Roavina

Country guide

Türkiye

A photograph of Türkiye
Photograph · Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 4.0

Türkiye is 783,562 km² across 81 provinces, most of it Anatolia in West Asia with East Thrace on the European side of the straits. It has three coasts to choose between — the Black Sea to the north, the Aegean to the west, the Mediterranean to the south — and an interior plateau that behaves like a different country in winter. Istanbul is the largest city and the economic centre, Ankara the capital and the second-largest, and the December 2025 population of 86,092,168 is weighted heavily to the west. A first trip is usually Istanbul and one coast; the plateau is the second trip.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information
Language spoken
Turkish
The official language of the Republic of Turkiye
Dialling code
+90
The international dialling code for Turkiye
Currency
Turkish lira (₺, TRY)
The official currency; one lira is divided into 100 kurus
Emergency number
112
One number for ambulance, fire and police
Plug type
European two-pin · 220 V
The national living guide records 220 V and European-style two-pin plugs
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified national source in the dataset

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Category

Historic monuments 438 Museums 96 Places of worship 57 Nature sites 86 Viewpoints 27 Food and drink 4 Markets and shopping 5 Entertainment 4 Nightlife 1 Family attractions 5 Art and culture 10 Activities 5

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 10

Interests

History 0 Art 9 Museums 9 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Hittite Sun Course Monument Hittite Sun Course Monument
    01 1 hour

    Hittite Sun Course Monument

    Hitit Güneş Kursu Anıtı

    Hittite Sun Course Monument is a large public sculpture in Sıhhiye Lozan Square, central Ankara.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  2. Opera Stage Opera Stage
    02 1 hour

    Opera Stage

    Ankara Devlet Opera ve Balesi

    Opera Stage is a working performance venue at Atatürk Bulvarı No:20 in Ankara’s Ulus district. Ankara State Opera and Ballet operates it, while the building is also used with the State Theatres.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  3. Bilkent Concert Hall Bilkent Concert Hall
    03 1 hour

    Bilkent Concert Hall

    Bilkent Senfoni Orkestrası (BSO) Konser Salonu

    Bilkent Concert Hall is a 700-seat performance venue in Bilkent University’s Faculty of Music and Performing Arts and the home stage of the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  4. Human Rights Monument Human Rights Monument
    04 1 hour

    Human Rights Monument

    İnsan Hakları

    The Human Rights Monument is a bronze civic sculpture at the junction of Yüksel Street and Konur Street in Kızılay, central Ankara. Sculptor Metin Yurdanur made it, and it was installed in 1990.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  5. Tree of Science Tree of Science
    05 1 hour

    Tree of Science

    Bilim Ağacı

    Tree of Science, called Bilim Ağacı in Turkish, is an outdoor monument at the A1 entrance of Middle East Technical University in Ankara.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  6. Şinasi Stage Şinasi Stage
    06 1 hour

    Şinasi Stage

    Şinasi Sahnesi

    Şinasi Stage is a State Theatres venue in Ankara operated by the General Directorate of State Theatres under Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Its auditorium opened on 13 March 1988 and contains 490 seats.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  7. Roman Theatre, Side Roman Theatre, Side
    07 1 hour

    Roman Theatre, Side

    Side Antik Tiyatro

    The Roman Theatre at Side is an ancient amphitheatre located in the coastal town of Side, part of the Antalya province on Turkey's Mediterranean coast.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Antalya
  8. Akün Stage Akün Stage
    08 1 hour

    Akün Stage

    Akün Sahnesi

    Akün Stage is an Ankara State Theatre venue in Çankaya, beside Kuğulu Park on Atatürk Boulevard. It opened on 12 January 2003 after Akün Cinema was converted into a theatre venue.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara
  9. Marshal Atatürk Monument Marshal Atatürk Monument
    09 1 hour

    Marshal Atatürk Monument

    Mareşal Atatürk Anıtı

    Marshal Atatürk Monument is a bronze civic memorial in Zafer Meydanı, on Atatürk Bulvarı in central Ankara. Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica created it, and it opened on 4 November 1927.

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Ankara

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Türkiye be?

Ten to fourteen days allows about four days in İstanbul and at least three around Antalya when coastal archaeology is included. Cappadocia needs its own regional stay, and a one-way coastal route is more workable than returning to the same city each night.

What entry documents are needed for Türkiye?

Türkiye's visa position varies by passport and purpose. Verify the rule through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, when eligible, use only the official e-Visa service rather than an intermediary.

What is the best way to travel around Türkiye?

İstanbul's two airports and Antalya are the principal gateways for this itinerary. Domestic flights cover long cross-country legs, coaches serve many city pairs, and high-speed rail is most useful on the İstanbul-Ankara axis rather than as a universal substitute.

When is a practical time to visit Türkiye?

April to May and September to October are broad choices for combining İstanbul with the Mediterranean coast. Cappadocia nights, inland heat, and Antalya's coastal conditions differ, so confirm weather for each overnight base.

What money and payment basics apply in Türkiye?

Türkiye uses the Turkish lira (TRY). Keep lira available for smaller transport and market transactions even when cards are accepted, and review the displayed amount in TRY before agreeing to any card conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Türkiye?

Dial 112 for emergencies in Türkiye. Electricity is 230 V through Type C and F sockets; tap-water safety is not recorded here, so obtain current local advice at each stop.