The most beautiful places in Turkey

Balat, Istanbul

Wind around the steep cobbled lanes to dig out surprises in the rootsy cafés and vintage shops, live music venues and edgy art galleries.

Butterfly valley, Fethiye

One of the greatest rewards for walkers on the Lycian Way is the spectacular view as you pass above Butterfly Valley.

Ephesus

The Temple of Artemis which stood in the ancient city of Ephesus was one of the original Seven Wonders of the World.

Kaş

Far enough from the big seaside hubs to keep it offbeat, the old fishing village of Kaş remains a hideaway for hippie travellers and boho-chic Turks.

Patara

Stretching more than seven miles, Patara Beach is the longest and most wildly beautiful in Turkey and also one of the emptiest.

The domes of Istanbul

Across the Golden Horn, the more modest Ortaköy Mosque is one of the city’s prettiest, white in marble and stone, with pink mosaics within, located at the water’s edge beside the Bosphorus bridge.

Blue lagoon, Olüdeniz

This bay of turquoise water, with its finger of white sand curving around it, is so supernaturally vibrant that it has become a poster child for the Turquoise Coast