81 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Turkey - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Turkey

Aksaray, Turkey

Cappadocia

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

Denizli, Turkey

Pamukkale Water Terraces

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.

Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Fethiye, Turkey

Lycian Rock Tombs

These tombs were built into the side of a mountain so that ancient angels could reach the dead.

Gobekli Tepe

Hunter-gatherer architecture believed to be the oldest religious complex known.

Myra Necropolis

A Lycian city of the dead carved into the hillside of Southern Turkey, complete with startlingly human touches.

Çanakkale, Turkey

Troy

This famous city eluded concrete detection until the early 2000's.

Denizli Merkez, Turkey

Pluto's Gate

A deadly ancient portal to the underworld.

See All 81 Things to Do in Turkey See All 81 Places

Unique Food & Drink in Turkey

Mad Honey

This hallucinogenic honey can sell for over $60 a pound on the black market.

Kaymak

Somewhere between butter and cream cheese, kaymak adds a fatty, creamy richness to everything.

Dondurma

A rare orchid ingredient makes this ice cream stretchy and chewy.

Desert Truffles

So strong is Kuwaitis’ love for this seasonal delicacy that an entire market gets set up just for its sale.

See all 14 things to eat in Turkey See all 14 things to eat in Turkey

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Stories About Turkey

A parade leader gestures with one hand and brandishes a bead-shaker in the other.

How to Dress Like an Ottoman

A 19th-century style guide displays the diversity of an empire.

by Noor Al-Samarrai

The excavated mosaics.

Found: Vulgar Mosaics in a Roman Latrine

They offered bathroom-goers some raunchy entertainment.

by Matthew Taub

November 8, 2018

John Hale, local resident Fettah Anli, Matthias Zeithoffler, Jelle de Boer (left to right) at the site of the Plutonium.

The Scientific Detectives Probing the Secrets of Ancient Oracles

Geological features, toxic fumes, and visions of the future.

by Kevin Krajick

The bud of a black rose sold on the Halfeti pier.

The Submerged History Surrounding Turkey’s Black Rose

Visitors flock to Halfeti for its unusually dark flowers, but there's much more beneath the surface of the half-drowned town.

by Pesha Magid and Laura Neumann

Holding up a cone of dondurma.

Watch a Dondurma Vendor Trick Customers Before Handing Them Treats

Turkish ice cream lends itself to delightful antics.

December 15, 2017

A cuneiform tablet with a marriage contract from Kültepe-Kaneshe, Turkey.

Found: A Cuneiform Marriage Contract That Addresses Infertility and Surrogacy

They had two years to procreate, or a hierodule would be hired.

by Vittoria Traverso

November 10, 2017

A 5,000-year-old toy chariot and wheels, found in the ancient city of Sogmatar, in southeastern Turkey

Found: A 5,000-Year-Old Toy Chariot

Kids have been playing with miniature vehicles since the Bronze Age.

by Sarah Laskow

October 18, 2017

Marchers at the 2014 Gay Pride Parade in Istanbul, Turkey. The pride march was banned in 2016.

The Changing Nature of Lubunca, Turkey's LGBTQ Slang

The language has long kept vulnerable groups protected, but is now being used for fun and visibility.

September 15, 2017