Discover all the highlights of Turkey on a road trip through the county in the shortest time and the most economical way possible.

ISTANBUL

Istanbul is hot. And we're not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that's a lot). The international fashion and design press have been talking up Istanbul ad nauseam, but the most significant thing about the accolade 'World's Hippest City' is that Istanbullus themselves have come believe it. The creeping sense of decrepitude that had fallen like a pall over their once-all-powerful home town has vanished, replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the days of Süleyman the Magnificent.

The city's over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it's at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action. Locals are flocking to see and be seen at an ever-growing array of bars, clubs and restaurants, bringing with them an infectious sense of joie de vivre and a discerning ability to judge these places on their standard of service, drinks, music and food as well as their position in the what's-hot-and-what's-not stakes.

ANKARA

Rising dramatically on a steep incline from the banks of the Enguri Su, Ankara, Turkey's capital and second most populous city, is a modern European metropolis speckled with reminders of its varied history. Old castles and ruins from Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations dot the landscape. The modern city includes government and state houses, major universities, military bases, consulates, bustling nightlife and the oldest park in the city, Genclik Park.

CAPPADOCIA

" Cappadocia is one of those places that looks better than its pictures."

A fragment of another planet, a mirage of stone in the heart of Anatolia... There are parts of the Earth which do not seem really belong to; Cappadocia is one of them, a strange and spectacular landscape from the pages of science fiction. It is an extraordinary region, unmatched in the world. A fascinating beauty. An incredible harmony of shapes and colors. An ideal landscape for history and art lovers.

Those troglodytes sure knew what they were doing when they decided to lay down their hats and call Cappadocia home. They settled within the lunar-like landscape and burrowed their houses and churches into stone cliffs and their cities underground. These days the cave dwellers are predominantly tourists staying in cave hotels who have been drawn to this part of Turkey by its surreal scenery, wealth of ancient churches and unparalleled opportunities for adventure activities. Where else can you float over the fairy chimneys in a hot-air balloon in the morning, admire Byzantine frescoes in the afternoon and sample fine food and wine at night? Let alone take a spectacular hike through a rose-tinted gorge, indulge in a frenzy of shopping at a covered bazaar dating from Ottoman times and see dervishes whirl in an atmospheric caravanserai. It's this mix of attractions that makes Cappadocia such a compelling tourist destination - there truly is something here for everyone.

KONYA

Konya is one of the first inhabited cities in the history of mankind, and still contains traces of many ancient civilisations which gives it the atmosphere of a museum city. Because of its locations in the middle of the barren Anatolian steppe, it used to be one of the most important trading centres on the Silk Road. Steeped in tradition, it is one of the most conservative and religious places in the country, and best known as the adopted home of Celaleddin Rumi, the Sufic mystic who founded the Whirling Dervish sect. Today it is still a centre of Sufic practice and teaching, and one of the highlights for visitors is the Mevlana Museum, the former lodge of the dervishes.

PAMUKKALE

Calcium's not just good for bones. If the many habitués of the spa town of Pamukkale are to be believed, it works wonders on muscles and sinews too. 'Cotton Castle', 19km north of Denizli, has built a centuries-long reputation on the restorative qualities of its calcium-rich waters. The unique formations of travertine (calcium carbonate) shelves, pools and stalactites, which hug the ridge above town like a white scar, were created by the area's warm mineral water, which cools as it cascades over the cliff edge and deposits its calcium. It's a strange piece of landscape unlike anything else you'll see in Turkey, and it now appears on the Unesco World Heritage list.

KUSADASI

Situated 17km/10.5mi south of Ephesus on the wide Gulf of Kusadasi, facing the Greek island of Samos , Kusadasi is one of the oldest and most popular holiday centers in Turkey.It is a perfect place for vacation with its numerous sandy beaches is inviting you to unravel to you its true beauty.The lively holiday life on the one hand and the calmness of the ancient ruins, remnants of a glorious past create the special atmosphere of the city create the best standards of a unique holiday destination.

IZMIR

Though it's often not love at first sight with this modern city, Izmir has a way of growing on you. The northern district of Alsancak is being steadily restored, its lovely old houses metamorphosing into inviting restaurants and bars, while the sea-facing Kordon is great for all things outdoors.