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Country guide

Türkiye

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...

Photograph · Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 4.0

26,399 Places
7Cities

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

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.

Checked 2026-08-25

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

Top things to see

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

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Category

Historic monuments 421 Museums 15 Places of worship 57 Nature sites 81 Viewpoints 25 Food and drink 4 Markets and shopping 5 Entertainment 0 Nightlife 0 Family attractions 0 Art and culture 10 Activities 1

Typical visit duration

Up to 1 hour 15 1 to 2 hours 79 Half a day or more 2

Interests

History 14 Art 0 Museums 14 Nature 0 Sea and beach 0 Viewpoints 0
  1. Hagia Irene Hagia Irene
    01 30 min

    Hagia Irene

    Aya İrini Kilisesi

    Hagia Irene is the Byzantine church that was never made into a mosque, and it is the reason it still looks like a Byzantine church inside.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Istanbul
  2. Palace of the Porphyrogenitus Palace of the Porphyrogenitus
    02 1 hour

    Palace of the Porphyrogenitus

    Tekfur Sarayı is the last Byzantine palace in Istanbul still standing to its full height, and it survives because it was never important enough to be worth demolishing.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Istanbul
  3. Theodosius Cistern Theodosius Cistern
    03 45 min

    Theodosius Cistern

    Şerefiye Sarnıcı

    Şerefiye Sarnıcı is a Roman water tank that spent most of the last three centuries with a building sitting on top of it.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Istanbul
  4. Küçüksu Pavillion Küçüksu Pavillion
    04 45 min

    Küçüksu Pavillion

    Küçüksu Kasrı

    Kucuksu is a kasir and not a saray, and the whole visit turns on that distinction.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Istanbul
  5. St. Nicholas Church, Demre St. Nicholas Church, Demre
    05 1 hour

    St. Nicholas Church, Demre

    Noel Baba Kilisesi

    The Church of St Nicholas stands in the middle of Demre, the modern town that sits on top of ancient Myra on the Lycian coast of Antalya province.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Antalya
  6. Tiled Kiosk Tiled Kiosk
    06 45 min

    Tiled Kiosk

    Çinili Köşk

    The Tiled Kiosk, Çinili Köşk, is the oldest non-religious Ottoman building in Istanbul and the odd one out among the city's Ottoman monuments: it does not look Ottoman.

    • Must see
    • Museum
    • Istanbul
Show 9 more places

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.