Iskenderun Sightseeing: Top 5 Tours You Need to Experience

Iskenderun, located on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, happens to be more than just a port city. It’s practically brimming with tons of history, flavorful cuisine, and surprisingly captivating scenery. If you’re figuring out how to truly experience all this destination has to offer, you might want to think about signing up for a sightseeing tour. To discover all these locations may seem a little overwhelming though, still, there’s some pretty awesome options available. So, here’s the lowdown on five amazing Iskenderun tours that will give you plenty of unique glimpses into this awesome area.

1. Historical Iskenderun City Tour

This tour will provide you with a detailed overview of Iskenderun’s history. That said, it usually kicks off with a visit to the Iskenderun Naval Museum, where you will be able to uncover maritime artifacts plus info relating to the city’s naval history. It could be fascinating stuff if you are very fond of naval facts and history. That’s almost cool. The tour often features a stop at the historical St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, with eye-catching architecture plus cultural value that could leave a mark on you. If you’re at all fond of the idea of delving a little deeper into a location, consider getting your tour guide to spend an hour or so talking about Iskenderun’s previous incarnations, right the way back to when Alexander the Great founded the city.

A walking exploration through the old parts of Iskenderun generally makes up part of the city tour, providing peeks at old houses and vibrant local life. So, you may have time to browse tiny stores and markets, with your tour guide on hand providing tons of insight into Iskenderun traditions. Also, be aware that most tours involve some downtime to try out some original Turkish coffee or tea, which could prove perfect after plenty of wandering. All of this typically adds to a well-rounded initial encounter with this Mediterranean gem.

Why should you choose this?: Opt for this tour, and you’re choosing to acquire a solid grounding in Iskenderun’s history, people plus culture from knowledgeable local experts. Read our full review: Iskenderun Historical City Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Availability)

2. Flavors of Iskenderun Food Tour

Want to really get to know a town? You may want to begin sampling the cooking, and in that part of Turkey that could prove awesome. That is that, the Flavors of Iskenderun Food Tour targets those keen on digging more into local cuisine. Basically, the experience takes place within numerous places to eat. These vary from local restaurants through to hidden spots that the majority of tourists simply could not locate.

Some things will almost certainly be sampled; be prepared to consume classic Iskenderun kebab from well-known places to eat that locals frequently go to. Next, you should sample “kunefe”, that gooey cheese pastry that makes that region pretty well known. It may also involve a sampling visit to neighborhood bakeries so you can learn to taste some conventional Turkish bread coupled with pastries. And of course, your tour would almost certainly involve the various spice markets within the city – allowing for a complete “taste” on everything that the area brings to the dinner table.

It’s really important that your tour guide comes armed with information. Ideally, they will tell you everything they can about the ingredients and where the dishes originate and, in addition to, will provide interesting tales coupled with experiences to keep things fresh. The tour typically involves a meet and greet that provides an opportunity to learn exactly what residents like consuming! Very awesome! Read our full review: Iskenderun Flavors Food Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Availability)

3. Nature and Hiking Tour: Arsuz and Around

For people looking to get out of the city and see Iskenderun’s neighborhood scenery, this tour may prove fantastic. So, that almost always consists of going to Arsuz, which, after some travel, is really a neighboring coastal town well known for its amazing beaches and delightful landscapes. Almost! Generally, the trips begin by getting some information concerning the neighborhood’s herbs and flowers as part of some initial, basic learning about botany.

Next, you will get taken via scenic tracks that meander through nearby hills and wooded areas where a lot of gorgeous views can get enjoyed – ideal for Instagram. Some hiking routes typically cater for just a handful of fitness qualifications. Yet that, even just a walk should reward you with unbelievable coastal vistas coupled with fantastic photography opportunities. Should you want, you might well choose trips offering much longer hikes, ones which also allow you to discover hidden waterfalls coupled with remote places to picnic.

Those tours might include opportunities to relax with some downtime on Arsuz Beach too, offering swimming for the hot weeks. Consider arranging one of these if getting from the cityscape could bring refreshment to your heart. Read our full review: Iskenderun Nature Hiking Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Availability)

4. Boat Tour along the Iskenderun Gulf

Iskenderun’s position directly on the Mediterranean provides an amazing setting to get out onto water. Now this makes the tour superb for those seeking fantastic ocean scenery, while you can also spend time at sea. These particular excursions almost always depart out from the main harbor, before traveling alongside the Iskenderun Gulf – so you have the opportunity to experience scenic coastal scenery plus clean ocean air.

Trips generally feature stops at remote coves and places, permitting individuals time for swimming, snorkeling, or perhaps lounging on isolated beaches. Lunch is often served up on board as well with traditional Turkish mezzes combined with recently prepared fish, rendering it all just perfect. You may well have the possibility of spotting neighborhood wildlife such as sea turtles as well as dolphins during the cruises. Private charters typically are easily offered too and this might assist in creating an even more customized and unforgettable ocean adventure around Iskenderun.

For people hoping to view Iskenderun from another vantage point then something like this could prove ideal – consider reserving a space quickly when you want an amazing journey. That’s something you should remember to take into account when opting for a boat excursion round the area’s stunning coast. Read our full review: Iskenderun Gulf Boat Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Availability)

5. Ancient Antioch (Antakya) Day Trip

Why not increase the amount of culture tasted in Iskenderun itself, by making a vacation trip up to Antioch, better referred to as Antakya. So, it actually is stuffed to the brim with long lost treasures, and it’s really a quick drive out of Iskenderun, therefore allowing tourists to find historic locations and awesome viewpoints.

While on an organized adventure, there may be time for exploring St Peter’s Cave Church. Thought of as among Christianity’s earliest churches – the inside consists of incredibly atmospheric rock carvings. You would find ancient mosaics coupled with old Roman bathhouses although investigating Antakya Mosaic Museum.

Do remember; in depth information is everything, hence find organized excursions operated by experienced historians as this will almost certainly provide much better understanding coupled with far more interesting stories about any or all of this impressive capital. Plus, always allocate more than sufficient length for exploring the marketplaces for handicrafts when seeing one of Turkey’s, plus world’s, most crucial, historically, towns. That’s absolutely some things to think about. Read our full review: Iskenderun Antioch Day Trip Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Check Availability)