Turkiye tops the list of many a traveler—it is, in fact, one of the top ten most visited countries in the world—and now North Americans can visit sans visa. If 2023 was a banner year for American tourism to the country, 2024 is expected to top that.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced today that North Americans (U.S. and Canada) do not need to apply in advance for their E-Visa to visit the country, which was available online for $51.50. Turkiye is now officially on the list of countries in Western Europe without a visa requirement.
Turkiye Attractions for the Bucketlist
The largest city in Europe, Istanbul is a must for international visitors, thanks to major historical and cultural attractions like the “Blue Mosque,” the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, to name but a few. It is also home to some of the biggest shopping centers in Europe, including the Cevahir Mall, the 7th largest shopping center in the world.
Other popular destinations include cosmopolitan Ankara, the country’s capital, with its numerous fine arts centers and the enormous Anitkabir mausoleum overlooking the city; the extraordinary Cappadocia, with its unique geological features known as “fairy chimneys;” and the Anatolian Black Sea coast, a lush, subtropical area of the country dotted with tiny fishing villages on a spectacular coastline. Also popular is Turkiye’s Aegean coast, which is rich in history and culture that dates back thousands of years. Here clients can swim on pristine beaches, enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, explore ancient ruins and try out various outdoor activities like parasailing tours. The so-called Turkish Riviera—also known as the Turquoise Coast—is home to numerous boutique hotels where they can immerse themselves in the local culture.
It is important to point out that the Middle Eastern conflict in Gaza and Israel is geographically removed from the country’s tourism hotspots and has also largely recovered from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit early on in 2023, which did not affect major tourism attractions.
For more information, visit goturkiye.com.
