travel to turkey essay

Turkey Exploratory Essay

Introduction.

The Eurasian Country Turkey is a vital factor in the present geopolitical situation for its strategic location with its various historical events. By this time the country has engrossed the attraction of most developed countries and the people allover the world are interested to learn more about the country for their business and tourism.

This paper has aimed to present short snap of the country Turkey with deep insights of its geographical data, historical evens, political system, economical potentials, cultural heritage, and tourism prospects that would provide a better understanding for the people interested to explore their business and pleasure trip in this region.

This study would deliver with the secondary data available from the recent publications from the governmental and private resources of the most prominent authors in this area, international organizations, and their evaluations about Turkey and so on.

All the credit for this study goes to the authors of those works that assisted to organize the paper and there is nothing new, but the presentation and final conclusion delivered by the present author belongs to personal thinking and realization.

Geography – Absolute and Relative Location of Turkey

The absolute location of Turkey is exactly in the central area of the earth, linking Europe and Asia, and playing the role of a bridge between the two continents by being bounded with the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Black Sea along with the Sea of Marmara (Library of Congress, 7).

In addition, the country has boundaries with Armenia, Russia, Iraq, Syria, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, and Iran; geologically, the boundary between Asia and Europe is the Bosporus, a passage of water that links the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea, which runs exactly through the city of Istanbul; for this reason, both Istanbul and Turkey are equally in Asia and Europe.

The location map of the country in the appendix shows the exact positioning of Turkey. The capital city of the country is Ankara, and in fact, the greater part of Turkey is in Asia; however, politically, modern Turkey believes itself to be a committed European nation, and therefore it applied for membership of the EU and is already a constituent of NATO; moreover, its football-team plays in the European qualifying of WC and European trophies.

According to Library of Congress (7), when it comes to relative location, the position of Turkey is in the eastern side of Greece and the country is flanked by the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

The country possesses an area of 780580 square-kilometers (301382 sq miles) with 9820 sq km of water and an overall coastline of 8430 km (that is 5238 miles); in addition, its territorial-boundaries are 822 km with Syria, 499 km with Iran; 352 with Iraq, 268 with Armenia, 252 with Georgia, 240 with Bulgaria, 206 with Greece, and 9 with Azerbaijan.

Being a transcontinental Eurasian nation, ninety- seven percent of Turkey engages Anatolia and the residual three percent is in Thrace; in comparison, Turkey is a little bigger than Texas, and its capital city is located in the northwest of Anatolia; conversely, it claims coastline-sovereignty extending six nautical-miles in the Aegean Sea and 12 nautical-miles in the Black and Mediterranean seas.

Turkey possesses an intricate set of marine-disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea, as well as enduring airspace-disputes with Greeks in the same area; moreover, whilst an unresolved issue with the division of Cyprus is continuing, Syria and Iraq have also complaint about Turkey’s elimination of the headwaters of the Euphrates River, which flows from Turkey into those two nations.

According to Library of Congress report, its size is approximately half-the-size of Russia, three–tenths the size of Africa, half of South-America, slightly-bigger than China, greater-than double the size of the EU, almost equal to the state of Massachusetts, double the size of California, nearly six times as big as England and three times as big as the United Kingdom

Hydrological Features

The hydrological features of Turkey are quite complex; low-flows at rivers are of huge significance from the environmental-pollution point of view because when contamination loads, rivers reach highest drought during seasons, causing severe obscurities in evaluation of water quality standards; moreover, river secretions could have low values in some period of the year and may even be dehydrated (TNUGG 3).

This typically takes place during the summer-months while irrigation has key significance; in addition, river secretion is vital where waste water enters the river during low flow periods from the dilution viewpoint – if the flow reduces below a definite low flow value, it has an undeviating impact on the aquatic life of the surface flows under deliberation (TNUGG 3).

On a report of the Turkish hydrological processes, Partal and Ercan (1) suggested that there seemed to be a more obvious seasonal pattern in drifts of precipitation in Turkey, and the number of negative drifts surpassed the positive drifts during January, February, March, September and October; so, the utmost prevalence of negative drifts remained in late winter and September.

The table of the Turkish hydrological process (monthly to yearly mean precipitation) in the appendix illustrates the precise situation of hydrological precipitation in the country.

Orographic Features

Mountains stop Mediterranean-influences from coming into inland, giving the interior of Turkey a continental-climate with distinct-seasons; so, the Anatolian-Plateau is much more subject to extremes than the coastal-regions; particularly, winters are harsh on the plateau and the temperatures of -30°C to -40°C can occur in the mountainous regions; however, the driest regions are the Konya Ovasi and the Malatya Ovasi.

Climatic Features

People in the coastal areas observe milder climates, whilst the inland Anatolia plateau experiences hot summer and cold winter with inadequate rainfall; moreover, due to Turkey’s geological situations, it does not possess a universal or overall climatic pattern; however, in Istanbul and throughout the seashore of Marmara the climate is modest (winter-4ºC and summer-27ºC) (Library of Congress 8).

In Western Anatolia, there is a calm Mediterranean weather with standard temperatures of 9ºC in winter and 29ºC in summer; on the other hand, on the southern coast of Anatolia (Mediterranean area) the same weather can be found; however, the weather of the Anatolian Plateau is a lowland weather, with a huge temperature variation between day and night (WWCI 1 and GSS 1).

According to GSS (1), the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal areas possess yearly precipitation varying from 580 to 1,300 millimeters, and the Black Sea coastal area has the heaviest rainfall in Turkey, averaging 1,400 millimeters annually; however, the rainfall is extremely sparse in summer, but snowfall in winter is profound – annual precipitation averages 400 millimeters. The figures and graphs in the appendix illustrate the exact climatic condition of the country.

Flora and Fauna

Turkey’s flora and fauna is so rich that it became a competitor of Europe because of numerous decorative flowers like tulip and other 9,000 plant species and 8,000 animal species; some of its animals are tigers, deer, bald-ibis, and kangal-dog; conversely, Turkish people cultivate lentils, apricots, almonds, hazelnuts, and cherries as well as tulip, crocus, snowdrop, lily, etc.

Turkey in the Ancient Era

Aschner et al. (4) pointed out that the Anatolian peninsula which was also known as Asia Minor is the region that modern world knows as Turkey, in the ancient history the region gained two grand landmark – one is for its oldest human civilization and the other is for its connectivity between Asia and Europe.

The history of human civilization demonstrated that during 7500 BC to 5700 BC human settlements flourished in this region and the Anatolia evidenced with rise and fall of many empires that continued up to 8 th century.

Inalcik (2) added that Anatolian civilization during 2500 BC, the Kingdom of Hattie flourished here that introduced the Bronze Age and named the region as Asia Minor where it evidenced both urban and rural civilization with agriculture and mining with free flow of migrants.

Its language was different from all other neighbor nations with basic characteristics of Turkic language family, with vast influence of Babylonian culture in the southern region of Anatolian, there was another indo-European language named Nesian (Inalcik 1).

The region was under tremendous attack of the Indo-European tribes, but the Hittites organized Asia Minor as a strong state by occupying Aleppo and Babylon during 1450 BC to 1200 BC, they also attacked Egyptian empire and influenced Greek with creative and cultural power; thus, Anatolia proved itself as a cradle of great civilizations.

Aschner pointed out that the Archaeological findings has demonstrated unyielding verification that the socio cultural heritage of modern Turkey has originated from the Hittite state as an archetype of the modern Asia Minor with the territorial boundaries of the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in south and Aegean in the west (1).

Turkey in the Middle Era

Lonsdale (129) mentioned that Alexander the Great with his modern military doctrine, sophisticated logistics system, and well trained military forces conquered Anatolia in 334 BC by descending Hellene rulers, it was not a very easy task, but has to give him high value with the sacrifice of huge trained military and took.

Next to the Alexander, the territory then absolved into the Roman Empire and prolonged up to the first century to thousand years, during their role they divided Anatolia into two parts of the Byzantine otherwise Eastern Roman Empire and the established the capital of the country in Constantinople, which is the Istanbul, the capital of modern Turkey.

The kingdom continued as one of the most dominant economic region, advanced cultural heritage, and military strength in Europe even though it slow down and turned weaker with territorial losses at the time of Roman – Persian as well as Byzantine – Arab Wars; however, Anatolia kingdom sustained until the Islamic aggression extended this region and conquered the Ottoman Empire.

Following the Byzantine–Ottoman Wars, the kingdom tried for restoration, but the Muslim aggression in 674 AD to 678 AD, the Muslim troops blockade the Byzantine capital Constantinople and ensured the fall the empowered the Muslims to rule over Ottoman Turks by extending their aggression to conquer Transoxania and Chorasan until ninths century.

In twelve century, the Mongols leader Cengiz Khan defeated the Muslim rulers and conquered Transoxania and Chorasan, due to the geopolitical importance of Turkey has gone through until the modern Turkey established with its secular and strategic alliance and successful foreign policy.

Turkey in the Modern Era

Ahmad (30) pointed out that the Ottoman dynasty had generated an inheritance in Turkey with both negative and positive impact in the political arena and there were no strong successors to restitution of the kingdom, the Young Turks ascended in the power has failed to address the people’s needs that led to evidence the constitutional movement in 1908.

At this stage, the Ottoman dynasty has attempted to manipulate and influence the heritage with radical reformation scheme and structural transformation, but Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the revolutionary leader with his regime opposed and demanded to complete abolishing the monarchy from the country secular and democratic values.

However, the Ottoman dynasty has permitted the reformation due to the wave of nationalist movement under the leadership of Kemal, although some successors of the Ottoman dynasty like Rauf Orbay kept in the power of new government as traditional symbol and declared victory in July 1922 (Ahmad 30).

The political ideology of Kemal Atatürk was deeply influenced by secularism and his followers recognized many events of momentous significance that provided the test of real independence with numerous openness, withdrawal of all censorship, free movement of people, open market, and independence of press etc. for which people have long been eager.

Atatürk removed all discrimination based on race and color, the major religion groups’ like Muslim, Greek, Armenian, and Jewish learned and experienced a high degree of peaceful co-existence with each other (46).

Due to alliance with the Great Britain, Turkey tried to treat itself as a neutral player in the World War II, the ruling-party adopted ‘wait and see’ policy where the Berlin benefited from this neutrality, but the revolt against the axis power generated crisis in Turkey connecting its notorious Capital Tax that was lastly repealed in March 1944.

Failure to address appropriate strategy by the government bring into beginning of a new thought in the society to establish civilian leadership on the armed forces and the wave of multi party politics come into evidence instead of conservative, dictatorial autonomy of military and it given the victory of democracy over the fascism in 1945 (117).

The modern history of Turkey has unfortunate scenario of military intervention in the state power, although the people have learned to respect the military because of their sacrifice and struggle for the nation in the era of Kemal Atatürk; but modern values of democracy does not allow militaries to intervene in the decision-making and state power.

Due to Turkey’s engagement with the NATO the military expenditure were extremely raising in fifties and the government was under pressure to cut military budget while the Turkish military has no glorious role in the world war I& II, following such background of military budget cutting, the country evidenced military interventions in sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties (141).

The Political System of Turkey

Aschner et al. (10) pointed out that the membership condition of Turkey in the European Union has urged to develop the political system of Turkey including its economy and human rights condition and to do so EU suggested for enormous reformations along its legal reformation in some context.

Turkey is the first Muslim country that membership of EU, although 92% territory of the country is situated in the Asia, the country experienced at least military interventions, there are huge non-secular practice in the government has generated confusion among its people and inhabitants; thus, people demand for quick reformation.

Social progress, economic development of Turkey has deeply linked with the reformation of its political system (Migdalovitz 7).

The Political Structure of Turkey

The House of Commons (3) mentioned that under the constitution 1982, Turkey is a constitutional democratic republic with a dominance of military intervention although the recent constitutional reformation has engaged to reduce the military interference by integrating the civil society.

According to constitutional amendment of 2007, the parliament of Turkey has bannered as ‘Grand National Assembly of Turkey’ (TGNA) that consisted with 550 elected members by the direct vote of the people and they seat for four yeas in the GNAT.

There are huge number of political parties in Turkey, but the parties those get at least 55 seats are entitled to parliamentary, to avoid such dilemmas politicians go for election independently and after election they join to the favorable parties (11).

Before the constitutional amendment 2007, the two-third majority of the parliament members elected the presidents, but after that amendment president would be elected by the direct vote of the people for five years and could not be elected for more than two terms.

The power of the president has not eventually described in the constitution, but he serves as the head of legislative, executive including judicial branches, at the same time the president shares his power with the Council of Ministers represented by the Prime Minister who enjoys the power to veto any legislation along with the rights to issue emergency decrees.

President is the head of state, and though his powers are not precisely defined, they include the executive, legislative, and even judicial spheres (5). He shares executive power with the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister, and has the power to veto legislation and issue emergency decrees.

The Prime Minister is empowered to appoint the most sensitive state officials like Chief Public Prosecutor, judges of the Constitutional Court and other important positions; at the same time, he acts as the chief of armed forces and chairperson of the National Security Council and accountable to the parliament.

Political Representation & Political Division

SETA (3) pointed out that the most dominant political representation of the people has evidenced by four major political parties who evidenced with their ideological heritage and the political divisions among them are very clear with the changing dynamics of Turkey where domestic and foreign policy options continuously transforming.

Following the referendum of 2010, all the political parties urged their unity to establish a new constitution for new Turkey that reflected in their election manifesto as vision of 2023 and people are likely hopeful to get a prosperous Turkey with their political representation, following are the major agenda for parties:

• The Justice and Development Party: – It is also named as ‘AK Party’ that organized in 2002 and proved itself as a most dominant political actor to change the political and social life of the people with their program and the country would be capable to overcome underlying economic crisis. The political and economic agenda of the party satisfied the people’s vision and in election of 2002, AK party ascended into the state power and continued its reformation agenda, beside the economic reform the party has aimed to maintain political stability and to ensure right and freedoms (4).
• The Republican People’s Party: – The name of the party initialized as CHP and it is the most prominent political organization of Turkey founded by Mustafa Kemal during 1923, it ideology aligned with republicanism and nationalism, under the leadership of this party Turkey entered in the modern era. Turkish major political reform, like multiparty politics, democratic values, and abolition of monarchy was the contribution of CHP. CHP has struggled for a long time against military autocracy in Turkey and bought major constitutional reforms; in the general election of 2002, it occupied 19% seats in Parliament while AK Party came to power with 34% vote.
• The Nationalist Movement Party: – The name of the party initialized as MHP that started its journey in 1969 and evidenced with influential political movements in Turkey against communism, it dominated with anti-communist sentiment of the people generated a wave of “save the country” propaganda during the cold war era and gained tremendous support from the young generation. The party has generated some ethical dilemmas in Turkey and no evidence to go to the state power; it gained 2.9% and 18% in the general election of 1987 and 1999 respectively.
• The Peace and Democracy Party: – Rather than the parliamentary seats, the significant factor of this party is to represent Kurdish political movement a different Muslim ethical group in Turkey, the party has banded by the constitutional court and reorganized as People’s Labor Party (HEP) aligning with international support, in the general election of 2011, it failed to prove its effectiveness.

Judiciary Branch

The United Nations (7) mentioned that the president appoints judges of the Constitutional Court, while the Supreme Judicial Council elects the judges of the Court of Appeals where all the judges are entitled to exercise their power independently without any bias with the aim to ensure justice and piece of the country in the light of Constitution, laws, and jurisprudence.

There is no executive power to interfere in the judiciary even in the provincial or district courts have the evidence of the independence, it is the discretion of the judges where the court would exercise its power, even the legislative and executive are loyal to the court verdicts and may not interfere to any extent.

The Supreme Judicial Council acts with the promotion, remuneration, retirement, transfer and posting of the judges that organized with judges of the Supreme Court, it monitors compliance, election, and duties in the judiciary tribunals in the country.

The Legislative Branch of Turkey

The 550 seated parliament, which named Grand National Assembly of Turkey’ (TGNA) is the highest forum to making and unmaking law, before seating in the TGNA, the members take oath to uphold the constitutional supremacy, it passes and amend any law for the greater interest of the nation, Council of Ministers are also accountable here.

The National budget, overseas treaty and agreement, war decision and all other emergence should be approved from TGNA.

National symbols of Turkey

The national flag of Turkey designed and developed with crescent moon along with ‘five-pointed star’ that has been originated from the symbols of ancient Ottoman empire while the national anthem of the ‘Independence March’ symbolized the motivational spirit introduced during liberation war in 1921.

Economics Currency

IMF (19) provided the matrix to find out the effects of macro-financial distresses on the Turkish economy and it influenced transmission channels, for example, cost of external funding jumped, imports compressed, domestic credit squeezed, elevated cost of external financing usually, raised cost of financial intermediation and indirect taxes raised, and reduced demand for Turkey’s exports.

In addition, IMF (19) mentioned that major risks mainly suffered by banking sector with EA parents, public sector, and corporate sector; therefore, IMF identified some potential risks, such as, Increased unemployment rate, created credit crunch, elevated inflation from depreciation and increased indirect taxes, decreased living standard, squeezed profits and ability to repay loans, and reduced trust on public sector. At the same time,

Exchange Rate

Until 2005 lira was very weak in relation to the US dollar, but post-2005 years lira gained enough strength, the notes of before 2008 are now out of date and the current indicative exchange rate is US $ 1 = Lira 1.81 according to the central bank data (TCMB 1).

Gross Domestic Product

According to the report of Trading Economics (1), the economic position of Turkey is much more stable than any other countries in the world because its GDP for 2011, 2010, and 2009 were $773.09 billion, $735.49 billion and $614.42 billion gradually; in addition, the GDP value of this country is approximately equivalent to 1.25% of the world economy.

In addition, Trading Economics and World Bank had considered official exchange rate of GDP, which indicates the value of all final products and services produced within a country by a fiscal year; however, Trading Economics further addressed that averaged GDP of Turkey $204.90 billion (from 1968 to 2011, GDP of this country increased from $15.80 billion to $773.09 billion).

However, GDP (official exchange rate) was near $614.42 billion, $730.32 billion, and $649.125 billion in the fiscal year 2009, 2008 and 2007 gradually; furthermore, the real growth rate has decreased surprisingly from the year 2009, for instance, the percentage (%) change rate was 29.3% in 2004, where as it was merely -15.87 % in 2009 (Indexmundi 1).

Per Capita Income

Indexmundi (1), Trading Economics (1), and IMF (25) calculated GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population; however, this rate has also augmented from the last two years and it was more than $14000.0 billion in 2011 and $13577.10 billion in 2010 though it was about $12460.79 billion in 2009 (Percent Change rate was 8.96% in 2010).

However, the economy of this country was deteriorate because of global financial downturn in 2008; in addition, Indexmundi (1) reported that GDP in PPP was fluctuated from 2002 since Percent Change of GDP in PPP was 13.09% and 19.08% in 2004 and 2005 gradually while it was only 1.68% in 2008.

Since GDP in PPP shows the core economic strength of the nation, it is necessary to compare the current data with previous year’s data (from 1998 to 2010), which shows GDP is fluctuating, but national economy still good enough; however, figure (6) of the appendix illustrates these fact more elaborately.

Labor Composition

Library of Congress (15) reported that it is difficult to measure their activities of the labor force because a large portion is working in the EU and other Middle Eastern countries; in addition, Turkey’s labor force was estimated 24.74 million, 24.73 and 27.4 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012 gradually (Indexmundi 1).

At the same time, Library of Congress (15) mention that more than 41% involved with official services, 36% occupied with agricultural sectors and 23% in construction and other industry (industrial labor is seriously unionized,); however, figure five of the appendix provides the data for entire labor force of Turkey for the year 1999 to 2011.

On the other hand, the unemployment rate is higher in urban area, such as, it was 12.7% in urban area and 7.6% in 2008; however, near three million labors are members of the union to be benefited while the employers fail to follow ethical codes of international labor organization; moreover, wage disparities are immense between eastern and western Turkey.

Employment/Unemployment Rates

According to the report of IMF and Indexmundi (1), unemployment rate could measure by two ways, such as, the national with ILO harmonized definition, or the OECD harmonized definition; on the other hand, it should measure by the number of citizens actively seeking work divided by the labor power (Trading Economics 1) and Percent Change rate depend on inflows made.

Trading Economics (1) reported that present unemployment rate is near 8.0% while it was 10.8% in 2011; however, the table and figure of appendix show more information in this regard

Main Exports and Imports

Key Exports to Turkey

Indexmundi (1) stated that exporting indicates the promotion and direct sells of locally manufactured goods in a foreign market and it is a well-established and conventional form of strategy to acquiring overseas markets; so, export is one of the most important factors for Turkish economy as it earned large amount from this segment like exports income was $143.5 in 2011.

According to the Library of Congress (16) and Indexmundi (1), appliances, consumer electronics, and vehicles are the key sectors, but it exports other products and services besides these segments, such as it exports following items as well:

• Vegetable products;
• Live animals along with animal products;
• Animal or vegetable fats and oils;
• Prepared foodstuffs;
• Beverages, spirits, vinegar and tobacco;
• Mineral products and chemical;
• Plastics and rubber;
• Vehicles, aircraft, machinery, vessels and associated transport equipment;
• Miscellaneous Manufactured goods;
• Textiles and Textile Articles,
• Wood and Pulp of Wood, Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas, Natural or Cultured Pearls, Base Metals, Mechanical Appliances;
• Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, and so on;

Figure six of the appendix demonstrates the earning from exports in billion for the year 1999 to 2011; however, export revenue of Turkey increased from 1999, for example, in 1999 it was about $26 billion while it was more than $140 billion in 2008 though it dropped in 2009 due to financial crisis in global context.

Imports to Turkey

Library of Congress (14) stated that Turkey has to import large amount of oil and natural gas and this country imported about 1.10 billion cubic feet of natural gas (from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan) to enhance electric power industry; Turkey increased import of gas from 25% to 58% with last seven years.

According to the report of Library of Congress (16) and Indexmundi (1) pointed out that the demand of oil has also increased by 20% from 2006 to 2010, and demand of electric power doubled in the 1990s, which was difficult for this country to keep up with demand though Turkey’s producing capacity of 35000 megawatts to 67000 megawatts exceeded by 2010. Library of Congress (16) and Indexmundi (1) pointed out also reported that

• This country imports near 90% of its oil mainly from Iran, Iraq, Russia, KSA, and Syria;
• In addition, main Items for imports are machinery, chemicals, fuels, and semi-finished goods;
• Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and related transport equipment import costs were more than $18.1 billion and $23.2 billion in the year 2010 and 2011 gradually;
• In addition, import costs for Machinery and Mechanical Appliance were about $30.2 billion and $38.14 billion in the year 2010 and 2011 gradually;
• Import costs to base metals and articles of base metal were $28.33 billion, mineral products were $6.7 billion and costs for products of the chemical or allied industries were $17.8 billion;

Figure no seven of appendix shows the expenditure for imports in billion in USD for the year 1999 to 2011; in addition, import cost of Turkey augmented from 2003 due to raise demand in domestic market, for instance, in 2003, import cost was more than $50.8 billion whereas it was over $193.9 billion and $232.90 in 2008 and 2011 gradually.

In addition, the figure no seven from IndexMundi (1) also provided more information about the expenditure related to import, such as, import costs was stable position from the year 1999 to 2004 and trade balance was negative position, but it was considerable.

Foreign Direct Investment in Turkey:

Indexmundi stated that in Turkey FDI determines the total sum of investment made by the investors of overseas countries in Turkey; however, Library of Congress (17) reported that investment policy of this country with FDI inflow was comparatively low due to political instability and the structural problem.

It is important that FDI exclude investment in the course of purchase of shares and investment commitments made by the foreign investors are also a further determinant of FDI in terms of fixed assets; however, FDI of this country was only $2 billion in 1999, but it increased slowly while it was $18.63 billion in 2011 (Indexmundi 1)

Culture and Tourism

Icoz, Ebru and Orhan (2) stated that Turkey is one of the most famous rising tourism destinations because rich geo-morphological along with tectonic multi-altitudinal structure; however, the government has already taken long-term strategic plan in order to develop the facilities for the tourists and generate more revenue from this sector.

Folklore, Music, and Dance

Turkey has very rich folkloric traditions, such as, folk music accompanies Anatolian people, and people create their own music (music pass from one another and “asiklar” or troubadours sing and play this music); in addition, Turkish folk dance is very lively and variant because regional dancing steps and rhythms are different and based on local culture and different situation;

Museums, Art Galleries, Palaces & Castles

Several important popular art galleries, palaces, and castles are:

• Ottoman museums (1839 – 1922): Ottoman museums were rooted in military collections instead of art works (Shaw 4);
• Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum (1464 – 1471): historically important for Turkish made up of two buildings;
• Topkapi Palace Museum (1459-1465): This museum situated in Istanbul and Mehmet II built this Palace as his principal residence along with parliament house; however, visitor would get the opportunity to see richest collections of treasures in the world including Arms and armor, Ceramics, Glass, Silverware, and so on;
• Other: Antakya Mosaic Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Ephesus Archaeology Museum and Antalya Archaeology Museum, Istanbul Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art;
• Palaces & Castles: Turkish castles and palaces have a very different look from European castles, which would give the opportunity for the tourist to experience unique

National Parks

There are 33 official national parks and 16 areas considered natural parks, such as:

• Adıyaman – Nemrut Mountain National Park: Most famous park for the huge sculptures of gods on the mountain (Ankara 1);
• Afyon – Akdağ National Park: it covers an area of 14,916 hectares and it was declared a Natural Park in June 2000;
• Other: Başkomutan Historical National Park, Soguksu National Park, Antalya – Altinbesik Cave National Park, Antalya – Bey Mountains Shore National Park, Köprülü Canyon National Park, Kurşunlu Waterfall and so on;

Gastronomy (Foods)

• Food: Turkish would like to take home-made food, some Turkish foods are the simit (ring-shaped bread), gözleme (a kind of pancake), Turkish appetizers, kebap (sometimes spelled kebab), Adana kebap, köfte (meat balls), gözleme, kumpir, and so on;
• Drinks: Tea is the national drink and it is served at breakfast; however, Turkish coffee, and alcoholic beverages are widely available;

Religion, Philosophy & Traditions

• Library of Congress (10) reported that about 99% of the total population is Muslim mainly Sunni and Islamic groups challenged the idea of the secular nation, so, the presence of the non-Muslim population declined from 2000; however, Christianity and Judaism are the other religions in practice;

Other – Temples, Festivals & Archaeological Sites

• Temples: It is some times argued that Gobekli Tepe, about 11,000 years old archaeological site, was the world’s first temple; among other temples, Temple of Artemis and Didyma are significant; besides, there are numerous other active temples too;
• Festivals: Apart from New Year, Eid, and Christmas, International-Film-Festival, Mevlana-Memorial-Celebrations, Folklore-Festival, Children’s-Festival, Nasreddin-Hodja-festival, Izmir-international-fair, etc. are significant
• Archaeological Sites: Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Hierapolis, Pergamum, Gobekli, Priene, Patara, Arykanda, Olympos, Termessos, and Sagalassos, are the major archaeological sites of the country

This study demonstrated that Turkey is a resourceful country with its geopolitical importance, glorious historical heritage, ancient civilization, and cultural development, stable economic and political progress those enabled the first Asian country to be the member of European Union. The rich legacy of modern Turkey would catch the attention of foreigners for business and tourism.

Works Cited

Ahmad, Feroz. The making of modern Turkey . London: Routledge, 2003. Print.

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Aschner, Diana. et al. 2009. History & Culture of Turkey: From Anatolian Civilization to Modern Republic. Web.

GSS. 2012. Hunting in Turkey for Bezoar Ibex, Anatolian Chamois and Anatolian Red Deer . Web.

Icoz, Onur. Ebru Gunlu and Orhan Icoz. 2008. The Role of Travel Intermediaries in the Development of Mountain Tourism With Respect To Sustainable Mountain Tourism Policies: A Case Of Turkey. Web.

IMF. 2011. IMF Country Report. Web.

Inalcik, Halil. 2012. Turkey And Europe: A Historical Perspective . Web.

Indexmundi. Country profile 2012 of Turkey . 2012. Web.

Library of Congress. 2008. Country Profile: Turkey. Web.

Lonsdale, David. 2007. Alexander the Great Lessons in strategy . Web.

Migdalovitz, Carol. 2010. Turkey: Politics of Identity and Power. Web.

Partal, Turgay & Ercan Kahya. 2005. Trend analysis in Turkish precipitation data . Web.

SETA. 2011. Political Parties In Turkey: From 2010 Referendum To 2011 June Elections. Web.

Shaw, Wendy. 2011. National Museums in the Republic of Turkey: Palimpsests within a Centralized State . Web.

TCMB. Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey Exchange Rates . 2012. Web.

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The United Nations. 2004. Republic of Turkey: Public Administration Country Profile . Web.

TNUGG. 2007. The Report of Turkish National Hydrology Commission . Web.

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Bibliography

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The Many Reasons Why We Love Turkey

The recent tragedy in Istanbul, which took dozens of lives and injured hundreds, is devastating. In times like these, we need to remember why so many people around the world save a spot of honor for this beautiful city.

While terrorism is, unfortunately, a real concern around the world, fear should not keep us from traveling. After the Brussels airport attack, Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump shared his thoughts about why travel is more important than ever in the wake of this terrible acts. This is our guiding principle as we learn more about the tragedy that has unfolded in Istanbul.

This is why the city — and the country of Turkey — hold a special place in our hearts.

1. There's history to be uncovered around every corner

Outside of Istanbul, you'll find a number of regions worthy of their own itinerary. Bodrum is a nine-hour drive across the country from Istanbul — the peninsula trumps St. Tropez as the spot to be among some of the world's most beautiful people. And with ancient artifacts and architecture along every road, there truly is no neighborhood too small when it comes to exploring.

Bridal designer Monique Lhuillier previously shared moments from her family vacation to this stunning country with us. Christina Bryant — founder of St. Frank — also gave us a peek into her trip to Istanbul where she went to source textiles from the city's many markets.

2. Turkey's hotels are quickly becoming world-class destinations

Turkey is a special place for its architecture, rich history, luxurious vacation spots, cruising routes, amazing hotels, hot-air balloon rides, unforgettable food, vibrant arts and culture scene ... the list goes on and on.

A number of hotels have popped up in Istanbul in the last couple of years; the caliber of these inns are enough of a reason to make the journey. The centrally located Raffles , the 5-star Istanbul EDITION , SOHO House , the Shangri-La Bosphorus —the hotels you'll find in Istanbul will fuel your daydreams for weeks to come.

3. The arts and culture scene is constantly growing

The art scene in Istanbul is only growing. The Istanbul Internation Arts & Culture Festival—more commonly known as IST—is one of the more formal gatherings for free art exhibits and conversations around the city's ever-changing culture, literature, and architecture. Names like Zaha Hadid, Gore Vidal, and Courtney Love are among the guests of honor in this festival's history. One of the most beautiful aspects of the city is that you can observe Istanbul's dedication to art around every corner. If you're looking for a more extensive collection of art, the Istanbul Modern should top your list. SALT —a contemporary space for local art exhibits and showcases—changed the city's cultural standing for both visitors and creators who call the city home when it opened back in 2011. With a theater, research library, a panoramic restaurant, and a extensive archive, there's no better place to immerse yourself in the many hands that have played a role in the past and present of Istanbul's culture and arts.

4. Turkey's markets are an opportunity to completely immerse yourself in culture

The inimitable Grand Bazaar is a market known around the world for its incredibly textiles, locally made jewelry, and housewares. Go ahead and try to leave without a souvenir that's sure to take the spot of honor in your collection.

5. There is no such thing as a bad view in Turkey

Those looking to take in the sights by water or air will find no shortage of activities in Turkey, from the hot-air balloons over Capdepera to the many cruise liners than pass through many of the country's ancient ports (think: Ephesus, Kuşadası, and Izmir). If there was ever a destination that lent itself to being seen from all angles, this is the place.

This is only a start to the list of reasons we love Turkey. Below, take in a few words from a number of our editors on their favorite aspects of the country and why it's at the top of the bucket list for those who haven't had the chance to visit. You may soon find yourself ready to pack your bags .

Why T+L Editors Love Turkey

"Turkey is such a warm and welcoming country, and incredibly rich in things to see and do, from the caves of Cappadocia to the coast’s ancient sites and, of course, Istanbul — to me, it is one of the world’s most culturally interesting cities, sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and blending a distinctively rich history with highly creative contemporary art, design, and gastronomy." - Nathan Lump, Editor

"I've been to Istanbul a couple of times and it’s one of my very favorite cities in the world. It’s such a fascinating mix of cultures both ancient and modern — you’re surrounded by virtually the whole of history and at the same time you’re in a sophisticated 21st-century city with incredible cuisine, great style, talented artists, and some of the most gracious and beautiful people I’ve met anywhere." - Jeffries Blackerby, Executive Editor

"Of the 70+ countries I’ve visited in my travels, Turkey is at the top of the list of the most beautiful and historic. The city of Istanbul has some of the most iconic and memorable sites in the world – the Hagia Sofia’s gorgeous Byzantine architecture, the Blue Mosque’s stunning addition to the skyline, the delicious smells of the Spice Bazaar and the Bosphorus Bridge and the skyline at night. Everyone with a love of travel and history needs to see this city." - Pam Russo, VP and GM of Travel

"Thinking about Turkey always puts a smile on my face. Over the summer of 2012, I lived in Beşiktaş a working class neighborhood in Istanbul perhaps best known for their eponymous football team. Beşiktaş is a lively neighborhood, with a daily fish market, local bars playing whatever sporting event is happening (Istanbulli’s love their sports), and fruit stands on every corner. I was working as a writer for TimeOut, and despite the fact that my Turkish was limited to “merhaba” (hello) and teşekkür (thank you), my neighbors never failed to make me feel like I was home." - Michelle Gross, Editorial Producer and Contributing Writer

"Three words: Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. I love visiting the local markets when I travel to major cities because gives me a really strong sense of the culture that I’m immersed in. Istanbul’s is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Turkey has such a rich history and I’ve always wanted to explore the country and see it all through my own eyes (and through my camera lens, of course)." - Danica Jorge, Online Photo Coordinator

"Istanbul has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. I can't think of a more perfect day than taking in architecture that's older than I can even wrap my brain around." - Erika Owen, Senior Audience Engagement Editor

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Journey to Turkey 3 models

Last updated Saturday , 16-03-2024 on 10:37 am

Journey to Turkey , an essay with information about the most important and most beautiful tourist places in Turkey for anyone looking for information about Turkey or wants to write an essay in English about a journey to Turkey. 

Journey to Turkey

Turkey is a beautiful tourist country where tourists come to it from all over the world for its scenic beauty. If you want to write an English essay about a journey to Turkey, you will find here useful information that you can use very easily.

When thinking of a trip to a country, you must choose the most beautiful country in nature and the best in providing entertainment services to the visitor ; therefore, it is always advisable to visit Turkey distinguished by its high mountains, its green nature, its many lakes and its ancient heritage of antiques and archaeological sites, in addition to the existence of many resorts and high-end hotels in it.

Turkey is located in the Middle East on land from Asia and other parts of the European continent. Turkey borders Iraq, Syria, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Greece, the Aegean Sea, Bulgaria to the west, Armenia and Iran to the east. Georgia and the Black Sea.

Reasons for frequent flights to Turkey :

Availability of wonderful and picturesque areas that relax the soul and give the visitor a sense of relaxation.

The availability of treatment in many of its health centers, where medical tourism is available.

Appropriate hotel room rates and ticket prices are not expensive but suitable for low and middle income earners as well.

The frequent programs to encourage Turkey to visit the Ministry of Tourism, it is always seeking to make the appropriate offers to increase the number of visitors.

The most beautiful places in Turkey:

Yarbatan Palace: The palace is located in the Sultanahmet area. It is one of the magnificent and distinctive palaces in the way it is built with interchanges and colorful inscriptions. The palace was built by the Byzantines in the 6th century to protect them from the siege of Muslims. Underwater palace or water reservoirs.

Yildiz Park: The park is located in Istanbul and is characterized by the green nature of trees and herbs in addition to colorful flowers with a wonderful appearance, and the garden has a small lake containing a group of fish in beautiful colors and a lot of ducks, in the past, the park was in the hands of the famous Yildiz Palace, but now the park is a place that welcomes all visitors from all over the world.

Hill of puppets: It is also called Chamlija, overlooking the whole of Turkey in its Asian and European sections. The hill is characterized by its greenness and its self-comforting appearance. Many writers and poets are meant to write much of their writing.

Prince Islands: A group of islands located in the Sea of ​​Marmara, belonging to Istanbul, a small islands but nevertheless attract many tourists to enjoy the nature of green and blue beaches, and beautiful in those islands that moving through  is by bicycles  and vehicles with horses and prevented cars.

Forests of Belgrade: These forests are located in Istanbul with a large area of ​​5300 hectares. It is characterized by its open and refreshing atmosphere which is suitable for sport. It has many trees and pets and a small lake with ducks.

My trip to turkey essay

Undoubtedly, there are many people around the world who dream of seeing, visiting or living in Turkey. I can say that I am one of those people who follow Turkish culture, whether through educational curricula or through the Turkish drama that we watch on TV.

Although many tell us that they show their best areas for attractions, I decided to go and visit Turkey on a trip last summer.

My family and I booked plane tickets through the Internet, we booked the hotel, we boarded the plane, and we went, and I am so excited to see our dear Turkey.

As soon as I got on the plane, I took some pictures and posted them on my account to show my happiness to my friends with this trip. They envy me a lot for that.

Once I reached  and hear the Turkish language everywhere, I said, Oh my God, that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. From here the happiness begins, I was practicing some Turkish sentences and words, so I tried to talk a little bit and had a lot of fun with it.

After that we went to the hotel and I changed clothes and got ready to go down and see Turkey. We are staying in a hotel in Istanbul, the first thing I saw is the Great Mosque, and many mosques that perform prayer with a beautiful voice.

I went to wander the markets and the roads and we sat down to drink tea and eat some delicious pieces of sweets, just like  the T.V series.

I enjoyed the experience a lot, after that we went to the beach and saw the famous bridge that we have always seen in many series. So it was great to see landmarks familiar to you.

So I kept looking for cafes or places that appeared on TV and took pictures of them and posted them on my account so that my friends could enjoy with me.

I It was very nice, I had a lot of fun and I would like to try it again. Whoever goes once to Turkey cannot stay away from it for a long time.

Short paragraph about Turkey

Turkey has gone through many different stages and faced many historical events that will remain engraved in history.

From ancient times to the present day, Turkey represents ancient civilizations, glorious empires, which faced great armies on its land and remained steadfast.

The lands of Turkey faced the Roman armies, the Byzantine armies, the Ottomans, and other armies, who play a major role in shaping its identity, leaving simple and multiple touches in its history.

In addition to the conquests it made, such as the occupation of Egypt, Anatolia, Russia, and other countries, which made it open to many cultures and peoples, it gained a simple touch from here and there to form a new identity in the present day.

We see Turkey now as a great tourist destination, despite its adherence to the wars now in Syria, and its attempt to enter it in many areas, but it has differed greatly from what it has been since the Ottoman Caliphate.

It has become more open to the West and opens its doors to all kinds of tourism and provides all the requirements of foreign tourism in order to compete and benefit from this trade.

In this way, we have finished providing an English essay about a journey to Turkey ,and we will offer a series of other topics  that you can access through the dedicated section or through the following link:

• Turkey tourism essay

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How to Plan a Perfect Trip to Turkey: Essential Tips & Tricks

The magic of turkey: your comprehensive guide to an unforgettable journey.

Embark on an enchanting journey to Turkey, a land where ancient history and modern wonders blend seamlessly. Whether you’re dreaming of Istanbul’s vibrant streets or the serene beaches of the Turkish Riviera, our guide will help you plan the perfect Turkish adventure.

Start with Istanbul – The Heart of Turkey

Istanbul, straddling two continents, is a city of contrasts. Begin your trip here to experience the fusion of East and West. Key attractions include the Hagia Sophia , Topkapi Palace, and the bustling Grand Bazaar. Don’t miss a Bosphorus cruise for breathtaking views.

Explore the Historical Depths of Cappadocia

Cappadocia is famous for its otherworldly landscapes and unique cave hotels. Take a hot air balloon ride at dawn for a magical experience and explore the ancient underground cities.

Delight in the Turkish Cuisine

Turkish cuisine is a fusion of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, and Balkan flavors. Must-tries include kebabs, baklava, and Turkish delight. Enjoy a traditional Turkish breakfast and don’t forget to sip on Turkish tea and coffee.

Relax on the Turkish Riviera

The southern coast of Turkey , known as the Turkish Riviera, boasts pristine beaches and clear blue waters. Destinations like Antalya and Bodrum offer luxury resorts, ancient ruins, and vibrant nightlife.

Respect Local Traditions and Customs

Turkey is a land of diverse cultures and traditions. Dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. Learn a few Turkish phrases to connect with locals.

Plan for Transportation

Turkey has an extensive network of buses, trains, and domestic flights. Consider an Istanbulkart for convenient travel in Istanbul . Renting a car is ideal for exploring the countryside.

Stay Connected

Purchase a local SIM card for easy communication and access to maps and travel apps. Wi-Fi is widely available, but it’s always good to have mobile data.

Journey’s End: Embracing the Turkish Spirit

As your trip to Turkey comes to a close, reflect on the rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural beauty you’ve experienced. Turkey isn’t just a destination; it’s a journey into a world of wonders. Leave with memories to cherish and stories to tell.

• What is the best time to visit Turkey? Spring (April to May) and fall (September to November) offer pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
• Do I need a visa for Turkey? Most travelers need a visa. Check the e-Visa website for the latest requirements.
• Is Turkey safe for tourists? Turkey is generally safe for tourists but always exercises standard safety precautions.
• What currency is used in Turkey? The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the local currency. Credit cards are widely accepted, but have some cash for smaller vendors.
• Can I drink tap water in Turkey? It’s advisable to drink bottled water to avoid any health issues.

Top 3 Highly Recommended Tours in Turkey

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Home > Why Visit Turkey In 2024 – 21 Reasons We Love Türkiye

Why Visit Turkey In 2024 – 21 Reasons We Love Türkiye

Written by our local expert Mehmet

Mehmet is digital nomad who was born in Istanbul, Türkiye and now calls the Balkans region his home-office.

Türkiye, a great place nestled between Europe and Asia, is the perfect next holiday destination for 2024. Our whole team came together to explore and cover all bases, ensuring you get the most comprehensive reasons to visit.

Boasting a rich history, it’s a land where cultural fusions create a unique offering of experiences. From the hot summers by both the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea to the diverse winter weather in its landscapes, Turkey offers the best things for every traveler. Our team’s diverse insights reflect this variety.

Explore the natural wonders of snow-white Pamukkale, wander through the underground cities in Cappadocia, or lose yourself in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Each of these recommendations comes from our collective travels.

Whether you’re lounging on its sunny beaches, delving into the local culture, or seeking thrills, Türkiye’s appeal is as vast as its history. We’ve delved into every aspect to bring you a guide that resonates with all types of travelers.

Sit among friendly locals, enjoy Turkish hospitality with a cup of tea, and let the country’s charm envelop you. We’ve all agreed that the warmth and welcoming nature of the Turkish people are unmatched.

With so many compelling reasons, your decision for a holiday in this Euro-Asian gem should be clear. Our team’s extensive exploration of Türkiye has led us to conclude that it should be at the top of your list.

Read on to discover the top reasons why as we unfold the treasures of Türkiye together.

Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!

1. Turkey Is Excellent Value For Money

Most likely, one of the most important factors when deciding whether to come to Turkey or not is the prices.

Luckily, Turkey is an affordable country to travel in, even for budget travelers. I am going to list prices in USD instead of Turkish lira; given the huge fluctuations that are happening, the rate would be outdated by the time you read this.

Those on the lowest budget should plan to spend 35 USD to 50 USD daily. This will get you a good night’s sleep at a hostel, street food , meals, and some activities.

The cheapest dorm that I’ve found was only 8 USD, and I’ve paid 35 USD on average for a room in a nice hotel! Prices go up in touristy areas of the country, such as the Turkish Riviera , but remain affordable.

If you’re wondering ‘how much money should I take to Turkey’ here is the breakdown of prices:

Cost Of Food In Turkey

The costs of food will highly depend on what and where you will choose to eat. Turkey has a big street food scene – this will be your cheapest option.

Plenty of stalls often line up the streets, selling traditional Turkish food that costs 1-3 USD, which is shockingly cheap! You will also find mid-range restaurants that cost around 10 USD per meal.

Cost Of Attractions In Turkey

Attraction costs include entrance fees or tours. The Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar are free entrances, while a day trip from Antalya to Side and its ancient sites costs only 20 USD. Entry to museums rarely costs more than 5 USD.

Note: As of 2024, January 15th, 2024, Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque has introduced a distinct policy for tourists and worshippers. If you’re visiting for cultural exploration, there’s now a 25 euro entry fee. This ticket grants you access to the gallery floor, where you can admire the sanctuary’s stunning Ottoman and Byzantine features, including the historic mosaics.

Cost of Public Transport in Turkey

Buses in Turkey are cheap and easy to navigate, so it’s an excellent option for those on a budget. A single ticket costs 0.50 USD, or you can purchase ten rides for just 3 USD.

• Visiting Turkey On A Budget

2. For Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar

Without a doubt, the biggest reason to visit Istanbul must be the Grand Bazaar. It is the largest covered market in the world, and its history dates back to the Ottoman Empire in 1455, making it also one of the oldest markets in the world.

A maze of thousands of narrow alleyways lined with shops, in which you will find everything you would ever need from silk textiles, handwoven carpets and rugs, gemstone jewelry, Turkish lanterns to beautifully hand-painted ceramics and tiles (and they’re all of excellent quality!).

You will also find towers of aromatic spices and herbs, an array of traditional Turkish delight, and other mouth-watering sweets and candies.

This is one of the best places in Turkey to purchase your souvenirs.

We all recommend you allocate a good few hours to explore all the tiniest nooks and crannies of the Bazaar. For an even better experience, take a break from walking in one of the many cafeterias for a cup of Turkish tea while the market bustles away in the background.

• Our Favorite Turkish Souvenirs

3. For The Hot Air Balloon Ride In Cappadocia

A hot air balloon flight is always a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s even more unique and wondrous when it’s over the world-famous Cappadocia region . This experience should be one of the reasons to visit Turkey , as it really is an unforgettable activity.

Cappadocia, located in central Turkey, is famous for its unique geological formations, hidden caves , and the long history that comes with it. Stretching for thousands of kilometers, the best way to explore it is, of course, up in the air inside a hot air balloon!

What makes this ride even more remarkable is that it happens during the sunrise.

If you do not feel like taking the ride, you can watch this unforgettable spectacle of hundreds of colorful hot air balloons floating in the air, backdropped by early morning hues, from almost anywhere in Goreme.

• Everything To Know About Balloon Rides In Cappadocia

4. Turkey’s Ancient Archaeological Sites Are Majestic

Turkey’s history dates back as far as 50,000 years ago. It is no surprise, then, that it is full of ancient historical sites belonging to some of the world’s earliest civilizations that resided in modern-day Turkey.

Ephesus, an ancient city believed to have been built before 138 A.D., is Turkey’s most famous archaeological site that must be added to your itinerary.

Apart from the ancient city of Ephesus , Troy is another ancient city known for the Greek myth of the Trojan War. A humongous constructed horse is found at the entrance of the main site, making it a very special place to visit!

My personal favorite was the Termessos Theater, sitting 1,050 meters above sea level in the mountains of Antalya . To reach it, you will need to hike for an hour, passing through remains of the ancient city and gorgeous views of the mountains.

• Iconic Landmarks In Turkey

5. To Explore Istanbul: Most Popular Tourist Destination In Turkey

Istanbul truly is one of the most unique places in the world. It is one of the few places in the world that reside on two continents.

With one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, you can visit both continents in one day by crossing the modern Bosphorus Bridge in the heart of Istanbul . Make sure to wander further on both sides, as each has its distinct feel and something interesting to explore.

Apart from that, Istanbul is home to the magnificent Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque , which are some of the country’s most important and beautiful mosques.

Without a visit to those, your trip to Turkey would not be complete.

It is also where the Grand Bazaar and the Topkapi Palace – where the Ottoman sultans lived for hundreds of years. Beyond that, there are plenty of neighborhoods in Istanbul that need to be explored. Make sure to visit Taksim Square and take a ride in the famous red trams that run along Istiklal Street, and do not skip the colour-punched Balat.

• Best Restaurants In Istanbul
• Epic Things To Do In Istanbul

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6. have the perfect turkish vacation in the turkish riviera.

Another irresistible reason to visit Turkey is to be found on its southern turquoise coast . Encompassing mesmerizing beaches, charming towns, and ancient archaeological sites, the Turkish Riviera is adored by Europeans and a popular choice for family holidays , couple gateways, or solo ventures.

Antalya, an adorable Turkish town with an old harbor and quaint center, is one of the most beautiful towns along the Turkish coast . These beautiful beaches are nestled among steep mountains, and the nearby town of Side is fascinating with its ancient ruins set right by ivory-sand beaches and azure waters, iconic to the Turkish Riviera.

Izmir, for many, is the best holiday destination in Turkey (SJ and her family still rave about their trip there), with its lively urban center and great nightlife. Those two destinations are well-known gems that attract thousands of tourists every month.

If you want to escape the crowds and spend your Turkish vacations in a quiet place, then my personal recommendation would be Faralya. A tranquil town tucked away in Butterfly Valley, it offers quiet beach escapes and mountain adventures as well as spa and yoga retreats.

• Best Beach Resorts On The Turkish Riviera

7. To Be Amazed At The Other-Worldly Pamukkale Hot Springs

Inland, the towering snow-white, natural pools, filled to the brim with turquoise water, make up out of this-world landscapes. Pamukkale translates to ‘cotton castle,’ and this is exactly what this scenery reminded me of when I finally set my eyes on it in real life.

Formed out of a single calcium bicarbonate spring that cascaded over a cliff for thousands of years and formed countless separate pools at the bottom, today, Pamukkale are hot spring pools that are believed to have healing properties.

There are many tales about this spectacular location. Locals believe that a bath in one of the pools cures illnesses, and legends say that Cleopatra herself would bathe in the pools of Pamukkale.

This is a very magical and unique location to visit in Turkey that attracts many visitors every day. Be prepared for some crowds forming by the pools – unless you visit in winter like the Begonja family did.

You are free to wander away to some quieter pools for a more intimate and private experience. This site is particularly mesmerizing during sunsets!

• Best Thermal Pool Hotels In Pamukkale

8. De-Stress In A Turkish Hammam

There are plenty of opportunities to relax in Turkey. A Hammam, also known as a Turkish Bath , is a bath of hot steam and water that resembles a self-care experience at a spa.

The Turkish Bath is performed inside a gorgeous and intimate space, often edged with marble tiles and minimalistic décor that create a calming atmosphere.

Turkish Hammam was introduced during Ottoman rule, and today, it is an integral part of the local culture. It is believed to be cleansing of the body and the mind. For us Turks, it is more of a ritual than a bath.

The full Turkish Hammam experience lasts for about 45 minutes and includes being washed, scrubbed, and massaged by an experienced attendant while being naked. Do not worry; there are separate women and men sections, and someone of the same sex will attend you.

A Turkish Hammam is a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating experience that is very typical to the country and must be part of your Turkish vacation.

• Where To Find The Best Hammam In Istanbul

9. The Good Things About Turkey: Turkish Cuisine

While the world-famous kebab is a good start, Turkish cuisine is much more than that. The centerpiece of any Turkish meal is pilaf (0r, at least that is what my mom says) – slightly toasted rice enriched with broth and spices and often accompanied by almonds or plump raisins. This side dish makes any ordinary dish an extraordinary one.

And then there are sweets – Turkey excels when it comes to desserts and sweet delights. Baklava is a pastry filled with pistachios and sugary syrup. It is not only one of the best-known sweets in Turkey but also well-known worldwide.

You will find a wide array of baklava available almost everywhere in Istanbul. Even more famous is Turkish delight or lokum – a chewy, soft cube sprinkled with powdered sugar. It makes a perfect addition to Turkish coffee or tea .

Balik Ekmek is a street-food fish sandwich served with vegetables inside a fresh Turkish bun. Head to Istanbul’s Eminönü Square to try the best version of this dish.

Vegetarians will find finding meat-free options easy, as many dishes consist of vegetables or legumes such as eggplant, zucchini, chickpeas, lentils, tomatoes, beans, and much more!

For example, Kizartma is a dish consisting of spicy fried potatoes and zucchini or eggplant and served with a rich tomato sauce with garlic, parsley, and olive oil. Kumpir is a delicious baked potato with fillings of your choice – primarily fresh vegetables and sauces!

Oh, and no day of sightseeing in Turkey can start without a traditional Turkish breakfast , served with a side of Turkish coffee, of course.

• Traditional Turkish Meze Dishes
• Spices To Try In Turkey

10. To Experience The Famous Turkish Ice Cream Trick!

Turkish ice cream is like no other ice cream you’ve tried before. It’s chewy, creamy, stretchy, and doesn’t melt. Also known as ‘dondurma,’ it is made from goat milk, cream, wild orchids, and mastic resin, giving it that elasticity, chewiness, and gummy texture.

This is also what makes it ideal for pranking customers – poor Vladimir and Roko got duped and had no idea what was going on!

The Turkish ice cream trick is a well-known prank that will make you giggle, no matter what age you are. So, when you make an order for a delicious scoop of Turkish ice cream, be prepared for a series of tricks and pranks before you get to eat your ice cream!

• Food To Try In Turkey

11. You Must Experience The Warm Turkish Hospitality

As you’ve probably already gathered from reading my article, Turkey has stunning landscapes and delicious cuisine. But what makes this place extra special are the local people and their generosity.

Wherever you go, you will come across good-hearted Turks who want to ensure you, as a tourist in their country, have a beautiful experience visiting Turkey . They will smile, wave, and ask you how your day is while preparing you a cup of warm Turkish tea and inviting you to share it with them.

In Turkey, guests are treated with warmth and generosity, and sharing meals is an important social custom, so if you wander out of the over-tourist areas, local people might even invite you to their house to share a meal with their family. An offer that is hard to refuse, considering you will be in for a tasty meal and a wonderful local experience!

Mate told us that he found Turkish people to be incredibly friendly, warm, and caring. Unlike other countries, they rarely tried to overcharge or scam him. That said, there are some scams in Turkey to avoid; read those here , or you can also read about how to avoid Istanbul scams here.

12. Turkey’s History Is Captivating!

Turkey’s history stretches back thousands of years. In fact, the Karain cave, located near Antalya , hides evidence of habitation back 50,000 years ago! Scattered around this vast country are more reminders of various civilizations that resided in Turkey throughout all those years.

Sitting on two continents, Turkey was influenced by the Greeks, Arabs, Seljuk, and Ottoman rule before being established as the Republic of Turkey by Ataturk in 1923.

Today, the reminders can be seen in the ancient ruins and learned about in museums or during educational tours, available from most touristic spots in the country.

During your trip to Turkey, make sure to dive deep into its complex and intriguing history.

• Turkey Museum Pass Options

13. It Is An Excellent Destination For Family Turkish Vacations

Although this might not be the first destination to come to your mind if you’re planning vacations with your kids, Turkey is actually one of the best places to holiday.

If you’re looking for beach vacations with your little ones, the Mediterranean region is well-developed, modern, and designed with tourism in mind, making moving around easy, convenient, and safe.

Along its shores, you will find many family-friendly resorts and hotels, and many of them have kids’ entertainment programs. Antalya is an excellent option with its Aqualand Waterpark and the Aquarium. Nearby, Marmaris is a lively resort town with gorgeous beaches. Perfect for families with bigger children, Marmaris has plenty of karaoke bars and offers fun nights out!

Adventurous families will enjoy the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia and overnight stays in one of the many cave hotels in Goreme.

Some of the other best Turkey destinations for families include the history and culture-packed Istanbul or the nearby 700-year-old Ottoman village Cumalıkızık, near the colorful Bursa , a short ferry ride away from Istanbul.

• Hotels In Turkey That Are Fun For Kids
• Best Things To Do In Cappadocia With Kids
• Family Friendly Activities In Istanbul

14. Turkey Is Also An Excellent Destination For Adventure Travel

Turkey is a fantastic choice for your next holiday, no matter what kind of traveler you are.

My country also offers an array of adventurous activities if you’re looking for some adrenaline during your trip to Turkey. While everyone knows about the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia , there are even more reasons to visit Turkey for adventure travel.

For instance, did you know that Turkey has one of the highest paragliding take-off sites in the world? Babadag Mountain, near Fethiye , offers paragliding off of a thrilling 1960 meters above sea level!

Beyond that, you can take a balloon ride over the famous Ephesus site for a very unique perspective of this ancient city . Water lovers will enjoy scuba diving at night in Bodrum , where you can dive into the Graveyard of Ships. Or, the holiday-classic activity, white water rafting, but in the extreme rapids of the Köprülü Canyon near Antalya.

15. Turkey Is Safe To Travel In

With all the bad reputation that this country has (mostly in the past now!), you might be wondering, ‘ Is Turkey safe? . Understandably, safety is a priority during your trip visit to Turkey, especially when traveling solo or with your family.

SJ told me that whenever she visits, she finds the country to be full of friendly people who always want to help, and she feels genuinely safe. She even bragged about walking alone at night without worry.

Tourist destinations, such as the Turkish Riviera, Istanbul, or Cappadocia, are especially safe. However, normal and everyday precautions should always be taken, just like in any other place in the world.

Many guides tell you that the southeastern part of Turkey is better avoided due to the rising violence and crime – but we disagree and are writing about that soon. For sure, the Iraqi and Syrian borders must also be avoided; do not be tempted to go even with a local guide.

16. Istanbul Is A Great Weekend City Break

For those who live in Europe or neighboring Asian countries, Istanbul is an amazing city break for your weekend adventures. The International Airport in Istanbul has fantastic connections with the rest of the world, adding to one of the many reasons why you should visit Turkey.

Although this vibrant, culture-rich city has so much to see that you could stay there for months, the highlights can be ticked off during your quick weekend trip to Turkey.

The highlights you could focus on include the largest covered market in the world – the Grand Bazaar, the 6th century Hagia Sophia mosque, or the Bosphorus Bridge that connects Europe and Asia.

To make things easier for you, you could join an Istanbul Tour and learn all you need to know about Turkey from a knowledgeable local guide. If you have more than two days, then you can take a day trip to the nearby Bursa or the unique Polish village of Polonezköy.

• How To Spend 2 Days In Istanbul
• How To Spend 4 Days In Istanbul

17. Turkey Has 82,693 Mosques To Discover

In case you fall in love with the Hagia Sophia or the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul and want to explore more mosques – there are 82,691 more in the country! But the majority of them – over 3,100 are in Istanbul.

Turkey is famous for its impressive mosques. They are places of worship in Islam, the predominant religion of Turkey. The mosques are breathtaking pieces of art, with their magnificent tall towers rising over the stunning domes that cover the prayer hall. Inside, they boast a large, open communal space that, in most cases, is open to all visitors, no matter their religion.

A mosque worth visiting is the Grand Çamlıca Mosque in Istanbul , which is also the largest mosque in the country. The Selimiye Mosque, found in Edirne, is believed to be one of the most beautiful mosques in Turkey .

The Kocatepe Mosque in the capital – Ankara, has towers so large that they can be spotted from anywhere in the city. Mahmud Bey Mosque in Kasaba is a unique mosque, as it is constructed largely out of wood.

When visiting mosques, remember the right etiquette. You must wear modest clothing, and women should cover their heads (single-use head scarves are often available upon entry), shoes must be removed, and never enter a mosque during prayer times.

18. It Is Still Largely Undiscovered, Making It An Ideal Destination For Off-The-Beaten-Path Travel

Türkiye is a vast country, and only a small part of it actually gets visited, making it an incredible destination for those who like to travel to off-track places. Although less convenient than the touristy places, venturing off the beaten track in Turkey comes with having unique experiences and seeing some stunning, untouched landscapes.

The Eastern side of Turkey, on the Asian continent, is where you will find the most hidden gems . Also called the Eastern Anatolia Region, it is a wild and rugged region and home to ancient towns and temples, historic caves, and so much more.

This area is a blend of Turkish and Kurdish cultures and is influenced by the nearby Caucasus countries, showcasing a completely different face of Turkey that is largely unknown.

If you’re up for a challenging but fascinating trip in Turkey, visit the Kaçkar Mountains for excellent hiking or adventure water sports opportunities. Tucked among the untamed peaks are 1,000-year-old churches and reminders of when this region belonged to the Kingdom of Georgia .

Just off the shores of the Black Sea in Northern Turkey lies Amasya. A small town with over 7,500 years of history, it boasts impressive Ottoman architecture cut into rugged mountains.

Dogubayazit is a small town set in the high altitudes near Mt. Ararat, the snow-capped, double-cone volcano. My Aunt, who lives there, told me that it is believed to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark, and it is a heaven for mountain climbers and hikers.

• Hidden Gems & Secret Spots In Istanbul

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19. Turkey Is The King Of Nuts

Turkey is famous for its variety of nuts. Pistachios are the centerpiece of many Turkish sweets, such as hazelnuts – commonly used in baklava. Roasted chestnuts are popular street food snacks, walnuts are used in many dishes, and almonds are cultivated in many parts of the country.

Hazelnuts, in particular, are super important for Turkish cuisine, culture, and economy. Turkey cultivates and processes most of the world’s hazelnuts. They are exported all over the world to be used in chocolate, spreads, or coffee. If you can, try the hazelnut butter or the Turkish version of peanut butter!

The farms can be found scattered along the coast of the Black Sea in northern Turkey, where you will also find tonnes of nuts available to purchase for a cheap price.

Almond is another nut variety cultivated in Türkiye. They are known to have a sweet and mild taste and are often used in baking. In fact, Turkish delight and halva are made out of almonds. This definitely adds to the reasons why foodies should visit Turkey!

20. To Try The Turkish Signature Drink: Raki

Although Turkey is an Islamic country, visiting Turkey doesn’t have to mean no alcohol consumption. Unlike other Muslim countries, Türkiye has a more secular approach to governance where alcohol consumption is legal and often enjoyed in social settings; regardless, many Turks choose to abstain.

The fact that Turks are more open to alcohol than other countries is due to the reforms during Ataturk’s rule that aimed to modernize and secularize the country.

Raki goes through an interesting process when being made. It is distilled two to five times from grapes before it gets re-distilled with aniseed, giving it a unique, strong flavor. It often contains 40-50% alcohol, so make sure to take it slow when enjoying raki in Turkey!

Raki holds a cultural significance in the country and is often referred to as the national drink. You will see locals sip on raki to celebrate important life events or to numb the pain. It is usually drunk with a side of chilled water, often sweetened with brown sugar.

• Turkish Alcohol & Drinking Laws
• Turkish Drinks To Try On Your Travels

21. There Are Millions Of Stray Cats In Turkey, And They Are Honored By The Locals

This one is for animal lovers who want to visit Turkey. During your visit, you will find cats – lots of cats, everywhere. In Istanbul alone, there are thought to be over 125,000 homeless cats roaming the narrow, cobblestone streets or hiding in the nooks of the mosques.

Some cats even climb tree trunks and camouflage between the high branches of trees in the city’s green areas. They have been doing so for millennia.

Turkish cats, unlike other cats, are affectionate and unflinching.

They are also very cheeky and will sneak into your room! This happened to me in my guesthouse in Bursa, where I left the window open for the night and got woken up by not one but three cats making my room their shelter for the night! (So, if you’re not too fond of cats – make sure to close your windows and doors tightly!)

As it is common in Muslim cultures, cats in Turkey are honored. You will see locals feeding stray cats, nursing them if needed, and giving them love. This is just another reflection of the beautiful Turkish hospitality!

SJ’s son Vladimir took many cat pictures on his trip; here is one of them – cute, right?

As of October 2023, a Cat Museum opened in Istanbul, dedicated to the special bond of the felines and people of Turkey.

Reasons To Answer The Question “Why Visit Turkey”

There are many reasons why Türkiye is one of the most beautiful countries in the world:

• It has a diverse landscape that includes mountains, forests, rivers, and coastlines
• It has a rich history and culture that is reflected in its architecture, art, and cuisine
• It is home to some of the most hospitable people in the world

A diverse landscape is one of its most defining features. The country has several mountain ranges, including:

• The Taurus Mountains
• The Pontic Mountains
• It also has dense forests, such as the Black Sea and Kackar Mountains

In addition to these natural wonders, Türkiye also boasts several rivers, including:

• The Euphrates and
• Tigris River
• As well as stunning coastlines along the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea

No matter what your interests are, Türkiye has something for you. If you’re looking for an adventure, there are plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy, such as:

• Camping and

While these are all popular pastimes in the country if you prefer to stay indoors, Turkish cities offer a wealth of museums, galleries, and historical sites to explore.  And, of course, no trip to Türkiye would be complete without sampling the delicious Turkish cuisine.

And the main reason to visit Türkiye is, of course:

It’s people. Finally, Türkiye is home to some of the most hospitable people in the world. The warmth and generosity of the Turkish people often strike visitors to Türkiye. This hospitality extends beyond just tourism – Turks are also known for their charity work and their commitment to helping those in need.

With its delicious food, breathtaking natural beauty, and ancient traditions, Türkiye is the perfect place to tick off your bucket list. From the vibrant Aegean coast to its cultural treasures, there’s every good reason to make this your next unforgettable adventure in 2024.

• 19 Cities Near Istanbul To Visit
• Where To Exchange Money In Istanbul
• A Guide To Turkey Bus Travel
• Turkey Tourist SIM Card Options
• Best Hiking Trails In Turkey

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Planning a Trip to Turkey: An 11-Step Checklist

Turkey is one of our favorite countries in the Balkans! Besides Bulgaria, it’s our most-visited country, as between Stephanie and I we have made eight trips to this stunning country over the past decade… starting in 2011 and returning nearly yearly. We can’t help it: the delicious breakfasts, the beautiful mosques, and the friendly locals (both human and feline) keep us coming back time and again.

From epic landscapes to delicious food to incredible history and fantastic urban culture, planning a trip to Turkey can be a bit complicated at times due to visa requirements and certain websites being inaccessible within Turkey… but a headache is entirely avoidable when you use our guide! And trust us, figuring it out is worth it.

Step 1:  Check to See if You Need a Visa

Turkey is neither part of the EU nor the Schengen zone, so if you have a multi-entry Schengen visa it won’t help you out here.

There are 78 visa-exempt countries and territories who can enter Turkey without a visa, as well as 42 countries and territories whose citizens are eligible to apply for an e-Visa online.

Keep in mind, though, that many people with traditionally “strong” passports are not visa-exempt, and actually do have to apply for an e-Visa online. It is not a different visa to get at all, but given that people with strong passport privilege like myself often forget to double-check visa requirements, especially in a country as European and West-facing as Turkey. I had an Irish friend have a bit of a panic when they learned they needed a Turkish visa at the last minute!

Americans, Canadians, British, Irish, Australians are all frequent visitors to Turkey who require an e-visa before flying to Turkey, among many other nationalities, aside from the below-listed countries. If you’re not sure if you require a visa to go to Turkey, check this list of nationalities who require a visa on the Byevisa website (they can also help you out with the application process if you’re overwhelmed).

Countries who DO NOT need a visa

The countries on the list below are allowed to enter Turkey without a visa, using a passport (or ID if marked with an *), for tourism and business purposes (with the exception of the countries listed at the end, which require a visa for business purposes but not tourism). They are allowed to enter up to 90 days per 180-day period, with a maximum of 90 days in a single visit.

Note that as always, your passport must have over 6 months of validity to enter Turkey!

Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France*, Georgia*, Germany*, Greece*, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Israel, Italy*, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania, Luxembourg*, Malaysia, Moldova*, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland*, Tajikistan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine*, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela

Note: Of this list, people from Albania, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia are permitted to enter visa-free for tourism only; citizens from these countries require a business visa if entering Turkey for business purposes

Second note: Those marked above with an asterisk (*) can enter with either a national ID card and/or passport.

Russians are allowed to enter visa-free with just their passport for 60 days per visit and up to 90 days per 180-day period. So theoretically, a Russian could spend 60 days on one visit, leave, and return for another 30 days spread out over that 180-day period.

Finally, there’s one more group of people who can travel visa-free, but only for up to 30 days per visit and up to 90 days per 180-day period. So theoretically, they could plan three 30-day trips within a 180 day period, or divide that into any other period and still be covered under this law.

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brunei, Costa Rica, Latvia, Macao, Mongolia (tourism only), Thailand, and Turkmenistan

There are a few exceptions due to the current geopolitical situations worldwide. They are as follows:

People from Cyprus who reside in Northern Cyprus (Turkish occupied) can enter for 90 days out of 180 visa-free, granted that they arrive from Ercan Airport or seaports in Northern Cyprus.

Libyans who are 12 or under, or 65 or older, may enter for 90 days within 180 days. Anyone between the ages of 13-64 would need a visa.

Palestinians who hold a VIP passport (not sure what that is, to be honest) are also allowed a 90 day stay per every 180 days.

That sums up the nationalities who are allowed to enter Turkey without a visa. Note that many traditionally “strong” passports are not on the above list: the UK, Canada, Ireland, US, and Australia are all missing, because these countries (and others) require an e-visa.

Countries who require an E-Visa

Getting a Turkish e-visa is quite simple, so don’t get intimidated. As an American, it took me about 15 minutes to fill out the form and I heard back almost immediately. It cost me $20 USD for a multi-entry visa that gave me 90 days out of the following 180. Some are free, some cost up to $65 (sorry Canadians!) and others more – your fee will depend on your countries’ agreements.

Here is a list of countries who require an e-visa. Note that those with asterisks can enter with a national ID card and do not necessarily require a passport. Anyone without an asterisk requires a passport. The list below is for 90 days within a 180-day period, but there are exceptions to that below.

Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium* , Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Fiji, Grenada, Haiti, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Maldives, Malta*, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands* , Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal*, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain*, Suriname, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

People with passports for the following countries can only get a single-entry visa good for 30 days: Armenia, China, Cyprus, East Timor, Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, Suriname, and Taiwan.

Conditional E-Visas

As if it wasn’t complicated enough, there are also many countries which are eligible for conditional e-visas: either single entry e-Visa received online in advance, or a e-visa on arrival. This would give them a 30 day stay, single entry. These are the conditions:

• Must hold a valid visa or residence permit from one of the following countries: Schengen visa, Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States. Electronic visas or e-residence permits are not accepted. This does not apply for Egyptian citizens under 20 or over 45, who do not need a visa or permit. Similarly, Algerian citizens must be aged below 18 or over 35 years old to be eligible for e-Visa (otherwise they need a sticker from an embassy).
• Must hold a hotel reservation and adequate financial means (US$50 per day).
• All citizens except for the citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Philippines must travel with one of the airlines that has protocols with Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The following airlines meet the criteria: AtlasGlobal, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Citizens of Egypt may also travel on flights operated by EgyptAir.
• Afghanistan, Iraq, Zambia and Philippines citizens are not eligible for e-visa on arrival at Istanbul airports

And these are the countries eligible, given they’ve fulfilled the above requirements:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

If your country is not listed on this, or if you don’t meet the above requirements, you will need to apply for a visa in a physical embassy (sticker visa).

Step 2. Book Your Tickets

Turkey doesn’t always have the best cheap flight details because Turkish Airlines has a pretty strong hold on the market here. For example, living in Bulgaria, it’s quite expensive for me to fly to Turkey (despite being right next door!) as there are no low-budget airlines operating flights between the two countries. However, Turkey often has fantastic deals from far-away destinations – I once flew direct from San Francisco to Istanbul for under $500 USD roundtrip!

However, that’s not to say you can’t find cheap flights into Turkey. To find the best value for your flights, we suggest  Skyscanner  and  Google Flights . Use Skyscanner’s “Everywhere” feature to check all of the various airports in Istanbul, since there are multiple ones. Google Flights has a nicer interface and updates with the correct prices faster, so there are no disappointments when you click through, unlike Skyscanner.

That said, you can also get to Turkey overland. Stephanie and I have both taken the night train from Sofia to Istanbul (also works Plovdiv to Istanbul) and my boyfriend has taken the bus from Sofia to Istanbul as well. This may be a good option for getting to Turkey, but book at least a day or two in advance as Stephanie once had tickets sell out on her sleeper train! Theoretically you can also get a bus from Athens to Istanbul or Thessaloniki to Istanbul, but I’ve never tried this route.

Step 3. Plan Your Turkey Itinerary

Many people who visit Turkey explore a combination of Istanbul and the mainland. However, there are so many places to visit in Turkey that it would be impossible to give one sample itinerary that would cover all the best options. Here are some things you need to ask yourself when it comes time to plan your trip to Turkey.

• Am I interested in exploring Turkey’s history and seeing ancient sites like the Hierapolis and Ephesus?
• Do I want to spend time in Cappadocia and Pamukkale in the interior?
• Do I want to spend time exploring multiple islands or beaches?
• Do I want to explore one city in-depth?

The answer to these questions will help you figure out how best to divide your time. Stephanie and I have each spent months in Turkey, and we’ve both barely scratched the surface! Don’t feel bad if you can’t see everything you want to on your first trip here. You can always come back!

Here are some good guidelines to keep in mind when planning a Turkey vacation.

If you have four days or less to travel in Turkey, stick to one place. This would be a great amount of time for an initial trip to Istanbul. If you wanted to do a day trip to Bursa or the Princes’ Islands, that would be possible, but a bit rushed.

If you have a week, you can explore two or possibly three places in Turkey. In this case, we’d recommend a trip to Istanbul and Cappadocia. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could go on from Cappadocia to Pamukkale by night bus (it’s safe – I did it solo!) and then fly or bus back to Istanbul from Denizli.

Domestic flights within Turkey can be absurdly cheap – cheaper even then the bus, at times! I flew from Istanbul to Kayseri (near Cappadocia) for $20. So don’t discount flights on Turkish Airlines or Pegasus when it comes time to getting around Turkey. Turkey also has some of the best buses I’ve ever taken in my travels, and they are quite a viable way of getting around.

Finally, don’t discount the coast if you are visiting Turkey in the summer! Fethiye, Bodrum, Antalya, and many offbeat coastal cities and islands are all wonderful places to soak up the sun.

If you are trying to decide where to go in Turkey, we’ve created a guide to help you get ideas: 17 of the Best Places to Visit in Turkey.

If you are combining a trip to Turkey with visits to additional Balkan countries, you’ll want to check out these Balkan travel resources. We think Bulgaria or Greece is the best country to combine with Turkey, personally, though we tend towards Bulgaria as we’re a bit biased!

• These are the 12 Balkan Countries Plus the Top Reason to Visit Each One
• The 10 Balkan Itinerary Commandments
• 41 Balkan Travel Tips
• Balkan Bus Trips: 10 Things You Must Know Before Your Ride

Step 4. Plan Your Activities

After you decide where you’re going to go, you’ll want to decide which activities to enjoy. In Istanbul, the city is so large that we actually advise against picking day trips unless you really want to get out and see the Princes’ Islands or something else you can get to by boat, like Bursa, since getting out of Istanbul by car or bus is such an ordeal! We’d recommend booking things like Bosphorus cruises, food tours, walking tours, and cultural events. Here are our top 3 tour/activity recommendations for Istanbul.

Taste of Two Continents Food Tour

Easily the most delicious thing you’ll do in Istanbul all weekend, we highly recommend a food tour as a way of getting to know Istanbul better. Turkish food is one of the best cuisines out there, and this tour will give you a tasty introduction to it.

This food tour covers several neighborhoods and two continents over the course of five hours, so wear your best walking shoes (and stretchiest pants)! You’ll sample lots of different small tastes, travel by tram and ferry, and enjoy a full meal consisting of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. To cap that all off, you’ll enjoy four drinks over the course of the evening, plus a nargile (aka shisha) to cap off the night.

People love this tour! Check out prices, availability, and reviews of this 5 star rated tour here!

Bosphorus Cruise

A Bosphorus cruise is an essential way to explore the best of Istanbul. One of the world’s most important rivers, the Bosphorus connects the Marmara Sea with the Black Sea and provided the foundation for centuries of empires.

A sightseeing cruise up the Bosphorus is extremely relaxing and a great way to rest your feet while you still take in the beauty of Istanbul and its history, learning about the gorgeous palaces, bridges, fortresses, towers, and buildings which flank the river banks. This ultra-affordable 90-minute tour is a can’t-miss addition to your Istanbul city break itinerary.

»»  Book your Bosphorus river cruise today!  ««

Landmark Highlights Day Tour

If you prefer to have a little guidance during your trip to Istanbul, we recommend spending one day doing a guided tour which will explain the history of Sultanahmet’s most important sites: Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Grand Bazaar.

While you can certainly visit all these sights independently, visiting with a tour will give you essential historical context, allow you to skip the lines, and hop around from site to site in an organized, logical fashion that doesn’t waste any time.

»»  Book your Bosphorus river cruise today!  ««

If you’re going to be on the coast or islands, you will want to look into boating activities, water sports, and walking tours.

We generally use and recommend GetYourGuide for booking tours in Turkey and the Balkans.  We like that they have a best price guarantee and that they tell you the name of the tour companies they partner with (unlike Viator), so you can research it and be sure it’s worth your money!

If you are traveling between April and September, you will want to make sure your tours and activities are booked in advance since Turkey is a hot tourist destination. I have traveled to Turkey in the shoulder season (early April and October), and I still found that my tours were full or almost-full. However, if you visit Istanbul in winter , you likely won’t have to worry about that.

Step 5. Budget Your Trip

Once you know where you want to go and how long you have, you can put together your trip budget.

Thanks to a depressed Turkish lira, Turkey is a great budget-friendly destination compared to much of Europe. However, if you’re traveling through the rest of the Balkans first, especially places like Albania and Macedonia, prices will seem a bit higher. Personally, I find it on par with places like Greece and Montenegro, but not as expensive as Croatia or Slovenia.

Even in cities like Istanbul and touristy destinations like Cappadocia, there are budget options available. We personally choose to stay in private rooms in hostels or AirBnB apartments over hostel dorms, but there are dorm beds available basically everywhere to help you save money.

You can travel through Turkey on $30-40 USD per day by staying in dorms, eating cheap streets foods, minimizing alcohol (which is pricy in Turkey), and paring down your activities and travel between places.

When I travel through Turkey, I typically spend closer to $50-60 USD per day and enjoy that Turkey offers some true bargains in this price range, especially when it comes to accommodations.

For someone wanting the best of everything, like fancy hotels, fine dining, and the best activities, you’ll find that this will cost much less than a similarly luxurious trip in Spain, France, or Italy. So if you want to have a seriously bougie time somewhere, Turkey is a great value.

Good ways to cut down costs without sacrificing quality is to travel with someone so that you can split costs, enjoy your nicer meals at lunch when there are specials, and to weigh the cost of flying vs. buses as sometimes flying can be cheaper (pro tip: it helps to use incognito mode and search in the local currency, the lira!)

Step 6. Book Your Accommodations

Once you’ve decided out what you want to spend per night on accommodations, it’s time to get booking! Please, read this carefully as you can run into problems with your trip!

We use  Booking.com because we like that they have free cancellation if you end up changing your plans. HOWEVER , Booking.com does not work once you’re inside Turkey unless you are using a VPN (Wikipedia doesn’t either, so say goodbye to fun facts on the go!). You can definitely pre-book your trips on Booking and access your information about your trip while you’re there, but if you search, the inventory will look to be 0. This freaked me out a lot when I was making a last minute plan to stay in Pamukkale after Cappadocia and there was no inventory available! I was able to work around it by using Hostelworld instead.

Still, we recommend Booking.com: it has the widest selection of types of accommodations, from guest houses to hostels to luxury hotels to apartments (without the Airbnb service and cleaning fees that can add up). One great way to keep accommodation costs down is to stay somewhere nice at one destination, and then pick a budget hotel at your next destination.

We have guides on where to stay in Istanbul as well as the best cave hotels in Cappadocia , so if you want to book, you have our recommendations at your fingertips (literally)! Just be sure to book before arriving in Turkey.

Step 7. Research Any Vaccinations You May Need

Turkey has a lot of stray animals, particularly cats. I mean, there is even a whole documentary about Istanbul street kitties! They are generally very friendly and well-behaved, taken care of by local business owners and families. Since we can’t help ourselves, visiting Turkey is basically like visiting one giant petting zoo of friendly kitties.

Be cautious and only touch kitties who approach you first. Or don’t at all, but I think that may be actually biologically impossible. I actually got bit by a cat in Ukraine and had to undergo five rabies shots – it’s not something I recommend, but it also hasn’t stopped my cat-head-scratching habit yet. I’m unstoppable, what can I say?

If you do get bitten by an animal in Turkey, go to the doctor immediately (within 48 hours, the sooner the better!) so they can assess the risk. Rabies does exist in Turkey, but I don’t recommend getting pre-exposure shots as they are 1) expensive, 2) often unnecessary, and 3) don’t even mean you won’t have to get post-exposure shots since you’ll still need to do more shots after a bite.

Here’s what the CDC recommends regarding vaccinations:

Make sure you are up-to-date on routine vaccines before every trip. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

They also recommend most travelers get Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations, as there is some risk of contamination. And if you’re in Turkey for a medical procedure or plan to get a tattoo (or indulge in any risky sexual or drug-related behaviors), you should also consider getting a Hepatitis B vaccine.

Step 8: Learn a Few Common Turkish Words and Brush Up on the Turkish Alphabet Pronunciation

One thing that a lot of travelers from North America and Western Europe overlook is that Turkey uses a slightly different alphabet that looks like Latin but has a few unique letters. This means that pronunciation can be a bit difficult.

Check out this guide to Turkish pronunciation , which you should find quite helpful.

Most tourism professionals and people in the service industry speak amazing English, and it’s getting better every year. My first visit to Turkey in the winter of 2012 was a challenge; every year since, it’s gotten far easier to communicate with locals and tourism professionals.

Still, it’s kind to learn some Turkish (and it will definitely win you some fans and perhaps some free rakı). Here are the Turkish phrases we recommend you have handy for your trip to Turkey:

Hello = Merhaba

Good morning = Günaydın

Good afternoon = Tünaydın

How are you? = Nasılsın?

Goodbye = Güle güle

Please = Lütfen

Thank You  = Teşekkür ederim

Excuse Me = İzninizle / Pardon

Cheers = Şerefe!

Yes  = Evet

No  = Hayır

I Don’t Understand  = Anlamadım

Do You Speak English?  = İngilizce biliyor musunuz?

Remember that some of these words have tricky letters, like ı which sounds more like “uh!” (i.e. it’s rak-uh, not rak-ee!) We always recommend a good translator app, like Google Translate, just in case!

Step 9. Pack Your Bags

We are in the process of creating packing lists to help you know what to pack for Turkey, but until then, here are some items you don’t want to leave home without:

• A Lonely Planet guidebook, to help you plan when on the ground
• An unlocked smartphone, so you can buy a cheap SIM card and use apps like Uber and Google Maps
• An extra swimsuit so you can enjoy Turkey’s hammams and beaches without having to put a wet one back on.
• Motion sickness pills for windy roads, Istanbul traffic, ferries, hot air balloon sides, etc.
• Sunscreen (if you’re bringing checked luggage). Sunscreen and other cosmetics can be expensive in Turkey compared to back home.

Step 10. Prepare For Your Arrival

Since there’s no universal way to arrive to Istanbul, you’ll want to do some prep work beforehand to make sure you know how you’ll get from the airport, ferry station, or bus station to your hotel.

Flying into Istanbul

This is the most common way for visitors to arrive in Istanbul. There are two: Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Istanbul New Airport (which is so new I’ve never taken it, as it just started running flights in April 2019!) Flights to Ataturk are no longer running. Anything with the airport code IST is going to the new airport.

We recommend using Uber to get an affordable taxi into the city rather than relying on cab drivers as it can be a crapshoot as to whether you’ll get an honest one. A taxi would cost about 105-135 lira, not counting traffic (about $18-23), and I’d imagine an Uber would be a bit less.

You can take Havaist, a shuttle service operating between the new Istanbul airport and central Istanbul. A ride costs 18 lira, about $3 USD. These will go to Taksim, Beşiktaş, and Sultanahmet as well as other destinations. The ride takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours (Istanbul traffic is relentless), but there’s WiFi, chargers, and movies on board to keep you entertained.

We have a complete guide to getting into Istanbul overland from Sofia here , so read this guide if you plan to take the bus or train.

If you fly into Sabiha Gokcen, I recommend the Havabus shuttle to Taksim, which costs 18 lira ($3 USD) and takes about 90 minutes. You can then take a taxi to your final destination if it’s not within walking distance of Taksim. Alternately, you can Uber or pay for a cab.

Flying into Other Airports

I’ve also flown into Kayseri and took a shared shuttle organized by my Cappadocia cave hotel. It was inexpensive and easy!

I’ve also flown out of Bodrum, but I flew too early in the morning to take public transportation and had to take a pricy cab that cost more than the airplane ticket itself! Though, to be fair, I only paid like $20 USD for the plane ticket.

Keep in mind that with early and late departures, you may be forced into taking an expensive cab, and that can add onto your final transportation bill!

Before You Leave the Airport

You’ll want to have some Turkish lira on you for your taxi or to get on a bus. You can take them out at the ATMs in the airports for the best exchange rates. Just make sure you don’t have big ATM withdrawal fees from your bank (Americans, we recommend Schwab!). Some banks require a travel notice, and others will still put fraud blocks on cards making purchases outside of their home country.

Tell your bank when and where you’ll be traveling to avoid this. They may still put a block on your card at some point (mine frequently does). To rectify this, you’ll need to call them or respond to an email if they send one. This is one reason its good to always travel with multiple cards attached to different accounts. I always travel with two credit cards and two debit cards if possible.

Note that many places in Turkey take Visa and Mastercard (AmEx and Discover, so much). You’ll still need some cash to be able to travel through Turkey smoothly, especially if you want to shop!

Step 11: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!

We put this last so it’s fresh on your mind:  travel insurance is essential for Turkey and for travel in general! Allison and I have both been paying customers of World Nomads  for the last two years.

We love the peace of mind it gives us in case of emergencies, accidents, illnesses, theft, or trip cancellation or disruption. While we think Turkey is just about as safe to travel as anywhere else in Europe, it has a slightly higher risk of political unrest or terrorism. While it shouldn’t dissuade you from going to Turkey (I mean… we’ve never let it stop us, and we never will!) it is better safe than sorry.

While Turkey is perfectly safe to travel around, there’s always risk inherent in everyday travel, from theft to accidents to trip cancellations, so it’s better to play it safe. The saying goes “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel,” and we believe it’s true!

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip here.

Originally from California, Allison has been living in Bulgaria for the last two years and is obsessed with traveling around the Balkans. She has been published in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, Matador Network, and the Huffington Post. She loves befriending dogs, drinking coffee, geeking out about wine, and cooking food from around the world.

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4 Reasons to Visit Turkey Immediately!

Last Updated on August 27, 2019

One of my favourite places in the world is Turkey. The country fascinates me with its rich culture and not to mention Turkish food is my favourite kind!  The country has some of the most beautiful places to visit including serene beaches and mind-blowing architecture.

It is relatively easy to get to Turkey these days as Istanbul has 2 major airports, both which you can get very affordable flights onwards to the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

It is becoming a hot spot for tourists and here’s why you need to visit Turkey right now.

4 Reasons to Visit Turkey Right Now!

Diverse landscapes

Turkey really has it all. Three sides of the country are surrounded by water so you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world here.  The bonus is that it is still relatively quiet with not much tourist action here so you can find a spot to yourself on a beach paradise with the Mediterranean water at your feet!  If you’re not convinced yet then maybe the words crystal clear waters and pristine beaches might persuade you.

Not only are there amazing beaches but inland is so interesting and gorgeous as well. It has a very diverse landscape including the ‘Fairy Chimneys’ where there is only one way you should take it all in, a hot air balloon ride above them!

It was formed by volcanic eruptions centuries ago, I definitely think these are on the list of top wonders of the world.  Definitely take a tour with Encounters Travel to get the most out of these beautiful sites around the country!  It makes it a lot easier than hiring a car and worrying about the responsibilities that comes with it.

The Architecture and historic ruins

The cities will blow you away.  You have to discover the Mosques, especially the Blue Mosque which is the largest and most dazzling one in Istanbul.  The historic castles are also mind-boggling with every city having its own!

Hieropolis which means ‘Sacred City’ was believed to be found by the God Apollo.  The ruins of this city are simply astonishing and somewhere you have to discover when coming here.  If you liked the ruins of Rome, you’re guaranteed to love Hieropolis even more.

You will also find monasteries literally built into the mountains which is a sight in itself!  Near the black sea area is a monastery called Sumela.  It’s one of the most stunning places you can trek up to and because you’re in the area, you also could check out the seaside town Amasra, where you can take a dip in the Black Sea!

check out the best accommodation in turkey here

The Blue Mosque

The Turkish food

Turkish food is fresh, full of flavours and leaves you satisfied.  You could eat your way around the country which makes it attractive to the foodie travellers!

One of the best dishes you can eat while visiting Turkey is the Kahvalti. It’s kind of like Tapas for breakfast, including a selection of cheeses, tomatoes, olives, spicy sausage, bread, cucumbers, menemen (scrambled eggs with sausage and tomatoes), berry jam and Nutella.

Of course, you can’t leave out the çay which is a Turkish black tea! The Turkish love tea and have it with nearly every meal.  They do a delicious apple tea too which is very popular.

Turkish food is very meat-based. You will find a lot of different grilled meats and the famous, kebab which you most definitely need to try.  Another great dish is the Pide which is a Turkish pizza.  They usually fill it with cheese, meat and egg too.  It’s a very delicious lunch option although not very healthy!

If you are vegetarian don’t worry though.  There are a lot of dishes that are meat-free.  You can find a lot of rice as well as fresh vegetables.

A great way to learn more about food is by taking a food tour around Istanbul .   It’s a great way to learn about the country through food!

Turkish Tea

You can be in two continents at the same time!

Istanbul spreads across Asia and Europe.  Surely that is something to tick off your bucket list.  If you cross the main bridge in Instabul you can experience both continents as one side of the bridge is Europe and the other in Asia.

Let me know if you have been to Turkey before or what makes you want to visit Turkey the most.  Is it the food, history or is it the beautiful landscapes?

Other articles you will love:

• 26 Places to Visit in Turkey (+Transport & Visa)
• 23 Things To Do in Turkey That Shouldn’t Be Missed
• 3 Unforgettable Things to do in Antalya, Turkey

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The Comments

Fethiye holidays.

Great article! Have shared at our FB page https://www.facebook.com/vostokturkey/

Girl, Unspotted

Turkey is number one on my list! As I’ve got extensive plans for 2016 already, I think Turkey will have to wait until 2017. But I know for a fact I wouldn’t want to miss this!

Turkey is one of the countries I have been trying to get to for the last years. For some reason, I never made it. I’d love to see the cultural heritage in the West and the beautiful landscapes and friendly people in the East. One, I’ll make it.

Findling's Finds

You had me at Turkish Tea, we’ve been tacking cities to a board for next year’s travels and I’ve been on the fence about Turkey, now we really want that tea.

Turkey is amazing. I went to Istanbul and Bodrum last year and loved every second of it. I can’t wait to explore the rest of the country someday.

P.S Your pictures are beautiful!

We went to Turkey in 2015 and loved it. It is such a diverse country. The food and the people were highlights. istanbul might just be my new favorite city.

Jenni - Odd Socks and Lollipops

Wow! Such beautiful photos – it looks like such an amazing place. I have never been before but it’s looks like a great place to visit

Tori Gabriel

I think I’m still on Christmas! I thought you were discussing Christmas dinner at first!

Turkey sounds amazing but isn’t it on the “avoid” list at the moment due to terrorism?

freddieandi

Looks amazing, beautiful pictures! Would love to go there for my honeymoon!

Not a place for me, beautiful though it looks. Purely for political reasons I would never visit x

We went to Turkey last year but I couldn’t persuade hubby out of the resort. Would love to go back and explore more of the country

Oooh you bet that I am planning a trip to Turkey soon! It’s absolutely wonderful there, and your list just strengthens my resolve to really make it happen next year. We shall see!

trucosviajeros

I had plans for Turkey last year but I couldn’t make it somehow and now I am thinking about it again. Thanks for sharing, 🙂

Zena's Suitcase

We have stopped on in Turkey, and it does look like a beautiful country. I would love to explore more of it this year

Melody Pittman

I explored Istanbul this year and absolutely fell in love with it. I could almost taste that delicious apple tea from your picture! I think Hieropolis would be a fun place to explore on my next visit.

Sonia (@Mummy_loves)

I’ve never been to Turkey but my sister goes, I’d really like to visit one day, it looks beautiful 🙂

Holiday in Med

Great article about Turkey

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Why I Love Visiting Turkey

• Jacob Morgan
• December 29, 2009

Although I’m not that great at history I love to learn while I travel.  I’m always fascinated by historical sites, stories, cultures, traditions, and people.  I’ve been to Greece and thought nothing to possibly top all of the historical sites that I’ve seen there.  I was very wrong.  Turkey had some of the most amazing historical sites I have seen.  Everything from the library of Alexandria to the tomb of King Midas, all of it was just mind blowing; add a hot air balloon ride through the rose canyon in Cappadocia (one of the best places in the world to ride a hot air balloon) and you’ve really got yourself one heck of a trip.

Having said all that here are my top reasons for why I love Turkey and am so excited to speak there in February:

• Turkey has a lot of life and a rising technology and social media scene (which is what I’m interested in).  It’s amazing to see so many entrepreneurs in a foreign country working on trying to build something new and innovating.  When you visit Turkey you just feel a huge pulse of life.  Everyone goes out and has a great time
• The cities and sites in Turkey are also amazing.  I absolutely loved Pammukale where I had the opportunity to soak my feet in the limestone terrace pools that were overlooking a mountain.  I also saw some of the most amazing rock formations and underground cities that I have ever seen.
• The people in Turkey are very nice and welcome.  Again, Turkey is one of those places that gets a bad rap by the media but when you actually visit the country you find that people are very different.  They love conversations and are very spiritual.  I get the feeling that everyone in Turkey is wise and just eager to impart their wisdom to the world.  Turkey has a very old culture, history, and way of doing things and people really value their culture and tradition; everything from the way they pray to the type of tea they drink.
• The food in Turkey is also amazing.  I was on a guided tour while visiting Turkey and most of the food we ate on that tour was horrible.  However, once I left the guided tour to explore some of the cities on my own I was greeted with some of the best food I have ever tasted.  The kabobs and meat dishes in Turkey are heaven!

Here are a few pictures from my trip, if you want to see the full album you can check out my pictures of Turkey album on Flickr :

There are probably a few other things I can point out as well but not without going into details about the various cities.  If you have never been to Turkey I highly recommend that you visit, you will really be amazed at the things you will see and experience.  I can’t wait to go back!

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Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Turkey

From diverse cuisine to fascinating history, Turkey is an exciting place to visit for any traveller. Whether it’s for a quick stopover or long break, here’s what you need to know before entering the country.

Make the most of your Turkey experience by joining Culture Trip’s specially curated 12-day Turkey adventure , which includes visits to Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia among several other fantastic destinations – led by our local insider.

Turkish cuisine is vegetarian-friendly

Although Turkish cuisine is known for being meat-heavy, most local restaurants carry a wide variety of vegetarian options. Some offer zeytinyagli dishes , which are vegetables in olive oil. All fish and kebab restaurants have meat-free mezes on their menu that include yoghurt, herbs, hummus and eggplant salad.

Credit cards are widely accepted in major cities like Istanbul , Ankara and Izmir but many smaller towns and independent shops will require you to pay by cash. You’ll also need to carry change for taxi fares, tipping waiters (so that it goes to them directly) and public bathrooms.

Street cats and dogs are part of the scenery

Free-roaming cats and dogs are found everywhere – from the doorstep of Starbucks to luxurious beaches on the Mediterranean coast. They are mostly taken care of by the locals and are quite friendly, so there is no need to fear them. There is even a statue of Tombili – a famous street cat that died in 2016 – in Istanbul.

Don’t drink tap water

The quality of tap water varies from region to region but it’s not used for drinking purposes in any part of the country. However, it’s okay to use it to cook food, make tea after boiling it and brush your teeth, as long as you don’t swallow the water. Filtration systems are in place in big cities but locals still choose not to drink tap water just to be on the safe side.

Greetings are done by kissing both the cheeks

Turkish people are generally quite affectionate and this is apparent in the way they greet others. Although first encounters tend to include a handshake, when meeting a friend or someone you already know, the general rule is to kiss both cheeks regardless of gender. This, at times, tends to be coupled with a hug.

Be careful when crossing the street

Traffic in Turkey is notorious for cars but it’s no easy feat for pedestrians either. The pedestrian crossing doesn’t mean much, so don’t expect any car to stop for you when you’re walking to the other side. The safest way to cross a street is at the traffic light but, even then, it’s wise to check that the cars are definitely at a standstill.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon

Seeing a couple kissing passionately on the street is quite uncommon in Turkey, even in liberal neighbourhoods. Holding hands is OK, but do it with a side of caution if in a conservative area. Most public declarations of affection will be noticed but those between LGBT couples might especially be frowned upon.

Turkish charm goes beyond Istanbul

When planning your itinerary, look further than Istanbul and the more common historical sites. Turkey has a variety of landscapes to explore, from the hiking routes of Lycia and the valleys of the Black Sea region to the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and the largest lake, Van Golu, in the southeast. Different seasons call for different nature tours, so make sure to check the weather beforehand and plan accordingly.

Tea is a sign of hospitality

As you head towards the historic neighbourhoods of Istanbul or to smaller towns in Turkey, be prepared to drink several cups of tea every day. The avid tea drinkers that they are, shopkeepers will interrupt your shopping spree by offering tea. When visiting a Turkish household, the host will most likely offer a freshly-brewed cup as well. This is done as a sign of hospitality and friendship; some may get offended if you refuse the drink.

There is zero tolerance towards drug use

Turkey is very strict about drug use. There is no leniency when it comes to using or selling drugs within the country, although smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is acceptable.

Alla turca toilets are abound

If you’re only visiting Istanbul, you might not even come across these traditional toilets. However, if you’re bound to set off beyond the city, you’re likely to find yourself in an unexpected squat challenge. These old-school toilets are very hygienic (if they are clean) and exist alongside modern-day toilets in many areas.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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Top 7 reasons why you should travel to Turkey

Are you looking for an inspiring trip full of enchanting sights and vibrant culture? If so, then a trip to Turkey should be added to your bucket list!

This colorful country, called by some the bridge between East and West, offers many different unforgettable experiences.

From remarkable historical sites to stunning landscapes and scrumptious cuisine, Turkey will not disappoint!

What to prepare before going to Turkey – think visa and passport!

Before you pack your bags and book your flight, there are a few things you need to take care of. First, make sure you have the proper documentation.

A valid passport is required for all international travel, so check your passport’s expiration date well in advance of your trip. In addition, most nationalities require a visa to enter Turkey. Check your eligibility, avoid visiting the Turkish embassy and submit your visa application for Turkey online . Save a lot of time and energy, and receive your eVisa directly to your email inbox! 

Once you have your documents in order, you can start planning your itinerary. Now let’s take a look at 7 reasons why you should choose Turkey as your next vacation destination!

Reason No. 1: Rich history

Turkey has an incredibly rich history – the country has been a center of cultural exchange and the birthplace of great civilizations for thousands of years.

As home to many historical sites that contain evidence of its involvement with empires such as the Hittite, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, in Turkey you can explore some of the most inspiring historical artifacts of each civilization and immerse yourself in their powerful stories.

With Turkey encompassing such vast time periods, it is no wonder this country is so diverse and has such immense beauty, ranging from breathtaking mountain ranges to stunning seaside resorts.

Reason No. 2: Delicious cuisine

Turkey offers a wide range of culinary delights, with flavors and dishes so enticing that you will be willing to try new tastes and flavors.

From the world-famous kebab sandwich to classic Turkish main dishes traditionally prepared over charcoal, Turkish cuisine will please you with a delectable array of meats, vegetables and fruits prepared with delicious spices.

Turkey is also famous for some delicious sweets and desserts, handmade chocolates, or sweet treats such as Turkish delight. Turkish cuisine will satisfy even the most discerning palate. With its generous feast of flavors and interesting meals, Turkey promises visitors something delicious no matter what part of the country they are in.

Reason No. 3: Beautiful beaches

Turkish beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. From the serene white sand to the crystal clear waters, these beaches offer a tranquil retreat from the vibrant energy of the East and West.

Enjoy a beautiful Turkish sunset, spend your days swimming or soaking up the sun, or explore some nearby tourist attractions. Turkey’s beaches offer visitors an unforgettable experience. Whether you are looking for adventure or relaxation, Turkish beaches offer something for everyone.

It only takes a little exploration to discover hidden coves and charming waterfront villages. Let Turkey’s beaches take you on an extraordinary journey that will stay with you long after your trip is over – what better way to enjoy life’s simple pleasures?

Reason No. 4: Natural wonders

Turkish natural wonders are awe-inspiring and unique destinations that you must see to truly appreciate. From the picturesque Pamukkale Travertines in Denizli to the warm geothermal waters of Cobanlar Crater Lake near Kayseri, these Turkish landscapes offer an unforgettable getaway.

Turkish natural areas are playgrounds for adventure, such as the coastlines in Antalya, where visitors can surf or sail, picnic among lush olive trees, and go on jeep safaris into caves and gorges to explore hidden, hot springs and ancient ruins.

Reden nr. 5: warme gastvrijheid

Turkish hospitality is like no other – it is deeply rooted in Turkish culture, where they consider hospitality a sign of respect and generosity. Turkish people are incredibly hospitable and generous, so much so that a stranger almost immediately feels at home in a Turkish community.

Turkish people not only do their best to make you feel welcome in their homes, but often invite people over for meals and parties. If you ever feel lost or alone in Turkey, all you have to do is find a Turkish family, and you can be sure they will welcome you with open arms!

Turkish hospitality is truly inspiring – in an age when human kindness is sometimes overshadowed by fear and anxiety, it serves as a reminder of how much love and compassion are still among us.

Reason No. 6: Vibrant culture

From the diverse range of music, literature, food, dance and art to the ancient traditions that persist, Turkish culture offers something special for everyone. Turkish cuisine alone has so many remarkable flavors and ingredients, from kebabs to Turkish delight.

The fascinating rhythms of Turkish music evoke intense emotions through a unique blend of traditional instruments that create enchanting melodies.

Textiles have been an important part of Turkish culture for centuries, and today’s modern Turkish fashion incorporates traditional designs with a contemporary flair.

And who can forget Turkish hospitality? Everyone is welcomed with warmth and an open heart in Turkey – there is no denying that Turkish culture is one you must experience for yourself!

Reason No. 7: Easy travel

With its extensive network of buses, trains and domestic flights providing easy access to its many beautiful geographical areas, this diverse and vibrant country has something for everyone.

Whether you want to travel through cosmopolitan cities such as Istanbul or Ankara, explore the rugged seaside resorts of the Mediterranean or the Turkish Riviera, admire the volcanic landscapes and lush forests of Cappadocia, or sample the world’s best cuisine while strolling through ancient villages, traveling through Turkey offers an experience that is both exciting and enriching.

No matter what kind of traveler you are, no one can deny the allure of Turkey. From its grandiose architecture to its diverse cultures, much of Turkish society and culture is second to none.

Not only are there many attractions, but the cuisine will also amaze your taste buds. The peace, serenity and beauty that Turkey has to offer everyone are unparalleled. Rich in traditions, interesting customs and a unique history, there is something for everyone here.

Make memories for life when you visit this amazing country!

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9 Reasons to Make Turkey Your Next Vacation Destination

There are countless reasons to visit Turkey – breathtaking scenery, fascinating history, intricate architecture, lovely people, and the best shopping in all of Europe, just to name a few!

It would be impossible to list all the things that made me fall in love with Turkey. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should definitely make Turkey your next vacation destination.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of our links we may earn a small commission (don’t worry, it’s at no extra cost to you).

Getting to Turkey

Most people will fly into Istanbul Airport (IST). It’s a large international airport with flights from all over the world.

Check Flight Prices on Skyscanner

Another fun option is to take a train from Greece or Bulgaria to Istanbul. You can actually connect a rail journey all the way from Paris or even London if you plan it all out.

How long to Spend in Turkey

Even if you only have 1 week in Turkey , you can cover the highlights of Istanbul and Cappadocia . However, we would recommend spending at least a couple of weeks in the country so you can explore the beaches of Turkey’s southern riviera around Antalya and Kas.

9 of the Best Things to do in Turkey

1. scenic hot air balloon flights.

Whether you are watching from the ground or standing in a basket high above the ground, the hot air balloons of Cappadocia are unlike anything else in the world. Hundreds of multicolored balloons take to the sky just before sunrise. They sail above the honeycombed cave houses and dip low into the deep valleys.

The hot air balloon tour will pick you up from your hotel right around 4 am. You’ll be offered a light breakfast, tea, and coffee before heading for the launch area right outside of Goreme. Watch as the balloons are filled with air and then take off, one by one just before the sun begins to rise.

For the next hour and a half or so, you’ll travel up to 1,200 feet into the air, past fairy chimneys that at times are close enough to touch. Then, deep you head into the valleys for an up-close look at the cave houses built directly into the valley walls. All while surrounded by hundreds of other balloons with the sun is rising in the sky and changing the hues from pink to yellow to blue. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is not to be missed!

Choose Urgup Balloon Tours for their impeccable safety record and knowledgeable and friendly pilots.

2. Gorgeous Cave Hotels

While a hot air balloon ride is a must-do in Cappadocia, it isn’t the only thing not to be missed. Exquisite hotels built into ancient cave dwellings have kept much of the physical structure of the caves while adding modern luxury.

The stone cave walls give you a glimpse into how life may have felt for the people who lived in them many years ago. The beautiful antique furniture, gorgeous handmade rugs, and heavenly bedding will make it difficult to leave. Most cave hotels also offer beautiful gardens or rooftop terraces that are the perfect spot for sunrise balloon viewing.

Choose Taşkonaklar Hotel for its lavish cave rooms, spectacular gardens, delectable breakfast, and friendly and helpful staff.

3. Scrumptious Breakfast

The traditional Turkish breakfast , the “village breakfast”, is an elaborate spread that is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Offering everything from freshly baked bread and pastries, homemade jellies, thick honey, fresh cucumbers and tomatoes, traditionally prepared eggs, and a variety of other goodies it gives you a chance to sample a diverse range of local fare. Most hotels offer their own take on the specialty so make sure you don’t sleep through it!

4. Spectacular Shopping

Whether you’re getting lost in the endless alleyways of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or stopping by the many market stalls, you’ll find in every town along your journey, the shopping in Turkey is possibly the best in the world. Many of the souvenirs offered in nearby countries are actually made in Turkey. That means that if you’re traveling around Europe and want the best deal, you must make a stop here.

From handmade Turkish rugs to colorful mosaic glass lamps to intricately painted pottery – Turkey truly has it all. You’ll want to bring an extra duffel bag for all of your new Turkish treasures!

Keep in mind that you’ll be given a tourist price initially so some negotiating will likely be in order. Be cordial, reasonable, and willing to walk away. You should be able to get the price down 30-50%. Also, keep in mind that the actual dollar amount you’re haggling over is probably only a few dollars. They might need it more than you do so make sure you’re both happy when the deal is done.

Most people in Turkey are fairly easygoing – you won’t run into many aggressive touts. However, that is not the case at the Grand Bazaar. You won’t be able to walk more than 10 feet without hearing “hello lady!” “where are you from?” “Please, come look at my shop! Just looking just looking” “can I have your money?”. My advice? Walk around, compare prices, take photos of your favorites, and take business cards of the shops you like. Don’t feel pressured to purchase until you’re ready.

5. Pristine Beaches

There are 7,200 kilometers of coastline in Turkey offering pristine sandy beaches, calm bays perfect for a boat excursion, and amazing sea views. You can find quaint main squares and old cities full of history located in coastal towns like Antalya and Kas. They are a short drive (or walk) from beautiful beaches with crystal-clear water.

Many of the popular beaches like Lara Beach, Patara Plaji, and Kaputaş Plaji (pictured) offer amenities, including lounge chairs, umbrellas, and restaurants. Prefer a low-key experience? You can generally make your way beyond the crowds to find a patch of sand all to yourself.

6. Inviting Hot Springs

Once you’ve had your fill of the beautiful Turkish coastline, head inland to experience yet another Turkish treasure – the amazing hot springs. The most infamous hot springs in Turkey are the Cleopatra Pools located within the quaint town of Pamukkale.

Many tourists visit Pamukkale for the amazing travertine terraces but end up lingering in the hot springs where ancient Roman ruins are submerged below. The water is not too hot or too cold. It is absolutely perfect for relaxing after a long morning of exploring the ruins and terraces of Pamukkale.

7. Luxurious Hamams (Turkish Baths)

No vacation in Turkey is complete without a scrub in a historical Turkish bath. You can find countless hamams all over Turkey in a range of prices and services offered. Located centrally in Istanbul and built in 1584, Çemberlitaş Hamamı Fiyat offers beautiful architecture and reasonable prices. Spring for the “luxury style” package which includes a visit to the hamam, a soapy scrub, and a 30-minute oil massage to get a complete bathhouse experience.

Upon arrival, women will be given a small pouch containing disposable undies and a scrubber. Men will be offered just a scrubber. Once ushered to your separate areas, you’ll be directed to the changing room and offered a towel. Be sure to stick some coins in your pouch. A 10-20% tip split between your two attendants is expected (and they will make a bit of a show about saying goodbye when they are finished).

From the dressing room, you’ll be taken into the hamam where you will sit for 10-15 minutes on the hot marble rotunda to open up your pores. Someone will then come over to scrub you clean. After your rinse, you’ll be directed to another room for your oil massage. You will finally finish with a shower.

It’s awkward, relaxing, and confusing all at once. It will inevitably be one of your favorite adventures during your Turkey vacation!

8. Intriguing History

The history of the Turkish people and region covers a time frame of more than 4,000 years. First living in Central Asia around 2000 BC and then spreading out to establish various states and empires around Asia and Europe. Empires were created and destroyed, cities rose and fell, and wars were waged. Evidence of the complicated history of Turkey is found throughout the country, but there are a few especially notable landmarks that are worth a visit.

One of those highlights is Ephesus which is located in Western Turkey, just three kilometers from the town of Selçuk in the Izmer region. The ruins are rich in history. It became a Roman city in 133 BC and then the capital of Asia Minor in 27 BC when it grew to a population of 250,000 people as it was a busy port town. At its peak in the first and second century AD, it was estimated that 400,000 called it home.

The famous Library of Celsus (pictured), the third-largest library in the ancient world, was constructed at Ephesus in 123 AD and has been expertly preserved and reconstructed to be the highlight of the ruins that it is today.

The area opens for visitors at 8 am and tour buses take advantage of arriving before the heat of the day. Consider waiting to visit until the later afternoon to avoid crowds when all of the buses have headed home for the day.

9. Endearing People

Turkey is the center of the world – quite literally. It is the intersection of Asia and Europe and offers a diverse mix of ethnicities and religions and conservative and progressive views.  In a country that is incredibly dependent on tourism, it can be surprising that the people remain so friendly, so honest, and so excited to meet foreigners. You will encounter friendly people who are genuinely interested in getting to know you. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever feel unsafe anywhere in Turkey.

Hospitality is important to the Turkish people so always accept their offer of tea (even if you don’t really want it). Also, take time to listen to their stories and get to know them – family life, political views, the decline in tourism – no topic is off-limits.

You’ll absolutely fall in love with Turkish people during your Turkey vacation!

Convinced? What are you waiting for? Make Turkey your next vacation destination!

Planning a trip to Turkey? Check out our favorite travel guides!

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About the Author:

Val grew up in Portland, Oregon but moved to Oahu on a whim back in 2013. She sold her house and all of her belongings and bought a one-way ticket. Since then she’s taken two around-the-world trips and has visited 60-ish countries while living out of a duffel bag. Val started documenting the Wandering Wheatleys travels back in 2013 as a way to update friends and family about her whereabouts and to relay humorous daily interactions. The only readers were her mom and her mother-in-law but that didn’t stop her! These days you’ll find Val dreaming up future trips, creating new travel content, managing a team of amazing travel enthusiasts, and chasing around her two adorable but naughty kids.

View all posts

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7 thoughts on “9 reasons to make turkey your next vacation destination”.

Valid reasons, every one. After our visit, I became a total convert to Turkish breakfasts. Now it’s my favorite.

Compliments to your photography. I love how you featured Val in all the photos, in a natural way.

Funny the online visa costs for Saudi citizens 120$ where most country citizen costs 20$. ,? And a one litter misplace u need to pay another 120$ for a new visa

i hate turkey. the country and the food

Linda Bibb from 2022 comment, go fuck yourself You loving hubby

I appreciate your Turkey vacation article post, Valerie Wheatley. I look forward to your new informative travel blog posts.

Thank you for the blog post. I really appreciate it. Fantastic!

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Dave's Travel Corner

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

How to write a travel essay

November 22, 2023 by Josh Collins Leave a Comment

Travel essays and short notes allow you to dive deep into the memories and share your experience with readers. If written well, readers can explore new places without traveling or get inspired to explore new things. The location you have visited may contain many things to discuss: architecture, sightseeing, nature, culture, and much more. How can you tell about it in a short essay? Whether you are planning to write an essay, blog post, or another type of writing – all the tips below will help you craft an appealing paper.

Understand your goals

Before writing a travel essay: 1. Define the main idea you want to stick to in your writing. If you have a specific word limit, you may be unable to cover everything you wish to write about. 2. Check whether the professor asked you to cover specific experiences during your trip or stick to a more descriptive writing style. 3. If you are free of what to write about, make up a list of things you wish to focus on.

Understanding your goals will help you see the big picture and write the text within a limited time. If you were assigned to write an essay about your travel and can’t meet the deadline or have no ideas, you can get punctual help with essay writing from EssayShark .

Write catchy introduction How did your travel start? What were your plans? You can start with a quote about adventure or just begin your story by planning or arriving at the destination place. For example, here are some starters for travel essays: ● Who has said traveling is pricy? ● Don’t let the routine bore you; add a bit of spice with traveling to your everyday life. ● And the adventure begins!

Experiment with various approaches to engage the reader. You can put this step at the end when you finish the first draft, when the overall idea will be more transparent.

Add vivid descriptions First, think about whether you can attach images to your essay to make it more appealing to the reader and support your adventures with real photos. An additional illustration can create a unique atmosphere that will transfer the reader to the place you have visited.

Use a more relaxed writing style and understand that a travel essay is not a formal academic paper but more personal writing. Use the language you use every day, and avoid cliches and slang to sound more natural and appealing to the reader.

Focus on several ideas What if you have no solid experience in traveling? Or maybe you haven’t seen anything special to talk about. In fact, even a small town has its own spirit and local sightseeing that, you can tell in your essay. For example, you can discuss local cuisine the weather, and share specific descriptions of the places.

Tell the simple story The main aim of every travel essay is to help the reader wear your shoes and imagine what you have experienced during the trip. Describe your emotions and experience in detail to help the reader feel like they have already visited the place. Avoid listing attractions or telling the traveling process step by step. Share your thoughts, and use creative expressions to keep your natural flow.

Ensure your travel story has a standard format and contains an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Don’t interrupt your writing in the middle of an idea; wrap up everything you have said in a meaningful conclusion.

Wrapping Up In general, you can approach traveling essays from different points of view. Grab the reader’s attention with an exciting intro, add vivid details, and focus on several aspects of your journey to keep them reading. Share your experience in a storytelling manner, and your writing won’t be unnoticed.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Tourism — Tourism and The Country’s Economy in Turkey

Tourism and The Country's Economy in Turkey

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Turkey Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 26, 2023, turkey - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Do Not Travel To:

• Sirnak province, Hakkari province, and any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Syrian border due to terrorism.

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Turkey.  Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Security forces have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens, for alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations based on scant or secret evidence and grounds that appear to be politically motivated.  U.S. citizens have also been subject to travel bans that prevent them from departing Turkey. Participation in demonstrations not explicitly approved by the Government of Turkey, as well as criticism of the government (including on social media), can result in arrest.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Turkey.

If you decide to travel to Turkey:

• Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
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• Monitor local media and be prepared to adjust your plans quickly.
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• Review the  Country Security Report for Turkey.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Sirnak Province, Hakkari Province, and Any Area within six miles (ten kilometers) of the Syrian Border – Level 4:  Do Not Travel

Do not travel to Sirnak province, Hakkari province, or any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Turkey/Syria border due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, and civil unrest.  Terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, ambushes, car bomb detonations, and improvised explosive devices, as well as shootings, and illegal roadblocks leading to violence have occurred in these areas. U.S. government employees are subject to travel restrictions in the entire provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari, and any areas within 10 km of the Syrian border.

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Turkey Earthquake Trial Opens Amid Anger and Tears

More than 300 people were killed when temblors toppled an upscale residential complex. Survivors hope a court will punish the men who built it.

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By Safak Timur and Ben Hubbard

Safak Timur reported from the courtroom in Antakya, Turkey, and Ben Hubbard from Istanbul.

The families addressed the court one by one, sobbing as they spoke the names of relatives who had been killed when their upscale apartment complex in southern Turkey toppled over during a powerful earthquake last year.

One woman, whose son had died in the collapse alongside his wife and their 3-year-old son, lashed out at the defendants — the men who had built the complex and the inspectors charged with ensuring that it was safe.

“Shame on you,” said the woman, Remziye Bozdemir. “Your children are alive, mine are dead.”

The hearing on Thursday was the first aimed at seeking accountability for the collapse of Renaissance Residence, one of the most catastrophic building failures during the earthquakes of Feb. 6, 2023 , which damaged hundreds of thousands of structures and killed more than 53,000 people across southern Turkey.

More than 300 people died inside Renaissance, and many more were wounded. An investigation and forensic analysis by The New York Times found that a tragic combination of poor design and minimal oversight had left the building vulnerable, ultimately causing its 13 stories to smash into the earth.

Since the quakes, the anger of many survivors has centered on the lax construction practices that allowed so many defective buildings to rise across a region with a history of powerful temblors. When the ground shook last year, many structures became death traps, pancaking down on their residents and killing them instantly or trapping them alive inside the rubble .

In recent months, Turkish courts have begun hearing cases seeking to assign responsibility for the deadly collapses. The Renaissance trial is one such case, which illustrates what victims’ advocates say are the limits of post-quake justice.

Eight men — four from the construction company and four employees of a private building-inspection firm — stand accused of causing foreseeable death and injury through negligence for their roles in the construction of the complex. All eight have pleaded not guilty.

Missing from the case are any of the numerous public officials who allowed the complex to be built by zoning the land, approving building plans and issuing construction permits, together failing to ensure that the project had been constructed to withstand violent quakes.

This scrutiny of private builders but not of public officials has marred efforts to ensure accountability across the quake zone, said Emma Sinclair-Webb, the Turkey director for Human Rights Watch.

“Contractors can be cowboy builders, building defective buildings, but what about the enabling environment in which they operate and the public authorities that turn a blind eye and let them go ahead?” she said.

Complicating efforts to hold such officials accountable is a Turkish law that prevents prosecutors from investigating state employees without obtaining government permission.

It remains unclear whether any public officials are on trial in earthquake-related cases.

In January, Human Rights Watch and Citizens’ Assembly , a Turkish rights group, filed requests in dozens of jurisdictions seeking information about how many requests to investigate public officials had been made and how many had been granted. Their queries turned up four instances in which decisions were pending and three in which permission to investigate had been granted, although two of those had been appealed, the groups said in a report last month.

Most jurisdictions declined to respond, citing confidentiality regulations.

This diminishes the chances for true accountability, Ms. Sinclair-Webb said.

“The full facts are not really there to be looked at if the public officials are left out of the picture,” she said.

Renaissance Residence rose on a patch of converted agricultural land near the ancient city of Antakya during a construction boom that was sweeping through the area in the 2010s, fueled by the plans of Turkey’s leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for development and economic growth. By the time residents arrived in 2013, the three apartment towers, superficially joined to appear as one long, thin building, loomed over the countryside.

The complex catered to the area’s rising middle class, with a pool, underground parking and a lobby designed to mimic that of a hotel. Many early occupants considered themselves lucky to live there.

But The Times’s investigation found that, despite its air of glamour, Renaissance was rife with risky design choices that were cast in concrete with minimal oversight, leaving the structure ill prepared to withstand a powerful earthquake.

The first such quake stuck last year, with a magnitude of 7.8, followed by a second powerful temblor hours later. The first quake caused the ground floor of Renaissance to fail, making the building topple on its side and destroying many of its residents’ lives.

Cemile Incili, 59, a real estate agent who attended the hearing on Thursday, said she had survived the collapse with some injuries but had been able to hear her nephew trapped in the rubble.

“Aunt, I can’t breathe,” she recalled him saying.

His body, and that of a sister of Ms. Incili, were never recovered from the wreckage. She assumes they are dead.

She hoped the trial would mean long sentences for the men who built Renaissance as well as for the officials who allowed the building to rise.

“The state did not protect our lives or our property,” she said.

Court documents say that 269 people have been identified as having been killed in the building and that 46 others are still missing and assumed to be dead.

Prosecutors have charged the eight defendants with conscious negligence that caused multiple deaths and injuries. If convicted, they could face up to 22 years in prison.

The prosecutors have accused the contractors who built Renaissance of failing to follow the building codes in place at the time, using substandard materials and neglecting to ensure that the structure was sound. They have accused the inspectors, who worked for a private company hired by the contractors, of failing to detect flaws that should have been reported to the authorities.

The contractor who was the construction company’s lead architect, Mehmet Yasar Coskun, told the court on Thursday that he rejected the allegations. He blamed the collapse on the exceptional power of the earthquake’s shaking at the site.

“As the foundation of the building was strong, the wave demolished it from the weakest point it could find, the ground floor,” he said. “It is an atypical situation.”

Other defendants, too, said they had followed all the necessary regulations and attributed the collapse to the earthquake’s strength.

Their arguments failed to convince the survivors who attended the hearing.

Hafize Acikgoz, 42, had made it out of Renaissance alive but lost her husband and three children, who were 16, 21 and 23.

“It is just me left behind,” she said, wiping away tears. “Nothing can sooth my pain and nothing can bring them back.”

Still, she hoped that the accused would receive the longest possible sentences.

“Shouldn’t those buildings have been built considering people’s lives?” she said.

Beril Eski contributed reporting from Istanbul.

Ben Hubbard is the Istanbul bureau chief, covering Turkey and the surrounding region. More about Ben Hubbard