- Gazing in awe at the massive Ottoman Empire treasures in Istanbul’s Topkapi Museum
- Marveling over the Byzantine architecture of Hagia Sophia
- Dining at a rooftop restaurant situated between Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Istanbul, as the sun sets and the iconic, exotic structures are illuminated
- Kayak above the underwater, ancient ruins of Kekova, off Turkey’s south coast along the Lycian Trail
- Riding the ferries across the Bosphorus while crossing from Europe to Asia or vice versa
- Wandering through the seemingly endless market stalls in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
- Attending a Sufi dance performance of whirling dervishes twirling and swaying for hours on entrancing rhythms of Sufi music
- Relishing the fresh grilled fish sandwich sold at a sidewalk stand near the Bosphorus
- Taking a hot air balloon ride over the amazing landscape at Cappadocia
- Staying overnight in a Cappadocia cave hotel in Göreme
- Taking a self-driving tour through the mountains of Kaçkar, Karçal, and Yalnızçam
- Exploring the old town Antalya, Turkey’s largest beach resort, situated on a dramatic cliffside perch overlooking the Mediterranean
- Exploring the underground city of Derinkuyu and its cave system
- Visiting the ancient city of Ephesus, one of Turkey’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a frequent cruise-ship stop
- Sailing down the Turkish coast in a traditional gulet, a two- or three-masted wooden vessel
- Soaking in the hot springs at Pamukkale and exploring the nearby Hierapolis ruins
- Touring the historic Basilica Cistern underground colonnade