If you’ve come here wondering about the colours of Turkey’s flag, it’s a red field with a white crescent moon and star. This article, however, isn’t about the flag. It’s a short visual reflection on the colours I encountered while travelling around Turkey and some of the most beautiful scenes I photographed during my trips.
Colours shape how we recognise places and stir emotions—sometimes calm, sometimes energetic. Turkey’s size and geographic diversity mean its landscapes display a wide palette. People who haven’t visited often imagine a dry, barren country, but the reality is far richer. In this post I focus on five colours that I felt capture different sides of Turkey: green, blue, white, red and yellow.
The Colours of Turkey
Green – Efeler Valley
This image was taken on a recent trip to the Black Sea region. I shot more than 2,000 photos there because the scenery is unlike anywhere else I’ve seen in Turkey. The valley is rich with flowing waterfalls, traditional wooden houses and vibrant wildflowers. Local people are exceptionally welcoming. If you want to see a greener, lusher side of Turkey, the Black Sea coast rewards patient exploration and offers a very different atmosphere to the better-known tourist routes.
Blue – Fethiye
Fethiye is one of the most popular destinations on Turkey’s south‑western coast. I haven’t yet written a full account of my visit, but I remember this calm harbour scene clearly: a moment spent people-watching while the coastal blue stretched across sea and sky. Despite being a busy town, Fethiye still offers quiet corners and seaside tranquillity that make it easy to slow down and enjoy the view.
White – Kaş Sunset
One of my fondest memories is watching sunsets from Kaş, a small coastal resort with a relaxed, unhurried mood. Every evening I would climb to a hotel rooftop, order a cold drink and wait for the light to change. In this frame, the white tones that catch the eye are reflections on the water rather than clouds—subtle highlights that lift the whole composition and linger in my memory.
Red – Sea Kayaking in Kekova
This picture brings a mix of joy and challenge. I loved getting out on the water to sea kayak around Kekova, seeing sunlit ruins and dramatic coastal shapes from a different perspective. The activity was physically demanding, and I couldn’t complete the whole route, but the experience remains a strong memory—proof that travel often mixes small defeats with unforgettable moments.
Yellow – The Ceiling of Galata Mevlevi Lodge
On İstiklal Avenue in Istanbul there’s an old Mevlevi lodge—once home to whirling dervishes—that now functions as a museum. Dedicated to the Sufi tradition, the building preserves living quarters and a ceremonial hall where the dervishes performed their Sema rituals. The ornate ceiling of that hall, with its warm yellows and intricate patterns, was especially striking and worth lingering over.
If these images appeal to you, there are more photographs from my travels across Turkey in the same collection of travel photos.