88 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.

Myra Necropolis

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

Gobekli Tepe

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

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 88 Things to Do in Turkey See All 88 Places

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Turkey

Asitane Restaurant

This eatery re-creates dishes from the Ottoman Empire so you can dine like a sultan.

Istanbul, Turkey

Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant)

This crucial gathering spot along the "hippie trail" still displays old notes between traveling beatniks and backpackers.

Istanbul, Turkey

Galata House Restaurant

Housed in an old British jail, this spot serves up Georgian, Russian, and Ukrainian specialities with a side of Turkish history.

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Stories About Turkey

The figures of Karagöz and Hacivat, on display inside Özek's theatre in Istanbul, appear in every shadow theater performance.

Istanbul's Master of Puppets Is on a Mission to Save an Ancient Art

From his tiny studio, Cengiz Özek finds new ways to keep this Ottoman era tradition alive.

by Demetrios Ioannou

The horses have been wild for generations.

Tracking Turkey’s Wild Horses

The provinces are home to the elusive yılkı horse, a living reminder of the rich equine history that has long stretched across Central Anatolia.

by Ashley Parsons

December 1, 2020

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

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