Top 5 cities to see in Turkey

The Republic of Turkey is the name of a country with a great history. Here empires arose and fell, Christianity gained power, wonders of the world arose and were destroyed. To fully immerse yourself in the authenticity of the state, it is not enough to come to the hotel and taste the buffet, you need to look at at least 5 non-trivial cities in order to feel the flavor.

Istanbul

Of course, this city can rightfully be considered the heart of Turkey. Muslims flock here in the hope of touching history. "Istanbul" - the name roughly translates as "who found the way to God." The roots of these lands, according to some sources, have been growing since ancient times (sixth millennium BC). It is the former capital of three greatest empires: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Today, about 15 million people live in the metropolis (1st place in terms of population). Istanbul symbolically connects Europe and Asia with the beautiful Golden Horn Bridge across the Bosphorus. As the Turks themselves say: “you can taste the most delicious Turkish coffee only on the streets of Istanbul.” The historical center with majestic historical monuments - the Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia and many others - will not leave any tourist indifferent.

Izmir

Infidel Smyrna - this is what the Turks called the city before its capture in 1922. The birthplace of Homer, the Goztepe football club and simply a beautiful settlement located on the shores of the Gulf of Izmir. Legend says that once upon a time a very beautiful girl, Smyrna, lived in these lands. Rumors about her beauty reached Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, who did not want to think that anyone was better than her. The goddess placed a curse on the beautiful maiden, who without looking back fell in love with her father Kinir. One day, Smyrna ordered the servants to give her father wine. They carried out the decree and when the man fell asleep in his chambers, his daughter quietly made her way to him. In the morning, the angry father, seeing Smyrna in bed, chased after her, wanting to kill her. Aphrodite took pity on the poor beauty and turned her into a tree - myrrh. Since then, settlements have appeared around that tree, forming a city. It is the third largest city with a million population (about 5 million) with the largest seaport (after Istanbul). Walking through the oldest market in Kemeralti, enjoying authentic Turkish cuisine, and in the evening, contemplating the waves while drinking tea - this is what awaits the traveler in this beautiful place.

Kusadasi

Resort town on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Translated from Turkish as “bird island”. Attractive with its narrow streets and real colour. The local people are very friendly and welcome the guest. Ideal for tourists who want to combine relaxation with active travel. From Kusadasi, the closest route to Ephesus is the best-preserved ancient city. The house of the “Virgin Mary” is also located here, in which, according to some sources, the Mother of God lived the last years of her life.

Bursa

Once upon a time, this proud city was the capital of the young Ottoman Empire, and now it is the 4th largest in the Country (1.1 million). Bursa will greet visitors with picturesque houses, mosques and friendliness. And for lovers of extreme sensations, you can ride on the ski slopes located nearby on Mount Uludag.

Ankara

The modern capital with a population of 10 million people (the 2nd largest) amazes at first glance with its atypical appearance for Turkey. Countless embassies combined with fashionable boutiques and expensive restaurants have made Ankara a real business center. However, tourists will have something to see here. The variety of museums and historical monuments will give a complete picture of the history of the development of Anatolian lands - from the beginning of time to the present.