Top Ten Tourist Attractions in Turkey from toptenturkey.com1. Haghia Sophia Museum - Istanbul  
Haghia Sophia  Museum, the great masterpiece of Byzantine art. It was built  by Justinian in 6th century AD and is the 3rd church to occupy this site. At the  time it was built, it was the largest church in existence. The church was sacked  by the Latins during the 4th crusade in 1204 and many of its treasures taken to  the west. 
When Contantinople (Istanbul) was  conquered by the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet II in 1453, it was converted into a  mosque. Since 1936, 
by Ataturk's order it has been a museum. The  interior is decorated with wonderful Byzantine mosaics from 6th to 13th century  AD. 
 
 
2. Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmet Camii -  Istanbul
 
Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Camii is  one
of the most beautiful mosques in the world. Its name is derived  from the blue tiles decorating its interior. Completed in 1616 by Mehmet Aga,  Imperial Architect and one of the students of the great architect Sinan. Its  grace and beautiful proportions were intended to reflect the splendour of  Islam.  It was the supreme 
 
Imperial Mosque of the Ottoman Empire. The  famous blue and green Iznik tiles on the walls are bathed in glorious light that  is filtered through 260 windows. On summer evenings there are light  and
sound shows in the grounds.  
 
3.  Pamukkale - Hierapolis-  Denizli
Pamukkale is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is a unique  geological formation formed over 14.000 years.  The spring water at  Pamukkale has therapeutic qualities and since antiquity has been said to  
cure rheumatism, kidney and heart  diseases.
Hierapolis, means sacred-city and its history goes  back 6th C BC. At its peak the population reached about 100,000. The ruins at  Hierapolis cover an extensive area. The theater, Temple of Apollo, Colonnaded  Street, Byzantine Gate, Plutonium and Necropolis (Cemetery) are some
of  the highlights of the city. The Necropolis has approximately 1000 tombs and is  the largest in Asia  Minor.
4.Ephesus - Efes 
Ephesus is one of the best-preserved ancient  cities in the world with a history dating back the 12 C BC. It was an important  trade and religious center. During the Roman period its population reached  Approx. 250,000. 
One of the seven wonders of the world,  Temple of Artemis was in Ephesus. It is also the site of one of the Seven  Churches of Revelation. St. Paul lived and preached for about 2 years in  Ephesus. 
Today it is  estimated that between 15-20% of the city has been excavated. Some of the  highlights are the Odeon, Celsus Library, Great Theater, Commercial Agora,  Terrace Houses, Blue Marble Street, Scholistica baths and Brothel.  
5. Cappadocia Region 
One of the geological wonders of the  world. Cappadocia is a high plateau in Central Turkey  at an altitude  of 3270 ft / 1000 m. It lies in a triangle formed by the three main towns of  Kayseri, Nevsehir and Nigde. The history of Cappadocia begins 60 million years  ago with the eruption of 2 volcanos, covering the area with lava and tufa.  
In later periods rain and wind eroded the land and created  unusual valleys, canyons and cones. For many centuries Hittites, Assyrian  Colonies,Greeks and Romans lived in the region.  Cappadocia is also a  very important region in early Christian History. There are over 600  hundred
rock-cut churches built by monks and hermits between the 4th  and 11th centuries. In some of these, church walls have been decorated with  wonderful frescoes depicting scenes from the  Bible.
6.  Ancient City of  Pergamon  
The history of the city starts in the 8th C BC  when Aeolian Greek colonies settled in the area. The city was founded on a hill  overlooking the Caicos plain. During the reign of Eumenes II in the 2nd C BC, it  became one of the cultural and intellectual centers of the day. With the  invention of pergamena (parchment) its library grew to rival in size, the great  library of Alexandria. 
Pergamum was one of the Seven  Churches of the Revelations. The famous Roman physician, Galen was born and  studied in Pergamum.The ruins are separated into 3 parts, the  Acropolis, Red Courtyard and Asclepion, which was the cure center of  Pergamum.
7. Sardis
Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of  Lydia.  It was founded on the banks of the famous golden-bearing river  Pactolus. The legendary 
King of Lydia Croesus (560-540 BC) controlled  most of western Asia Minor and made generous offerings to the temples of Delphi,  Artemis and Didyma. 
In the 7th C BC the Lydians invented  the first coinage in history. They developed methods to  extract gold from metal ores. Some of the highlights are the temple of Artemis,  one of largest temples in Asia Minor and the Roman Gymnasium complex. Part of  the Gymnasium was converted into a synagogue in 3rd C BC. Sardis is one of the  Seven Churches of  Revelation.
8. Ancient city of Aspendus -  Antalya 
Aspendus is located in the ancient region of  Pamphylia. According to some experts the earliest settlers of the city were the  Hittites.
The name  Aspendus is of Anatolian origin. The Greek colonies arrived here around 13th C  BC and took over an existing settlement. Alexander the Great claimed the city  from the Persians and during the Roman period it was an important port city.  
The city was founded on a hilltop  and spread down to the plains. Aspendus has one of the best preserved and  largest Roman theaters in Turkey. It was built in the 2nd C AD. The city's  aqueducts are also well preserved and worth a  visit.
9. Commagene Kingdom at Mt. Nemrut  
One of the most spectacular sites in Turkey especially  at sunset. Mt Nemrut (approx. 2552m) is an extension of the Taurus  mountain range in southeastern Turkey. After the division of Alexander's Empire  into three, the Seleucids established the relatively small and wealthy Commagene  Kingdom in the region.
In 62 BC, Antiochos I  became king of Commagene and developed his kingdom as a strategic crossroad on  the important trade routes between Syria, Mesopotamia and Rome. The famous  sanctuary was built by Antiochos I for himself as a funerary monument. It is a  conical tumulus with a height of 50m and 150m diameter. There are colossal heads  of Apollo, Zeus and Antiochos I. 
10. Gallipoli Anzacs - Çanakkale  
The slim peninsula on the northern side of the  Dardanelles has been designated a National Park.
In 1915,  Allied warships tried to force their way through the straits with the intention  of opening a supply line to Russia via the Black Sea. Allied landings on the  Gallipoli Peninsula were finally beaten off by the Turks following bitter  warfare. 
Casualties were high on both sides and today  several war memorials stand in the attractive landscape of pine forests, green  hills and pretty beaches.