Turkish big cities off the beaten path.
What are some less-touristed cities in Turkey, for travelers seeking beautiful places with fewer crowds? Answer
Options include Alanya, a Mediterranean resort city below a Seljuk-era citadel; Afyonkarahisar, a spa city below a citadel on a volcanic crag; and Sarıyer, an Istanbul district where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea. This page includes more than 20 options. Click here to see which are close enough to be day trips from major cities like Istanbul.
Alanya
A Mediterranean resort city on Turkey's southern coast where a Seljuk-era citadel dominates a modest peninsula backed by the Taurus Mountains, Alanya combine…
Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar's most striking landmark is its ancient citadel, built around 1350 BC on a black volcanic crag rising above the city, with a cluster of mosque…
Sarıyer
This district on Istanbul's European shore where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea, Sarıyer has a walkable centre with a strong café and restaurant scene and…
Beykoz
A district of Istanbul along the northern Bosphorus on the Anatolian side, Beykoz has a walkable centre with a concentration of cafés, restaurants, and histo…
Kütahya
Kütahya, a city in western Turkey on the Porsuk River, is renowned for its decorated tiles and has a well-preserved old quarter to explore.
Beylikdüzü
A residential district on Istanbul's European shore, Beylikdüzü offers a walkable waterfront promenade along the Sea of Marmara, with red-roofed houses climb…
Battalgazi district
Aslantepe Höyüğü, the ancient mound identified as the original founding site of Malatya, lies within Battalgazi, a large district in eastern Turkey's Malatya…
Adıyaman
This mid-sized southeastern Turkish city spread across a broad agricultural plain, viewed dramatically from pine-forested uplands above, with a lake visible…
Denizli
Denizli is the main gateway city for Pamukkale, the UNESCO-listed mineral-terraced hillside and hot springs that draw visitors from across Turkey and beyond.
Aksaray
This Silk Road stopover city in Central Anatolia, Aksaray has a walkable centre with cafés, restaurants, and monuments predating the Ottoman era, plus early…
Isparta
Rose oil production defines Isparta, a highland city in Turkey's Lakes District known as the "City of Roses." Set at elevation in western Turkey, it is also…
Kadıköy
Kadıköy is the Asian-side district of Istanbul with one of the city's densest concentrations of cafés, bars, bookshops, and restaurants, spread across a wate…
Adapazarı
City in Turkey's Eastern Marmara region with a walkable centre full of cafés, restaurants, and historic churches, Adapazarı is the capital district of Sakary…
İlkadım
This Black Sea district forms the urban core of Samsun, with a walkable centre dense with cafés, restaurants, and historic churches along the coast.
Uşak
Uşak, an inland Aegean city in Türkiye, is best known for its museum housing the Lydian treasures, with canyons and ancient sites scattered through the surro…
Sivas
A city in central Anatolia with several well-preserved 13th-century Seljuk buildings, Sivas sits high in the broad valley of the Kızılırmak river and serves…
Çorum
Çorum is a highland city in northern Anatolia known for its Hittite and Phrygian archaeological sites, its thermal springs, and leblebi — roasted chickpeas t…
Eyüp
Eyüp, on Istanbul's European shore at the head of the Golden Horn, draws visitors above all to the tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari — companion and standard-beare…
Menemen
Menemen, a city in İzmir Province on Turkey's Aegean coast, is known across the country for its earthenware pottery, produced here for centuries, as well as…
Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaraş — known historically as Marash and, in antiquity, as Germanicea — is a city in southern Turkey at the foot of Mount Ahır, designated a UNESCO C…
Karşıyaka district
This waterfront district on the northern shore of the Gulf of İzmir, Karşıyaka has a walkable centre with a dense café and restaurant scene running along the…
Manisa
Spreading across the slopes of Mount Sipylus in Turkey's Aegean region, Manisa is a city known for its old mosques and a five-hundred-year-old Mesir Paste Di…
Batman
This busy southeastern Turkish city on a plateau near the Tigris, with a wide tree-lined boulevard, a lively café and restaurant scene, and access to upland…
Salihli
Salihli, a city in Turkey's Aegean region, sits close to the ancient Lydian capital of Sardis — a site on UNESCO's Tentative World Heritage List and said to…
Çekmeköy
This sprawling residential district on Istanbul's Asian side, Çekmeköy offers tree-lined public squares, a modern civic centre, and easy access to the forest…
Sancaktepe
A large, modern district on Istanbul's Anatolian side, Sancaktepe offers a lively café and restaurant scene alongside a compact municipal stadium with a dist…
Haliliye district
This large urban district forming the eastern heart of Şanlıurfa, Haliliye sits close to a reservoir-dotted landscape and serves as a gateway to the wider re…
Sultangazi
A large district on Istanbul's European side, Sultangazi is home to the Alibey Reservoir, built between 1975 and 1983, where amateur fishing and water sports…
Turkish cities: quick answers
Which Turkish cities can you visit on a day trip from Istanbul?
Kütahya is among 1 cities on our day trips from Istanbul.
Where are Turkey's less-touristed cities?
Wandering Well lists 28 cities across Turkey. The most are in Istanbul (8), Izmir (2) and Manisa (2).
Which are the highest-rated?
6 are rated gold, including Karşıyaka district, Beykoz, Kadıköy and Battalgazi district.
Which can you reach by train?
13 of the 28 have a railway station within a 10-minute drive, including Karşıyaka district, Kadıköy, Menemen and Manisa.