Getting Around Turkey
Depending on your destination, the best way to travel within Turkey is by air. Cheap fares—sometimes as low as US$35 one-way across the country—and short 45-minute flight times to anywhere in central and western Turkey eliminate the much longer, though pleasurable, road trip.
The most expensive ro
Where to Eat Traditional Cuisines in Turkey
The specialties that make Turkey’s tables unique are easily found in culinary-rich Istanbul, but foodies should also bring their appetites to western and central Turkey’s inner realms. Afiyet olsun (bon appétit)!
Anatolian Cuisine
A mix of cuisines either indigenous to the steppe region or derive
Experience the Diversity of Istanbul
Blending the lines between East and West, modernism and antiquity, secularism and piety, Istanbul brims with diversity, complexity, and some 8,000 years of history. Lulled only by the harmony of 1,000 müezzinler singing the call to prayer, vibrant Istanbul is abuzz with activity day and night. Mor
Saving Money with Discount Cards in Istanbul
You won’t always have to rely on your wit, charm, and bargaining power to save money in Istanbul. The passes explained below are designed for savings on museum admission and public transportation.
Museum Pass
One card can be used by up to five people, and it conveniently fits in your wallet like a
Planning Your Time in Istanbul
In three whirlwind days you can check out the charm of the city, learn to feast the Turkish way, motor along the Bosphorus, and click heels with Istanbullus at shopping and partying meccas around town.
The best time to visit Istanbul is April, when the city’s tulip commemoration is in full bloom.T
The Reality of Traveling Solo as a Woman in the Middle East
My elbow nudges the covered woman next to me as we sit shoulder to shoulder on the front seat of a cramped Turkish dolmuş (shared taxi). Our bodies sway and jolt on the unforgiving pothole-infested roads of the remote Biga Peninsula as we leave the Aegean coast behind. In a moment of awkwardness o
Planning Your Time in the Cappadocia Region
Much of central Anatolia remains unknown to foreigners, perhaps with the exception of the capital Ankara and the Cappadocian region’s fairy chimneys—the phallic-shaped monuments of soft volcanic ash carved by the wind. This region is a steppe, a large area of flat, unforested grassland. But shake
Turkey's Regional Climates
Turkey’s four western and central regions all have different climates. The Marmara Region to the northwest, with its former Ottoman capitals of Edirne, Bursa, and Istanbul, enjoys a moderate climate. Average temperatures in winter and summer are 4°C and 27°C, respectively. But expect frost and eve
Wildlife Native to Turkey
Turkey is a natural habitat for a wide variety of animals. Europe in its entirety is home to 60,000 species, while Turkey has 80,000, not counting subspecies.
The Anatolian leopard was the feline used in gladiator battles during the Roman era; in fact, 2,000-year-old tiger traps can still be seen
Turkish Olives and Olive Oil
People of the ancient Mediterranean believed olive oil to have magical and medicinal characteristics, and some believed it to be the source of the fountain of youth and beauty. Homer referred to it as “liquid gold.” The olive tree’s leafy branch, while still considered the symbol of peace and abun
Getting Into and Out of Turkey
Getting into and out of Turkey is fairly straightforward. Visas are obtainable online prior to travel for most countries, and many countries maintain an embassy or consulate in Turkey. There list of customs regulations regarding what you can import and export is also pretty standard, but as always
Excursions Near Cappadocia
Take a few days to explore the museums and sights of historical cities in the Cappadocia region, and treat yourself to some truly innovative cuisine while you explore. You’ll need to do some driving to reach most of these destinations.
Konya
Set aside a day for the city of Konya, which is a
Booking Accommodations in Turkey
Properties in Turkey are categorized using a system that rates them with stars or classes. Similar schemes are used in other countries, but they’re not consistent throughout Europe. The amenities and services guaranteed by a five-star hotel in Paris might not be on par with one rated five stars in
Turkey Demographics: Peoples, Cultures, and Languages
In 2012, Turkey’s population was 73.9 million, with more than 70 percent in urban areas. Turkey is a youthful country; more than two-thirds fall in the 15-64 age group, with another 26 percent under age 15.
Education is compulsory until the age of 14.Ethnic Turks are 80 percent of the population,
Wild and Cultivated Plants in Turkey
You may be surprised to learn that tulips originate in Turkey, not in Holland. Turkey is the original home of other showy blooms, including crocuses, snowdrops, and lilies. Other indigenous plants that grow in various parts of the country include figs, apricots, cherries, sour cherries, almonds, h
Traveling During Kurban Bayramı in Turkey
Visiting Turkey during Kurban Bayramı (sacrifice holiday) may be an intense experience for Westerners traveling to Muslim country for the first time. Known as Eid el-Adha or Eid el-Kebir in Arabic, this four- or five-day observance, which is the most revered Islamic religious festival of the year,
Doing business & staying in touch while in Turkey
Turkey: Doing business & staying in touch
Turkey Weather, Climate and Geography
Turkey Weather, climate and geography
Turkey History, Language and Culture
Turkey History, Language and Culture
Turkey Travel Guide and Travel Information
Turkey Travel Guide
