Turkey is where Europe and Asia meet. Rich in archaeological sites, religious monuments, beaches on three different coastlines and amazing dishes to thrill your taste buds. I have been to Turkey on serval occasions and each time discovered something new to explore. I hope this short summery will help you plan your trip.
Best Time to Visit
Turkey’s weather is varied. The coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and wet winters. The east has warm summers and snowy winters. Central Turkey has hot, dry summers and very cold winters.
Things to do and see
- Cappadocia hot air balloon ride: Is a great way to marvel over Cappadocia’s unique landscapes, watching the sunrise on your hot air balloon flight.
- Pamukkale hot springs: Are visually amazing as well as incredibly relaxing.
- Traditional Turkish bath: No trip to turkey should be complete without the Turkish bath, where you receive a body scrub using a special peeling glove, get a face mask, and enjoy a full body aromatherapy oil massage.
- Istanbul City tour: From the Hagia Sofia cathedral to the colourful Bazaar, Istanbul is packed with many sites, you can explore Istanbul by yourself or with a private guide on a customize tour.
Food
You can find a great variety of amazing dishes to try in Turkey, which is mostly the influences of Ottoman cuisine and a mixture of Central Asia, Middle East and the Balkans. Three popular Turkish dishes to try are the kebab, it’s an open-faced sandwich stuffed with vegetables and thinly shaved slices of meat. The Turkish kebab can also be served as a collection of different skewered meats. The second dish to try ismanti, which is a Turkish form of ravioli, the dough is stuffed with meat and eaten with a scoop of yogurt. The final dish to try is Nohutlu Pilav, which is rice with chickpeas combined with roasted chicken.
Transportation
Air: Turkish airlines and other international airlines operate flights among major cities which is a convenient way to travel long distances for relatively cheap. There are also direct flights from London to Turkey.
Roads: Turkey has an integrated network of highways and roads which are paved and well maintained.
Rail: Turkey’s metro system is growing quickly. Most cities in Turkey now have underground metros. You need to purchase the smart ticket to travel by metro. Train travel through Turkey is becoming more popular as the services are been improved with high speed lines. If you’re on a budget, an overnight train journey is a great way to save accommodation costs. Most long-distance trains in Turkey has air-conditioned carriages with reclining seats; Restaurants and bed carriages.
Taxi: Uber is operating in Istanbul; Metered taxis are also available, there are many taxis at designated taxi stands. All taxis in Turkey are required by law to have an on-board meter. However, set prices are common in Istanbul.
Ferry: Turkey is surrounded by seas, so ships play a significant part in the Turkish transport system. The major services are Cruise ships from other countries which dock in Istanbul, Kusadast and other ports. Ferryboats operate a service between Istanbul, Yalova and Bandirma. There are also international ferries to Europe and Asia.
Bus: All towns and cities have local buses which are cheap to use. In Istanbul you can purchase a smart ticket and top it up with credit, then use it on buses, the metro, trams and ferries. Minibuses known as Dolmus, are used alternative to local buses and run on standard routes posted on the front screen of the bus.
Visa
Visas are not required for all E.U, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals. For stays of up to 90days in a 6month period.
Language
The official language spoken in Turkey is Turkish with Kurdish spoken by a few in the southeast. English, French and German are widely spoken in cities and tourist resorts.
Money
The official currency in Turkey is Lira (TRY) in some places you can also pay using euros and sterling but expect your change to be in lira. ATMs are commonplace in big cities; most machines will accept all major credit and debit cards. Be aware that foreign cards usually incur charges. Most big cities have Currency exchange bureaus where you can change foreign currency to Lira. You will need your passport to exchange money.
Tipping
a tip of about 5- 10% is the norm, and few establishments include gratuities in the bill. In bars it’s common to round up the final bill for drinks, in which case there’s no fixed percentage.
Social etiquette
Turkey is the only Muslim country without the state religion. 65% of the population is Sunni Muslim the other is other Muslims, Christianity and Ashkenazi Jews. Hospitality is a part of Turkish culture, so your likely to be offered an invitation to drink tea in a café or someone’s home at least once.
Adaptor
There is one plug associated with Turkey the standard Type F plug with the two-pins.
Wi-Fi
There are many Internet cafes throughout Turkey, most hotels and restaurants provide free Wi-Fi also.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 