All of my posts on Turkey in one handy post! Click away to read more about one of my favorite destinations in the world.
Greetings from Istanbul, Turkey!
Thrilled to share this first post from one of my all-time favorite cities. We walk along the Bosphorus River, explore an underground cistern, and eat lots of baklava during our days here.
While the Blue Mosque may be the most famous of its kind in Istanbul, I fell hard for the Suleymaniye Mosque. Check out photos of both of these impressive sites.
Harem at Topkapi Palace & Hagia Sophia
It’s a feast for the eyes — today we explore the Sultan’s Harem at Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia deconsecrated mosque.
Bustling with tourists and eager shopkeepers, the Grand Bazaar is packed with every kind of souvenir and textile tokens of Turkey that you can imagine — clothes, jewelry, rugs, pillows, lanterns, soap, trinkets, and more.
We enjoy decadent meals in Istanbul, but the best part is the view from rooftop terraces overlooking the city. It’s the best spot for photo ops! Here are my favorites…
While Ephesus might be a lesser known archaeological site than Petra, its ruins are no less impressive. I spend an afternoon here and stumble upon one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
No, that’s not snow — it’s terraces of minerals created by natural hot springs! I spend an afternoon walking around Pamukkale in ankle-deep hot water and then swim among ancient ruins in Cleopatra’s Pool.
Paragliding in Oludinez, Turkey
I plan to spend a relaxing day by the Blue Lagoon in Oludinez… and spontaneously end up paragliding over it. I love surprise travel twists!
Surreal Scuba: Diving to an Airplane
My next coastal stop in Turkey is the town of Kas, which has a fully intact plane purposely sunk as a dive site just off-shore — easily the most unique thing I’ve seen underwater!
I continue my tour of Turkey’s charming coastal cities, this time visiting Antalya’s cobblestone streets and cruising its historic wharf.
My overnight bus drops me off on the side of the road at 5am… it’s snowing, I’m alone, and I have all my luggage. But it’s a rare chance to capture Cappadocia in the predawn glow.
The Taskonaklar Hotel in Cappadocia offers upscale rooms built into historic caverns on the hillside. Who knew staying in a cave could be so glamorous?
In the Open Air Museum of Goreme, you can wander through the historic dwellings of Cappadocia and imagine what it would’ve been like to live here.
The Phallic Figures of Love Valley
Love Valley in Cappadocia is named after the hundreds of erotically-shaped stone formations dotting its landscape. And sunset at Rose Valley is spectacular.
Not far from Cappadocia lies an entire city built underground — level upon level of churches, stores, homes, and even a winery.
Twice in a Lifetime: Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia
I spend back-to-back mornings photographing hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia, Turkey. I truly love my ‘job’, if you can call it that — I’m having too much fun!
Turkish Delight: My Best Meals in Turkey
Baklava, fresh seafood, roasted kebabs, apple tea… do I have your attention yet? Turkey has some of the best food of my travels and I’d move here for the baklava alone.
The numbers prove it — Turkey is a relatively cheap place to travel in the off-season. Find out how I budgeted for accommodation, food, transportation, and activities during my 2.5 weeks of travel around Turkey.
