Turkey Travel Guide

Ortakoy Mosque & Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey
Ortakoy Mosque & Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey the Country That Stretches Across Two Continents Overview

Asia Minor or the Anatolian peninsula is one of the oldest inhabited regions in the world. Turkey’s history stretches over 30 centuries and there’s evidence that people inhabited Turkey for thousands of years before that. The west coast of the Anatolian peninsula was settled by the Ionian and Aeolian Greeks in 1200 BC. The entire area was conquered by the Persian Empire 600 years later. In 324 CE Byzantium, which is now known as Istanbul, was the capital of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire ruled the country after the fall of the Roman Empire, but in 1453 the Ottoman Empire took control of the country. Eastern and Western cultures began to develop over the next 500 years. The Ottoman dynasty came to an end in 1914.

Turkey endured political instability, military coups and difficult economic times until the 1980s; that's when Turkey began to experience economic growth and world-wide recognition. Turkey is divided into 81 providences and each province is divided in what’s known as districts. There are 923 districts in Turkey today. Ankara is the capital and has a population of 4.4 million people. Istanbul has over 12 million and Izmir has a population of 3.7 million. Bursa has 2.4 million people, Adana has 2 million and Konya has 1.9 million. The economic, financial and cultural center of Turkey is Istanbul, but Turkey is filled with important cities like Kayseri, Mersin, Antalya, Trabzon, Erzurum and Samsun. Seventy percent of Turkey’s population lives in urban areas.

Turkey in a Few Words

Modern Turkey is a country that has reinvented itself in a healthy mixture of ancient traditions, with a contemporary mindset. Turkey is bordered by eight countries and each one of them adds another dimension to the diversity that exists in the area. Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Syria or Armenia, add a special flavor to Turkey’s worldwide appeal.

Rumi, the great Sufi mystic poet, who lived in Konya in the 13th century, describes a Turkish experience this way:

Come again, please come again.
Whoever you are.
Religious, infidel, heretic or pagan.
Even if you promised a hundred times
And a hundred times you broke your promise,
This door is not the door
Of hopelessness and frustration
This door is open for everybody.
Come, come as you are.

That innate attitude is part of Turkey’s ancestry. It offers hope for the hopeless and love to the loveless. Turkey is not only filled with treasures, it is a treasure to be shared in the spirit of unity, peace, compassion and love.

Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey.
Bosphorus Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey - photo by communiquel

About

Turkey is 1000 miles long and 500 miles wide and has an area of 300,948 square miles. Turkey is the 37th largest country in the world and is surrounded on three sides by water. The Aegean Sea is to the west, the Mediterranean Sea is south and the Black sea is to the north. The Euphrates, Tigris, and Aras rivers flow through the country and Mount Ararat and Lake Van make the scenery and the landscape rugged, as well as incredibly beautiful. Turkey is in constant motion. There are occasional volcanic eruptions and frequent earthquakes, thanks to the fault lines running through the country. The most recent major quake was in 1999.

The official language is Turkish, although public broadcasts are also done in Bosnian, Kurdish, Arabic and Circassian. English, German and French are spoken in the larger cities and in tourist areas. The total population of Turkey is 71.5 million people; over 70 million are Muslims and the majority of them are Sunni. The average life expectancy is 70 years for men and 75 years for women. The culture is a diverse blend of Western elements, as well as Anatolian, Ottoman and Oguz Turkic. The Turkish people have a modern Western mindset, with traditional historic and religious values. That fact is evident in Turkish literature and music, which is a combination of the Islamic world, the Ottoman Empire and European and Turkish traditions. That combination produces modern-day literary arts and Turkish music that vibrates through the body like a tuning fork that’s rejoicing.

The architecture in Turkey is also a blend of traditions and cultures than span the centuries. There are Byzantine, Ottoman and Islamic elements, as well as Western influenced structures and that combination creates a unique mix of buildings that range from skyscrapers to palaces, churches, mosques and homes, which can only be described as classic Turkish expressions of the past, as well as the future.

Turkey wouldn’t be Turkey without its football. Turkey is proud of their top teams and rightfully so. Galatasaray reached the semi-finals in the Euro 2008 UEFA competition. Volleyball and basketball are also extremely popular, but the traditional national sport of oiled wrestling, which is called "Yagli gures", holds a special place in the hearts of the Turkish people.

See Turkey Facts.

Fast Facts

Flag

Turkey Flag
Turkey Flag

Coordinates: 39°55′N 32°50′E

Official Name: The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti) TC

Area:

783,562 sq km (302,535 sq miles). % 3 on the European continent
% 97 on the Asian continen

Capital : Ankara

Location : Southeastern Europe/Asia Minor.

Major Cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Konya, Bursa, Adana

Population : 70.6 million (2008 estimate).

Language: Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)

Currency: Turkish Lira (TL)

Telephone codes

Turkey: +90
Istanbul: 212(Europen side) / 216 (Anatolian Side)
Ankara : 312

Time Zone
GMT +2

Electricity : 220 volts AC, 50Hz

Weights and Measures: Metric - Kilo system

Economy & Business

The GDP in Turkey was growing about 7.4% a year, which made the country one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but in 2008 it drop to 5.4%. Today the deficit is growing at an alarming rate. The nation has moved from an agricultural to industrial based economy and that is now fueling GDP growth. Tourism also plays a part in the nation’s economy.

Over 30 million tourist visit each year and they add over $21.9 billion to the country’s revenue chest. Turkey is a top shipbuilding nation and is 6th in car manufacturing worldwide.

Turkey has been plagued with high inflation, but it seems to be under control, thanks to stern economic measures enforced by the government. The government introduced the New Turkish Lira in 2009. Economic reforms have reduced inflation, as well as the unemployment rate, which is now running a little over 10%.

National Holidays

Turkey celebrates around fourteen holidays a year beginning January 1st and ending November 16 through the 19th for Kurban Bayrami. Other holidays are April 23, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day; May 1st , May Day in Istanbul only; May 19th which is Youth’s and Sports Day and the Commemoration of Ataturk;. August 23rd is Victory Day; September 9th through the 12th is Ramazan Bayrami; and October 28th and 29th is Republic Day. Muslim festivals are held according to moon phases and they change every year. The holidays in September and November are especially busy, so it’s a good idea to book hotel, restaurant and transportation reservations well in advance.

Nightlife

The nightlife in Istanbul is filled with Western style clubs, especially in the Taksim Square area and they stay open until the wee hours of the morning. Other clubs still have a strong Turkish flavor and play live Turkish music. Most of the hot spots in the major cities play music that ranges from heavy metal to jazz. Cover charges in some of these clubs can be expensive, so it’s best to do a little research before you choose one. Belly dancing is done mainly for tourists, so dancers usually perform in large hotels where their shows are appreciated. A dancer will accept tips by placing a Lira note in the appropriate part of her attire.

The Turks still enjoy partying in tavernas, which are called meyhane. Folk music and dancing, along with traditional food, makes them a popular tourist stop as well. Traditionally a meyhane was an all male establishment that bordered on being sleazy, but the modern day tavernas are clean and comfortable and can be enjoyed by both male and females. Smoking was banned in public places in 2009 and that ban is in effect in cafes, bars and restaurants.

Things to Do

Turkey Activities

If you like to shop, the world’s largest covered market is the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. You can buy almost everything under the sun there for a price. Shopping in Turkey especially for carpets, jewelry and antiques is an exciting adventure. Turkish handicrafts make great souvenirs and can be found in the Sultanahmet district in Istanbul. Food products are available at the Egyptian Bazaar and textiles, embroideries, spices and nargiles, which are water pipes, make wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Almost all the cities in Turkey have a market area where visitors can purchase Turkish handicrafts and souvenirs.

Bargaining is an accepted business practice, but unless the asking price is too high to begin with, vendors don’t usually accept low ball offers. If you buy a carpet or Kilim make sure you get an invoice that states how old it is and how much you paid. It’s illegal to export genuine antiques from Turkey, so be suspicious if you’re offered a piece of antiquity at an archaeological attraction like Ephesus, because they are usually not antiques.

If you enjoy a mini getaway, take a ferry from Istanbul’s Eminonu dock to the Princes Islands where you can ride a bike, or see the sites in a horse-drawn carriage, because cars are banned on the islands. Istanbul’s Galata Bridge area is a great place to watch the sunset while you’re sipping tea or even enjoying a smoke using a nargile, in one of the traditional cafes in the area. The Lycian Way is a 311 mile stretch of spectacular scenery between Fethiye and Antalya. You can stroll through history and get a real taste of the natural Turkish topography that surrounds the Lycian Way. The Dalaman, Koprulu, Coruh and Zamanti Rivers offer visitors a chance to white-water raft.

Turkey is considered one of the best places in the world to white-water raft; it has some of the best rafting descents anywhere. Not going to a Turkish bath, which are called hammam in Turkey, is like going to the zoo and not seeing the animals. Istanbul has some of the most historic baths. The Cagaloglu Hammam in Sultanahmet and the Galatasaray Hammam in Beyoglu are very well known, but other local baths are just as good.

Thanks to Jelaluddin of Konya, better known as Rumi, you can watch a Whirling Dervish ceremony in Istanbul or Konya. The whirling dance, called the Sema, was started by Rumi in the 13th century in order to connect the spirit with the flesh. The Mevlevi Order follows Rumi’s teachings and they still perform the Sema just the way Rumi performed it 700 years ago.

Another great adventure is to go trekking in the northeast Kackar mountain range close to the Georgia border. The Kackar Mountain is worth the trip and so is the trip to bathe in the warm waters found in travertine pools near Denizel, located in the Aegean region. Near the Syrian border in Sanliurfa you can visit the cave where Abraham was born, or at least that’s the story that has been passed down through the centuries, plus there’s a Middle Eastern bazaar in the same area.

The Black Sea costal towns of Giresun and Unye are perfect if you want to experience a cooler, greener and less crowded area of Turkey. A hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia is an unforgettable adventure and looking for fragments of Noah’s Ark on the slopes of Mount Ararat in the eastern region of Turkey, or examining the 16th century Selimiye mosque at Edirne, near the Bulgarian border, or a traditional wooden boat ride along the Aegean, definitely puts you in touch with ancient Turkey and all of its beauty and culture.

Things to Know About

Airports

Approximate Flight Times

London - Istanbul : 3 hours 45 minutes
New York - Istanbul : 9 hours 50 minutes

The national airline of Turkey is Turkish Airlines (TK)

Airports

Istanbul - (Atatürk, formerly Yesilköy)

Code: IST

Location: The airport is 24km (15 miles) west of the city

The airport facilities: Bank, exchange office, bar, ATMs, restaurants, duty-free shops and car hire.

Website: www.ataturkairport.com

Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Getting to Turkish Grand Prix, recommended airport is Sabiha Gökçen Airport. It takes around 20 - 25 km.

Code : SAW

Location: is 40km (25 miles) from Istanbul, on the Asian side.

The airport facilities: Bank, duty-free shops, ATMs, business centre and restaurants/cafes.

Website: www.sgairport.com

Other international airports of Turkey at Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Trabzon.

Attractions - Sightseeing

See & Visit

  • Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya Museum)
  • Topkapi Palace
  • Blue Mosque
  • Ancient City of Troy
  • Ephesusone of the most spectacular ancient sites in the world.
  • Aphrodisias
  • Pergamon
  • Pamukkale
  • Goreme-Cappadocia
  • Mt.Nemrut
  • Safranbolu is a small historic town.
  • Visit the old Ottoman city of Bursa.
  • Mountain of Uludag with glacial lakes and a winter ski resort (in Bursa Provience).
  • Visit Bodrum is most popular resort area.
  • See the mysterious Lycian tombs.

Other Destinations in Istanbul to see and Visit;

  • Bosphorus
  • Ortakoy Mosque
  • Dolmabahce Palace
  • Galata Tower
  • Basilica Cistern
  • Grand Bazaar
  • Blue Mosque
  • Istanbul University
  • Maidens Tower
  • Istanbul Park ( Turkish Grand Prix)

Beaches

It goes without saying that Turkey has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The top ten beaches start with Patara south of Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast. It's 12.5 miles long and 150 yards wide. The shade and the accommodations are limited, but it is still the #1 beach. The most famous beach is Oludeniz which is also near Fethiye. It has great restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels. Olimpos 49 miles south of Antalya is a small and secluded beach that has a forest filled with Roman ruins behind it. Another beach known for an abundance of Roman ruins is Side, which 40 miles east of Antalya. Side is crowded and noisy, but the beach is unspoiled and beautiful. Alanya beach sits 72 miles east of Antalya. It is 14 miles long, so even when it’s crowded there’s plenty of sand and surf for everyone.

Iztuzu is 5 miles North West of Dalaman Airport and is known for cliff tombs and Caunos ruins. The beach is exceptional, especially when the logger-head turtles visit. The Bodrum Peninsula has some small beaches that are interesting and Kemer near Antalya is also a trendy beach area with a lot of local attractions to appreciate. Pamucak, 4 miles west of Ephesus, is a clean beach filled with dark sand. Calis, which is near Fethiye Bay, is a yacht loving community that’s nice, but it's not as nice as Kizkalesi in Silifke, which is only known to Turks and some savvy foreigners. The beach is small, but there is a castle out at sea and that makes it a cool place to be.

Contact Addresses

Turkish Tourist Office in the USA

821 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA  (map)
Tel +1-212-687-2194 or toll-free in USA 1-877-367-8875

Consulates & Embassies

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in the USA

2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 612 6700 or 6740 (consular section).
Website: www.turkishembassy.org

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in the UK

43 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PA, UK
Tel: (020) 7393 0202.
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730 (appointment only).

Turkish Consulate General in the UK

Rutland Lodge, Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BW, UK
Tel: (020) 7591 6900 or 09068 347 348 (recorded visa information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website: www.turkishconsulate.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230 (visas).

Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in the UK

4th Floor, 29-30 St James's Street, London SW1A 1HB, UK
Tel: (020) 7839 7778.
Website: www.gototurkey.co.uk

Health & Safety

Some vaccinations may be required before entering Turkey. Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, as well as a tuberculosis, tetanus, typhoid, malaria and rabies may be required depending on the season. Turkey has a well established healthcare system and most Turkish doctors speak more than one language.

Map

Turkey Map
Turkey Map

Click to see large version of the map.

Location of Turkey

Location of Turkey
Location of Turkey

Turkey Regions Map

Turkey Regions Map
Turkey Regions Map

Money

Traveller’s cheques, Money, ATMs, Currency & Exchange Rate

The old Turkish Lira in no longer in circulation. The New Turkish Lira is available in 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 notes. It’s also available in coin denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 Kurus. Currency can be exchanged without paying a commission at currency exchange offices, but banks usually charge a commission. Traveller’s cheques can only be exchanged in banks and receipts must be kept in order to exchange Turkish Lira back into the visitor’s currency when departing the country. Hotels, restaurants and gift shops accept credit cards and there are ATMs available throughout the country. The exchange rate fluctuates, but you can figure than 1 USD = TL 1.92;  £1.00 = TL 2.96;  €1.00 = TL 2.51, but those rates change so it’s best to check the rates before you arrive in Turkey. You can bring 5 bottles of alcohol into the country and five bottles of perfume, as well as gifts and electronics that have a total value of € 255.65 or the equivalent.

Visa & Passport

A valid passport is required for visitors from the US, UK, Australia, Canada and nationals from Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, The Netherlands, France, Spain and Belgium can enter with a national ID card. Visas are also required if you have a passport from Ireland, Malta, Canada, Austria, Australia, Spain, the UK and the US. Visas can be purchased at the point of entry.

Weather

The areas along the coast of Turkey have a temperate Mediterranean climate, which means the summers are dry and hot and the winters are cold and wet. As you go inland the climate can be extreme. The interior of Turkey has a continental climate which means there are distinct seasons. Winters can be severe with temperatures dropping to -40º F and the snow may stay on the ground for four months. In the western part of the country winter temperatures are usually around 34º F and the summers are hot with temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s. About 15 inches of rain falls a year, but the driest areas are in Konya and the Malatya plains. May is the rainiest month and July and August are the driest.

Food

Turkish food is delightful blend of Turkey’s Asian nomadic past and the popular cuisine of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Turkey also offers visitors a wide selection of international culinary treats, as well as the standard British and German dishes that are prepared along the coast. Guests that eat Turkish style can actually visit the kitchen and pick what to eat from the simmering pots, if they understand the names of the different entrees. Some restaurants may not serve alcohol, but generally speaking you can have a drink while you enjoy a Turkish lunch or dinner. A service charge is added to all restaurant and hotel bills, but it is still customary to tip 10 or 15% in small cafes and inexpensive restaurants. Taxi fares are rounded up and that is the accepted tip for the driver.

Some of the Turkish specialties include:
Shish kebab
, which is grilled meat served on a skewer; Pide, which is a Turkish pizza topped with eggs and cheese; Dolma, which is vegetables or vine leaves stuffed with currants or pine nuts; Kofte, which is spicy minced lamb sausage shaped like meatballs and Lokum which is made from honey, roses, jasmine, dates bound with Arabic gum. Lokum is a Turkish favorite and is regularly used to sweeten the breath after eating or drinking coffee.

The Turks love to drink Raki, which is anisette. Raki is also known as lion’s milk, because it gets cloudy when water is added. Raki is enjoyed with a variety of meze or small appetizers. The refreshing yogurt drink, Ayran, is also a favorite and so is Cay, a black strong tea that’s served in tulip shaped glasses. Another drink that is a staple in Turkish life is the strong black coffee, which is brewed over hot coals and is served sweet. We can’t forget the red and white wines, as well as the Turkish beer.

Where to Stay

The Ministry of Tourism has a hotel grading system that's based on the quality of service, as well as the condition of the facilities. The system is a five star rating system with a no star rating for hotels that have an acceptable to poor rating. Five star hotels are considered the best and they can be found in all of the major cities throughout Turkey. Holiday villas and motels are also rated as either first class or second class. Apartments and villas are available on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and time share properties are popular in those areas as well. Guest houses are also part of the Turkey’s visitor accommodations. Guest houses along the coast offer dormitory and private room accommodations and in regions like Cappadocia, they are built into the soft volcanic rock of caves in the area. The boutique hotels in converted old palaces in areas like the suburbs on the Bosphorus and in the ancient district of Sultanahmet in Istanbul, attract tourists because of their charming and comfortable rooms, as well as the personal service and amenities.

Turkey does offer visitors camping facilities in several locations around the country and backpackers can find a number of excellent youth hostels where they can enjoy a private room or dormitory accommodations. TUROB, or the Tourist Hotel and Investors Association, has information on all of Turkey’s accommodations. Yucelt Interyouth Hostel can help you find a hostel or guest house in different areas of the country and Turkey Hostels, also can assist you with booking hostel accommodations in any area of the country.