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If you want to see both Asia and Europe in one journey, you must make Turkey your destination. With a unique position of having land in both continents, amazing Turkey offers visitors a truly exceptional transcontinental experience. Istanbul, the only city that straddles two continents, has interesting facets that reflect its unique position. The European side boasts of such architectural wonders like the Hagia Sophia, an ancient basilica with what was once the largest dome in the world; the Blue Mosque and its imposing minarets; the enormous Dolmabahçe Palace; the imperial Topkapi Palace which affords spectacular view of the Bosphorus; and the eerie Basilica Cistern, which was constructed for water storage in case of siege of the city.

You might have had your fill of wonderful sights in the European side, but you’re bound to be awed some more once you cross the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side. The ornately beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace, the top of the Çamlica Hill which is a park that overlooks Istanbul where one experiences true Ottoman atmosphere, and the suburb of  Üsküdar, where one can see the magnificent palaces in the European side across the Bosphorus from an entirely new Perspective.

After taking all the sights in Istanbul, head off to Ankara where the life is a little less frenetic than Istanbul. Although also founded in ancient times, and centrally-located such that it is at the center of all railway and highway networks in the country, the capital nonetheless offers a more relaxed ambience, perhaps due to the well-planned urban development that the city underwent after it was chosen as the country’s capital. From Ankara, one is just a bus away from the Cappadocia region, a popular destination famous for its moon-like landscapes. The cities of Göreme, Uçhisar and Nevsehir in Cappadocia sit on soft rocks erupted from volcanoes millions of years ago, and weathering and erosion caused exceptional natural formations that attracts tourists in droves. Cappadocia has underground cities, temples and cave houses carved on the soft rocks, which were believed to be sanctuaries of early Christian converts fleeing from persecution. Going through these extraordinary natural and man-made wonders makes one feel like being in a fairytale, particularly if one opts to stay in one of the pricey cave-houses-turned-into-hotel facilities.

A nice way to end your fairytale trip is to visit Antalya, the gateway to the Turkish Riviera. In Antalya, you’ll find ancient buildings and structures, particularly in the enclosed old quarter, Kaleiçi. From Antalya, one can go to any of the smaller cities and towns along the Turquoise Coast, such as Kemer, Ölüdeniz and Fethiye, which have some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean. The town of Olimpos, sitting on ancient ruins, is a known hang-out for backpackers. Olimpos offers tree-house style bungalows, a view of the Eternal Flames of the Chimera which mysteriously erupts in a hill side, and a lively social scene. Nothing really compares to sharing notes with fellow travelers about your fairytale trip while getting drunk in paradise.

Marice Willard is a travel writer who writes for Zencarhire.com - Zen car hire offer cheap car hire in 17,000 locations worldwide.  To book your car hire Turkey  visit www.zencarhire.com

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