Close to countries in Asia, the Middle East the and the Mediterranean, Turkey is an extraordinary blend of East and West: where European influences mix with Oriental and Islamic traditions. Both old and new, traditional and modern, Turkey offers an unforgettable trip for those who want to see how the past and the present can mix in a single country. Just like in its world-famous bazaars, a trip to Turkey means there’s always a treasure waiting to be discovered.

Ephesus (Izmir)

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. Ephesus contains the largest collection of Roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. Only an estimated 15% has been excavated. The ruins that are visible give some idea of the city's original splendor, and the names associated with the ruins are evocative of its former life. The theater dominates the view down Harbor Street, which leads to the silted-up harbor.

Fethiye

Tucked in the foothills between the Mediterranean and the towering Taurus Mountains, the town of Fethiye offers a glimpse of the real Turkey: comfortable, cosy, unharried.

Fethiye has a scenic waterfront promenade, that gives you a view of colourful fishing boats, million-dollar yachts in the increasingly glamorous marina and the traditional wooden-built gulets or sailboats. Behind the town, historic sites such as a Roman amphitheatre, ancient rock tombs, and a Crusader await the eager hiker.

Everywhere in Turkey is child-friendly but Fethiye does not particularly target the family market. There are a few large all-inclusive resorts between Fethiye and Oludeniz that offer a wide range of children's facilities and there is a small waterpark, Sultans' Aquacity in Çalis Beach where there are also gentle watersports.

Attractions

• Snorkelling, diving and day trips by hydrofoil to the Greek island of Rhodes.
• Xanthos-Letoön, a World Heritage Site dating back to the time of ancient Greeks and Romans.
• Patara, 4th-century birthplace of St Nicholas (or Father Christmas), which also has a superb white sand beach.

Istanbul

Istanbul is not only where Europe meets Asia. It’s where history, built upon empire after empire, meets modern-day commercialism. Explore Old Istanbul’s mosques, hippodromes and opulent palaces. Discover remnants of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Istanbul is the perfect place to step back in time and admire incredible cultural accomplishments. Don’t forget your camera!

Attractions

• The awe-inspiring Ayasofya, the Church of Holy Wisdom.
• Test your bargaining savvy with the merchants at the Grand Bazaar.
• In exotic Istanbul, it's easy to spend an entire day strolling through the grand Bazaar, exploring the famous Blue Mosque, or wandering through the majestic Topkapi Palace, with its gardens, libraries and 400-room harem.

Kusadasi (Ephesus)

Nestled along the craggy shores of the Aegean Sea is the Turkish port of Kusadasi. Created by the Ionians in the 11th century B.C. and later expanded by the Romans, this city hosted the likes of Cleopatra, Mark Antony, the Virgin Mary and John the Apostle.

Renowned as one of the most beautiful cities along the Aegean, Kusadasi is blessed with sunshine an average of 300 days a year. It is also considered one of the grandest reconstructed sites in the ancient world, This beautiful city is the perfect setting to begin your journey to Ephesus.

Attractions

• Travel through the Magnesia Gate, the main entrance to the ancient city, and continue along marble streets grooved by chariot wheels. Gaze upon beautiful temples, porticoes, fountains and frescoes. Discover the three-storey Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Odeum, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater.
• The 14th-century Turkish baths and the Isa Bey Mosque on your way to the Basilica of St. John, said to be above the burial site of the apostle himself.
• The ruins of Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.