Turkey Travel Guide
Basic Facts of Turkey
Location: to the north of the Mediterranean Sea & the south of the Black Sea
Area: 783,356 square meters (302,455 square miles)
Population: 81 million
Language: Turkish
Currency: Turkish lira (TRY)
Time Zone: UTC+3
Capital: Ankara
Administrative Division: 81 provinces
Religions and Beliefs: Islam (>82%)
As one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the world, Turkey, which connects Asia and Europe, is an ideal land to experience both eastern and western cultures. Among the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, Turkey has got two, namely Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Encircled by three popular seas, namely the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea, Turkey is a country people shall never miss if they love seas. Walking on the beaches of south and west coast of Turkey, it is not hard to find historical relics from ancient Greece, Rome and even relics of Christian civilization. To make the first trip there easier, here are some helpful recommendations.
Top destinations
1. Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, Strait of Bosporus, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque
2. Cappadocia: Göreme, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Devrent Valley
3. Pamukkale: Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Hierapolis
4. Antalya: Kaleici, Aspendos, Antalya Archeological Museum
5. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
Top activities
the best hot-air balloon travel in Göreme, hot spring bath in Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Turkey bath, exciting paragliding in Fethiye…
Best Time to Visit Turkey
April, May, September and October are the best months for land tours in Turkey. The weather is not too hot nor too cold with the average temperature from 12℃ to 21℃(54°F - 70°F). For beach and swimming, it’s better to visit from mid-May to September on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea. To travel in east Turkey, end of June to September is quite a comfortable period. The food and accommodation cost is higher during peak seasons from July to September. As for clothes, wind coat, light jacket and T-shirt are practical choices during the best travel months including April, May, September and October.
The prior way of arriving at Turkey is by plane. There are direct flights to Istanbul from Beijing, Shanghai, New York, London, Paris, Moscow as well as major cities of most countries. For travelling inside Turkey, train and bus are top choices. Train ticket is as cheap as half of bus ticket for the same distance, but the train network barely covers coastal areas. The intercity bus system is almost the best in all countries for its dense frequency, reasonable pricing and good facilities. Other alternative ways are rental car, subway, ship, taxi and dolmus with special routes.
Turkey is a typical Islamic country. In Turkey, people show respect to old people and privileged person. Before entering a mosque, it is necessary to take off shoes. When visiting the top of the mosque, people must put shoes on. Intimate friends will kiss left and then right cheek when they meet. General friends just shake hands. It is a custom to take off shoes when visiting someone’s home. It is quite impolite to hug the lover in public.
History
The Turks were called Turkic in old days. Since the 8th century, the Turk moved from the Altai Mountains to Asia Minor Peninsula. The Ottoman Empire established by Turkmen in Central Asia in 1299 gradually rose and expanded into the Anatolia region. The Ottoman Empire reached its peak in the 16th century and ruled the region across Europe, Asia, and Africa. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became a semi-colonial country of Britain, France, and Germany. In 1919, Kemal led the national liberation war against aggression and achieved victory. On October 29th 1923, the Republic of Turkey was established.
Geographical Features
Turkey has a very complicated landform. From coastal plains to alpine grassland, from cedar forest to stretching prairie, Turkey must be the richest land for plant resources. Mount Ararat is 5,165 meters (16,946 feet) high. With snow on the top all year long, it looks extraordinary which attracts numerous tourists. Apart from the mountains, Turkey has many inland rivers and lakes. The famous Tigris and Euphrates both originate from here.
Turkey Travel Guide