10 Most Popular and Historic Cities in Türkiye That Are a Must-Visit

Turkey recorded a record high of 64 million visitors (including foreign tourists and Turkish immigrants) in 2025. Turkey is one of the few countries in the world to have two sites included in the list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus near Izmir and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in Bodrum.

If you're planning a vacation to Turkey, here are 10 cities you should definitely add to your itinerary.

1. Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkey's largest city and the only city in the world to straddle two continents. It served as the historical center of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Hagia Sophia
2. Blue Mosque
3. Grand Bazaar
4. Topkapı Palace
5. Bosphorus Cruise

2. Bursa

Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and is renowned for its historical and natural attractions.

Popular Tourist Attractions:

1. Ulu Camii
2. Koza Han
3. Uludağ Mountain
4. Cumalıkızık Village

3. Edirne

Edirne was the former capital of the Ottoman Empire before Istanbul. Located near the borders of Greece and Bulgaria, it is one of the most important historical cities in Turkey.

Popular Tourist Attractions

1. Selimiye Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
2. Meriç Bridge
3. Edirne Palace
4. Grand Synagogue of Edirne
5. Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum

4. Cappadocia (Nevşehir)

Cappadocia is famous for its hot air balloon rides, a Turkish tourist icon. In Cappadocia, you can also see natural caves formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago.

Popular Tourist Attractions:

1. Göreme Open Air Museum
2. Underground CityLove
3. Valley
4. Uchisar Castle

5. Pamukkale (Denizli)

Pamukkale is a UNESCO site famous for its natural white limestone terraces.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Travertine Pools
2. Hierapolis Ancient City
3. Cleopatra Pool

6. Konya

Konya is known as a spiritual city known for its Sufi history and the residence of Jalaluddin Rumi.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Mevlana Museum
2. Alaeddin Mosque
3. Selimiye Mosque

7. Antalya

Antalya is known as "Turkey's Beach Paradise," located on the Mediterranean coast.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Kaleiçi Old Town
2. Düden Waterfalls
3. Konyaaltı Beach
4. Lara Beach

8. Izmir

Izmir is Turkey's third-largest city, known for its laid-back atmosphere and beautiful coastline.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Konak Square
2. Kordon Waterfront
3. Ephesus Ancient City
4. Alaçatı

9. Bodrum

Bodrum is often referred to as the "Saint-Tropez of Turkey." The city was formerly known as Halicarnassus, home to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Bodrum Castle
2. Bodrum Marina
3. Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

10. Şanlıurfa

Şanlıurfa is one of the most fascinating cities in Turkey, combining Islamic history, the history of the prophets, Mesopotamian civilization, and the world's oldest archaeological site.

Popular tourist attractions:

1. Balıklıgöl
2. Hz. İbrahim'in Doğduğu Mağara
3. Göbeklitepe
4. Harran
5. Urfa Castle (Urfa Kalesi)

So, those are the 10 most popular and must-visit cities in Turkey. If you've been to Turkey, which city was the most memorable? And if there's a favorite city of yours that wasn't mentioned, don't forget to share it in the comments section.