A budget airline has just announced two new direct flights from London Stansted to two hidden gem cities. Turkey is a major travel destination with tourists flocking to the likes of Istanbul, with its archictural grandeur, and Antalya with its numerous beaches.

But many more Britons will now have the chance to explore the nation’s lesser-known spots, away from the heaving crowds. Turkish Pegasus is launching two routes to the ancient south-central city of Gaziantep and Kayseri in central Turkey starting this summer.

Weekly flights to Gaziantep will begin from June 21, while Kayseri flights will launch on June 25 and run every Wednesday.

Lonely Planet describes Gaziantep as a “fast-paced and epicurean city” which boasts some “180 pastry shops producing the world’s best pistachio baklava”.

Among the top attractions are the Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum, with a collection that includes 2.448 m² of restored mosaics from the Roman and Late Antique period, “140 m² of frescoes, 4 Roman fountains, 20 columns, 4 limestone statues, a bronze Mars statue, tomb stelae, sarcophagi, and architectural fragments”, according to the Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism website.

The city, which is located 60 miles north of Aleppo in Syria, is also home to Bakırcılar Çarşısı, a sprawling, labyrinthine bazaar, with “tiny stores are home to metalworkers, shoemakers, spice hawkers and carpenters”, as per Lonely Planet.

Other highlights include the stunning ruins at Belkıs-Zeugma, the site of a former Hellenistic era Greek and then Roman city, as well as the epic Gaziantep Castle, which took its current form in the 6th century and looms over the ancient settlement.

One-way flights to Gaziantep will reportedly cost around £85, with the flight taking four hours and 40 minutes.

Keyseri is a sprawling city of around 1million people in Central Anatolia, and the capital of Kayseri province. In ancient times it was known as Caesarea, and had been the historical capital of Turkey’s Cappadocia region.

Tours CE, a travel agency for Turkey tour packages, describes Kayseri as a city “somewhat off the beaten tourist track” that is going through a “revival”.

Cultural highlights include the Museum of Seljuk Civilisation, and there is a wealth of grand historical architecture, including Kayseri Castle. Its black-basalt walls were first constructed under Roman emperor Gordian III before being rebuilt by Byzantine emperor Justinian three centuries later, as per Lonely Planet.

There are also a wealth of archaeological sites, including the nearby Soganli valley, and hot air balloon rides are a popular way to take in the stunning landscape.

Skiiers can also enjoy the 55.1 km of slopes at Erciyes Ski Resort Turkey, which is just 5.6km from the airport.

Flights are said to start from £84 with flights Stansted taking around four hours and 25 minutes, as per GB News.

The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to parts of Turkey, including the Turkey-Syria border, Hakkari province in the south-east of the country, and Mount Ararat in the east Turkey.

It also warns terrorists are “very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey” with most occurring in southeast Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul. Other risk factors include the potnential for regional escalation amid ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Lebanon.

You can find the latest travel advice here.