Turkish Culture and Tourism Office

Türkiye

Türkiye pairs world-class tourism infrastructure with one of the most ambitious sustainability and heritage strategies in global travel. That makes it a standout destination for UK visitors seeking memorable, responsible holidays. The Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), working with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), is rolling out the world’s first mandatory nationwide sustainable tourism framework. It requires all accommodation providers to complete a three-stage certification pathway by 2030. As a result, Türkiye already has the highest number of GSTC-recognised hotels worldwide.

The Environmental and Cultural Sustainability Program, the Night Museums initiative and extensive restoration projects are among the key initiatives underpinning the “Golden Age of Archaeology”, protecting landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and local communities. They also open these places to visitors through extended opening hours, improved accessibility and managed visitor flows. From Blue Flag beaches and Best Tourism Villages to gastronomy highlighted by the MICHELIN Guide, visitors can explore Türkiye knowing their trips support both the environment and local cultures.

Marmara

Anchored by Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara, this is where Europe meets Asia. It combines major urban hubs with former Ottoman capitals, coastal escapes and fertile hinterlands. Istanbul’s UNESCO-listed historic areas, from Sultanahmet’s mosques and palaces to the neighbourhoods along the Bosphorus, sit alongside contemporary galleries, design districts and MICHELIN-recognised restaurants. That makes the region a strong choice for culturally curious city-break travellers.

Beyond the metropolis, explore Bursa’s mosques, thermal baths and nearby Uludağ National Park, Edirne’s monumental Ottoman architecture, and the Gallipoli Peninsula’s World War I memorials and heritage trails. Towns and islands around the Sea of Marmara offer vineyards, seaside promenades and easy ferry links. Many hotels now participate in Türkiye’s National Sustainable Tourism Program, giving visitors plenty of certified city and coastal stays.

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Turkish Riveria

Running from the north Aegean down through Izmir, Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye to the Turkish Riviera, this coast combines classical history with Türkiye’s best-known beaches and sailing waters. Ancient cities such as Ephesus, Pergamon and Didyma, amphitheatres overlooking the sea and UNESCO-listed sites around Izmir and Bodrum put a dense concentration of archaeology within easy reach of modern resorts.

Resorts including Antalya, Fethiye and Ölüdeniz offer Blue Flag beaches, boat trips to hidden coves and access to the Taurus Mountains and Lycian Way for hiking, cycling and adventure sports. Across both coasts, a growing number of GSTC-aligned hotels, marinas and tour operators work within Türkiye’s sustainable tourism framework. Aegean meze, seafood and Mediterranean cuisine increasingly feature in MICHELIN-recognised restaurants and local food festivals.

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Black Sea 

The Black Sea region stretches along Türkiye’s northern coastline from the Thracian border through Samsun, Ordu, Giresun and Trabzon to Rize and Artvin. It is known for dramatic green mountains, tea-covered hillsides and cooler summers. Steep valleys, waterfalls and high plateaus (yaylas) create a landscape unlike the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, attracting walkers, photographers and visitors seeking calmer, nature-focused journeys.

Giresun and neighbouring Ordu, highlighted in Lonely Planet’s “Best in Travel 2025”, showcase coastal promenades, island boat trips and rural yayla experiences, community guesthouses and traditional music and cuisine. Tourism here often overlaps with everyday local traditions. As Türkiye’s National Sustainable Tourism Program extends across all provinces, more Black Sea destinations are adding eco-friendly stays, protected natural areas and cultural routes that support smaller communities.

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Central Anatolia

Central Anatolia holds Türkiye’s high plateau, where modern cities, steppe landscapes and volcanic formations meet in the heart of the country. Cappadocia (Kapadokya), centred on Nevşehir, is the region’s best-known destination. Its fairy chimney rock formations, cave dwellings and rock-cut churches form a UNESCO-recognised landscape that is both a natural wonder and a living cultural area.

Stay in cave hotels within Türkiye’s certification scheme, take sunrise balloon flights, hike sculpted valleys and explore underground cities, all while discovering a gastronomy scene now featured in the MICHELIN Guide. Cities such as Ankara and Konya add museums, Mevlevi (whirling dervish) heritage and contemporary cultural institutions. Nationwide archaeological and restoration projects continue to improve access to historic sites across the plateau.

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Eastern + Southeastern Türkiye

Eastern and Southeastern Türkiye offer some of the country’s most evocative landscapes and ancient crossroads, from the peaks and volcanic lakes of Eastern Anatolia to the Mesopotamian plains and historic cities. Travellers who venture beyond classic coastal and city-break routes find atmospheric old quarters, multi-faith heritage and panoramic viewpoints that have shaped civilisations for millennia.

Cities such as Mardin, overlooking the Mesopotamian plains, showcase honey-coloured stone architecture, madrasas, churches and mosques, supported by cultural routes and festivals that benefit local artisans and guesthouses. Further east, discover caravan routes, fortresses and mountain landscapes tied to legends like Mount Ağri, and explore cultural hubs that highlight multi-cultural traditions. Follow current travel advice and work with reputable local operators, in line with Türkiye’s sustainability and heritage goals.

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