Experience-Focused Travel Routes in Turkey: Must-Do Adventures

Travelling is a journey that offers you the opportunity to have the most valuable experiences in your life. Experience-based travel is much more than an ordinary trip. This type of travel aims not only to see a place, but also to feel the culture, history and local life of that place. Experience-based travellers head towards different, unexplored routes. Canyon hikes, skydiving, mountain bike tours and many other extreme sports are part of this type of travel.

In this guide, we have compiled a list of experience-based travel routes in Turkey for you to explore.

So, where to visit in Turkey? What experience-based travel routes are there to see in Turkey? If you are planning to have new and different experiences, you can start your own adventure by checking out these routes.

1. Rize Görseli — Famous for its natural beauty and unique shades of green, Rize is one of the most attractive cities of the Black Sea. Despite its challenging geography, this city offers a great experience to nature lovers and fascinates its visitors with its friendly people and impressive landscapes. Extreme sports such as rafting on Fırtına Creek, sky swinging on Gito Plateau, climbing Kaçkar Mountain are just a few of the activities you can try in Rize. There are also adrenaline-filled tours, such as a zipline and an ATV safari.
In addition to its natural beauties, Rize also draws attention with its centuries-old culinary culture. Products such as butter, milk and cheese obtained from animals fed in high plateaus form the basis of Rize cuisine. Local delicacies such as mıhlama, pilaf with anchovies, pepeçura dessert and corn bread should definitely be tried.
Among the places to visit in Rize, historical buildings such as Atatürk Museum and Rize Castle offer traces of the city's past. Transportation to the city can be done via Rize-Artvin Airport, as well as buses from many cities in Turkey can easily reach Rize Bus Terminal.

2. Mardin Görseli — Located in the fertile lands of Mesopotamia, Mardin is considered an open-air museum with its historical buildings, cultural richness and fascinating atmosphere. It is possible to discover the traces of civilization among mosques, churches, stone houses, historical bazaars and monasteries while wandering the streets of Mardin.
Mardin attracts attention not only with its historical buildings but also with its natural wonders. Natural beauties such as waterfalls, streams and hot springs offer unique experiences for visitors to the city. One of the places you should definitely see when you come to Mardin is Midyat Caves. These caves, which were used as shelter by ancient civilisations, now serve as a museum and allow visitors to go deeper into history.
**Places to Visit:**
**Historic Mardin Houses:** It offers the most iconic images of Mardin with its centuries-old stone structures and row houses.
**Dara Ancient City:** Located near Mardin, this ancient city is an important point of visit for history buffs.
**Kazimiye Madrasa:** One of the examples of Islamic architecture, this madrasa reveals the cultural heritage of the city.
**Transportation:** You can reach Mardin by air. Turkish Airlines organises regular flights from many major cities. It is also possible to reach Mardin by road, either by bus or private car.

3. Odunpazari, Eskisehir

Eskişehir is one of the most attractive experience routes with the Porsuk River, which meanders through the center of the city and offers a gondola ride experience similar to the one you can experience in Venice. However, Odunpazarı plays the leading role in this travel guide.

Odunpazarı, the oldest residential area of the city, offers visitors an architectural feast with its wooden houses. In addition to Ottoman architecture, Odunpazarı also has historical restaurants where you can find the most important examples of Eskişehir's local flavours. It is highly recommended to try Eskişehir's famous cigböre, whose fame goes beyond the borders of the country.

You can find special handmade souvenirs at Atlıhan Handicraft Bazaar. Odunpazarı, famous for its harsh and sharp air, is among the must-see places in autumn.

Transportation to Eskişehir can be provided by intercity bus with many different companies. It is possible to reach Odunpazarı comfortably by tram from Eskişehir bus terminal. For those who want to travel by plane, Eskişehir Anadolu Airport can be used.

4. Sirince, Izmir

Şirince, a charming village in Selçuk district of Izmir, famous worldwide for its apocalyptic scenarios, offers visitors history, culture and natural beauty. Known as the “Ephesus on the mountain”, the village is a fascinating destination with its historical past dating back to the Ancient Greek Civilization.

Şirince, an old Greek village, is an ideal route for fall excursions with its narrow streets and authentic atmosphere. Traditional wines made with organic fruits can be tasted for free in the cellars in the village. Offering a unique experience for wine enthusiasts, Şirince also offers an organic market where you can discover natural products such as thyme, figs, grapes and cranberries produced by the locals.

In this historically and culturally rich village, St. John the Baptist Church, which dates back to the 1800s, is a structure worth seeing.

Another prominent place in Şirince is Nesin Mathematics Village. While this village offers peace to visitors with its tranquil nature, it also draws attention as a centre where active academic studies and courses are carried out.

Transportation:

You can fly to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport to reach Şirince. From the airport, Şirince is easily accessible by public transportation or rental cars. It is also possible to reach the village by city shuttles from the bus station in the centre of Izmir.

5. Beypazari, Ankara:

The Beypazari district of Ankara is a destination that is widely featured in Evliya Çelebi's famous Seyahatname and takes you on a historical journey in the heart of Anatolia. Beypazarı has a rich history with its streets and buildings bearing the traces of different civilisations throughout history. In the district where you can find the most beautiful examples of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, there are important buildings such as Sultan Alaaddin Mosque. One of the most striking features of Beypazarı is the Living Museum, where you can experience the historical atmosphere and have the opportunity to discover the traces of the past more closely.

Beypazari is also famous for its cultural richness. You should definitely try local delicacies such as Beypazari kurusu, casserole, dolma, carrot lokum and walnut sausage. These flavours are unique tastes that reflect Anatolia's thousands of years of culinary culture. Beypazari also draws attention with its 200-year-old historical bazaar. Strolling through the bazaar is like travelling to the past. Transportation to Beypazari is quite easy. You can reach Ankara bus station AŞTİ via HAVAŞ or taxi from Ankara Esenboğa Airport, and from there you can go directly to Beypazarı by minibuses.

6. Yedigöller, Bolu

Yedigöller is a unique natural wonder consisting of 7 interconnected lakes that were taken under protection in 1965. These lakes are connected by underground water flows, creating a natural beauty and are located 1500 kilometres north to south of Bolu. There are also ruins from the Byzantine period in the region, which increases the historical importance of Yedigöller.

Yedigöller offers an atmosphere that can host different types of vacations. The magnificent landscapes formed by the trees reflected in the lake create an ideal environment for photography enthusiasts. It also provides a peaceful atmosphere for visitors who enjoy fishing.

To travel to Bolu, there are bus services from all over Turkey, while the nearest airport is the one in Kocaeli (145 kilometres away). However, there is no railway or airport in Bolu itself.

7. Safranbolu, Karabük

Safranbolu has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and is famous for its characteristic architecture. Known for its wooden and brick houses, the district is on the historical Silk Road and hosts many mosques, inns and caravanserais. It attracts attention with its important stops such as Cinci Bath, Kazdağlı Mosque and Demirciler Bazaar. Safranbolu is also famous for its local delicacies such as kuyu kebab and peruhi. The fields of saffron flowers are ideal for photography lovers. Transportation can be provided by bus and Kastamonu Airport.

8. Gaziantep

Gaziantep is known as the culinary capital of Turkey and was included in the Creative Cities Network by UNESCO in 2015. The city is famous for its 291 types of traditional dishes, offering around 500 different flavours in total. Gaziantep cuisine is especially known for its desserts and kebabs; local delicacies such as Ali Nazik kebab, eggplant kebab, baklava, şöbiyet and pistachio dolama wrap are among the must-try foods for visitors. Gaziantep also stands out with its historical and cultural richness. Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the second largest mosaic museum in the world and draws attention with its artefacts bearing the traces of the ancient Silk Road. The city also has important historical sites such as Gaziantep Castle, Şahinbey National Struggle Museum and Hamam Museum. Transportation to Gaziantep is quite easy; Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport is located in the city, and there are direct flights from many cities. You can easily go to the city centre from the airport with vehicles such as HAVAŞ.

9. Trilye, Bursa

Trilye, which is connected to the Mudanya district of Bursa, attracts attention with its historical buildings and sea view. The village, which bears traces of the ancient Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, is famous for its historical buildings such as Kemerli Church and Aya Sotiri. It is also known for its local seafood such as fish soup and shrimp salad. Trilye can be reached via the Bursa bus terminal and is an ideal route for those who want to explore history and nature with its peaceful atmosphere.

Source: Gömü Tur

10. Cappadocia, Nevşehir

Cappadocia is a tourist destination known for its unique natural and historical richness, attracting thousands of travellers every year. The region offers a wide range of experiences, such as watching the sunset in cool weather, taking a panoramic balloon ride, and going on an ATV tour. Cappadocia's famous cave hotels provide visitors with an unforgettable accommodation experience.

Since Cappadocia bears the traces of many different cultures throughout history, it has a very rich cuisine in terms of gastronomy. Pottery kebab, this flavour cooked in pots, is among the things you should definitely try. In addition, local delicacies such as noodles with pumpkin seeds, stuffed leaves, Ürgüp meatballs and wedding soup should also be tasted. Wines produced from the grapes of the region are among the famous flavours of Cappadocia.

Although the most well-known structures of Cappadocia are the Fairy Chimneys, other historical and natural sites such as Derinkuyu Underground City, Güvercinlik Valley, Uçhisar Castle and Sultanhanı Caravanserai should also be visited. Transportation to Cappadocia is available via the airports in Nevsehir and Kayseri. You can also reach the region via Urgup Bus Terminal and Nevsehir Bus Terminal.