Adana is Turkey's fourth-largest city and in many ways a very modern city. There are some interesting sights in the area, and an archaeological museum in Adana itself. On your way to Iskenderun you can find several of the Roman's remains. Adana is furthermore famous for its Adana-kebab.
Alanya, 155 km east of Antalya, and quite capable of competing with this about the tourists, has several attractions as well, such as an ancient tower which was probably used as a lighthouse once, a mosque from 1250 and a former Byzantine church, now housing the local archaeological museum.
Almost all of Ankara's historical monuments are situated around the old citadel of Hizar. According to the legend, and anchor was found while building the citadel and that was how Ankara (Ancyra in Turkish) got its name. Inside the walls you'll find examples of old Turkish houses and the bazaar "Bedesten".
The possibilities for shopping are great in Ankara, maybe in Atakule and Karum Centre, which are large shopping malls, where you can find cheap and good products. Ankara is also a good place to look for specialities, such as honey, wool and pears.
A visit to Ankara should include seeing the ruins of the ancient Roman theatre and the Roman bath from the 3rd century. You should also see Julian's column, a memorial from the 4th century.
Artvin is an incredibly nice town with a pleasant atmosphere, with picturesque houses and streets and surrounded by large forests, mountains, lakes and rivers. Coruh River traverses the area, and the possibilities of river rafting are excellent.
Bayburt used to be an important point on the old Silk Road and was visited by Marco Polo, among others. The town contains the ruins of a Byzantine castle, along with several interesting mosques. You can also get a Turkish bath or see the amazing Sirakayalar waterfall.
Aya Sofya was built in 548 and was the greatest church in Christendom back then. The Church of the Divine Wisdom, as it is called, has had to survive many earthquakes throughout the years, though, and is now being supported by pillars of cement, giving it a very used appearance. It is very impressive on the inside, though. You can also see the Blue Mosque, with the most beautiful proportions and radiating such elegance, that you can't even begin to imagine it.
Topkapi Palace is a must to see, when in Istanbul. The building was erected in the 15th century, and has served as the home of several sultans and hundreds of concubines during the centuries. The palace harem was a small community in itself, and sometimes more than 500 people lived in the palace simultaneously.
Sivas is situated 1275 metres above sea level, which makes it the highest situated town in Anatolia. At the same time it also the most mountainous region and has served as a hiding place in periods of war throughout the centuries. Sivas has several interesting ruins all the way back from the 12th century.
Tasucu is a nice little town by the East-Mediterranean coast with good overnight accommodation and excellent beaches, such as the beach of Aphrodite. From Tasucu you can take a small ferry to northern Cyprus.
Mount Erciyes is a snowy mountain with an extinct volcano. The town of Kayseri is the point of departure for trips up the mountain, but you'll also find stunning minarets, mosques with beautiful domes and tall city walls here.
Patara is situated west of Antalya and has one of the regions most superb beaches. It is 20 km long, with old Roman ruins hidden in the dunes. Patara is furthermore one of Turkey's best party towns with a great nightlife.
You must see the Great Bazaar, if you're in Istanbul, as you can wander around for hours here and smell the aromas, listen to the crowd and feel the hectic atmosphere. You might even end up buying a carpet or a basket, or you might just fill your head with all the new impressions.
Eskisehir, founded 3000 years B.C., is one of the oldest towns in this region, and has many interesting attractions, such as the archaeological museum. Another is the Ottoman Museum, where you can see graceful local architecture from the 20th century. The town has quite a few good seafood restaurants and a nice little creek by Sakaryabasi.
Situated midways between Ankara and Istanbul, Bolu is one of the most enchanting areas in northern Turkey, with some of the country's most abundant and lovely forest landscape. Hot springs and the Abant Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Turkey, can also be found in Bolu.
Ephesus, in western Turkey, is one of the country's oldest towns, and where the most well preserved ruins are found. Ephesus is located by the Mediterranean Sea and was a cultural centre during the rule of the Greeks. The area has several impressive temples worth seeing.
Pamukkale, near Bodrum, is famous for its calcareous waterfalls, used for healing the sick since the Roman Empire. The water is believed to possess therapeutic powers. You can also see the ruins of the Roman city Hierapolis in Pamukkale.
