What are Turkey’s most underrated cities?
Few know of any city besides the obvious Istanbul and capital city Ankara. But among the underrated highlights there’s
Trabzon, a long, thin settlement on the eastern Black Sea coast, nestled between mountains and sea. The Walls of Trabzon enclose the stunning old town, with its upper part, that once functioned as a citadel, set on the mountainside. Don’t miss the underrated Hagia Sophia: like its more famous sibling in Istanbul, it’s a Greek Orthodox Church converted into a mosque.
About 50km away, the Sumela Hanging Monastery, hemmed into the side of a sheer cliff, is one of the Middle East’s most powerful sights. You can stay at Ts Park Hotel, an 18th-century building renovated to boutique hotel that is within walking distance of Trabzon’s best sights.
Another gem is Izmir, sitting on the Aegean sea and an important port city with easy ferry connections to Athens and the Greek islands. Founded by the Greeks, taken by the Romans and re-built by Alexander the Great before becoming part of the Ottoman empire in the 15th century, Izmir boasts archaeological sites, the beautiful seafront Kordon Promenade, and the remains of the Kadifekale (”Velvet Castle”) overlooking the city from a hill.
Izmir is also the perfect gateway to explore the Aegean coast, striking off to the amazingly preserved ancient city of Ephesus, or moving eastwards to the kaleidoscopic travertine terraces of Pamukkale. If you feel like splurging, base yourself at the Renaissance Izmir Hotel, right in the centre of the action.
