5 Sacred Destinations in Türkiye to Get You Into the Christmas Spirit

Christmas is just around the corner — and Türkiye has more Christmas spirit than you might realise. Not only was Santa Claus (the original Saint Nicholas) born here, but several of the world’s most significant Christian sites stand on Anatolian soil. Here are five destinations that make an unforgettable festive pilgrimage.

What better way to celebrate Christmas than at the very church of Saint Nicholas in Demre, Antalya? The real St Nick was the generous 4th-century bishop of Myra, beloved for his secret gift-giving to the town’s children — and he is still buried in the church, which features remarkable centuries-old frescoes and sits on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list. He was born nearby in Patara, home to one of Türkiye’s largest ancient cities — and thanks to the mild Mediterranean climate, you can visit both in pleasant December sunshine.

The underground cities of Cappadocia are simply staggering. Derinkuyu, the largest open to visitors, plunges 11 levels deep with around 600 entrances and miles of tunnels connecting it to some 40 other subterranean settlements. Early Christians sheltered here from Roman persecution and later raids, carving ventilation shafts, stables, wells, kitchens, chapels and communal halls out of the soft volcanic rock. Combined with the rock-cut churches of Göreme, this is one of the most moving chapters of early Christian history anywhere.

Ephesus is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most incredible ancient cities — and on Nightingale Hill above it stands the humble stone house where, according to tradition, the Virgin Mary spent her final days. It is a pilgrimage site for Christians who come to pay their respects, and over Christmas in particular many make the journey. As with Antalya, the winter climate is mild, and the Aegean Sea is close by — making it as pleasant a place for a Christmas break as it is for a spiritual visit.

One of the oldest cave churches in the world is the Church of Saint Peter in Hatay (ancient Antioch). Some believe it was even mentioned in the Bible (Acts 11:25–27) — and that this may be the very place where the followers of Jesus were first called “Christians.” To visit is to get to the real roots of Christmas in a place that forms the roots of Christianity itself.

Istanbul — Constantinople, the New Rome — holds an unmatched constellation of sacred sites: Hagia Sophia, for a thousand years Christendom’s greatest cathedral; Hagia Eirene; the mosaic-filled Chora Church; the Theotokos Pammakaristos with its glittering golden dome; and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, still the spiritual heart of Orthodox Christianity. A December walk through Byzantium is Christmas history at its source.

We specialise in faith journeys across Türkiye — see our faith tourism programmes, browse tours, or build your own pilgrimage itinerary.