The Turks' overwhelming hospitality and Turkey's exciting mixture of Europe and the Middle East make the country one of the most attractive destinations for travellers seeking experiences out of the ordinary. Turkey has an enormous variety of things to see and do, from water-sports and mountain trekking, to archaeological excavations and nightclubs. If you're in search of Oriental mysticism and desert landscapes combined with Western holiday facilities and big cities - Turkey is the place to come to.
Find your travel arrangement to Turkey here
Region and City Guides
Region:
City:
Facts
Local name
Tûrkiye Cumhuriyeti
Capital
Ankara (2,890,025)
Size
779,452 sq km
Principal Languages
Turkish
Principal Religion
Islam
Inhabitants
64,567,000 (1999)
Government
Republic
Geography
A large part of Turkey is mountainous country; with Ararat the tallest mountain. The western part of the country, Anatolia, consists of desert and there are actually many dry places in Turkey. The country borders up to Syria in the south, Iran in the east and Georgia and Armenia in the northeast. The Black Sea is in the north, whilst the southern and western coast borders with the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea.
Travel preparation
Best time to visit
The spring and the autumn are the best seasons to visit Turkey, as the climate by then is perfect by the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea, and it isn't too hot to visit Istanbul either. In the summer the country gets unbearably hot, and during the winter some parts of eastern Turkey become inaccessible because of snow on the roads.
Literature
Lonely Planet Turkey
Local conditions
Weight and Measures
The following units of measurement are used in Turkey:
Length: metre
Weight: kilogram
Volume: litre
Length: metre
Weight: kilogram
Volume: litre
Photography
Generally speaking you can photograph all over Turkey, but be aware that the country has many devout Muslims, and so there may be restrictions on holy places. Look for signs first or ask somebody.
Drinking water
The tap water is drinkable, but doesn't always taste very good.
Electricity
The following current is used in Turkey:
220 V / 50 Hz
220 V / 50 Hz
Behaviour
Friendliness is a virtue in Turkey. You should respect Turkish custom and never wear inappropriate clothing, especially in towns and places of worship. At the beach and by the pool it's okay to wear swimming clothes. Smoking is prohibited in theatres, city buses and cinemas.
Business Hours
Banks are open 8.30 to 17.30 (Monday to Friday).
Offices are open 8.30 to 17.30 (Monday to Friday).
Shops are open 9.00 to 19.00) (Monday to Friday).
Offices are open 8.30 to 17.30 (Monday to Friday).
Shops are open 9.00 to 19.00) (Monday to Friday).
Food and drink
The Turks eat a lot of lambflesh and specialities are shish kebab and döner kebab. They also eat a lot of fish and shellfish, and there is also a Dolma, which is vine leaves wrapped around nuts and redcurrants. It can be washed down with beer or wine.
Disabled travellers
The facilities for disabled travellers aren't exactly good in Turkey, and only in large holiday resorts, like Antalya, will you find such services. The Turks are very friendly, though, and glad to help you.
Holidays
New Year's Day, 1 January
Children's Day and Independence Day, 23 April
Sports and Youth Day, 19 may
Victory Day, 30 august
Republic Day, 29 OctoberSeker Bayram (the end of the Ramadan), January
Kurban Bayram (Sacrifice Feast), march
Children's Day and Independence Day, 23 April
Sports and Youth Day, 19 may
Victory Day, 30 august
Republic Day, 29 OctoberSeker Bayram (the end of the Ramadan), January
Kurban Bayram (Sacrifice Feast), march
Accommodation / Hotel
There are plenty of hotels all over Turkey, and certain places you can also rent villas and apartments. There are a number of camping sites, but the facilities are rarely very good. Some places have guesthouses and there are also hostels in the major cities.
Book your Hotel in Turkey here
Book your Hotel in Turkey here
Camping
There are many camping sites in Turkey, but prepare yourself for the bad facilities.
hotels can be found all over the country, both first-rate hotels and some with a more humble standard, which are also cheaper.
Bed og breakfast or guesthouse
You can find guesthouses and pensions in holiday resorts and large cities such as Ankara and Istanbul.
Hostels
Hostels or youth hostels can be found in major cities and holiday resorts. You will usually need an international hostelling card.
Local transport
There are domestic Flights between the major cities. The bus system is very well developed, so you can go practically anywhere by bus. There are also train connections between several cities and towns, with sleeping cars between the major cities. If you want get around by yourself there are plenty of petrol stations, but another option is the dolmus - a kind of taxi which you share. Ferry services connect the large ports along the coasts.
Planes
There are daily domestic Flights between the major cities.
Bus
Buses go to practically every little spot in Turkey - and they're cheap as well. Between major cities, you can also use the long distance buses.
Trains
The trains can't quite compete with the buses with regard to prices, but the train system is fairly well developed and you can get a sleeping car between the major cities.
Taxi
Turkish taxis are cheap, but can prove to be a neck-breaking experience. They're available in all major and middle-sized cities.
Boat or Ferry
Ferries depart from Istanbul to Izmir and Trabzon (June to September), and there's also a hydrofoil boat from Istanbul to Bursa.
Other Transport
Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir have trams, and several places in the country you can also take a dolmus, a collective taxi, driving a certain route.
Special conditions
Turkey isn't a completely safe country to travel in - the drivers are risk-takers, and also there have been several earthquakes during the past couple of years with many people killed. A number of terrorist organisations, such as the Kurdish PKK, have also been active in Turkey during the 1990s.
Region and City Guides
Region
• Turkeys Aegean Sea Coast
• Turkeys Black Sea Coast
• Turkeys Eastern Mediterranean Coast
• Turkeys Western Mediterranean Coast
• Turkeys Black Sea Coast
• Turkeys Eastern Mediterranean Coast
• Turkeys Western Mediterranean Coast
City
