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Turkey Introduction
Turkey is country of magic and mystery in which you can explore its many interesting sights. It lies in south western Asia at the Anatolian Peninsular and benefits from being part of two continents, those of Europe and Asia.
There are places in Turkey that are still traditional, yet others where life is much more modern. Turkey has an amazing history, together with some splendid beaches, ancient sites, lakes and some fantastic landscapes.
You will be amazed by the smells and sounds as you wander around its Towns. It has many markets and bazaars selling lots of oils and spices. In the larger towns you will find some cosmopolitan shopping too.
The weather in Turkey is glorious, providing a place to holiday much of the year. Its nightlife is beginning to appeal to tourists and whether you want to find something traditional like belly dancing, or something more modern like popular music, it is here.
The hospitality of the Turkish people is friendly; they can't do enough to help you. The restaurants serve an amazing mix of traditional Turkish food to something a little more international.
A holiday in Turkey will provide you with historical sights, fantastic scenery, thrills, excitement, water sports, diving, snorkelling, golf, mountain walks and some of the world's finest beaches.
Turkey Location
Turkey sits between the south east of Europe and south western Asia and is close enough to the Black Sea and Bulgaria and Georgia. It also borders the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, with Greece and Syria as its neighbours.
Weather in Turkey
On the coastal resorts of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas the summers, between May to October are very acrid, hot and dry. The winter weather tends to be cooler, wetter but mild. The summer temperatures can reach a staggering 40oC and from around June onwards you can be pestered by mosquitoes so we would advise, as well as sun protection, you need insect repellent also.
By contrast, winter temperatures can get rather cold and it is not unknown for some areas in Turkey to see snow, particularly along the eastern side of the country, therefore if you wish to visit this part of Turkey we would advise only travelling in the summer as sometimes roads are impassable because of snowfall.
The people of Turkey usually take their summer holidays during July - September and the country's most popular national holiday Kurban Bavrami is always a busy time.
Transfers from the airport in Turkey
Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>
Airport shuttle bus service in Turkey
In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>
Shopping in Turkey
If you feel like looking for a bargain carpet, then you are at the right country as Turkish rugs and carpets are world renowned. You can spend as much or as little as you like and they are to be found everywhere. Street stalls, bazaars, factories and shops. One of the top things to do is to visit one of the carpet showrooms where you will get the chance to see how carpets are made, and be given the opportunity to buy one.
Istanbul is a great place to go for shopping ideas where you will find life very authentic and purely amazing. Take yourself down the many alleyways to find shops that sell textiles and embroideries, copper, onyx and tile, mother-of-pearl, inlaid articles, leather and suede products, gold and silver jewellery and, above all, carpets galore. The Grand Bazaar is world famous and is open every day except Sunday.
Wandering around the many spice markets is a delight, with its many smells and aromas. You will be able to find so many different spices that you will have a difficult decision. Istanbul's spice market has so many spices at great value prices.
When you enter a Turkish shop, it is customary to be offered something to eat or drink by the owner. Don't accept this offer however, if you do not plan to buy anything.
Shopping hours are generally 09:30-19:00 daily in tourist areas. Closing hours vary, with some shops staying open until midnight. Outside tourist areas shops may close at lunchtime and on Sundays.
Eating Out in Turkey
Turkey relies on production of its own natural spices and fresh ingredients: meat, fruit and vegetables, honey and jam are all produced in Turkey. Therefore there is very little that is imported.
Turkish people usually eat bread, honey, cheese made from sheep's milk and olives for breakfast, with a cup of tea.
Lunch is usually only a small meal but the dinner in the evening is the main meal. Turkish people, like many Europeans like to take their time over their food, it's a family affair and lasts for ages.
Meze is a starter which can be served either hot or cold and is usually accompanied by aubergines, stuffed vine leaves and cheese pastries. Samosas are also popular and can be filled with either vegetables or meats with spices.
Meat is usually grilled, roasted or minced and lamb, beef and chicken are popular. Stews with meat are a popular meal and is usually served with stuffed peppers, beans and rice. Lokanta restaurants are usually simple, but reasonably priced restaurants.
You can also find some top class restaurants where you will be able to taste some of Turkey's delicious, flavoursome food. Some of these restaurants only have cuisine of a speciality, such as a köftesi which serves meatballs, the kebapç which serves roast meats and the pideci offers pitta bread with a variety of fillings.
Fresh fish can be found in some restaurants, these can be turbot, bream, bass, mussels and crab dishes.
The Turkish people love their sweet desserts such as baklava which is light puff pastry, filled with nuts and drizzled with syrup, or rice puddings and custard type desserts.
Typical dishes which are internationally famous are the Shish kebab (grilled meat on a skewer), Doner Kebab (lamb carved off of a revolving spit), Dolma (stuffed vine leaves) Barbunya (red mullet).
Turkish Delight really lives up to its name: it is made from dates, honey, roses, jasmine all mixed and bound by Arabic gum. Originally this was made as a breath freshener, but these days it is sold as a sweet desert, or simply as sweets.
Raki is like the Greek Ouzo and the French Pastis, it is usually added to water for the soft aniseed flavour. Tea is widely available and you wouldn't be complete if you didn't try a Turkish coffee which is served strong. Turkey produces its own beer, and red and white wines are available.
You will find traditional tea gardens in all the big cities. These are usually set in fantastic surroundings with lots of things to watch, yet remaining relaxing and calming.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking is forbidden during daylight, so therefore visitors should be very discreet if participating in these activities.
Nightlife in Turkey
Nightlife in Turkey, particularly Istanbul tends to be live music, or a jazz musician in one of the bars.
Nightlife can be as busy or as quiet as you would like it. There are some popular clubs in Istanbul where dancing goes on until the early hours. One of the clubs called Andromeda has a fantastic laser light show which will enthrall you and entertain you.
Expensive nightclubs have belly dancers performing their acts and for more cultural entertainment you can find ballets, concerts and exhibitions at the Atatürk Cultural Centre.
Many of the nightclubs hold open air dancing under the stars, particularly during the summer months. Crowds gather on the Waterfront at Bosphorus. How about having a cocktail and watching the night sky.
Beaches in Turkey
Turkey has some stunning, delightful beaches full of sand and warm seas of the Aegean or Meditteranean.
There is a beach named as Ladies Beach at Kusadasi, but it is not solely for the purpose of ladies, as men are allowed too.
At Bodrum you can find the idyllic beach of Bitez which has a number of water sports on offer along with plenty of eateries. The nearby beach at Gumbet could be a great beach where you could try some parasailing.
Marmaris has a fantastic beach called Icmeler, the water is so calm and shallow with a gentle shelve, it is ideal for families and younger children. Water sports are available in abundance along with swimming, and these areas are segregated so you can still splash about safely.
There is a beautiful lagoon at Olu Deniz which is safe and superb for children, the water is so warm you won't want to come out of it.
There is a charge on some of Turkey's beaches but this helps to keep the beaches free from litter and absolutely stunning.
There are beautiful, isolated coves where you can enjoy the little fishes nibbling your toes in the clear waters.
The usual water sports are available, if you want the thrill of jet skis or a ride on a banana boat then you will find it at most beaches.
Just relax, enjoy reading your book and absorb the beautiful atmosphere on some of the world's best beaches.
Gateways of Turkey
Antalya
Antalya is full of history and sightseeing where in days gone by the Gods and Goddesses of mythology were believed to have been here.
It sits on the Mediterranean Sea so you will find it often is referred to as the Turkish Riviera. The warm sea temperatures combined with the sun and beach resorts provide ample of relaxation and pleasure.
Antalya has a very contemporary nightlife where you will find a mixture of bars and trendy restaurants, which will welcome you with open arms.
If you feel like being energetic you can take a raft along one of the rivers, stopping off and exploring along the water ways.
From Antalya you can visit other areas easily and quickly and it is close to Side, Alanya and Termessos. If you want to take a longer journey you can visit Pamukkale or Cappadocia, or some of the other delightful sights Turkey has to offer. Antalya is also the closest resort to Cyprus so you could incorporate a visit to the neighbouring country too.
Dalaman
Dalaman offers a feel for Asia along with a charm that is European, so it has quite an exotic atmosphere. The coastline runs from Marmaris to Patara, and includes the coastal resorts of Dalyan, Hisaronu, Icmeler, Marmaris, Olu Deniz, Patara and Turunc.
This stretch of coast is referred to as the Turquoise Coast because of how beautiful the water is around the lagoon beaches.
There is natural beauty with mountains full of forests and in contrast to the turquoise seas there is a verdant green coastline. The views are stunning, simply picture perfect. On a clear day you might even get to see the Greek Island of Rhodes.
You are never too far away from any of Turkey's historical sites: well worth a visit is to the mud baths of Dalyan and from Dalaman you might even get to see the turtles.
Nightlife is varied and interesting, there is always something going on whether it is quiet and relaxing, or slightly more active, you will find it.
Bodrum
Bodrum is on the south western coastline with the Aegean Sea lapping gently to its shores. You are near to the Greek Island of Kos and from Bodrum it is possible to take a boat excursion to go to Kos.
Bodrum is as close to paradise as you can get. It has a diverse and rich culture, coupled with fantastic historical sights, and its gastronomy is second to none. There are plenty of markets and bazaars where you can while away some holiday time, but of course, the resort is laid back where life doesn't rush past.
You will find a good mixture of idyllic coves where you can unwind and enjoy a bit of seclusion. Nightlife is traditional at Bodrum, you can take a peaceful drink whilst chilling out and planning the next day of your holiday.
Izmir
Izmir is Turkey's third largest city full of industrial and commercial buildings. It reflects today's modern life in Turkey but we mustn't forget that Izmir still has much to offer.
There are plenty of sights to see, especially for historical interest but there is more to Izmir than this. The closest sites are at nearby Bergama, Kusadasi, and Pamukkale.
It has a charming coastline and the whole region is stunning. The Aegean Sea gently swills along the coast and beyond the beaches there are olive and pine groves and some colourful hills.
Istanbul
Istanbul is a colourful and vibrant city. These days Istanbul is very cosmopolitan with lively clubs, buzzing streets and fashionable bars.
The history behind Istanbul is that once it was known as Constantinople and for many years were both thriving Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
The skyline of Istanbul is stunning, with domes and mosques of which the Turks are very proud. Culturally it keeps in line with the rest of Europe with its performances of theatre, ballet and art.
While away many hours walking through the Grand Bazaar, famous for its wares such as textiles and embroideries, copper, onyx and tile, mother-of-pearl, inlaid articles, leather and suede products, gold and silver jewellery and, above all, carpets galore. The Grand Bazaar is world famous and is open every day except Sunday. The sights and smells are simply awesome.
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