Best Things to Do in Türkiye

Türkiye is a country where you can walk through centuries of history in the morning, explore colourful neighbourhoods and bustling markets in the afternoon, then finish the day surrounded by restaurants, street food and nightlife. From the mosques and palaces of Istanbul to ancient archaeological sites and the battlefields of Gallipoli, there is an incredible variety of experiences packed into this part of the world.

What Are the Best Things to Do in Türkiye?

For a first visit, Istanbul offers more than enough to keep you busy for several days. Some of the biggest names include Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar, but we found that some of our favourite experiences came from simply exploring neighbourhoods, eating street food, wandering along the waterfront and experiencing a traditional Turkish bath.

Beyond Istanbul, Türkiye opens up into an entirely different journey. Ancient Ephesus can be explored from Kuşadası, Gallipoli offers an incredibly moving connection to the ANZAC story, and destinations such as Cappadocia show just how much more there is to discover.

Our Experience Exploring Türkiye

Our time in Türkiye began in Istanbul, where we stayed near Taksim Square and İstiklal Caddesi before joining a cruise through the Greek Islands. We used a hop-on hop-off bus to help us cover more of the city, but we also spent plenty of time walking, exploring neighbourhoods, visiting markets, trying street food and simply enjoying the atmosphere.

We travelled from Istanbul to Gallipoli, an experience that held particular significance for us as New Zealanders, before later returning to Türkiye during our cruise with a stop in Kuşadası. Toni headed off to explore Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary, while I chose another Turkish bath, which probably tells you just how much I enjoyed my first one.

We have only explored a small part of Türkiye, so this isn’t intended to be a list of everything there is to do across the country. Instead, these are the places and experiences that formed part of our journey, along with a few destinations still firmly sitting on our list for the day we return.

Table of Contents

• What Are the Best Things to Do in Türkiye?
• Our Experience Exploring Türkiye
• Explore Taksim Square and İstiklal Caddesi
• Discover Istanbul’s Historic Heart
• Go Underground at the Basilica Cistern
• Get Lost in the Grand Bazaar
• Walk Around Galata Tower
• Explore the Colourful Streets of Balat
• Spend an Evening on Istanbul’s Waterfront
• Try Istanbul’s Street Food
• Experience a Traditional Turkish Bath
• Take a Day Trip to Gallipoli or Combine Gallipoli and Troy
• If Your Travels Take You to Kuşadası

1. Explore Taksim Square and İstiklal Caddesi

If you want to experience the energy of modern Istanbul, Taksim Square and İstiklal Caddesi are a great place to start. We stayed just off İstiklal Caddesi, so this busy pedestrian street became part of our everyday life while we were in the city.

During the day it was packed with shoppers, street vendors, cafés, restaurants and shops, but at night we thought the area really came alive. Music seemed to come from everywhere, the restaurants and bars filled up and the whole area had a young, trendy feel that we hadn’t really expected before arriving in Istanbul.

What we loved about the area:

• The completely different atmosphere between day and night
• Street vendors and plenty of places to grab something to eat
• Funky shops, cafés, restaurants and bars
• Being able to wander without really needing a plan
• The energy of İstiklal Caddesi after dark

We also regularly walked past Galata Tower while exploring this part of Istanbul, so many of the city’s sights became places we stumbled across during our daily wanderings rather than destinations we deliberately rushed between.

For us, this was one of the best areas for simply experiencing Istanbul rather than sightseeing. Grab something to eat, wander the streets and stay around after dark, because that was when we thought this part of the city was at its best.

2. Discover Istanbul’s Historic Heart

Some of Istanbul’s most recognisable landmarks are concentrated around the historic Sultanahmet area, making it one of the easiest places to experience just how much history is packed into the city.

Our sightseeing took us past Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. We didn’t go inside any of them on this trip, but they were still incredibly impressive to see from the outside. This is one of those parts of Istanbul where you can simply walk around and find yourself surrounded by buildings and places you have seen countless times in photographs.

• Hagia Sophia – Immediately recognisable by its enormous dome and minarets and one of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul.
• Blue Mosque – Sitting nearby, its domes and six minarets make it another spectacular part of Istanbul’s historic skyline.
• Topkapı Palace – Once home to Ottoman sultans, the sprawling palace complex adds yet another layer to the centuries of history concentrated in this part of the city.

If we return to Istanbul, we would allow more time to explore inside these landmarks. On our first visit, though, we were happy getting an introduction to the area and simply taking in the architecture and atmosphere around us.

Short on time? Sultanahmet is definitely worth putting near the top of your list, with several of Istanbul’s major historical attractions within walking distance of each other.

3. Go Underground at the Basilica Cistern

Of all the historic attractions we experienced in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern was one of the most memorable. Hidden beneath the busy streets of the city, this enormous underground water reservoir feels like stepping into a completely different world.

Walking down into the cool, dimly lit space and seeing rows of huge stone columns disappearing into the distance was incredible. After the noise and activity above ground, there was something almost eerie about being underneath Istanbul, surrounded by water, ancient stone and centuries of history.

One of the things we particularly wanted to see was the famous Medusa heads. Two enormous carved heads of Medusa are used as column bases, with one positioned sideways and the other upside down. They are tucked away towards the back of the cistern, so keep an eye out for them as you make your way through.

What made it so memorable for us:

• The contrast between busy Istanbul above and the quiet underground world below
• Hundreds of ancient columns rising from the water
• The lighting and reflections throughout the cistern
• Finding the mysterious Medusa heads

We had seen photographs before visiting, but they really didn’t capture the atmosphere of being down there. The Basilica Cistern was completely different from anything else we experienced in Istanbul.

Our pick: If you only have time to go inside a handful of Istanbul’s historical attractions, this is one we would happily recommend.

4. Get Lost in the Grand Bazaar

You can’t really visit Istanbul without experiencing the Grand Bazaar, even if you have absolutely no intention of buying anything. We spent a few hours wandering through it, and for us the experience was as much about the atmosphere as the shopping.

The bazaar is enormous, with covered lanes leading in every direction and thousands of things competing for your attention.

Expect to find plenty of:

• Colourful carpets and textile
• Lamps and lanterns
• Jewellery and leather goods
• Ceramics and souvenirs
• Spices, teas and Turkish sweets

After a while, we did feel as though we were seeing many of the same things repeated from one shop to the next, but that almost became part of the experience.

What we remember most was the sheer amount of activity around us. Shopkeepers calling out, people negotiating, tourists squeezing through the lanes and different smells constantly drifting through the market. Around the spice shops in particular, some of the aromas were incredibly strong and almost overpowering at times, but also amazing.

We weren’t there on a serious shopping mission. For us, the fun was simply being amongst the chaos, wandering without much of a plan and seeing where the next lane took us.

Our tip: Even if markets aren’t usually your thing, give yourself an hour or two to explore. You may come out without buying anything, but you certainly won’t come out without having experienced another side of Istanbul.

5. Walk Around Galata Tower

Galata Tower became one of those Istanbul landmarks that simply slipped into our everyday travels. Because of where we were staying, we regularly found ourselves walking past it while exploring the surrounding streets.

Standing high above the neighbourhood, the medieval stone tower is difficult to miss. You can head to the top for views across Istanbul, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, although we didn’t go up during our visit. Instead, we enjoyed exploring the streets around it.

This part of Istanbul was made for wandering. The narrow streets around Galata are filled with cafés, little shops and restaurants, along with plenty of places where you can stop for a while and simply watch the world go by. It was a nice contrast to the much wider and busier İstiklal Caddesi nearby.

Sometimes travel isn’t about ticking off every attraction or paying to go inside. Galata Tower became memorable to us simply because we passed it so often that it became part of our everyday Istanbul experience.

Exploring on foot? Galata Tower is an easy landmark to include while making your way between İstiklal Caddesi, Galata and the waterfront.

6. Explore the Colourful Streets of Balat

Our tour also took us through Balat, one of Istanbul’s colourful and increasingly popular neighbourhoods. It felt quite different from the grand historic sights and busy shopping areas we had already seen and gave us another glimpse of just how varied Istanbul can be.

Balat has a more relaxed neighbourhood feel and is a great place to simply wander, explore the streets and take photos.

Look out for:

• Colourful houses lining the streets
• Narrow lanes and historic buildings
• Quirky cafés and little local shops
• Plenty of great photography spots

We only saw Balat as part of our tour, so this is somewhere we would spend more time exploring if we returned to Istanbul. Even from our relatively brief visit, it was easy to see why the area has become so popular.

If you enjoy getting away from the major landmarks and exploring the neighbourhoods that give a city its personality, Balat is worth adding to your Istanbul itinerary.

7. Spend an Evening on Istanbul’s Waterfront

One of our favourite ways to experience Istanbul was simply spending time around the waterfront. With the Bosphorus running through the city and separating Europe from Asia, the water is such a huge part of Istanbul that it almost feels impossible to visit without eventually finding yourself beside it.

One evening we headed down to the waterfront for a pre-cruise gathering with some of the people we would soon be sailing with. The area was lined with restaurants and bars and absolutely alive with people, music, dancing and bright lights.

It was one of those evenings where we didn’t need to be sightseeing or rushing off to another attraction. We could simply sit with a drink, enjoy the company and take in everything happening around us.

During the day, the waterfront is also a great place to watch ferries and boats constantly moving across the water, grab something to eat and enjoy another side of the city.

Istanbul has some extraordinary historic attractions, but make sure you leave room in your itinerary for evenings like this.

Sometimes the best way to experience a city is to stop exploring it and simply enjoy being there.

8. Try Istanbul’s Street Food

One of the easiest ways to experience Istanbul is through its street food, and we certainly made the most of it. With food carts and small eateries everywhere, there always seemed to be something new to try while we were out exploring.

Two things in particular stood out for us:

• Balık ekmek – I particularly wanted to visit Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek, known for its fresh fish sandwiches. The flavour was delicious and the waterfront atmosphere made it even better, although mine came with plenty of bones. Every bite needed a little inspection first, but I was still glad we tried it.
• Midye dolma – Mussels stuffed with seasoned rice and finished with a squeeze of lemon. I was initially a little sceptical about eating stuffed shellfish from a street cart, so I looked for vendors that were busy and had a high turnover.

Once I finally tried one, my concerns disappeared pretty quickly. They were absolutely delicious, and what started as cautiously trying a local street food turned into me seeking them out almost every night.

Trying food from the street vendors became part of the fun of being in Istanbul. Our approach was simple: look for somewhere busy, see what the locals were buying and give something new a try.

And if you see a busy cart piled high with stuffed mussels, don’t be surprised if one isn’t enough.

9. Experience a Traditional Turkish Bath

If there is one experience we would tell you to try while in Türkiye, it is a traditional Turkish bath, or hammam. We enjoyed our first one so much that between our travels we have now had four of them, including another when our cruise stopped in Kuşadası.

The experience varies depending on where you go, but a full hammam treatment may include:

• Time in a sauna or steam room
• Soaking in a spa or heated bathing area
• Traditional full-body scrub
• Thorough soap and wash
• Massage to finish

And whatever you do, don’t expect a gentle little exfoliation.

During our first experience, after changing into some rather interesting disposable clothing that looked suspiciously like a Warehouse shopping bag redesigned as a bikini, we headed through the sauna and spa before lying down on a heated stone bench.

Then our attendants arrived.

Water was thrown over us and every bit of exposed skin was thoroughly scrubbed before we were washed down and eventually moved through for a massage. It was different, funny at times and incredibly relaxing once we knew what was happening.

Traditional hammams may have separate facilities or different bathing times for men and women, while hotels and tourist-focused spas can also offer options suitable for women and couples.

Before booking: Check exactly what your chosen treatment includes, as hammam packages can vary considerably. Some offer the whole experience, while others concentrate mainly on the traditional scrub and wash.

We went into our first Turkish bath not really knowing what to expect and came out completely converted. If you get the opportunity while travelling in Türkiye, give it a go.

After all, I eventually chose another Turkish bath over a day exploring Ephesus, so that probably tells you everything you need to know.

10. Take a Day Trip to Gallipoli or Combine Gallipoli and Troy

If you have enough time in Istanbul, consider travelling out to Gallipoli, particularly if you are from Aotearoa – New Zealand or Australia and have grown up with the ANZAC story.

We chose two different ways to experience it:

• Gallipoli day tour from Istanbul – I travelled to Gallipoli and back in one very long day. It’s a good option if your time is limited and you don’t want to change accommodation.
• Two-day Troy and Gallipoli tour – Toni travelled with friends and combined both destinations, giving them more time in the area and the opportunity to experience two very different chapters of Türkiye’s history.

For us, Gallipoli was much more than another sightseeing stop. ANZAC Day holds an important place in Aotearoa – New Zealand, and we also have our own personal connection to the military. I was raised in an Army family and Toni served in the New Zealand Army.

Standing on the Gallipoli Peninsula and seeing the landscape where so much of that history took place was incredibly moving.

We would actually like to return one day and explore Gallipoli with a guide who can take us deeper into the New Zealand and Māori story of the campaign. The tours we experienced were excellent, but much of the commentary centred around the Australian and British stories, and we would love to discover more of our own connections to this place.

If Your Travels Take You to Kuşadası

If your Türkiye travels take you to Kuşadası, particularly as a stop on a Mediterranean or Greek Islands cruise, Ephesus is one of the main places to visit.

Toni joined a tour that combined Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary and came back saying it was amazing. The sheer number of ancient ruins and how much of the old city there was to explore really impressed her. Walking amongst the remains of streets, temples and buildings gives you an idea of just how significant this city once was.

If ancient history is something you enjoy, Ephesus is definitely worth considering while you are in Kuşadası, and Toni would certainly recommend making the trip.

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