Land of bustling cities with amazing historical and religious sights, Turkey hosts also enjoyable holiday resorts with golden beaches and active water and outdoor sports, and fascinating mountain landscapes. As a bonus to this all comes the fascinating world of bazaar shopping, which awaits you in the Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara.
Modern capital. Another fascinating city in Turkey is its capital Ankara, which blends the modern with the traditional. An ancient trading place and a city with over 3,000 years of history, Ankara is a historically interesting and politically important city. Enjoying a central position in Turkey, it is a good gateway to the scenic Anatolian region of Turkey. Ankara is a place where you can find a multitude of diverse attractions from shopping sites to mosques, famous landmarks and entertainment facilities. The third largest city of Turkey, Izmir might also be a good choice with all its beaches and historical sights.
Beach resorts. Turkey hosts a lion's share of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea coastal areas. The most famous beach resort of the Turkish Mediterranean coast, Alanya offers enjoyable golden beaches and endless possibilities for water sports. There are also charming historical sights to be admired, fascinating sea caves to be explored, and Taurus Mountains forming a spectacular background for the friendly resort of Alanya. Bodrum with the remains of the ancient Halikarnassus mausoleum, Fethiye with its lively nightlife and Marmaris located where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea are other good choices for a beach holiday in Turkey.
Turkey's attractions from historical sights to golden beaches
The first thing many think of when talking about Turkey is the city of Istanbul. Known as Constantinople during the times of the Byzantium rule, Istanbul was the number one city of the Ottoman Empire and hosts several amazing historical and religious sights. This Turkish metropolis is also a geographically interesting place standing at the border of Europe and Asia, and the home of fascinating bazaars and enjoyable Turkish baths.Modern capital. Another fascinating city in Turkey is its capital Ankara, which blends the modern with the traditional. An ancient trading place and a city with over 3,000 years of history, Ankara is a historically interesting and politically important city. Enjoying a central position in Turkey, it is a good gateway to the scenic Anatolian region of Turkey. Ankara is a place where you can find a multitude of diverse attractions from shopping sites to mosques, famous landmarks and entertainment facilities. The third largest city of Turkey, Izmir might also be a good choice with all its beaches and historical sights.
Beach resorts. Turkey hosts a lion's share of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Sea coastal areas. The most famous beach resort of the Turkish Mediterranean coast, Alanya offers enjoyable golden beaches and endless possibilities for water sports. There are also charming historical sights to be admired, fascinating sea caves to be explored, and Taurus Mountains forming a spectacular background for the friendly resort of Alanya. Bodrum with the remains of the ancient Halikarnassus mausoleum, Fethiye with its lively nightlife and Marmaris located where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean Sea are other good choices for a beach holiday in Turkey.
Turkey, a diverse Muslim country at the border of Europe and Asia
Turkey is a large country with a varied climate. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey enjoy hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Istanbul that is located between Aegean and Black Seas enjoys summer temperatures around 30°C. Also the inland regions of Turkey have hot summers, but winters are remarkable colder than in coastal regions. Mountainous areas of Eastern Turkey have cold, snowy winters and warm summers.
Photo: Chany14, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
Overall, for most purposes Turkey is at its best between April and October.
How to get there. Located at the border of Europe and Asia, Turkey is best reached by air through the main airport of the country, which is located in Istanbul. Additionally, Ankara has some international flights available, and the popular Mediterranean summer holiday resorts such as Antalya receive charter flights during the holiday season. If you want to follow the old-time traditions of the Orient Express and travel to Turkey by train, journeys are available from Hungary, Romania, Greece and Bulgaria.
Public transport in Turkey works and roads are in quite good condition, in spite of which local traffic is quite chaotic and subject to many accidents. Tourist services in Turkey are good with plenty of comfortable hotels and restaurants available, and tourist information is easy to find in all main resorts.
Independent since 1923, Turkey is a modern country founded from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire. It is a country rich in history that has been part of many ancient empires. Turkey is a devoted Muslim country, and local customs should be appreciated when visiting there. Understanding this you will be welcomed by local people, who are usually friendly towards visitors.
Safety situation in Turkey is subject to changes, and Kurdish areas in Eastern and Southwestern Turkey should be avoided due to internal problems. Terrorist threat in Turkey cannot be ignored, which is why there are security procedures in several public places. However, touristic areas of Turkey are usually trouble-free to visit if you follow local safety instructions.
