum: a modern resort with a deep ancient history
The beautiful beach of Patara, one of the longest in the Mediterranean
The well-preserved ancient theater of Aspendos
Anna Lohan
Peter Dark
Theresa V. Adams
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