Historic 'hidden gem' Turkish destinations get new UK flight routes
If your idea of a perfect holiday is traditional culture, ancient ruins and decadent cuisine, then listen up.
Turkish budget airline, Pegasus, has just announced direct flights from London Stansted to two ancient cities: Gaziantep and Kayseri.
This comes as popular destinations like Antalya, Bodrum, and Istanbul – which continue to attract millions of international tourists each year – face the challenges of overtourism.
Turkey is getting serious about distributing tourists more evenly, from technology-led management to sustainable tourism practices (Istanbul has been restoring smaller historical sites and introduced a £21.36 entry fee to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in 2024).
So, what better time to head off the beaten path for a summer getaway?
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
Travellers can head to Gaziantep, a major city in south-central Turkey, fromJune 2025.
Pegasus will operate weekly flights, which are set to start on 21 June. One-way flights cost £85, with a journey time of 4 hours and 40 minutes.
Days later, on 25 June, the Kayseri route will open. Flights will operate from London Stansted every Wednesday.
Currently, one-way tickets start at £84. The flight time is around 4 hours and 25 minutes.
Foodies, Gaziantep should be on your bucket list. The city is renowned for its world-class cuisine, a fusion of Anatolian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern tastes.
Try spicy lahmacun (Turkish pizza), over 30 different kinds of kebabs, mouthwatering mezes and famous baklava.
Many shops and bakeries specialise in this traditional treat, which is made from layers of filo pastry, filled with crushed nuts and honey syrup. @fatimahomran
Gaziantep is amongst the top 10 food destinations in the world and I can see why! I'm not joking when I say everything here is top tier delicious. I'm gobsmacked that food can taste so different just 2 hour flight from Istanbul. Is it the ingredients or the skills of those cooks? All I know is it's a shame to come to Turkey and not visit this foodie capital. #gaziantep #katmer #dessert #pistachio ♬ original sound – Fatimah Omran
Gaziantep is a vegetarian's paradise, too, with a strong focus on veggie dishes. One of the most popular is dolma, savoury bulgur rice rolls stuffed with dried aubergines, peppers, tomatoes and spice.
Gaziantep's cuisine is so respected that it's been recognised by UNESCO, which named it a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015.
Walk off the baklava with a visit to Zeugma – described by one Tripadvisor reviewer as a 'hidden gem' -where you'll find the world's largest mosaic museum and an array of archaeological marvels.
Close by is Gaziantep Castle, built in the 2nd century CE, which now houses a military history museum.
Marvel at the Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, then head to the Old Town, where you can wander the winding streets and soak up the lively atmosphere.
As a 'lesser-known' destination, Gazientep is the perfect way to see Turkey without the crowds.
If spectacular scenery is more your thing, Kayseri is well worth visiting.
The standout visual attraction is Erciyes Mountain, a striking dormant volcano, with a peak covered in snow almost 365 days a year.
For adrenaline junkies, the area is home to the popular Erciyes Ski Resort.
According to Pegagus Airlines, Kayseri is 'one of the most significant cities of Central Anatolia in terms of cultural heritage and historical attractions.'
Known for its elaborate carpets, Kayseri has a long history of handmade rug-weaving. Artisans follow traditional methods from generations past, using wool and silk to create spectacular designs and patterns.
Kayseri Castle is the city's top recommended cultural landmark, while the Mazakaland Entertainment Centre is a great attraction for families. The small theme park is inspired by Roman, Anatolian and African civilisations. More Trending
Finally, no trip to Kayseri is complete without a visit to Soganli Valley.
The archaeological site dates to the 9th-century, and is characterised by rock-cut churches and monasteries, carved from the soft stone of the Cappadocian landscape.
Hot air balloon experiences are a popular way to see the unique landscape from above.
Metro's Lifestyle Editor Kristina Beanland went to Cappadocia earlier this year to see if it lives up to the viral TikTok hype.
During the summer months, Gaziantep enjoys a hot Mediterranean climate. Temperatures reach 36°C.
As Gaziantep is a city break destination, the shoulder seasons (particularly April and May) could be a better shout. These months offer a pleasant mix of milder weather and fewer crowds, with temperatures reaching a pleasant 26°C.
As for Kayseri, the continental climate it experiences means the summer heat gets less intense. Ranging between 27°C and 31°C, shoulder seasons peak at a comfortable 21°C.
MORE: The 'enchanting' UK town with five beaches that's only 58 minutes from London
MORE: World's 'most liveable city' for 2025 revealed — knocking Vienna off the top spot
MORE: I found the perfect European destination to escape the UK heatwave
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Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Historic 'hidden gem' Turkish destinations get new UK flight routes
If your idea of a perfect holiday is traditional culture, ancient ruins and decadent cuisine, then listen up. Turkish budget airline, Pegasus, has just announced direct flights from London Stansted to two ancient cities: Gaziantep and Kayseri. This comes as popular destinations like Antalya, Bodrum, and Istanbul – which continue to attract millions of international tourists each year – face the challenges of overtourism. Turkey is getting serious about distributing tourists more evenly, from technology-led management to sustainable tourism practices (Istanbul has been restoring smaller historical sites and introduced a £21.36 entry fee to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in 2024). So, what better time to head off the beaten path for a summer getaway? Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Travellers can head to Gaziantep, a major city in south-central Turkey, fromJune 2025. Pegasus will operate weekly flights, which are set to start on 21 June. One-way flights cost £85, with a journey time of 4 hours and 40 minutes. Days later, on 25 June, the Kayseri route will open. Flights will operate from London Stansted every Wednesday. Currently, one-way tickets start at £84. The flight time is around 4 hours and 25 minutes. Foodies, Gaziantep should be on your bucket list. The city is renowned for its world-class cuisine, a fusion of Anatolian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern tastes. Try spicy lahmacun (Turkish pizza), over 30 different kinds of kebabs, mouthwatering mezes and famous baklava. Many shops and bakeries specialise in this traditional treat, which is made from layers of filo pastry, filled with crushed nuts and honey syrup. @fatimahomran Gaziantep is amongst the top 10 food destinations in the world and I can see why! I'm not joking when I say everything here is top tier delicious. I'm gobsmacked that food can taste so different just 2 hour flight from Istanbul. Is it the ingredients or the skills of those cooks? All I know is it's a shame to come to Turkey and not visit this foodie capital. #gaziantep #katmer #dessert #pistachio ♬ original sound – Fatimah Omran Gaziantep is a vegetarian's paradise, too, with a strong focus on veggie dishes. One of the most popular is dolma, savoury bulgur rice rolls stuffed with dried aubergines, peppers, tomatoes and spice. Gaziantep's cuisine is so respected that it's been recognised by UNESCO, which named it a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. Walk off the baklava with a visit to Zeugma – described by one Tripadvisor reviewer as a 'hidden gem' -where you'll find the world's largest mosaic museum and an array of archaeological marvels. Close by is Gaziantep Castle, built in the 2nd century CE, which now houses a military history museum. Marvel at the Seljuk and Ottoman architecture, then head to the Old Town, where you can wander the winding streets and soak up the lively atmosphere. As a 'lesser-known' destination, Gazientep is the perfect way to see Turkey without the crowds. If spectacular scenery is more your thing, Kayseri is well worth visiting. The standout visual attraction is Erciyes Mountain, a striking dormant volcano, with a peak covered in snow almost 365 days a year. For adrenaline junkies, the area is home to the popular Erciyes Ski Resort. According to Pegagus Airlines, Kayseri is 'one of the most significant cities of Central Anatolia in terms of cultural heritage and historical attractions.' Known for its elaborate carpets, Kayseri has a long history of handmade rug-weaving. Artisans follow traditional methods from generations past, using wool and silk to create spectacular designs and patterns. Kayseri Castle is the city's top recommended cultural landmark, while the Mazakaland Entertainment Centre is a great attraction for families. The small theme park is inspired by Roman, Anatolian and African civilisations. More Trending Finally, no trip to Kayseri is complete without a visit to Soganli Valley. The archaeological site dates to the 9th-century, and is characterised by rock-cut churches and monasteries, carved from the soft stone of the Cappadocian landscape. Hot air balloon experiences are a popular way to see the unique landscape from above. Metro's Lifestyle Editor Kristina Beanland went to Cappadocia earlier this year to see if it lives up to the viral TikTok hype. During the summer months, Gaziantep enjoys a hot Mediterranean climate. Temperatures reach 36°C. As Gaziantep is a city break destination, the shoulder seasons (particularly April and May) could be a better shout. These months offer a pleasant mix of milder weather and fewer crowds, with temperatures reaching a pleasant 26°C. As for Kayseri, the continental climate it experiences means the summer heat gets less intense. Ranging between 27°C and 31°C, shoulder seasons peak at a comfortable 21°C. MORE: The 'enchanting' UK town with five beaches that's only 58 minutes from London MORE: World's 'most liveable city' for 2025 revealed — knocking Vienna off the top spot MORE: I found the perfect European destination to escape the UK heatwave
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
What's the best time of year for a city break in Malta?
Q I want to go to Valletta in Malta as a city break early next year. What I haven't decided is whether to visit in January or March. Which would you recommend? 'Boveney Girl' A As I have written many times before, Valletta is a glorious capital city – created in the 16th century by the Christian military order known as the Knights of St John. In any month you will be able to walk on the honey-coloured walls and explore the palaces and churches that they wrap around. All other things being equal – which they are not – March is the better of the two months in which to visit. The island in the deep south of the Mediterranean will be blossoming, and you will be able to share in the spring energy. Having said that, though, I recommend you go in January. That is because the advantage of being in Valletta compared with anywhere in the UK will be at its maximum. On 16 January – plumb in the middle of the month – Valletta will enjoy 10 hours of daylight, with a good chance that many of them will be sunny and warm. For comparison, London will have barely eight hours of daylight, and the likelihood of cloud and rain – possibly even snow. January also delivers the best deals for flying to Malta and staying there, though some properties will close during what is normally a very low-season month. You might also find that some of Valletta's eating and drinking venues are closed. Conversely, though, you will be able to visit all the top cultural attractions – in Valletta and elsewhere on the island – without the crowds that can build up at other times of the year. I particularly recommend the Three Towns on the other side of Valletta Harbour, which has some of the most atmospheric streets in Europe. The chance for some deep midwinter warmth in an enthralling location should do you the world of good and put you in a good travelling frame of mind for the rest of the year. Q Can you help clarify the situation in Cyprus? A large group of us are due to travel in a month for a family wedding. We are worried about issues involving Israel and Iran. I have heard rumours that flights have been brought forward and people have been flown home early. Gillian Richardson A I can understand the concerns of prospective travellers like you with trips booked to Cyprus. The Foreign Office warns that 'ongoing hostilities in the region' could 'escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region'. At its nearest, Israel is only 145 miles from the popular Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa. In addition, the UK has two military bases in Cyprus, which the foreign secretary, David Lammy, describes as 'hugely important at this time'. Yet despite the increasing regional conflict, there is no evidence of flights being brought forward, or of people being flown home early (except, presumably, in special cases due to other issues). Airlines and holiday companies are continuing with their normal operations and their standard terms and conditions. At present, I recommend that you go ahead with the plan. As the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to Cyprus, there is no prospect of being able to cancel a trip for a refund. Neither will travel insurance be of any help. If you have a proper package holiday booked, it can be transferred to someone else on payment of a nominal fee – typically £50. Alternatively, your holiday company may possibly offer the chance to switch to a different destination if there is capacity elsewhere. But with a family wedding scheduled, neither of these possibilities seems appropriate. In the unlikely event that the Foreign Office warned against travel to Cyprus, people with package holidays booked for imminent departure would be entitled to a full refund. Airlines would also be likely to offer refunds. Holidaymakers already on the island would be flown home as soon as possible. If it is of any comfort, I would happily travel to Cyprus this summer: it is a beautiful, cultured and friendly country. I have checked the official travel advice issued by the governments of Ireland, Australia, Canada and the US, and none of them raise concerns about the safety of their citizens. My main concern in July would simply be excessive heat. I hope everyone has good hats. Q We are doing a road trip in Portugal in August. Any particular places you could recommend to visit off the beaten track? Brendon Hahn A Portugal has two outstanding big cities – Lisbon and Porto – for which a car would be an encumbrance rather than a benefit. But pretty much everywhere else in the nation, driving is an excellent way to discover the many treasures off the tourism mainstream. In August I suggest you start in the north, as the temperature in the sometimes overheated south should dwindle as the month goes on. I assume you will rent a one-way car in Porto and drop it off at Faro on the Algarve. The northern portion begins in Aveiro, a lovely town embroidered by canals. Then spend the afternoon exploring Coimbra, a beautiful university city 75 miles south of Porto and 125 miles north of Lisbon. It is rich in culture, history and gastronomy, all wrapped into a compact core. Continue south to the celebrated Portuguese surfing hub of Nazare, where the Atlantic collides spectacularly with Europe. Then head inland to the nearby towns of Alcobaca and Batallha – each of which has an astonishing monastery steeped in history. Round off this religious pilgrimage with a visit to Fatima, home to the nation's most important shrine. One more stop before Lisbon: Obidos. This gorgeous walled city has preserved its medieval soul despite all the visitors attracted by its exquisite buildings. Then aim south on roads where driving is a pleasure, well constructed and delivering excellent views. Bypass the capital over the 25 April Bridge (Portugal's answer to the Golden Gate Bridge) and enjoy to the full the Setubal peninsula. Stop for the beach and seafood at Caparica; drive alongside a gorgeous corrugated coastline; witness the drama of Cabo Espichel, location for a vast, windswept monastery; and explore the city of Setubal itself, a relaxed fishing and ferry port with an atmospheric old quarter. Take the ferry across to the Troia peninsula and meander south along the coast, pausing in the picturesque town of Sines and, in the deep south, Sagres. Keep inland as you parallel the Algarve coast, ending your great drive in the handsome city of Silves before the short run to Faro airport. Q I am flying to Nice for the first time next week. What do you recommend in and around the city? Natalie W A Your timing is excellent. From the start of July, Nice will be besieged by French holidaymakers from the north of the nation. While you won't exactly have the place to yourself in late June, the narrow lanes of the old town, the top-class tourist attractions and some excellent bars and restaurants will not be too overcrowded. To get the measure of the city, I recommend you walk (or cycle) from the airport into the centre. Nice-Cote d'Azur airport is at the western end of the Promenade des Anglais, the wide seaside boulevard that arcs around to the Colline du Chateau – the hill that punctuates the end of the old town. If you prefer to cycle in 20 minutes rather than walk in 90, rent-it-here/leave-it-there bikes are widely available, including out at the airport. The two parallel systems are Lime and Pony; you will need the appropriate app for either. On your way in, pop your head around the door of the Hotel Negresco – the elaborate grande dame whose pink dome has presided over the promenade since 1913. Cours Saleya is an excellent place to catch your breath. It is a flower market flanked by cafes where you can sample socca, the local chickpea pancake. Besides exploring the old town, visit two excellent museums, each dedicated to a single artist: the Musee Chagall and the Musee Matisse. The latter has a lovely hillside location above the city at Cimiez, alongside the atmospheric 16th-century monastery where Matisse is buried. Surprisingly few tourists make it to the Orthodox cathedral of St Nicholas, a creation from the era when Nice was a playground for the Russian aristocracy. For a different dimension of the French Riviera, head for Villefranche-sur-Mer – a pretty fishing port that is one headland beyond Nice. Just six minutes by train from Nice Ville, the pace slows. Wander through the lanes and choose a waterside location for coffee or ice cream. Ideally, you should walk back. Take the steep paths and lanes over Mont Boron, which divides Villefranche from Nice. Your reward: yet more stirring views, and the chance of glimpsing Elton John, who has a house there.
Spectator
5 hours ago
- Spectator
The cult of the farmer's market
Farmer's markets are a very cheeky wheeze and we all know it. Their promise – getting back to peasants' basics of veg yanked from the ground – carries a hefty premium compared to supermarket food, which actual peasants have to buy. Indeed, supermarket food, from veg and fruit to eggs and cheese and bread, is generally two or three times cheaper and tastes just as good. But it seems that we are already in a world so dystopian that only the rich want – and can afford – soily spinach sold loose on a table. Certainly, the rich will queue for sorrel and strawberries, yoghurt and kimchi, raw milk, chicken and sourdough. Especially the sourdough. Carbs used to be bad, but now the queue outside places such as Lannan in Edinburgh is so long that the bakery has had to employ bouncers to control it. At the mouth of the Queens Park farmers' market in north-west London – one of the most Instagrammed north of the river – is Don't Tell Dad, a sprawling café with sourdough loaves and circular candied hazelnut croissants. These generate queues along the pretty cobbled road that are so off-putting that I will only go when it's pouring with rain and nobody's out. The sourdough at Dusty Knuckle in Hackney has to be booked well in advance. Pastry and bread is the treat that leavens the purchase of greens; so very many greens. My thinking about markets has been shaped by travel. I have realised I hate foreign food markets. I always went because the internet said I had to and because the cosmopolitan middle-class milieu I inhabit has a reverence for local produce that is hard to override, even with cynicism and empty pockets. The worst of my life were the markets in Sicily and Jerusalem. Palermo left me traumatised; tourists are baited and mocked as they timorously look at this or that vendor's mound of veg. I came away with some tiny bag of exotic olives for €10 that should have cost €1, feeling a pathetic fool. I have even seen native Italian speakers ripped off in Sicilian markets. Sellers demand that customers speak the dialect or else face bald exploitation. It seems a bad sales strategy. And yet, so slavishly do we want what these scoundrels are selling – or rather what they represent – that it doesn't seem to do them much harm. Compared to the incomprehensible shouts of Mediterranean hawkers, the English farmers' market is, of course, a blessed relief. At least I speak the language and don't have to conjure the price of a third of a kilo of sardines while a greasy man is shouting at me. There is no shouting, no bargaining and no vernacular. Many of the people at the stalls aren't even English. The other great insult of the market, the sheer cost, has lessened over the past few years. Since the cost of living has shot up, the gap between the prices of greenery, eggs and fruit at the farmers' and the supermarket has narrowed. On my most recent visit to the former, I fell for a rather wilted bunch of coriander for £2 (compared to 90p in Waitrose), and £2 for a small bunch of spinach, but the strawberries – decking every table as far as the eye could see – were quite good value, at two punnets for £5. These velvety strawbs were superior by far to Waitrose's best organic efforts at £4 (an admittedly slightly heavier punnet). I have always found the idea of seasonal cooking imprisoning Then there are the health considerations. As I have got older, and pore over articles and videos about microplastics and forever chemicals, the farmers' market has a new appeal. If I buy my vegetables in brown paper bags and eat things that haven't been sprayed too much, perhaps they will be better for me. I have always found the idea of seasonal cooking imprisoning; surely one of the glories of late modern capitalism is that we have become free of nature's strictures, and can eat pineapple and avocado and coconuts all year round. Why should I limit myself to courgette and asparagus in spring, tomatoes in August and apples in autumn? Why go gaga over gooseberries for two weeks in June? It's like going to bed when the sun sets and getting up when it rises. No thank you. Seasonal veg remains of little interest to me (is there really a difference in taste between a Spanish courgette in January and a Kentish one in May?), but seasonal fruit, I now admit, is delicious, even if it's of the provincial English type. Once you accept the homegrown tastes of dark red stone-fruit after the exotica that our globalised palates are used to, you can begin to enjoy the fruits, if not the cost, of shopping at the farmers' market.
