What's up guys we're here in Istanbul. This is the last stop out of two and a half months
in our Turkey trip and in this video we're to break down the 10 best places that we visited
all along the way in Turkey. So we visited everything from mountains to
coastal views, ancient cities. So yeah, we hope you enjoy the video!
We are Zac and Ine. Full-time digital nomads from the United States and Belgium.
We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
We're here to inspire your next adventure. Whether it's hiking in the Canadian Rockies,
a road trip through the US, or backpacking across Africa. On our channel you'll find
unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best things to do in destinations around the world.
Turkey is a unique and beautiful country known around the world as the bridge that connects
Europe and Asia. The country has a rich history which saw many civilizations and empires thrive
at different times. It was officially established as an independent country
in 1923 and has a population of about 85 million people as of this year. We found the people in
turkey to be very caring overall and it was clear that they wanted us to feel welcome everywhere we
went. With 18 UNESCO World Heritage sites in Turkey, the country is packed with history. We'll sprinkle
in the best facts that we learned from our two and a half months in Turkey throughout this video.
Now, let's dive into the 10 amazing travel destinations in Turkey.
At number 10, we have the famous city of Istanbul. This is one of the 10 most visited cities in the
entire world for a reason. Its history goes back to 5500 BC and was a world hub of trade and commerce
during the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. On the Golden Horn, you can find historical structures
such as the Hagia Sophia, which was built around 1,500 years ago and changed architecture forever
around the entire world. In addition, you can soak in the best Istanbul views from Galata Tower,
marvel at the Ottoman architecture in Topkape Palace, or shop at the Grand and Spice
Bazaar. One of the things we enjoyed most in this bustling city was the Turkish cuisine.
So one thing you find here all around Istanbul on the streets are these roasted chestnuts .
It's really tasty. You should definitely get some.
Another amazing travel destination in turkey is the Köprülü Canyon.
This canyon is a national park in the province of Antalya located about 100 kilometers, or 62
miles from the city of Antalya itself. The canyon is 400 meters or 1000 feet deep in some places,
stretches for 14 kilometers or nine miles along the Köprü River, which makes for beautiful vistas.
And with its rapids, this canyon is famous for whitewater rafting. It's also a great
place for hiking, biking or just taking a boat tour from the roman stone bridge upstream.
So fresh!
Olympos National Park is a destination you have to visit when in Turkey.
It lies to the West of Antalya and to the Southeast of Kumluka.
It stretches for about 90 kilometers, or 56 miles on the coastal highway.
The park is made up of the Taurus mountains, which are mainly limestone and serpentine rocks.
This rugged landscape makes for mesmerizing canyons and tons of outdoor activities,
such as the beautiful Göynük Canyon and the entrancing Chimera eternal flame.
But besides that, you can also find a handful of interesting ancient cities
and beautiful beaches in the area, such as Phaselis, Olympos, and Çıralı.
At number seven, we have the city of Antalya, which is the fifth most populated city
in all of Turkey. Located on the Southwest coast and tucked underneath the Taurus
mountains, Antalya has beautiful weather all year round and offers tons of exciting things to do.
From natural attractions such as the Kurşunlu and Düden waterfalls, to the famous Konyaalti beach and
the historical Old Town, you can find any type of adventure here. What we really enjoyed most about
Antalya is its proximity to incredible places to visit right outside the city. The ruins of Perge,
Aspendos, and Termessos are all must visits. Make sure to dive into the
surrounding nature with a hike in the Taurus mountains or a boat ride to the Green Canyon
We're here above Green Lake, which is on its way up to Green Canyon and some really beautiful views.
You can also take a boat tour here, but the whole area actually just burned like three months ago.
So it's really recent. And all the stuff that was green around the lake is now brown and black. So
if you can come support these local businesses I think it would be super appreciated for them.
Another incredible Turkey travel destination is Pamukkale.
This natural site is located in the Denizli province in Southwestern Turkey. It's known for its
mineral-rich thermal waters flowing down to the white travertine terraces on a nearby hillside.
These pools are absolutely stunning and like nothing we've ever seen in our lives before.
They're the perfect place to swim, relax, and watch the sunset from. But Pamukkale is more than the
limestone terraces. There's an entire ancient city behind the thermal pools, which is called
Hieropolis. The ancient city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and has since enjoyed
more protection to keep its beauty and history intact. We highly recommend exploring them too.
We're right now in the thermal pools of Pamukkale and yeah it's actually this one really long strip
that you can just walk and there's all little thermal pools around. Yeah, it gets pretty busy
but once you go a little bit more down there becomes less people, so it's a little bit better.
Besides a stunning coastline, Turkey is also home to many beautiful lakes.
The Anatolian Lake District is tucked away within the Taurus mountains
in Southwestern Anatolia. It's truly one of the most beautiful travel destinations in Turkey,
but also a bustling center of activities for those who love the outdoors.
The town of Eğirdir is in the heart of the area and is a perfect base for hiking, climbing, and
exploring the regional sites. in addition to Eğirdir's very own lake and mountain activities,
it's also worth visiting the nearby Lake Salda, Yazili Canyon, Lake Kovada and Sagalassos Ruins.
Ephesus is the most impressive ancient ruin in Turkey in our opinion and therefore we rank it
at number four. The ruins are located right outside the town of Selçuk and about 80 kilometers, or 50
miles, from Izmir. Once a port city, Ephesus was once considered the most important Greek city
and most important trading center in the Mediterranean region. Throughout
history, eEphesus survived multiple attacks and changed hands many times between conquerors.
What's truly special about this site is how well the ruins are preserved. You can find ancient
toilets, a library, two theaters, and much more. We highly recommend combining this ancient city with
a visit to the bustling city of Izmir and its nearby beach towns. We're here in Ephesus today
and we heard that it's really overrun by crowds, but we found a little secret and that's to come
actually in the off season. Right now it's the middle of December and there's literally no one.
Traveling around turkey isn't complete without a visit to Kaş. This beautiful seaside town lies on
the Mediterranean coast of Turkey in the Antalya province. It's located about 188 kilometers, or 300
miles to the West of the city of Antalya and is known for its white-washed houses, relaxed
atmosphere, and coastal views. This up-and-coming destination is not as commercialized as Antalya,
which means it attracts fewer crowds and maintains its charm. The old town and harbor are stunning, but
the nearby Patara Beach, Kaputaş Beach, ancient Myra, and Kekova Island are absolute must visits.
Ölüdeniz is another beach town in the Southwest of Turkey. It's located about 14 kilometers, or nine
miles, to the south of Fethiye at the conjunction point of the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea.
Ölüdeniz is known as the world's best place to go tandem paragliding
because of its breathtaking panoramic views of the aquamarine sea as well as the blue lagoon.
But besides that, it's also a prime location to explore other amazing tourist attractions from.
Head to the nearby ghost town of Kayaköy, take a boat tour to the mesmerizing Butterfly Valley or
Kabak, or drive to the town of Dalyan, which is home to another iconic stretch of beach.
But paragliding was hands down our favorite activity in Ölüdeniz.
In fact, it's one of our favorite travel experiences together in our lives so far.
Walk a bit... nice! Did you like it? That was great! Yeah, thank you!
Cappadocia is our favorite travel destination in all of Turkey.
It's located in the center of the country, about 300 kilometers from the capital of Ankara.
It's actually a region, not a city, mainly within the boundaries of Göreme National Park.
It's world famous for its fairytale scenery, cave dwellings, bizarre rock formations, and hundreds
of hot air balloons that float in the sky during sunrise. It's no surprise that this area is filled
with amazing hikes and an intriguing history. Explore the underground cities, the Göreme Open
Air Museum, and Uchisar castle. Or hike through some of the amazing valleys such as the awe-inspiring
Rose Valley, the strange Love Valley, and the lush Ihlara Valley. If you do take a hot air balloon
ride yourself, make sure to watch our Cappadocia video first to see the best company to book with.
Today, this is good day. This is sunny. We're 400, 500 meters now. We will go to that way!
Alright guys, that's it for our video on the 10 amazing travel destinations that you can't
miss in Turkey. Which place are you most excited to do yourself? Let us know in the comments below.
Make sure to watch our other Turkey videos for more specific information
on each of these destinations, subscribe to our channel,
and download our free giveaway in the description below. We'll catch you on the next adventure.