The geography where Turkey is located has hosted civilizations for thousands of years. Every corner of Anatolia (Asia Minor) promises photographers magnificent shots. You can find a list of the most instagrammable places in Turkey in this article.
Among the photo spots in Turkey, there are historical cities, beaches intertwined with ancient ruins and cozy holiday towns. Even though we put Istanbul at the end of the list, Istanbul is actually the most photographed place in Turkey.
There are so many places to take pictures in Istanbul that it was necessary to write a separate article. If you want to take a look at that article about Istanbul later, you can also review my other post called the best photography spots in Istanbul.
Most Instagrammable Places in Turkey 2024
The list of most photographed places in Turkey consists of 10 titles. In these photo spots, you can trace the ancient Greek and Roman culture as well as the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Instagrammable places in Turkey include places like Troy and Mount Nemrut that have inspired books, movies and TV series. If these historical places increase your curiosity, you can find much more detailed articles about these places in the ABOUT TURKEY category on this website.
1. Edirne
Edirne is a city located in the northwest of Turkey. The city, which has served as a bridge between Anatolia and Europe throughout history, has a history dating back to the Roman period and a very strategic location.
Edirne was known as Adrianople in Roman and Byzantine periods. Battle of Adrianople, one of the most important battles in Roman history, took place here, and Emperor Valens died while fighting the Goths.
Edirne remained under Byzantine rule for nearly a thousand years and was the gateway of Constantinople to Europe. Edirne, which was later conquered by the Ottoman Empire, was declared the capital.
Since Edirne was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for a while, it carries an important imperial heritage. Selimiye Mosque stands out among the historical monuments in the city.
Selimiye, the largest historical mosque in Turkey, was built by Mimar Sinan, the most famous architect of the Ottoman period. The 500-year-old mosque is even bigger than the Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul.
Selimiye Mosque is one of the most instagrammable places in Turkey. Those who are interested in architecture organize daily visits from Istanbul to Edirne just to see this mosque.
2. Canakkale
Canakkale is located on the Aegean coast of Turkey. Canakkale, which is very close to Istanbul, is a very important place for photographers in several ways. In order to understand Canakkale better, Assos, Troy and Gallipoli should be mentioned separately.
Assos ancient city has a special place in the Greco-Roman heritage in Turkey. In the ancient city overlooking the beach, there is the Temple of Athena, one of the most instagrammable places in Turkey.
The famous Trojan War, which Homer mentioned in the Ilyada epic, also took place in Canakkale. Today, Troy ruins can still be seen. Troy recently inspired a movie starring Brad Pitt and a Netflix series. (Troy: Fall of a City)
In addition, Canakkale was one of the most important fronts of the first world war. Clashes between the Allied forces and the Ottomans at Gallipoli lasted for months and changed the history of the world war. The descendants of the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand soldiers) who fought in the First World War come to Canakkale every year.
In addition to all these, Canakkale has some of the best beaches in Turkey. With all these features, Canakkale has a special place among the best photography spots in Turkey.
3. Ephesus
Ephesus had importance both in Ancient Greek and Roman Empire’s history. This city used to be the capital of the Roman Empire’s eastern provinces for the time being and it witnessed the most successful era of the empire.
Temple of Artemis inside the ancient city is regarded as one of the most important spiritual centers in history. Considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple is the jewel of Ephesus.
Library of Celsus is the second most important historical spot to see in Ephesus. The library, which is a very well preserved Roman heritage, is among the most instagrammable places in Turkey.
Another thing to do in Ephesus is to visit the House of Virgin Mary. Ephesus, which has an important place in the history of early Christianity, promises magnificent photographs to history lovers.
4. Oludeniz
Oludeniz hosts rare sea creatures like an aquarium. Oludeniz, which is among the most photographed beaches in Turkey, offers a unique experience to its visitors.
In Oludeniz, you can swim with giant turtles and take pictures of colorful sea creatures in the lagoon. In addition, Belcekiz Beach, which is adjacent to Oludeniz, will add variety to your panoramic photos.
Oludeniz is a place that all photography enthusiasts want to add to their portfolio. If you want to take bird’s eye photos in the region, you can paraglide from Mount Babadag and take unforgettable frames.
5. Pamukkale
Pamukkale has views that definitely find a place in the postcards of Turkey. Travertine thermal pools, Hierapolis ancient ruins and Cleopatra pool are the most photographed places in Pamukkale.
Pamukkale is one of the most instagrammable places in Turkey with its snow-white travertines formed over thousands of years. Pamukkale, located in an ancient city called Hierapolis, also has a history of thousands of years.
After walking in the travertines and visiting the ruins of Hierapolis, you can swim in the Cleopatra pool full of ancient columns and take magnificent photos. You can also take a hot air balloon tour in Pamukkale and photograph everything from a bird’s eye view.
6. Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut is one of the most unique historical places in Turkey. This mystical hill with giant sculptures on its summit promises spectacular views to photographers.
Mount Nemrut is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Turkey. It was created by a king who wanted to establish a link between ancient Greek mythology and Zoroastrianism.
Every year, millions of people climb to the top of Mount Nemrut and watch the sunrise. Then they take photos of the mysterious mythological sculptures on the top of the mountain.
Mount Nemrut has recently inspired a Netfix series called The Gift. If you want to have an off the beaten path experience in Turkey, you can go to Mount Nemrut and take great photos.
7. Antakya
Antakya draws the attention with its thousands of years of history and natural beauty. Known as Antioch in history, this city was one of the most important trade and religious centers of the Roman and Byzantine periods.
Since Antakya is a bridge between Anatolia and Mesopotamia, it has been in the middle of wars throughout its history. Antioch was a key point in the wars between Ancient Egypt and the Hittites, Romans and Persians, Byzantines and Arabs.
The reign of various civilizations in Antakya gave the city a unique character. Another feature of Antakya was that it was one of the most important cities in the early Christian period.
Saint Peter, one of the most important apostles of Jesus, came to Antakya and established a cave church. Cave Church of Saint Peter is one of the pilgrimage places for Christians today.
You can visit Antakya on the Saint Peter memorial day held once a year. After visiting the church, you can also visit the Hatay Mosaic Museum, which has the world’s largest mosaic collection. Thus, you can add the unique photos you took in Turkey to your photo library.
8. Mardin
Mardin has the traces of various civilizations like Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. Churches, monasteries, mosques, and historical houses in Mardin make it one of the most popular spots for photographers.
While walking the streets of Mardin, you can feel like you are in a well-preserved medieval town. The impressive atmosphere of Mardin stems from the fact that it houses numerous cultures that have blended in thousands of years.
It can be easily said that Mardin is one of the most authentic cities in the world, and it’s a highly popular place for photographers both from Turkey and abroad. If you are looking for unique photography spots in Turkey, you can consider visiting Mardin.
9. Cappadocia
Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most visited touristic spots and a land of fairy tales. Cappadocia has volcanic landforms formed over thousands of years and promises you magnificent photo scenes.
Things to do in Cappadocia include taking photos of fairy chimneys, visiting rock churches, trekking in the valleys and flying with a hot air balloon. When you do all these activities, you can be sure that you will return home with a magnificent photo archive.
There are amazing cave hotels in Cappadocia. You can watch hot air balloons from the terrace of some of these hotels. If you stay in a hotel with such a view, you can take great photos even while spending time at the hotel.
Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus, Turkey’s golden triangle, creates the most suitable route for first-time visitors. Among them, Cappadocia stands out as the most interesting place to take photos in Turkey.
10. Istanbul
Istanbul offers a unique historical atmosphere as well as being a very active business and entertainment center. Therefore, Istanbul is the most favorite city for the photo enthusiasts in Turkey. Istanbul is heaven for both architectural and street photography as it has endless materials for photographers.
Istanbul is a city where churches, mosques, and synagogues are intermingled and even sometimes they can be found on the same streets. Therefore, it reflects the multi-cultural life of the empires that existed in this city.
Among the best photography spots in Istanbul are Sultanahmet with historical artifacts and Beyoglu with lively streets. However, if you want to get off the tourist route, you can visit districts such as Balat, Kadikoy and Kuzguncuk.
You may be interested in taking long walks to take the most beautiful shots in Istanbul. For example, Fener and Balat, Ortakoy and Bebek, Uskudar and Kuzguncuk walks will give you the opportunity to take wonderful street photographs in Istanbul.
Written by Serhat Engul
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