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Tag - Kusadasi shore excursions

Turkey shore excursions in an enchanting land

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Explore the splendor of Turkey, an enchanting land and the gateway to the east. Turkey is an awe inspiring country with the perfect mix of stunning landscapes and ancient mythology. It is here on Turkey shore excursions, where you cross the crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean to arrive at idyllic beaches, picturesque towns, and unforgettable coastline scenery.

Luscious forest, romantic valleys, ancient towns and towering peaks are all within a short distance of each other and there are many ways to see this change in appearance, from a hot air balloon, to parasailing, from a road trip on winding hills, to a walking tour of Istanbul old town.

Another highlight are the large number of historic monuments in Turkey, and the country has long been known as a place which attracted the many famous explorers and travelers over the years. There are an overwhelming number of UNESCO World Heritage sites and many ancient relics at every turn, through every town, in every city, and on every hillside.

Turkey shore excursions

Turkey will captivate you before amazing you, and the question upon arrival is rarely in terms of what to see, but rather what are you willing to miss out on. Here are the three most popular cruise port destinations in Turkey:

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Izmir Shore Excursions

Izmir was once a city called Smyrna on the Aegean Sea and is the third largest in Turkey. The city is a nice blend of modern and traditional culture, with a beautiful promenade and bustling nightlife. However, Izmir is best known for a few key attractions such as the mesmerizing city of Ephesus, the Basilica of St John, the Temple of Artemis and the archaeological site at Agora market which dates all the way back to 3000BC.

There are a host of great Izmir shore excursions to take but the city of Ephesus is undoubtedly the main draw from this port and there are a range of different tour combinations in which you can visit the ancient city as well as fitting in some of the other highlights afterward.

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Kusadasi Shore Excursions

Many of the country’s most fascinating ruins lie just a short distance from the port of Kusadasi. This s a real favourite for cruise ships and delights visitors with a great tourist infrastructure that allows for shipping, relaxing and sightseeing all in the one place.
As with Izmir, most guests will want to take in the ancient city of Ephesus on Kusadasi shore excursions but there are also some other extremely nice options with the fortified island, Goveroin Ada, nearby and also the town of Sirince  which was where the the locals moved after Ephesus was abandoned, here you can find many monuments and remnants of the Greek history in the region.

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Istanbul

Istanbul is a city of contrasts with the unique location of being on the edge of Europe, yet right at the gateway to the east, the Silk road and the “”Stans””. The exotic mix of culture in Istanbul is intoxicating with an endless number of huge markets, modern architecture and historic remnants.
Intriguing narrow streets wind their way through the old quarter where you can find Toplapi Palace, the home of several Ottoman emperors. The Unesco World Heritage “Sultanahmet is an enchanting place to explore on foot and if you are feeling up to some frantic, the vibrant and energetic Grand Bazar is once in a lifetime experience in itself.

Istanbul, and Turkey, is famous for an incredible standard of food so expect many fine restaurants, cafe’s and plenty of culture. A walking tour of the old city is a popular shore excursion in Istanbul but then there is also the Bosphorus Cruise, the Egyptian Bazar and the incredible trip over lunar landscapes in a hot air balloon . And then there is the Turkish night show, no trip to Turkey would be complete without a belly dance and some local folk music.

Turkey has so much to offer and really, regardless of the port and regardless of which shore excursion you decide upon, you are sure to have the most memorable time, in this ancient an enchanting land.