Things to do in Turkey

Istanbul, astride the Bosphorus, is the great draw, with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar. In central Anatolia, Göreme sits in the heart of Cappadocia, where fairy chimneys, cave churches and underground cities fill the valleys and hot-air balloons rise at dawn.

On the Aegean coast, Kuşadası lies a short drive from Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Roman cities anywhere, with the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale further inland. Antalya, on the Turquoise Coast, pairs a historic harbour quarter with beaches, waterfalls and the ruins of Perge and Aspendos, and the coast continues west past Kaş and Fethiye toward the Aegean.

Breakfast spreads, kebabs, meze, simit, fresh fish, baklava and endless small glasses of tea make eating a joy. Spring and autumn are ideal for sightseeing, summer is hot and perfect for the beaches, and winter brings snow to Cappadocia and rain to Istanbul. Long-distance buses and domestic flights make it easy to combine regions.