Ankara

For travelers looking to go to Cappadocia and other formerly hard-to-reach parts of Central Anatolia, the emergence of several low-cost airlines with direct flights to Kayseri and Nevsehir means it is no longer necessary to spend a day in Ankara if you don't want to.

If you do chose to visit Ankara, in a day or so you can learn a great deal about Turkey's history, both ancient—at the highly regarded Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, repository of the best archaeological treasures found in Turkey—and modern, by visiting the Anitkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum. Dining, nightlife, and hotel options are increasingly diverse, and since this is a government and college town, you'll find more relaxed attitudes here than in many other parts of Anatolia. The capital also provides a logical base for exploring the ancient ruined sites of the Hittite Empire, which are contained within a triangle in northeastern Central Anatolia bounded by Hattusa, Yazilikaya, and Alacahöyük. All the Hittite cities can be seen in a day trip from Ankara if you have a car.