Tourist Places to Visit in Erzurum, Turkey, Europe

Tourist Places to Visit in Erzurum, Turkey, Europe

Erzurum is the capital city of Erzurum Province in the eastern part of Turkey, situated around 870 km east of the national capital, Ankara and 1240 km east of Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Housing different winter sports facilities, Erzurum was the site of the 2011 Winter Universiade. Erzurum is situated at an altitude of 1,900 meters above sea level, between 39°54′31″ N latitude and 41°16′37″ E longitude.

Erzurum headquarters Atatürk University, owing higher percentage of its economy from it and with around forty thousand students, Atatürk University is the Turkey’s one of the largest universities.

 

History of Erzurum:

The name Erzurum is a corrupted form of the name of the nearby city Artsn. Erzurum is one of the oldest cities of Turkey,came under the reign of Romans, Persians and many other ancient empires. Erzurum once became the part of the Russian Empire in 1829 for short period.

 

How to reach Erzurum?

Erzurum Airport is served by Onur Air, Turkish Airlines, and Pegasus with scheduled flight services from Izmir, Ankara, and Antalya and Istanbul as well as international flights from Russia, and Ukraine only during the winter months.

Erzurum is connected by daily trains to both Ankara and Istanbul. Buses are limited to surrounding cities only.

Due to its small size, Erzurum can be covered by foot and also one can use bus or taxi or rental cars.

 

Culture and Food in Erzurum:

Atatürk University is the focal point of the Erzurum’s culture with the organization of regular cultural programs displaying the cities culture and tradition.

Some nice specialty shops in Erzurum are:

  • Haspark Avm
  • Erzurum Alisveris Merkezi
  • Covered Bazaar

Must try dishes in Erzurum are Cağ Kebab, Su böreği, ekşili dolma,  kesme çorbası, yayla çorbası and şalgam dolması.

 

Things to do in Erzurum:

  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding
  • Visiting clubs

 

Places of interest in Erzurum:

 

Citadel of Erzurum:

Located on the top of the hill, the Citadel of Erzurum is a historic castle featuring the clock tower and masjid. Entrance fee is YTL 3. Due to its position in the city centre, the citadel can be easily reached and explored by foot.

 

Palandöken ski resort:

Situated around 10 minutes bus travel from the downtown Erzurum, the Palandöken ski resort is one of the popular ski resorts in the eastern part of Turkey offering skiing (cost around 30 T) and snowboarding (around 40 TL). Hotels are abundant around the ski field.

 

Çifte Minareli Medrese:

Dating back to the late Seljuk period, the Çifte Minareli Medrese is a nicely carved and erected architectural monument in the Islamic and Seljuk architectural styles, featuring 2 equal size minarets. It is also the prime landmark of the city.

 

Atatürk University:

One of the identities of Erzurum, the Atatürk University was established in 1957 and it currently trains around 40,000 students in different colleges and locations with various courses. It is also a great learning point.

 

The Statue of Nene Hatun:

The Statue of Nene Hatun is dedicated to the folk heroine, Nene Hatun who was recognized for her effort in recapturing the Fort Aziziye from Russian forces during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. A typical one.

 

List of other places of interest in Erzurum includes:

  • Tortum Waterfall
  • Three Tombs
  • Lake Tortum
  • Erzurum Devlet Tiyatrosu
  • Cifte Minareli Medrese
  • Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
  • Cinebonus
  • Dadas Klas Sinemalari
  • Ataturk House Museum
  • Ulu Camii
  • Adurrahman Gazi hz turbesi
  • Archeological Museum
  • Cafe de Cinema

 

Best time to visit Erzurum:

Erzurum features a humid continental climate. The best time to visit Erzurum is during the winter months between November and March.

 

Accommodation options in Erzurum:

Although being a tourist destination, Erzurum houses a limited number of hotels, so it is advised for visitors to book hotel rooms prior reaching the city during winter months through online. Here are some top end hotels in Erzurum in Turkey:

  • Renaissance Polat Erzurum Hotel
  • Otel Bey
  • Xanadu Snow White
  • Palan Otel
  • Dedeman Palandoken
  • Grand Hitit Hotel
  • Dedeman Paladoken Ski Lodge
  • Polat Hotel
  • Hotel Tahran
  • Esadas Hotel
  • Yeni Ornek Hotel
  • Hotel Amiller
  • Buyuk Akcay Hotel
  • Hotel Yesil Artvin
  • Hekimoglu Hotel

Dalaman Tourist Places to Visit in Dalaman, Turkey, Europe

Dalaman Tourist Places to Visit in Dalaman, Turkey, Europe

Dalaman is a town and district located in the province of Mugla in Turkey on the southwestern coast of the country between 36°46′ N latitude and 28°48′ E longitude. Sprawling over a total area of 621.86 sq. km, Dalaman holds agriculture centered economy, mainly known for the production of citrus fruits. Dalaman is also noted for its international airport, state farm is one of the biggest open bastilles of the country.

Dalaman is located at an elevation of 15 meters above sea level and experiences hot Mediterranean climate with long and dry summers and short and cool winters.

 

History Dalaman:

The Alexandria railway station was established in Dalaman in 1906 on the acquired land by Abbas Hilmi Pasha. For some internal reasons, the constructed railway station was abandoned and later that building was converted into the headquarters of the state farm.

 

Connectivity to Dalaman:

Dalaman international airport is accessible with scheduled flight services from Amsterdam, Ankara, Istanbul, Cologne, London, Manchester, Birmingham and seasonal flights from Dublin, Vienna, Baku, Zürich, Moscow, Brussels, Beirut and Copenhagen. The airport is situated around 5 km away from the centre of the city.

To cross the distance between airport and city centre, visitors can use airport taxi otherwise wait until the arrival of bus. Rental cars are more convenient than bus for airport travel.

 

Culture and Food in Dalaman:

Being a tourist favor town, Dalaman houses all sorts of shopping options including traditional shops with locally made clothes, handicrafts and artworks.

Some famous food corners in Dalaman are listed below:

  • Akkaya Garden Restaurant
  • CagrI Pide & Pizza Restaurant
  • Burger King
  • Cafe Charlotte
  • Yosun Restaurant

 

Things to do in Dalaman:

  • Visiting historic sites
  • Walking
  • Shopping

 

Places of interest in Dalaman:

 

The building of Dalaman Train Station:

The building of Dalaman Train Station was constructed in the year 1906 as a railway station but after few years the project was dropped and the building was converted onto the headquarters of the state farm. Now visitors are allowed to visit this historic house and its green surroundings.

 

Prison in Dalaman:

The Prison in Dalaman is one of the biggest open prisons in Turkey, used for dangerous convicts. Visiting this prison through a guided tour would be better.

 

Dalaman International Airport:

The Dalaman International Airport is one of the busiest airports of Turkey known for its nice construction and facilities. It is a gateway for many seaside resorts like Köyceğiz, Dalyan, Ölüdeniz and Marmaris.

 

Dalyan:

Located around 20 km away from Dalaman, Dalyan is a tourist favor town famous for Lycian tombs, beaches with Caretta caretta sea turtles and ancient Kaunos Theater. It can be reached by bus from Dalaman.

 

Köyceğiz:

Köyceğiz is a town situated around 30 km away from Dalaman. It comes under the Köyceğiz-Dalyan Special Environmental Protection Area and is situated at the northern end of the beautiful tourist favor lake Köyceğiz Lake.

 

List of other places of interest in Dalaman includes:

  • Iztuzu Beach
  • Talk of the Town
  • Saklikent Gorge
  • Marmaris Mountains
  • Dancing Fountains
  • Marmaris Marina
  • Fethiye Harbour
  • Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archeology
  • Castle of St. Peter
  • Lycian Rock Tombs
  • Dalyan River
  • Paragliding Pegus
  • Marmaris 19 May Youth Square
  • Pinara Antique City
  • Cleopatra Island

 

Best time to visit Dalaman:

The best time to visit Dalaman is during the months between April and October.

 

Accommodation options in Dalaman:

There are year round working hotels less in number in Dalaman but many holiday rentals open their doors during summer months to provide memorable hospitality services to visitors with home like environment. The major hotels in Dalaman are as follows:

  • Turkuaz Boutique Hotel
  • Hotel Burc
  • Dalaman Airport Lykia Resort Hotel
  • Spa Hotel ThermeMaris
  • Magic Life Sarigerme Imperial
  • Dalaman Park Hotel
  • Studio Park Hotel
  • Akkaya Villa
  • StoneHouse Boutique Hotel
  • Hotel Hafizoglu
  • Mandarin Villa
  • Romantik Villa Dalla
  • Botanic Gardens
  • Caktug Hotel
  • Yuva Eco Holiday Centre

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Cirali, Turkey, Europe

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Cirali, Turkey, Europe

Cirali is a village belonging to the district of Kemer in the Antalya Province of Turkey. It is an agricultural based village known for its vicinity to the famed ancient ruins Olympos and Chimaera in the Lycia region. Cirali is located around 80 km south of the Turkey’s largest sea-resort, Antalya and 800 km south of the Turkey’s largest city, Istanbul.

Apart from its 3.5 km secluded beach, Cirali is also famous among visitors for its historic sites including the ruins of Olympos. Cirali is geographically positioned between 36°23′48″ N latitude and 30°28′23″ E longitude.

 

History of Cirali:

The history of Cirali has a considerable link with the nearby former Olympos city which was founded in Hellenistic era owing name from Mount Olympos located nearby and it witnessed the rule of many eminent empires including Romans, Venetians and Genoese.

 

How to reach Cirali?

Antalya International Airport is the nearest airport to Cirali, situated around 100 km away from the heart of Cirali and handles flights from all over Europe including the cities of London, Istanbul, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam and Moscow.

Buses are available at the airport but no direct service to Cirali, so using a taxi or pre-booked car would be comfortable and convenient for airport travel.

For local travel, visitors can hire car, bicycle and scooters at either Reyyan Tour or Kumsal rent a car in Cirali.

 

Shopping and Food in Cirali:

Akdeniz Bahcesi is a well known shop in Cirali offering a variety of colorful traditional Turkish textiles at reasonable prices. Souvenirs can be purchased at Denge shop.

Some nice restaurants in Cirali are listed below:

  • Yoruk Restaurant and Cafe
  • Kaptan Cafe Bar
  • Lemon Restaurant
  • Dione Beach Bar

 

Things to do in Cirali:

  • Hiking
  • Beach exploration
  • Visiting archeological sites

 

Must see in Cirali:

 

Chimaera:

Situated on Yanar Mountain in the north side of Cirali, Chimaera is a typical tourist attraction, located around 2 km away from the village centre. It is a burning stone at the top of the mountain produced by natural gas and this phenomenon have been happening since more than thousand years, according to local belief. Evening time is ideal to feel this natural wonder.

 

Cirali Beach:

Cirali Beach is a wide and attractive beach known for offering wonderful view of sunrise. It is also a place to where endangered Caretta Caretta turtles come to lay their eggs between May and August. Visitors can also visit cafes near the beach.

 

Olympos Ancient Ruins:

The Olympos Ancient Ruins is located just around 15 minute walk from the Cirali Beach. This former historic Hellenistic city is famous among both locals and visitors and can be explored by guided tour as well. Entrance fee is 5 TL.

 

Lycian Way:

Measuring a length of 300 mile, the Lycian Way is a coastal walking trail passing through Cirali to Tekirova. Most visitors generally take guided tours to explore these natural and historic sites easily.

 

Mosque in Cirali:

Mosque in Cirali is one of the important religious sites and landmarks of the village. Both interior and exterior structures will be a great treat for visitors’ eyes. Surrounding environment is pleasant.

 

List of other attractive places in Cirali and Antalya (80 km) include:

  • Upper Düden Fall
  • Hadrian’s Gate
  • Hidirlik Tower
  • Konyaalti Beach
  • Antalya Archaeological Museum
  • Hip-Notics Cable Ski
  • Kursunlu Waterfalls
  • Karaalioglu Park
  • Arykanda Ruins
  • Hierapolis & Pamukkale
  • Antalya Golf Club
  • Gloria Golf Club
  • Yivli Minaret Mosque
  • Antaliiskaya Fortress
  • MiniCity Antalya

 

Ideal time to visit Cirali:

Generally visitors choose early May to visit Cirali to avoid crowd during next months.

 

Where to stay in Cirali?

Although being its small size, Cirali houses around 100 accommodation centres including hotels, vacation rentals, BB and inns with different facilities and services. Here are some prominent hotels in Cirali in Turkey:

  • Canada Hotel Cirali Olympos
  • Aida Hotel
  • Hotel Villa Monte
  • Bellerofon Hotel
  • Kibala Hotel
  • Olympos Lodge Hotel
  • Almira Butik Hotel
  • Blue & White Hotel
  • Harun Pansiyon
  • Sima Peace Pension
  • Olympos Yavuz Hotel
  • Cirali Orange Motel
  • Grand Aygun Hotel
  • Caretta Caretta Pension
  • Myland Nature Hotel

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Cesme, Turkey, Europe

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Cesme, Turkey, Europe

Cesme is a popular resort town functioning as the administrative centre of Çeşme district in the İzmir province of Turkey, located around 90 km west of the provincial capital, Izmir and 670 km southwest of the country’s largest city, Istanbul. Lying on the westernmost end of Turkey at 38°19′ N 26°18′ E, Cesme is one of the parts of the Turkey’s tourism industry holding many spectacular white sandy beaches, fountains and most importantly Çeşme Castle.

Kite-boarding, windsurfing and sunbathing are the favorite water sport activities of tourists visiting the town during summer months.

 

History of Cesme:

The name Cesme literally means ‘fountain’, denoting fountains dating back to the Ottoman period placed all around the town. In its long history, Cesme was once the site of the war between Russians and Ottomans in 1770. The Cesme Castle is the historic identity of Cesme.’

 

How to reach Cesme?

Cesme is served by the Adnan Menderes Airport in Izmir with scheduled flights from Amsterdam, London, Tehran, Munich, Moscow, Paris, London and other global destinations. The airport is located around 95 km away from Cesme, which can be crossed by bus or taxi with a cost of TL 10 (by bus).

From Istanbul, it takes around 8 hours to Cesme by bus service.

Bus is the common way to get around Cesme and rental cars are also accessible.

 

Culture, Shopping and Food in Cesme:

Cesme is considered as the world’s 3rd best surfing resort and popularly called the Turkey’s windsurfing capital. Alaçatı is a town around 8 km away from Cesme where the big Surf Festivals are held annually with lot of specialties.

Artura Gallery in Cesme where visitors can pick colorful and variety of artworks at reasonable prices.

One can find many cheap restaurants just north of the Cesme Castle while the splurge restaurants are located near the Cesme Marina.

Some nice food corners in Cesme are:

  • Medcezir Cafe
  • L’Escargot Restaurant
  • Dost Pide & Pizza
  • Ferdi Baba Restaurant

 

Things to do in Cesme:

  • Kiteboarding
  • Windsurfing
  • Sunbathing
  • Visiting theme parks

 

Places of interest in Cesme:

Cesme Castle:

Being a symbol of the town, the Cesme Castle is the most important tourist attraction of Cesme, situated in the heart of the town. Originally constructed in 1508, the castle gained prominence with the renovation made by Sultan Beyazıt. It is allowed for visitors 8:30 am-12:30 pm and 1:30 pm-5:30 pm every day. Entrance fee is 5 TL.

 

Çeşme Marina:

Recently established marina village (2010), Çeşme Marina is home to around 400 berths measuring a length of 60 meters which is guarded by a 90 meter breakwater. One can also see many modern and traditional shops and cafes in the village.

 

Historic part of Cesme:

The historic part of Cesme is packed with numerous well preserved Greek neo-classical buildings dating back to the end of the 18th century. Visitors are allowed to visit them with a prior permission.

 

Ilıca:

Located around 5 km east of Cesme, Ilıca is an area with full of world class resorts, beaches and thermal springs. The beach at Ilıca stretches up to 1.5 km with the opportunities of windsurfing and kite-surfing.

 

Cesme Museum:

The Cesme Museum was founded to display the history and culture of the town to visitors with well preserved artifacts and artworks. It is located inside Cesme Castle.

 

List of other places of interest in Cesme includes:

  • Aqua Toy City
  • Fun Beach Club
  • Kultur Cafe
  • Sera Beach
  • Alacati Go Kart
  • Ramo Beach

 

Best time to visit Cesme:

Like the rest of holiday resorts in Turkey, Cesme can be experienced best during the summer months between May and September.

 

Accommodation options in Cesme:

There are around 300 hotels in Cesme and all of which have modernized, with tourist facilities like TV, free internet access, spa, sauna and doctor on call service. Some nice recommended hotels in Cesme in Turkey are listed below:

  • Beyevi Hotel
  • Vintage Boutique Hotel Alacati
  • Panda Alacati Hotel
  • Cumbali Konak
  • Alacati Tas Otel
  • Imren Han Otel ve Konaklari
  • TashMahal Alacati
  • Sardunaki Konak Otel
  • Kamer Suite & Hotel
  • Moy Otel Alacati
  • La Capria Suite Hotel
  • Alacati Marina Palace Boutique Hotel
  • Casaoliva Hotel
  • Hotel Doga Garden
  • Port Hotel Alacati
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