WHY VISIT TURKEY

Straddling the two continents, Europe and Asia, Turkey goes well beyond the clichés expected by many tourists: It is a multi-faceted country with likable people; it will appeal to you in many ways.

Istanbul, vibrant and dynamic, modern yet rich in history, it will take you into another world: St. Sophia’s Cathedral, the famous Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, these are obviously all places you should visit. Do not miss one of the many excursions available on the Bosphorus with its beautiful shoreline.

The west coast, bordered by the Aegean Sea, is totally dedicated to tourism, and you will find beautiful beaches there and famous places with many vestiges of antiquity such as Ephesus, Troy, and Bergama.

Another region to discover is Cappadocia and its high plateaus, located at more than one thousand meters of altitude, its caves and canyons, and its troglodyte villages and cave churches.

The Lycie coast at the south will satisfy those who appreciate coves and turquoise waters, there are also ancient ruins to discover in the beautiful hilly landscapes.

In the center of the country, high up, is the city of Konya, with its beautiful mosques and a museum dedicated to the whirling dervishes; the Mevlâna Museum.

WHAT TO SEE IN TURKEY

Top destinations in Turkey are:

• Istanbul
• Ankara
• Marmaris
• Side
• Bodrum
• Ephesus
• Cappadocia
• Truva
• Pamukkale
• Ani
• Melá Mountain
• Bergama
• Mount Nemrut
• Ölüdeniz
• Antalya
• Konya
• Mardin

WHEN TO GO TO TURKEY

The best period to visit Turkey is from May to June.

The climate in Turkey is influenced by its eastern location and by the sea that surrounds it. Summers are very hot and humid in some areas. As soon as one moves away from the sea, temperatures can be scorching. At altitude, however, the nights are cool. On the Black Sea Coast, the climate is almost tropical in some respects and the vegetation is very dense.

Winters are harsh inland, more humid on the coast. Enjoy discovering the country during the months of May and June, or September and October for the best conditions, both in terms of climate and prices.

Following a list of typical festivals and celebrations of Turkey.

[su_spoiler title=”January” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Camel wrestling Selçuk. The festival itself takes place on the last two weekends, though bouts occur throughout Aydın province from December onwards.

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[su_spoiler title=”April” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

İstanbul International Film Festival: İstanbul wfilm.iksv.org. Full-length features and documentaries.

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[su_spoiler title=”May” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Conquest Celebrations İstanbul ibb.gov.tr. A week-long celebration of the Ottoman conquest of old Constantinople – concerts by the Ottoman Mehter military band, fancy-dress processions, and fireworks.

Ephesus Festival Ephesus. The ancient theatre hosts folk dancing plus more conventional acts.

International Puppet Festival İstanbul. A celebration of Turkish Shadow Theatre, or karağöz – silent puppets tell their tale behind a two-dimensional screen.

İstanbul International Theatre Festival İstanbul wıksv.org. Even-numbered years only; dance and workshops as well as theatre performances.

Hıdırellez Gypsy festival Edirne. Celebration of the coming of spring, with gypsy bands performing, dancing in the street and jumping over bonfires. May 5–6.

Takava Gypsy Festival Kırklareli. The same celebrations as at the Hıdırellez festival in Edirne. May 5–6.

Open Door Architecture Festival: Istanbul (May or June). If you’re visiting Istanbul in May (which by the way is a lovely time to go!), you should definitely take advantage of the Open Door Architecture Festival that takes place every year. Istanbul is full of the most fabulous architecture, but much of it is usually behind closed doors and inaccessible to the public. During the open door festival, however, some of those usually closed doors are opened and you can get to see inside architecturally and historically important buildings. Open door buildings usually include the Ortakoy Mosque which is set right on the Bosphorus and was built between 1854 and 1856. This mosque is a great example of Ottoman architecture.

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[su_spoiler title=”June-July” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Oil wrestling Yağlı Güreş, near Edirne. Competitors from all over the country tangle with each other in the country’s major, week-long oil wrestling event, plus lots of music and dance events. Late June or early July.

Kafkasör Festival Artvin. Bullfighting between young beasts in a beautiful alpine setting, plus performances from folk-dance troupes and musical events – and lots of drinking. Late June.

Pir Abdal Musa Tekke village near Elmalı. Rites honoring the second most important Alevî saint after Hacı Bektaş Veli; early June.

İstanbul International Classical Music Festival İstanbul iksv.org. Performances by top soloists and orchestras, often in historic venues.

Efes Pilsen One Love İstanbul efespilsenonelove.com. Moderately alternative city-center weekend-long festival generally held at trendy Santralistanbul, with plenty of DJ-led dance sets and performances from international bands and local bands.

Rock N’ Coke Near İstanbul w rockncoke.com. A weekend of Western and Turkish rock held on an airfield 50km to the west of the city; buses run from Taksim. Headliners in recent years have included Franz Ferdinand and The Cure.

International İzmir Festival İzmir iksev.org. Month-long classical music, pop, ballet, and jazz festival with many international names performing at Ephesus theatre and Çeşme castle.

Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival Near Side, Antalya province aspendosfestival.gov.tr. The Mediterranean coast’s big highbrow event now expanded to run from mid-June through mid-September.

İstanbul Jazz Festival İstanbul iksv.org. Jazz as well as rock acts; early July.

Kas Lycia Festival: Kas (June). The three days Kas Lycia Festival is held in the town of Kas in the south of Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. Kas is a popular tourist destination throughout the summer anyway, but this festival towards the beginning of the busy summer season is a must-visit for families interested in seeing more of Turkey’s culture and heritage. You can see local and international folk dances in addition to opera performance, ballet and art exhibitions around the town, and combine this with days on the beach, at the water park, or shopping for souvenirs.

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[su_spoiler title=”August” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Chef’s Contest Mengen, Bolu province. The region purportedly produces the country’s best cooks.

Hacı Bektaş Veli Commemoration Hacıbektaş village, Cappadocia. Bektaşis and their affiliates, the Alevîs, meet for a weekend of ritual singing and dancing; second half of Aug.

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[su_spoiler title=”September-October” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Bodrum Festival Bodrum. Centered on the castle, and emphasizing ballet and opera; early Sept.

İstanbul Biennial İstanbul bienal.iksv.org.tr. Art exhibition, held odd-numbered years, with dozens of projects; lasts into Nov.

Akbank Jazz Festival İstanbul akbanksanat.com. A more traditional program than İstanbul’s other jazz festival, in July.

Altın Portakal (“Golden Orange”) Film Festival Antalya altinportakal.org.tr). A major fixture on the international festival circuit.

Grape Harvest/Wine Festival Ürgüp, Cappadocia. Featuring some of the better local winery products.

Watermelon Festival Diyarbakır. A showcase for the region’s most outsized fruit. Mid- to late Sept.

Tourism and Handicrafts Festival Avanos. A celebration of the town’s distinctive pottery.

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[su_spoiler title=”December” open=”no” style=”default” icon=”plus” anchor=”” class=””]

Mevlâna Festival Konya. Whirling dervish performances at the home of the order. Dec 10–17.

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HOW TO REACH AND TRAVEL THROUGH TURKEY

For transportation within the country, the bus is widely used and quite cheap for long journeys, minibusses are more convenient for shorter journeys. A rental car is ideal for exploring the whole country but is quite expensive. In town, taxis are quite numerous and affordable.

by plane, the main airports are:

• Istanbul (Atatürk)
• Istanbul (Sabiha Gökçen)
• Antalya
• Ankara
• Izmir
• Adana
• Dalaman
• Bodum
• Trabzon
• Oğuzeli

by train

by car

GENERAL INFORMATION ON TURKEY

health tips & vaccination: drink only bottled water and avoid ice

local currency: Turkish Lira

local time zone: GMT+2 (+3)

electricity: [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/C_plug.png”]type C[/su_lightbox] and [su_lightbox type=”image” src=”http://www.traveltv.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/F_plug.png”]type F[/su_lightbox] (220 V, 50 Hz)

mobile phone operators:

• Turkcell
• Vodafone
• Turk Telekom

WHAT TO DO IN TURKEY

typical food in Turkey

• Köfte: balls or patties of ground beef or lamb, and can be served stewed, in sandwiches, over salads, or plain with yogurt.
• Shish kebab: pieces of meat threaded on a skewer and grilled. Can be dipped in yogurt or eaten it on its own
• Dolma: vine leaves or vegetables stuffed with pine nuts and currants
• Lokum: nougaty dessert originally made from dates, honey, roses and jasmine bound by Arabic gum and designed to sweeten the breath after coffee
• Raki: anisette, which clouds when water is added. Drinking raki is a ritual and is traditionally accompanied by a variety of meze
• Ayran: a refreshing yogurt drink
• Çay: (tea) usually drunk black and strong and served in small tulip-shaped glasses
• Turkish coffee: traditionally brewed over hot coals and served very sweet
• Menemen: scrambled eggs cooked in sautéed vegetables and served hot with bread. Usually eaten for breakfast
• Mantı: small beef or lamb dumplings boiled or fried and served with yogurt or butter, and often accompanied with a range of spices.
• Kuzu Tandır: a dish of lamb hung and slow-roasted whole, often served with rice or potatoes, and yogurt.
• Lahmacun: flat and crispy bread traditionally topped with minced meat, salad, and lemon juice, and can be wrapped, folded in half, or pulled apart to eat.
• Börek: savory pastry that comes in many varieties, most popularly filled with minced meat or spinach and cheese. Börek can be rolled, served as puffs, or layered like lasagna, and served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack.
• Baklava: dessert pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened and held together with syrup or honey
• Pide: boat-shaped flatbread served with a variety of toppings, often minced meat or spinach and cheese
• Güllaç: a dessert made from dough, milk, rosewater, nuts, and pomegranate seeds.
• Meze:  is a selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks, usually served at the beginning of multi-course meals
• Pilav: dish in which rice is cooked in a seasoned broth
• Kayısı Tatlısı: morsels of apricot stuffed with cream and nuts i
• Baklalı Enginar: peeled artichokes dressed in oil and lemon juice and served cold with beans and fresh parsley
• Su Böreği: a dish made from dough softened and cooked in milk and eggs, stuffed with cheese and spinach
• Mozaik Pasta: a chocolate cake made with chocolate sauce and broken biscuits
• Mercimek Köftesi: vegetarian meatballs made from lentils, bulgur, and chopped vegetables
• Döner: slow-cooked meat sandwich, made with chicken, lamb, or beef and served with vegetables, spices, and garlic yogurt.
• İmam Bayıldı: stuffed aubergine filled with rice, bulgur, mince, and/or other vegetables and smothered in oil and butter before being baked or cooked on the stovetop.
• İskender Kebab: long strips of lamb cooked in tomato sauce and served over rice and pita bread with yogurt.
• Künefe: dessert, made from cheese baked with shredded pastry dough and topped with pistachio,
• Dürüm: a kind of burrito, dürüm is slow-cooked chicken, lamb, or beef served inside a wrap. The perfect takeaway food, dürüm offers the best of Turkish flavors on the go.
• Balık Ekmek: the fish sandwich is best enjoyed along the water
• Salep: a warm and cozy drink made from orchids and topped with cinnamon.

souvenirs from Turkey

• hand-made carpets, rugs, and kilims
• textiles
• embroideries
• copperwork
• ceramics and clay pottery
• onyx
• mother-of-pearl
• inlaid woodwork
• leatherware
• gold
• Onyx: chess sets, spice bowls, ashtrays decorative bowls, bathroom fixtures, ashtrays, and vases
• suede products
• jewelry
• Nargile (water pipe)
• mosaic glass’ lamps
• musical instruments 
• tee, coffee, spices
• Turkish Delight, sweet, small jelly-like gums with different flavors
• Nazar Boncugu, the Eye of Allah

SIMPLE DICTIONARY

Hello: Merhaba

Goodbye: Güle güle

How are you?: Nasılsın?

Thank you: Teşekkür ederim

What is your name?: Adın ne?

How much is it?: Ne kadar?

Sorry: Afedersiniz