İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul
Usage
Turkey's largest city, over 15 million people, split by the Bosphorus into European and Asian sides. It is not the capital
Ankara
Usage
Capital of Turkey on the central Anatolian plateau, seat of government and embassies. About 4.5 hours from Istanbul by YHT high-speed train
İzmir
Izmir
Usage
Largest city on the Aegean coast and Turkey's third city, the base for Ephesus and Çeşme
Antalya
Usage
Main city on the Mediterranean coast, lined with resort hotels; base for the Kaleiçi old town and nearby ancient sites
Bursa
Usage
City south of the Sea of Marmara and the first Ottoman capital, known for thermal baths and the Uludağ ski area
Adana
Usage
Major city in southern Turkey and the home of the spicy Adana kebab
Gaziantep
Usage
Southeastern city famous for pistachios, baklava and the Zeugma mosaic museum
Konya
Usage
Religious city in central Anatolia, home of the Mevlevi whirling dervish order and notably conservative
Kayseri
Usage
Central Anatolian city that serves as the eastern gateway to Cappadocia, near the Erciyes ski resort
Trabzon
Usage
Largest city on the Black Sea coast, the base for Sumela Monastery and Uzungöl
Şanlıurfa
Sanliurfa
Usage
Pilgrimage city in the southeast, close to Göbekli Tepe and home to the carp pool of Abraham (Balıklıgöl)
Eskişehir
Eskisehir
Usage
University town between Istanbul and Ankara, known for its canal-side streets and meerschaum carving
Denizli
Usage
Provincial capital inland from the Aegean and the gateway to Pamukkale, with an airport and intercity bus terminal
Nevşehir
Nevsehir
Usage
Provincial capital of the Cappadocia region and the administrative centre for Göreme, Ürgüp and the other tourist villages
Bodrum
Usage
Southern Aegean resort town with a large marina and a Crusader-era castle
Fethiye
Usage
Southwestern Mediterranean harbour town, the base for Ölüdeniz and boat trips to the sunken city of Kekova
Marmaris
Usage
Seaside resort in Muğla province, with ferries to the Greek island of Rhodes
Kuşadası
Kusadasi
Usage
Aegean cruise port about 20 minutes by car from the ruins of Ephesus
Çeşme
Cesme
Usage
Resort on a peninsula about 80 km west of İzmir, known for thermal springs and windsurfing
Alanya
Usage
Beach resort about 130 km east of Antalya, marked by a Seljuk castle on the headland
Çanakkale
Canakkale
Usage
Town on the Dardanelles strait, the base for Troy and the Gallipoli peninsula
Edirne
Usage
Historic city near the Bulgarian and Greek borders, known for the Selimiye Mosque and oil wrestling
Diyarbakır
Diyarbakir
Usage
Southeastern city on the Tigris, encircled by more than 5 km of black basalt walls
Mardin
Usage
Old town of honey-coloured stone houses stacked on a hillside near the Syrian border
Van
Usage
City on the eastern shore of Lake Van in eastern Turkey, famous for its lavish breakfast spread and Van cats
Erzurum
Usage
Highland city in eastern Turkey at about 1,900 m, bitterly cold in winter, with the Palandöken ski area
Safranbolu
Usage
Inland Black Sea town preserving Ottoman-era houses, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Amasya
Usage
Town in a river gorge inland from the Black Sea, known for the rock-cut tombs of the Pontic kings
İstanbul Havalimanı
Istanbul Havalimani
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Usage
Turkey's main international airport (IST), fully opened in 2019 in Arnavutköy on the European side, about 40 km from the centre; metro line M11 runs to Gayrettepe
Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı
Sabiha Gokcen Havalimani
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Usage
Istanbul's second airport (SAW) in Pendik on the Asian side, used heavily by low-cost carriers and served by the terminus of metro line M4
Esenboğa Havalimanı
Esenboga Havalimani
Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Usage
Ankara's international airport (ESB), about 28 km northeast of the centre, roughly 45 minutes by airport bus
Antalya Havalimanı
Antalya Havalimani
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Usage
Gateway airport for the Mediterranean resorts (AYT), about 13 km east of the city and packed with European charter flights in summer
Adnan Menderes Havalimanı
Adnan Menderes Havalimani
Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Usage
İzmir's international airport (ADB), about 18 km south of the centre, linked to Alsancak by the İZBAN commuter rail
Dalaman Havalimanı
Dalaman Havalimani
Dalaman Airport (DLM)
Usage
Airport in Muğla province (DLM), about an hour by car from Fethiye and 90 minutes from Marmaris
Milas-Bodrum Havalimanı
Milas-Bodrum Havalimani
Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV)
Usage
Airport serving the Bodrum peninsula (BJV), about 40 minutes by car from central Bodrum
Nevşehir Kapadokya Havalimanı
Nevsehir Kapadokya Havalimani
Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV)
Usage
The closest airport to Cappadocia (NAV), about 40 minutes by car from Göreme; flights are limited so many travellers use Kayseri instead
Ankara Garı
Ankara Gari
Ankara Railway Station
Usage
Ankara's central railway station and the hub of the YHT high-speed network to Istanbul, Konya and Eskişehir
Söğütlüçeşme
Sogutlucesme
Usage
Interchange on Istanbul's Asian side northeast of Kadıköy: the Istanbul terminus for YHT high-speed trains, plus Marmaray and the metrobüs
Halkalı
Halkali
Usage
Western terminus of the Marmaray line on Istanbul's European side; YHT high-speed trains to Ankara also start here
Basmane Garı
Basmane Gari
Basmane Station
Usage
Central railway station in İzmir, with conventional trains toward Denizli (for Pamukkale) and Selçuk
Haydarpaşa Garı
Haydarpasa Gari
Haydarpaşa Terminal
Usage
The 1908 terminus of the Anatolian railways on the Kadıköy waterfront; no long-distance trains run from here today, but the building and its quay are landmarks
Sirkeci Garı
Sirkeci Gari
Sirkeci Station
Usage
The historic terminus of the Orient Express, now a Marmaray station between Eminönü and the Grand Bazaar
Yenikapı
Yenikapi
Usage
Istanbul's biggest interchange, where metro lines M1 and M2 meet Marmaray; the sea-bus terminal is nearby
Üsküdar
Uskudar
Usage
Transport hub on the Asian side combining the Marmaray and M5 metro stations with ferry piers for Eminönü and Beşiktaş
Ayrılık Çeşmesi
Ayrilik Cesmesi
Usage
Interchange between Marmaray and metro line M4, walkable from Kadıköy and the usual way from the Asian side into the old city
Kadıköy
Kadikoy
Usage
Main commercial district on the Asian side, the starting point of metro line M4 and the pier for ferries to Eminönü, Karaköy and Beşiktaş
Bostancı
Bostanci
Usage
Interchange in the southern part of the Asian side, with a Marmaray station and the ferry pier for the Princes' Islands
Kartal
Usage
Metro M4 station on the Asian side; ferries to the Princes' Islands leave from here
Pendik
Usage
District in the eastern part of the Asian side with M4 metro and Marmaray stations, close to Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Gebze
Usage
Eastern terminus of the Marmaray line, in Kocaeli province just outside Istanbul
Kazlıçeşme
Kazlicesme
Usage
Marmaray station in Zeytinburnu, just outside the southwestern end of the old city walls
Bakırköy
Bakirkoy
Usage
Large commercial district in the western European side, with a Marmaray station and a sea-bus terminal
Sultanahmet
Usage
District at the heart of the old city and its tram T1 stop, a few minutes' walk from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque
Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı
Beyazit-Kapalicarsi
Usage
Tram T1 stop facing the western gate of the Grand Bazaar and the main gate of Istanbul University
Karaköy
Karakoy
Usage
Waterfront quarter on the north bank of the Golden Horn, combining a T1 tram stop, ferry piers and the lower station of the Tünel funicular
Kabataş
Kabatas
Usage
Terminus of tram line T1, with the F1 funicular up to Taksim and ferry piers for the Princes' Islands and the Bosphorus
Zeytinburnu
Usage
Interchange on the European side where metro M1 meets tram T1, linking the airport corridor with the old city
Aksaray
Usage
Metro M1 station in the western old city, connected on foot to the T1 tram at Yusufpaşa. Not the same as Aksaray province in central Anatolia
Şişhane
Sishane
Usage
Metro M2 station, the closest stop to the Galata Tower and the southern end of İstiklal Caddesi
Vezneciler
Usage
Metro M2 station serving Istanbul University and the Süleymaniye Mosque
Levent
Usage
Metro M2 station in the European-side business district of high-rise offices and shopping malls
Gayrettepe
Usage
Metro M2 station and the city-side terminus of line M11 to Istanbul Airport, the main interchange for airport access
Mecidiyeköy
Mecidiyekoy
Usage
Major interchange on the European side where the metrobüs BRT meets metro line M7; the M2 station is signposted "Şişli-Mecidiyeköy"
Tünel
Tunel
Usage
Underground funicular opened in 1875, linking Karaköy with the southern end of İstiklal Caddesi in about 90 seconds
Beşiktaş İskelesi
Besiktas Iskelesi
Beşiktaş Ferry Pier
Usage
Main ferry pier on the European shore with frequent boats to Üsküdar and Kadıköy, just north of Dolmabahçe Palace
Sarıyer
Sariyer
Usage
Fishing-port district at the northern end of the European Bosphorus shore, known for fish restaurants and its ferry pier
Anadolu Kavağı
Anadolu Kavagi
Usage
Asian-side village at the far end of the Bosphorus cruise route, with the ruins of Yoros Castle on the hill above
Büyükada
Buyukada
Usage
Largest of the Princes' Islands (Adalar), essentially car-free, with wooden mansions and a hilltop monastery; ferries from Kabataş and Bostancı
Heybeliada
Usage
Second-largest of the Princes' Islands, known for its pine woods, naval school and hilltop Greek Orthodox seminary
Büyük İstanbul Otogarı
Buyuk Istanbul Otogari
Büyük İstanbul Otogarı (Esenler Bus Terminal)
Usage
Istanbul's largest intercity bus terminal, in Esenler on the European side, directly served by the M1B metro stop named "Otogar"
AŞTİ
ASTI
AŞTİ (Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal)
Usage
Ankara's intercity bus terminal west of the centre, directly connected to the "AŞTİ" terminus of the Ankaray (A1) line
İzmir Otogarı
Izmir Otogari
İzmir Bus Terminal
Usage
İzmir's intercity bus terminal in Bornova east of the centre; bus companies run free shuttle minibuses (servis) into town
Antalya Otogarı
Antalya Otogari
Antalya Bus Terminal
Usage
Antalya's intercity bus terminal north of the centre, linked to the old town by the Antray tram
Ayasofya
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
Usage
Completed in 537 as a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and then a museum, and a mosque again since 2020; in the Sultanahmet district
Topkapı Sarayı
Topkapi Sarayi
Topkapı Palace
Usage
Ottoman palace of the 15th to 19th centuries at the tip of the old city, known for its harem, treasury and Bosphorus views
Yerebatan Sarnıcı
Yerebatan Sarnici
Basilica Cistern
Usage
Sixth-century Byzantine underground cistern opposite Hagia Sophia, famous for its Medusa-head column bases
Süleymaniye Camii
Suleymaniye Camii
Süleymaniye Mosque
Usage
Mosque built by the architect Mimar Sinan in 1557 on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn, with a fine view from its terrace
Sultanahmet Meydanı
Sultanahmet Meydani
Sultanahmet Square (former Hippodrome)
Usage
Long open square in front of the Blue Mosque, on the site of the Byzantine chariot-racing hippodrome, with an obelisk brought from Egypt
İstiklal Caddesi
Istiklal Caddesi
İstiklal Avenue
Usage
Pedestrian avenue running about 1.4 km from Taksim Square to Tünel, served by the red nostalgic tram
Kız Kulesi
Kiz Kulesi
Maiden's Tower
Usage
Tower on a tiny island off Üsküdar, a landmark at the mouth of the Bosphorus, reached by boat
Ortaköy Camii
Ortakoy Camii
Ortaköy Mosque
Usage
Officially the Büyük Mecidiye Camii, built in 1856; famous for its waterfront setting beneath the Bosphorus Bridge (15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü)
Rumeli Hisarı
Rumeli Hisari
Rumeli Fortress
Usage
Fortress built by Mehmed II in 1452 on the European side at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus, just south of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
Eyüp Sultan Camii
Eyup Sultan Camii
Eyüp Sultan Mosque
Usage
One of Turkey's most visited pilgrimage mosques, at the head of the Golden Horn, built around the tomb of a companion of the Prophet
Balat
Usage
Former Jewish and Greek quarter along the Golden Horn, now a popular walking area of brightly painted houses and cafés
İstanbul Boğazı
Istanbul Bogazi
Bosphorus Strait
Usage
The roughly 30 km strait linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, dividing Istanbul into European and Asian sides
Haliç
Halic
Golden Horn
Usage
Narrow inlet separating the old city from the Beyoğlu side, crossed by the Galata Bridge and served by ferries along its shores
Büyük Çamlıca Camii
Buyuk Camlica Camii
Grand Çamlıca Mosque
Usage
Turkey's largest mosque, completed in 2019 on Çamlıca Hill on the Asian side, with a panoramic view over the city and the Bosphorus
Beylerbeyi Sarayı
Beylerbeyi Sarayi
Beylerbeyi Palace
Usage
Ottoman summer palace of 1865 on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge
Anıtkabir
Anitkabir
Anıtkabir (Atatürk Mausoleum)
Usage
Mausoleum of the republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on a hill west of central Ankara, with a changing of the guard and a museum
Ankara Kalesi
Ankara Castle
Usage
Citadel on the hill above Ankara's Ulus old quarter; the walls give a view over the city and old houses surround it
Kapadokya
Cappadocia
Usage
Region of eroded rock formations centred on Nevşehir province in central Anatolia, known for hot-air balloons and cave hotels
Göreme
Goreme
Usage
Main tourist village in Cappadocia, with an open-air museum of rock-cut churches and the launch point for balloon flights
Uçhisar
Uchisar
Usage
Village about 3 km west of Göreme built around Uçhisar Castle, the highest rock outcrop in Cappadocia
Ürgüp
Urgup
Usage
Town in eastern Cappadocia, a wine-producing centre with quieter hotels than Göreme
Derinkuyu Yeraltı Şehri
Derinkuyu Yeralti Sehri
Derinkuyu Underground City
Usage
Eight-level underground city about 85 m deep in Nevşehir province, large enough to shelter thousands of people
Pamukkale
Usage
Terraces of white travertine in Denizli province formed by thermal water, topped by the ruins of ancient Hierapolis
Efes
Ephesus
Usage
Greek and Roman city ruins near Selçuk in İzmir province, with the Library of Celsus and a great theatre
Selçuk
Selcuk
Usage
Town next to Ephesus with the ruins of the Basilica of St John and the Ephesus Museum; the site is walkable from the train station
Bergama
Bergama (Pergamon)
Usage
Town about 100 km north of İzmir with a hilltop acropolis and the ruins of the Asklepion healing centre
Gelibolu Yarımadası
Gelibolu Yarimadasi
Gallipoli Peninsula
Usage
Peninsula on the north shore of the Dardanelles, the First World War battlefield, dotted with memorials and cemeteries; reached by ferry from Çanakkale
Mevlâna Müzesi
Mevlana Muzesi
Mevlâna Museum
Usage
Tomb and former lodge of the mystic poet Rumi (Mevlâna) in Konya, marked by its green tiled tower
Ölüdeniz
Oludeniz
Usage
Lagoon and beach spit near Fethiye, known for paragliding flights from Babadağ
Sümela Manastırı
Sumela Manastiri
Sumela Monastery
Usage
Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to a cliff face in Maçka, Trabzon province, at about 1,200 m
Göbeklitepe
Gobeklitepe
Göbekli Tepe
Usage
Megalithic site near Şanlıurfa dating back about 11,000 years, regarded as one of the world's oldest ritual complexes and a UNESCO site
Nemrut Dağı
Nemrut Dagi
Mount Nemrut
Usage
Summit site at 2,150 m in Adıyaman province where giant stone heads stand; usually visited at sunrise or sunset
Kaleiçi
Kaleici
Kaleiçi (Antalya Old Town)
Usage
Walled old town of Antalya containing the Roman Hadrian's Gate and the old harbour, with guesthouses along its cobbled lanes
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