{"id":1849,"date":"2025-04-30T10:01:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T10:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/?p=1849"},"modified":"2025-05-06T13:06:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T13:06:15","slug":"two-ancient-cities-that-are-32c-in-june-get-new-direct-uk-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/30\/two-ancient-cities-that-are-32c-in-june-get-new-direct-uk-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Two ancient cities that are 32\u00b0C in June get new direct UK flights"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pegasus Airlines has expanded Turkish routes for UK holidaymakers (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If your idea of a perfect holiday is traditional culture, ancient ruins and decadent cuisine, then listen up.<\/p>\n

Turkish<\/a> budget airline, Pegasus, has just announced direct flights from London Stansted<\/a> to two ancient cities: Gaziantep and Kayseri<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This comes as popular destinations like Antalya, Bodrum, and Istanbul \u2013 which continue to attract millions of international tourists each year \u2013 face the challenges of overtourism<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Turkey is getting serious about distributing tourists<\/a> more evenly, from technology-led management to sustainable<\/a> tourism practices (Istanbul has been restoring smaller historical sites and introduced a \u00a321.36 entry fee to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in 2024).<\/p>\n

So, what better time to head off the beaten path for a summer getaway?<\/p>\n

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Fancy a \u2018hidden gem\u2019 Turkey experience? (Picture: Metro)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

When are the flights launching?<\/h2>\n

Travellers can head to Gaziantep, a major city in south-central Turkey, from as early as June 2025.<\/p>\n

Pegasus will operate weekly flights, which are set to start on 21 June. One-way flights cost \u00a385, with a journey time of 4 hours and 40 minutes.<\/p>\n

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Kayseri, a stunning central city nestled below the Erciyes Mountain (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Days later, on 25 June, the Kayseri route will open. Flights will operate from London Stansted every Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Currently, one-way tickets start at \u00a384. The flight time is around 4 hours and 25 minutes.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Gaziantep<\/h2>\n

Foodies<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Try spicy lahmacun (Turkish pizza), over 30 different kinds of kebabs, mouthwatering mezes and famous baklava. <\/p>\n

Many shops and bakeries specialise in this traditional treat, which is made from layers of filo pastry, filled with crushed nuts and honey syrup.<\/p>\n

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@fatimahomran<\/a> <\/p>\n

Gaziantep is amongst the top 10 food destinations in the world and I can see why! I\u2019m not joking when I say everything here is top tier delicious. I\u2019m 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\u2019s a shame to come to Turkey and not visit this foodie capital. #gaziantep<\/a> #katmer<\/a> #dessert<\/a> #pistachio<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c original sound \u2013 Fatimah Omran<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Gaziantep is a vegetarian\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Gaziantep\u2019s cuisine is so respected that it\u2019s been recognised by UNESCO, which named it a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015.<\/p>\n

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The winding streets in Gaziantep old town (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Walk off the baklava with a visit to Zeugma Mosaics Museum, the world\u2019s largest mosaic museum, where you\u2019ll find original Roman tiles. <\/p>\n

Close by is Gaziantep Castle, built in the 2nd century CE, which now houses a military history museum.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

As a \u2018lesser-known\u2019 destination, Gazientep is the perfect way to see Turkey without the crowds.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Kayseri<\/h2>\n

If spectacular scenery is more your thing, Kayseri is well worth visiting. <\/p>\n

The standout visual attraction is Erciyes Mountain, a striking dormant volcano, with a peak covered in snow almost 365 days a year.<\/p>\n

For adrenaline junkies, the area is home to the popular Erciyes Ski Resort.<\/p>\n

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@cappadociasoganlivalley<\/a> <\/p>\n

Soganli Valley is one of the most important tourist spots in Cappadocia and Kayseri, known for its historic churches and natural beauty, and also offers the opportunity to take a hot air balloon tour. #bestdestinations<\/a> #travel<\/a> #cappadocia<\/a> #traveldestinations<\/a> #soganlivalley<\/a> #stgeorgechurch<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u266c orijinal ses \u2013 CappadociaSoganliValley<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

According to Pegagus Airlines, Kayseri is \u2018one of the most significant cities of Central Anatolia in terms of cultural heritage and historical attractions.\u2019 <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Kayseri Castle is the city\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Finally, no trip to Kayseri is complete without a visit to Soganli Valley. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Hot air balloon experiences are a popular way to see the unique landscape from above.<\/p>\n

Metro\u2019s Lifestyle Editor Kristina Beanland went to Cappadocia earlier this year to see if it lives up to the viral TikTok hype<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tWhen is the best time to visit Gaziantep and Kayseri?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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During the summer months, Gaziantep enjoys a hot Mediterranean<\/a> climate. Temperatures reach 36\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

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\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

As for Kayseri, the continental climate it experiences means the summer heat gets less intense. Ranging between 27\u00b0C and 31\u00b0C, shoulder seasons peak at a comfortable 21\u00b0C.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pegasus Airlines has expanded Turkish routes for UK holidaymakers (Picture: Getty Images) 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1849"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1856,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1849\/revisions\/1856"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.mugfoundry.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}