Istanbul
Visit the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the
Archaeological Museum…at Topkapi
Palace, inspect the elaborately embroidered robes of the sultan and bejeweled…admire
the carpets and kilims at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic
Art…shop at the Covered Bazaar and sip
tea from tulip-shaped glasses as you politely haggle over leather, gold, and
carpets…examine the architecture at the Suleymaniye
Complex…wander fragrant alleyways and purchase spices, dried fruit,
nuts, and flowers at the Egyptian Bazaar…see
the city from onboard a Bosphorus cruise.
Environs
Take a day trip to the Prince's Islands…visit
Buyukada, the largest island…take a day trip
to Bursa to see some of the most elegant examples
of Ottoman architecture in the country…visit the famous battlefields of
Gallipoli…explore the remains of the city of
Troy and the nearby Ionian cities of Priene,
Miletus, and Didyma…take a cruise along Turkey's Turquoise
Coast in traditional wooden gullets…take a thermal baths in Dalyan…
sea-kayak among the submerged remains of Lycian settlements around Kekova's
coastline…check out the old quarter and archaeological museum at
Antalya…Travel through Ankara to see Cappadoccia,
where soft volcanic hills are riddled with rock-cut churches dating to Byzantine
times…see the underground city of Kaymakli,
where subterranean complexes were enlarged to incorporate churches, schools,
and wine cellars by later Christians…spend time at the Black
Sea Coast, with its winding coastline roads and charming small towns…visit
the fascinating northern Anatolia region to explore medieval
Georgian castles and churches, nestled among snow-covered mountains.
