Turkey Travel Guide



Turkey


Turkey attracted 28.6 million foreign tourists in 2010, making it the 6th most popular travel destination in the world. What differs Turkey from elsewhere and makes it a unique destination is the incredible rich texture and wide range of its offerings, from 10,000 year long history and culture to its beautiful and diverse natural landscape.

Turkish Hospitality

And, of course, a crucial component of a country is its people. Giving to a stranger at one's doorstep, as if giving to God, forms the basis of the famous Turkish hospitality. Accordingly, Turkish culture and religion dictates going out of one's way to give guests as much as possible.


HISTORY


Turkey history


Turkey offers the magical atmosphere and the traces of the 20 fascinating civilizations of the last 10,000 years that lived and prospered in Anatolia and its environs. The last 2,000 years in this cradle of civilizations witnessed three big empires: The Roman Empire, the Byzantian and the Ottoman Empire.But it is not only the Islamic, Byzantine and the Roman culture you indulge yourself into in this country that resembles an open air museum, but you can also trace the history of the first Christians from Abraham to Apostle John and Virgin Mary. Rich Christian, Jewish and Islamic historical sites spread around the country make Turkey a premier destination for faith tourism as well.


NATURAL LANDSCAPE


Turkish MediterraneanTurkish beaches


From the temperate and lush Black Sea coast, protected by high mountain ranges, to the most pristine beaches of the Mediterranean - the word turquoise is the French word depicting the color of the Turkish Mediterranean - and from the rugged and snow-capped mountains of the East, where winters are cold and long, to the fertile valleys and the lace-like shores of the Aegean, Turkey offers a wide range of alternative landscapes.


Mt. AraratMt Ararat


Anatolia is encircled with mountains that offer an exceptional variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. The three highest peaks of Turkey are Mt. Ararat (5137 m), where Noah's Ark is believed to have landed, Mt. Kackar (3932 m), and Mt. Erciyes (3917 m) in Eastern and Central Turkey.


Alternative Turkey Travel Itineraries

Turkey offers a wide variety of choices for every traveler. Depending on how much time you have, you can either focus on a single region or explore several regions. If you only have a week, sticking to Istanbul, or somewhere on the Mediterranean coastline, if you would rather prefer a beach vacation, would be a good idea. But one week would not even give you a glimpse of Turkey and Turkish culture. You would need at least two weeks to see a glimpse of Istanbul and Western Turkey, which is very different from the rest of the country, and at least a month, if you also would like to venture into Central and Eastern Turkey.

Most people typically start in Istanbul and make a circle in Western Turkey visiting Ephesus, Pamukkale and one or two coastal towns on the Mediteranean or the Aegean coastline with a stop in Cappadocia in Central Turkey. Although such a limited itinerary would give you a glimpse of Turkey, you will not be able to see the whole picture. As the successor state of the multi-cultural Ottoman Empire, each region of Turkey offers something unique. Therefore, an ideal itinerary should also include places like Konya and Catalhoyuk in Central Turkey, Urfa, Mardin and Mt. Nemrut in Eastern Turkey, and Black Sea coastline between Rize and Ordu, and Mt. Kackar in Northeastern Turkey. Such a comprehensive travel itinerary would require at least a month, but would promise unique experiences with locals and a great opportunity to learn the culture of the region in return.

PEOPLE: Turks like foreigners and you will be approached by friendly locals wherever you go. According to the Islamic belief and Turkish tradition, whoever comes to one's doorstep should be treated as if treating God. Hence, if you are ever stranded without money in Anatolia, you can just ring one of the bells.

If you think that the locals are friendly in hot tourist spots, like the Mediterranean coastline and the old city of Istanbul, in Turkey, it is definitely worth venturing out to off-beaten path to see what real Turkish hospitality is. The more off-beaten path you go, the more genuine and friendly people will get, enriching your Turkey experience. The majority of foreign tourists traveling in Turkey flood the same spots in the South West corner of the country, although there are many interesting alternative itineraries untapped.

FOOD: One of the best things about Turkey is the food. Turkish cuisine is a refined and rich synthesis of the cuisines of the old Ottoman territories and it is among the world's top three prominent cuisines, along with French and Chinese cuisines. Both meat lovers and vegetarians will find a wide range of food options to satisfy their taste buds in Turkey, and, thanks to still mostly organic farming practises, vegetables and meat taste differently in Turkey than they do in America.

HOW TO GET AROUND: There are many transportation options depending on your budget and taste. Turkey has the best and most effective bus system you may have ever seen. Night intercity buses offer a comfortable alternative to plane. If you feel pressured by time, Atlas Jet, Onur Air and Pegasus offer more affordable alternatives to the Turkey's national carrier Turkish Airlines for domestic flights. For more flexibility, renting a car would also be a viable option. Turkish cities are connected with a good highway system.

SAFETY: Turkey is a very safe country, however you have to use common sense, same as in any safe country, and beware of pickpockests and con-artists, especially in tourist spots. This is very unlikely, but if you ever feel threathened or harassed by anyone, be assertive and don't hesitate to raise your voice. Locals will always be on your side and come to your help, as you will be considered a guest in Turkey.

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Turkish Culture

Who are Turks? Are they Middle Easterners, Central Asians or Europeans? Does Turkish culture belong to European culture?

WHEN TO GO: Turkey has four seasons and summer (June - August) is the high season. However, late April, May, September and early October are the best times to visit Turkey. Prices are lower and it doesn't get as hot and crowded.

USING ENGLISH: English is the most popular foreign language in Turkey, followed by German and French. Turkish kids start learning a foreign language in middle school, although they may be shy showing off their language skills in front of a native speaker. Therefore, getting by speaking English shouldn't be a problem especially in tourist areas and big cities. However, in off-beaten path even in big cities, it may get increasingly more difficult to find anyone, who speaks English.

GROUP vs INDEPENDENT TRAVEL: Even though group travel (traveling with an organized tour) would be easier for planning, independent travel would offer more merits, including more contact with locals and getting to know the culture and the country much better. Turkey has a very good infrastructure and therefore, independent travel shouldn't be challenging at all. However, the further east you go, language barriers may be more of an issue. Therefore, carrying a Turkish phrase book with you or learning a few basic Turkish phrases may be a good idea.