Istanbul is the star attraction of Turkey. It’s one of the world’s great cities, and has been enchanting travellers for centuries with its amazing montage of culture, religion and entertainment. Grab a boat cruise on the Bosphorus, explore Byzantine catacombs then party the night away.

The Turquoise Coast is Turkey’s most magical beach destination. Its resorts and islands strung along the Aegean Sea are top-flight thanks to a mix of ancient sites and cool beach towns like Bodrum and Ölüdeniz.

Central Anatolia is home to the capital Ankara, a buzzing modern metropolis, yet is also littered with ancient Hittite sites and the eerie moonscape of Cappadocia. The fairy chimneys, underground cities and churches carved into rock cliffs at Cappadocia are reason enough to visit this huge interior region.

Konya is one of Turkey’s larger cities and home to the fascinating Sufi order. Step into another world with the elegant medieval Seljuq architecture, visit the tomb of the mystic Sufi poet Rumi and perhaps even witness a Whirling Dervish.

Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast is just as nice as the Aegean, with the trendy city of Antalya as its anchor. With a history stretching back to 158 BC, Antalya offers a wealth of modern fun, amazing beaches and a rich timeline that defines the history of southern Turkey.

The west coast of Turkey is home to some of its finest ancient site such as Ephesus, a wonderfully-preserved Roman city. Troy and Pergamum are also within striking distance from the main city of the region, Izmir, a decent destination in its own right.

Istanbul is a living museum of architecture, boasting superlative sites like the Blue Mosque with its minarets and coloured windows that change hue throughout the day. The dome of Ayasofya, the handiwork of Mehmet the Conquerer, is another marvel, as is the vast Topkapi Palace, a regal city unto itself.

Be sure to stop by the Istanbul Archaeology Museum before venturing too deep into Turkey. The country’s largest museum chronicles the incredible history of Turkey, from the Romans and Byzantines through the Ottomans and everything in between.

Few ancient Mediterranean sites are as well preserved as Ephesus, a Roman city that has been excavated and organised just enough to give visitors a sense of its grandeur without sacrificing its atmosphere of an adventure among the ruins. The legendary city of Troy is just up the coast, with Pergamum along the way, creating an inspiring multiday excursion to soak in the ancient civilised world.

The monasteries and subterranean cities of Cappadocia simply must be seen to be believed. These ancient feats of engineering are also works of art, a world where early Christians fled from persecution. The results linger today, with painted fresco churches and entire cities carved into the area’s many fairy chimneys.

Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are blessed with some of the most beautiful seaside scenery on the planet. But among all these gems, few really reach the postcard quality of Ölüdeniz’s Blue Lagoon, a true masterpiece of nature.

The Sumela Monastery was built in the 14th century by Greek Orthodox Christians. Literally carved into a 1,000-foot cliff above the valley, this magnificent site boasts some of the world’s finest frescoes among the sprawling stone complex. Enjoy the rugged natural beauty of the Black Sea while you’re here.

Turkey provides a pleasantly diverse range of entertainment for visitors, from thumping nightclubs to traditional belly dancing performances. In the nation’s leading cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir travellers can expect a nightlife scene similar to most European cities. The younger generation of Turks enjoy their nights out, creating lively scenes in all the main cities.

Istanbul is the undisputed centre of Turkey’s nightlife, a wonderful blend of taverns (meyhanes), coffeehouses and nightclubs. Turks love live music, so expect to be spoiled for choice with jazz bars, rock and pop bands and of course a solid dose of traditional Turkish music at bars throughout the city. The Ortakoy neighbourhood is particularly lively after dark, as are the rooftop bars overlooking the Bosphorus. Find a cosy café (Türkü Evleri) in Beyoglu’s Büyükparmakkapi Sokak district to enjoy traditional Anatolian folk music and singing.

On the other end of Turkish nightlife is the scene at most seaside resorts like Ölüdeniz, Marmaris, Bodrum and Kusadasi. These beach towns cater almost exclusively to tourists, which means British sports pubs are more common than traditional coffeehouses. The entertainment at the beach, however, is fantastic and always buzzing during the peak summer holiday season.

Venues like the sprawling outdoor nightclub Halicarnassus in Bodrum are legendary, capable of holding 5,000 people on any given night. The tradition of belly dancing is still preserved in Turkey, though performances are targeted at tourists and typically located inside hotels and cultural entertainment venues.

Turkish food perfectly reflects its role as the crossroads between Asia and Europe. Traditional dishes here seem to be the love children of Middle Eastern ingredients and Mediterranean influence. If Turkish fare doesn’t suit your tastes, plenty of international restaurants can be found in major cities and coastal resorts.

A typical Turkish meal starts with a range of delectable cold and hot appetizers accompanied by raki (a milky anisette spirit), then moves on to either a kebab (skewered meat on a stick) or aköfte (meat patties made of minced lamb). Vegetarian dishes are also prevalent on menus, as are a range of Saç kavurma earthenware casseroles that are sumptuous.

Other essential Turkish dishes to savor include pide (a version of pizza but fluffier), manti (meat-filled ravioli) and dolma (stuffed grape leaves or vegetables). The dessert list is no less impressive, with baklava (light layered pastry) leading the way followed by a range of milky dishes like sütlaç (rice pudding) and irmik helva (an indescribably tasty concoction).

Tea, known as chai in Turkey, is a national ritual you won’t be able to avoid. Served strong and black with two sugar cubes in a tulip-shaped glass, it’s offered to every guest and keeps flowing. Turkish coffee is equally strong and sweet, guaranteed to create heart palpations. Raki is the national alcoholic drink of Turkey, distilled from raisins and anisette with a serious kick. Ayran, a wonderfully refreshing yoghurt drink, is another Turkish creation available everywhere.