More than beaches: the balloons of Cappadocia, the white travertines of Pamukkale and the Lycian Way along the sea.
Russian passport: visa-free · 60 daysprices ×1.2 vs Russia
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Nevşehir, Turkey · World’s best
Cappadocia
Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND
Wind and water have turned the volcanic tuff into valleys of pillars, cones and mushrooms. Churches with frescoes are carved into the rock — the open-air museum at Göreme — along with underground cities many storeys deep.
At dawn, hot-air balloons rise over the valleys. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Getting there
Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir, then about an hour by shuttle to Göreme.
Photo: Pvasiliadis · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Denizli, Turkey
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND
For centuries hot springs have been depositing lime, and the slope has turned into white terraces with turquoise pools. People walk on the travertines barefoot — that is how they are protected.
At the top are Hierapolis, an ancient city with a theatre and a necropolis, and a pool with columns lying under the water. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Getting there
Fly or take a bus to Denizli, then about 30 minutes to Pamukkale; from Antalya, about 4 hours by car.
Photo: Ezzeldin.Elbaksawy · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Muğla and Antalya, Turkey
Lycian Way
Access 3/5 · needs planningJFMAMJJASOND
The Lycian Way runs from Fethiye to Antalya along the coast and through the mountains, linking the ruins of Lycian cities, coves and small villages. The best-known sections are above Ölüdeniz and Butterfly Valley.
You can walk the trail in pieces, a day at a time, or all of it over several weeks. Spring and autumn are easier: in summer the open slopes are hot and there is little water.
Getting there
Fly to Dalaman or Antalya; the trail starts near Fethiye and Ölüdeniz.
Why it’s hard
A multi-day hike: rocky paths, steep climbs and descents, and little water on exposed stretches. You need to plan where to sleep and avoid walking in the summer heat.
Turkey: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.
Entry
Russian citizens: visa-free for up to 60 days per trip, but no more than 90 days within 180 (the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department; a decision of the Turkish government in force since 2013). Your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the permitted stay; the Turkish Foreign Ministry advises a margin of 6 months.
Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.
Many direct flights: Aeroflot, Pobeda, Southwind, Nordwind, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus to Istanbul, Antalya, Dalaman and other cities. Istanbul is the main hub for connections further on.
prices ×1.2 vs Russia · price level 0.45 (US = 1), 2025
Prices are 20–25% higher than in Russia. Mandatory costs are museums and archaeological parks (Göreme, Hierapolis) with Ministry of Culture tickets; a balloon flight is the main extra expense in Cappadocia.
The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.
