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8 Reasons To Visit Turkey

8 REASONS TO VISIT TURKEY

Accommodation: Turkey has the most amazing luxury and boutique hotels in the world. On the other side, you may find the most beautiful hotels at very affordable rates due to intense competition among travel agencies.

Historical Places: Turkey’s history of human habitation goes back 25.000 years. Some of the earliest-known human communities are here. The Hittits, Hellens, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and the Ottomans as well as a great number of other civilisations rose and fell here through thousands of years, leaving behind a multitude of historical sites.

Special Activities: With nearly 8400 km of coastline, water sports and yachting are big favorites. Hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, white water rafting, and bicycling are all important, and growing, as is skiing. The favorite of all is hot-air ballooning.

Turkish Cuisine:Turkish food is now world famous, and rightly so. Everyone comments on how good the Turkish food is. Not only that, the moderately priced gourmet dinner and wine is still easy to do. Then there are Turkish Tea and Turkish Coffee.

Entertainment: Sit at a long table in a taverna in Istanbul, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Antalya, Marmaris or any other cities order a glass of beer, wine or pungent Turkish raki and join in the songs and stories. Turkish people revel in good food, good friends, good times, and good nightlife.

Sea, Sand and Sun: The unique Mediterranean climate and beautiful nature of Turkey allows almost 6 months of summertime in southern parts. The sandy beaches are splendid and the sea, especially the Aegean coastline, is the most amazing. It is a mildly cold sea that allows for a refreshing experience. Blue voyage is the most favorite way to visit all the beaches with a yacht while enjoying the turquoise sea.

Business Opportunities: Turkey is one of the largest economies in the world yet it is still considered a developing nation. This provides enormous business and investing opportunities, especially in the real estate sector.

Shopping: Authentic gifts, carpets, rugs, kilims are among the tourist favorites and shopping is breeze if you know where to go. There are more artistic features and special creativity in Turkish carpets than any other carpet in the world.

If You Like

ANCIENT SITES

Turkey, a sort of bridge between Europe and Asia, has been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years. Numerous civilizations—Greeks from the west and Mongols from the east—settled or moved through the (vast) area at one point or another, leaving lasting and impressive reminders of their sojourns. As a result, virtually every region in Turkey has a bounty of stunning ancient ruins.

Ani : The abandoned former capital of a local Armenian kingdom, this haunting city in the middle of nowhere is filled with the ruins of stunning churches.

Cappadocia’s underground cities : A marvel of ancient engineering, these subterranean cities—some reaching 20 stories down and holding up to 20,000 people—served as a refuge for Christians under siege from Arab raiders.

Ephesus : This remarkably well-preserved Roman city has a colonnaded library that seems as if it could still be checking out books and an amphitheater that appears ready for a show.

Mt. Nemrut : At the top of a desolate mountain, this 2,000-year-old temple—a collection of larger-than-life statues facing the rising and setting sun—is a testament to the vanity of an ancient king.

Termessos : This impregnable ancient city is set dramatically high up in the mountains above Antalya; even Alexander the Great and the Romans found it too difficult to attack.

BEACHES

With 8,000 km (5,000 miles) of coastline, it’s no wonder that Turkey is home to several world-famous beaches, and you can find all kinds: from pristine, remote coves to resort hotel beaches with water sports and all sorts of amenities.

İztuzu: A nesting ground for sea turtles, the beach here stretches for 5 sandy kilometers (3 miles) close to Dalyan, with a freshwater lagoon on one side and the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean on the other.

Kilyos and Şile: These beaches just outside Istanbul are among the nicest stretches of sandy shoreline along Turkey’s Black Sea coast. Since both are relatively easy escapes from the city, they are often crowded on summer weekends. The water here is cold year-round, and swimmers should watch out for the powerful waves.

Ölüdeniz: This stunning lagoon near Fethiye boasts azure waters—which, like elsewhere along the Mediterranean, stay warm well into October—backed by white sand.

Patara: The 11-km (7-mile) stretch of unspoiled beach here is one of Turkey’s best, with fine white sand and dunes. The picture-perfect coastline is reached by walking through a field scattered with ancient ruins, and has been spared the overdevelopment that has become a problem in some parts of the Mediterranean.

Sarımsaklı: The long stretch of sand here has made this one of the most popular beach destinations on the Aegean coast, with a row of inexpensive beach clubs running along the water parallel to a row of high-rise hotels and apartments on the shore. Take a dolmuş(shared taxi) from Ayvalık to Badavut Plajı (Badavut Beach) for a bit more peace and quiet.

MONUMENTS

The Byzantine and Ottoman empires may be long gone, but they left behind some truly striking monuments: churches, mosques, and palaces that still hold the power to take your breath away.

As the former capital of both empires, Istanbul has the lion’s share of Turkey’s most famous structures, but there are also impressive ones to be found in every other part of the country.

Aya Sofya : The monumental church built by the emperor Justinian some 1,500 years ago continues to be an awe-inspiring sight—arguably the most impressive one in Istanbul or even all of Turkey.

Blue Mosque : With its cascading domes and shimmering tiles, this exquisite Istanbul mosque is one of the Ottomans’ finest creations.

İshak Paşa Sarayı: In Turkey’s far east, near the legendary Mt. Ararat, this 18th-century palace seems as if it was transported straight out of a fairy tale.

Kariye Museum: The former Chora Church, a 12th-century Byzantine structure on the periphery of Istanbul’s Old City, is much smaller and less known than the Aya Sofya, but is filled with glittering mosaics and stunning frescoes that are considered among the finest in the world.

Topkapı Sarayı : The former home of the Ottoman sultans is a sumptuous palace with stately buildings, tranquil gardens, and the must-see Harem.

Selimiye Camii: Located in the former Ottoman capital of Edirne, not far from Istanbul, this mosque was the real masterpiece of the sultans’ favorite architect, Mimar Sinan. Its massive dome has made many a jaw drop.

MUSEUMS

The country’s wealth and depth of history guarantee that Turkey has lots of artifacts for its museums—even if there has been a problem with other countries shipping the booty off to foreign lands. The best and biggest museums are in Istanbul, where you can spend your days hopping from one fascinating exhibit to the other.

Istanbul Archaeology Museums: This sprawling institution near Topkapı Palace holds discoveries from digs throughout the Middle East.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art: Near the Archaeology Museums is this excellent collection of carpets, ceramics, paintings, and folk art housed in an old Ottoman palace. It’s set to reopen to the public at the end of 2013 after a renovation.

Istanbul Modern: Stylish with a stunning waterfront location, this museum has a good collection of modern Turkish art and a photography gallery featuring adventurous contemporary work, and plays host to large, well-curated temporary exhibitions.

Rahmi M. Koç Industrial Museum: This old factory along Istanbul’s Golden Horn is now used to display a quirky collection of cars, trains, ships, airplanes, and other industrial artifacts that will pique the interests of children and adults alike.

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum: Opened in 2011 in Turkey’s southeast, this museum is one of the country’s best, with a world-class collection of Roman-era mosaics that were uncovered in the vicinity.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Found in a restored 15th-century covered market in the capital city of Ankara, this museum holds masterpieces spanning thousands of years of local history.

Mevlâna Museum: Konya, in central Turkey, is home to this fascinating museum dedicated to the founder of the whirling dervishes and located inside what used to be a dervish lodge.

Museum of Underwater Archaeology: This unusual museum is located in a 15th-century castle in Bodrum on the southwestern Aegean coast and displays booty found in local shipwrecks.

Turkey Today

Turkey Today

POLITICS
In June 2011, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won a decisive victory, giving the conservative party, led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdullah Gül, a third term. Since its accession to power in 2002, the AKP has sparked alarm among diehard secularists who assert that the party seeks to erode the secular legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Some even contend that the AKP seeks to impose Sharia (strict Islamic day-to-day religious law) on the country, pointing to its efforts to remove restrictions on headscarf wearing and Erdoğan’s vocal opposition to alcohol and tobacco use, though party leadership denies this.

Under the AKP, Turkey has moved toward greater political and economic engagement with the Arab world, as well as with developing countries in other regions, though the government says it remains committed to joining the EU. Most member states are in favor of Turkey’s accession, but there are some strong opponents, and the talks have made only halting progress as Turkey faces criticism on several issues. Continued Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus (which only Turkey recognizes as a sovereign nation) is one major stumbling block; another is the Turkish government’s refusal to label the deaths of several hundred thousand Armenians during World War I as genocide. Domestically, critics cite criminal laws that punish anyone found guilty of insulting “Turkishness” (amended in 2008 to insulting the Turkish nation) and pressures on the media as further obstructions.

Simmering tensions between the AKP and its critics boiled over in the summer of 2013, when the heavy-handed police response to a peaceful sit-in at a central Istanbul park sparked weeks of antigovernment protests in Istanbul, Ankara, and elsewhere around the country. The two sets of elections scheduled for 2014—local elections in March and a first-ever popular vote for the country’s president in August—will be watched carefully to see if the opposition from various segments of society can be turned into a real challenge to the AKP at the ballot box.

THE ECONOMY
The AKP’s greatest bargaining chip in recent elections has been the upsurge of the Turkish economy since the aftermath of the 1999 Marmara earthquake, but this trend has shown signs of faltering in recent months. The country still enjoys a diverse economy: self-sufficient agricultural production, a massive textile industry, and a growing electronics sector, not to mention impressive tourism figures, with the number of foreign visitors nearly tripling between 2000 and 2010. International faith in the economy has driven considerable foreign investment, which has strengthened the Turkish lira. Inflation, which for 30 years led to the counting of the lira in millions, dropped low enough to allow the government to lop six zeroes from the old lira in 2005. But while Turkish annual GDP growth averaged more than 6% throughout most of the 2000s and hit 8.9% in 2010, it slowed sharply to 2.2% in 2012. Meanwhile inflation began to rise again in 2011, nearing 9% in summer 2013, and the lira’s value against the dollar weakened to an all-time low. These trends, combined with Turkey’s greatest economic liability—a sizable trade deficit, driven largely by the country’s need to import foreign oil—and concerns about an overheating economy, have caused some renewed jitters among foreign investors.

RELIGION
In Istanbul they sell a T-shirt with the name of the city spelled using a crescent, a cross, and a Star of David. Turks pride themselves on their tolerance of other religions, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire, which governed people of all faiths. Turkey is a secular republic, however the population is overwhelmingly (99%) comprised of Muslims; the remaining 1% are Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic) and Jews. One reason for the relative harmony between people of different faiths may be the more relaxed approach toward religion found in much of Turkey. Many Turks drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes, and on any given day in Istanbul you’re as liable to find as many scantily clad fashionistas walking down the street as women wearing headscarves (many of whom are plenty stylish themselves).

THE ARTS
Turkey has made many recent contributions to the art world—no surprise from a country that boasts such stunning antiquity. The Istanbul Film Festival will be in its 33rd year as of 2014: held every April, the festival awards prizes for both Turkish and international films. The country’s most well-known creative mind may still be novelist Orhan Pamuk, who garnered Turkey’s first Nobel Prize in 2006 for his dreamy yet historical novels, though the stars of other authors—as well as filmmakers, designers, and musicians—are on the rise as well. Additionally, Turkey’s status as a large textile exporter has helped ensure the nation a place in fashion design, and Istanbul’s Nişantaşı district is a maze of small boutiques selling imported and Turkish clothing. In the visual arts, Turkey is most famous for its ceramics and porcelain, especially handmade Kütahya and İznik tiles.

SPORTS
Turkey is a diehard soccer nation (they call it football), and heated rivalries run strong. Turkey’s clubs boast lots of homegrown talent along with some players imported from Europe and South America. The Turkish national football team has enjoyed sporadic success in international play. In the last decade, the team reached the semifinals in the 2002 World Cup and 2008 European Cup. Basketball is also an increasingly popular sport in Turkey, which hosted the 2010 FIBA World Championship—and cheered its national team of “12 giant men” to a second-place finish.

MEDIA
Turkish media seems to always be on people’s lips, mainly because of Article 301 and the Turkish government’s penchant for closing down, fining, or otherwise applying pressure on outlets that offend its sensibilities or offer criticism that is deemed too harsh. Until 2008, Article 301 forbade anyone from insulting “Turkishness,” under pain of criminal prosecution (the crime has now been changed to insulting the Turkish nation). Most cases are dropped but many notable Turks, including Orhan Pamuk, have been prosecuted. Frequent shutdowns of popular Internet sites, most prominently YouTube, have raised concerns about freedom of speech, as have recent detentions of journalists and the 2007 murder of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink. Despite these controversies, the Turkish press remains large and vibrant, with a variety of voices represented.

SMOKING
In an effort to curb rampant tobacco addiction, the Turkish government introduced a ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which took effect in May 2008. Some bars and clubs simply ignore the ban, but the government estimates that Turks are smoking 10 to 15 percent fewer cigarettes each year, and that more than 2 million people have kicked the habit since the ban went into effect.

Quintessential Turkey

Quintessential Turkey

For many Westerners, visiting Turkey is an exotic experience, but it’s incredibly easy to get drawn into the everyday rituals that make life here such a pleasure. Eat, drink, shop … you’ll quickly understand the allure of the country and why the Turks are renowned for their hospitality.

MARKETS AND BARGAINING
A highlight of any trip to Turkey is a stroll through one of its markets; they provide the chance to experience the country at its most vibrant and colorful. The granddaddy of them all is, of course, Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, a must-see simply for its size and historical significance. Though touristy, this is the most convenient place to stock up on souvenirs—inlaid wood backgammon sets, colorful ceramic bowls, and of course, rugs.

Remember, in nearly all of Turkey’s markets, bargaining is the norm. Every vendor (and every buyer, as you will soon discover) has his or her own style, but some general rules govern the interaction. The seller will undoubtedly offer you a high initial price, so don’t feel embarrassed to come back with a price that’s much lower—try half, for starters. And remember, it’s your money that’s being spent, so feel free to walk out at any time—though it’s both bad manners and bad business to bargain aggressively or to decline to buy once the seller has accepted your offer. And don’t shop in a rush: bargaining takes time.

MEZES
Good things come in small packages, and the Turkish tradition of serving appetizers known as mezes—the local version of tapas—is proof. Mezes originated when simple dishes—usually a slice of tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese with honeydew melon and fresh bread—were brought out to accompany rakı, the anise-flavored spirit that many call Turkey’s national drink. From its humble origins, though, the meze tradition has developed into something quite elaborate. Today, in the meyhanes (literally “drinking places”) of Istanbul and other restaurants throughout Turkey, waiters will approach your table with a heavy wooden tray loaded down with sometimes more than 20 different kinds of small dishes—smoky eggplant purée, artichoke hearts braised in olive oil, slices of cured fish, perhaps—for you to choose from. Just point at whatever looks good and the dish will be placed on your table.

RAKI
Typically served with fish, mezes, or a simple plate of melon and cheese, Turkey’s favorite alcoholic beverage (similar to the Greek ouzo or Lebanese arak) is best consumed with water and ice, which give rakı the cloudy white color that inspired its nickname, “lion’s milk.” At up to 90 proof, be sure to pace yourself and don’t worry if you can’t keep up with the locals.

TEA
Visitors who come to Turkey expecting to be served thick Turkish coffee at every turn are in for a surprise—black tea is the hot beverage of choice and you’ll be offered it wherever you go: when looking at rugs in the Grand Bazaar or when finishing your meal in even the humblest restaurant. Tea, called çay, is grown domestically along the slopes of the Black Sea coast. Flavorful and aromatic, it’s not prepared from tea bags, a concept that horrifies most Turks; instead, it’s made in a double boiler that has a larger kettle on the bottom for heating up the water and a smaller kettle on top where a dark concentrate is made using loose tea leaves. The resulting brew—strong and rust-colored—is usually served in a small, tulip-shaped glass, with two or more cubes of sugar (but never, Allah forbid, with milk or lemon). If you want your tea weak (light), ask for an açık çay.

Most teahouses will also carry a range of herbal teas, which are also popular, especially ada çayı (sage tea) and ıhlamur çayı (linden flower tea). Elma çayı (apple tea), usually made from a synthetic powder, is often served to tourists.

Top Attractions

Top Attractions

TOPKAPI SARAYI
Topkapı Palace was the home of the Ottoman sultans and the heart of the empire. Its grassy courtyards once buzzed with the comings and goings of soldiers, ambassadors, eunuchs, and pashas, while in the private chambers of the Harem, dripping with lovely blue tiles, the sultan’s women schemed to bring a son to the throne. Former storerooms overflow with gold thrones, gigantic diamonds, and the holiest relics of Islam.

AYA SOFYA
Hagia Sophia was, for nearly a thousand years, the greatest church in Christendom. Built by the emperor Justinian in the 6th century, it’s one of the few buildings of its age, size, and grandeur to survive today. Its giant dome shelters numerous historic artworks, from Byzantine mosaics to Islamic calligraphy.

BASILICA CISTERN
Dark basements with serious damp problems aren’t normally tourist attractions, unless they happen to be evocative Byzantine cisterns, held up by ancient columns that are reflected in water teeming with fish. Built 1,500 years ago as part of a system to preserve the city’s water supply through siege and drought, Yerebatan Sarnıcı is a peaceful, surreal escape from the heat of an Istanbul summer.

THE BLUE MOSQUE
Elegant, cascading curves and a central location make the Blue Mosque (aka Sultan Ahmet Camii) the most famous mosque in Istanbul. Inside is a spectacular coating of blue İznik tiles, which gives it its nickname.

EPHESUS
Ephesus was the metropolis of Asia Minor and archaeologists have revealed a treasure trove of ancient streets once walked by Alexander the Great and St. Paul. The houses, theaters, temples, toilets, even a brothel, and the columned facade of the Library of Celsus are in remarkably good condition.

GÖREME OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
The unique lunar landscape of Cappadocia is honeycombed with Byzantine churches cut from the rock in the Middle Ages, many decorated with beautiful frescoes. The most famous and easily accessible place to visit is the collection of churches and dwellings known as the Göreme Open-Air Museum.

MT. NEMRUT
Atop a lonely mountain overlooking the Euphrates, this ancient shrine to the megalomania of one man is an extraordinary archaeological site. The oversize heads of King Antiochus and a pantheon of gods litter the ground beside a great burial mound.

OLYMPOS
These jungle-entangled ruins in a valley by one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful beaches are overlooked by the natural eternal flame of the Chimaera. Few places combine so many of Turkey’s many attractions as does Olympos.

PAMUKKALE
Stunning white travertine pools of water cascade down a hillside in the hinterland of the Aegean coast: this unique rock formation was created over eons by mineral-rich water and has attracted tourists for millennia, although the rock pools are smaller, and not as pristine as they once were.

Top Turkey Experiences

Top Turkey Experiences
Top Turkey Experiences

Top Turkey Experiences

TAKE A BOAT UP THE BOSPHORUS
A boat ride along the Bosphorus is one of the most enjoyable ways to see the sprawling, magnificent city of Istanbul. From the ferry’s vantage point, you’ll see landmarks like the Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces; Ortaköy Mosque, perched right on the water’s edge; and exquisite waterfront mansions, called yalıs, that were summer homes for the Ottoman elite. You’ll also pass under the waterway’s two suspension bridges, which connect Asia and Europe. While on board, sip a glass of Turkish tea and listen to the calls of the seagulls as you contemplate this beautiful meeting of two continents.

SCRUB DOWN IN A TURKISH BATH
Before the era of indoor plumbing, going to a hamam, or public bath, was a central element of Turkish life. Today many beautiful centuries-old hammams are still in use, by both locals and tourists. In the hammam’s steam room, you can relax on the heated marble platform in the center and rinse yourself at one of the marble washbasins. If you choose, you’ll also be lathered, scrubbed, and massaged by a hammam attendant, whose goal seems to be to remove every last dry skin cell from the surface of your body. You’ll emerge ultraclean, refreshed, and having taken part in an age-old Turkish tradition.

STAY IN A CAVE HOTEL
Where but in Cappadocia can you sleep like the Flintstones while having all your creature comforts? Few of Cappadocia’s inhabitants still live in traditional homes carved out of the soft tufa stone, but in recent years the area’s hoteliers have been converting more and more of these “cave” dwellings into hotels, which range from basic inns for backpackers to upscale lodgings with plush furnishings, modern lighting, and fully equipped bathrooms, some even with Jacuzzis. Surrounded by Cappadocia’s magical landscape, tucked cozily into your cave room at night, you’ll feel almost as if you’re on another planet.

WATCH THE DERVISHES WHIRL
Turkey is famous for its “whirling dervishes,” a sect of Sufi mystics, the Mevlevi, who believe that ritual spinning in circles will bring them to union with God. This trancelike whirling is just one element of the sema, a highly symbolic religious ceremony that also includes music and Koranic recitation. Despite the fact that these dervish ceremonies have become increasingly tourist-oriented in recent years, attending a sema can still be a powerful and mesmerizing experience. Seeing the dervishes whirl is one of the main draws of the festival commemorating Rumi in Konya each December; there are also regular dervish performances (although not all of them terribly authentic) in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey.

TAKE A BLUE CRUISE
One of the most popular and relaxing ways to experience Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts is to take a Blue Cruise aboard a gulet, or wooden fishing vessel. Usually lasting several days (or longer), these cruises take passengers along the rugged coastline, with stops to visit ruins or villages. Away from the beach crowds, you’ll enjoy the simple pleasures of swimming in remote coves, eating fresh-caught fish, and sleeping on your boat in a wooded inlet.

QUENCH YOUR THIRST LIKE THE LOCALS
A trip to Turkey isn’t complete without sampling certain quintessentially Turkish beverages. You can barely go anywhere without being offered a glass of çay, or tea: the lubricant for every social and business encounter, it’s consumed in Turkey at one of the world’s highest rates per capita. The famous Turkish coffee, a thick, unfiltered brew made with extremely finely ground coffee beans, is in fact drunk far less often—primarily just on special occasions and as a digestive after meals. For something cold, try the ubiquitous ayran, a frothy, salted yogurt drink that’s a refreshing accompaniment to a spicy meal of kebabs. Another unique beverage is salep, a sweet, milk-based hot drink served during the winter months. And don’t forget to taste the anise-flavored national liquor, rakı.

SEE CAPPADOCIA FROM ABOVE
Taking a trip in a hot-air balloon is a thrilling way to see the amazing scenery of Cappadocia; for many people this is a highlight of their visit to the area. As your balloon follows the natural contours of the terrain, you’ll look down into scenic valleys and sail right past “fairy chimneys” and unusual rock formations that seem almost close enough to touch. Flights leave at dawn, when the air is calmest and safest for flying, and end with a champagne toast.

WANDER AMONG RUINS
With so many civilizations having occupied the land that is now Turkey, it’s no surprise that the country is sprinkled with ancient ruins. The remains of Roman and Greek cities, with their impressive theaters, temples, stadiums, and colonnaded streets, compete with even older sites dating back to the Hittites. From beachside Patara and Olympos, to Termessos high up in the mountains, to the inland Aphrodisias, each spot is uniquely picturesque. At the best-preserved sites like Ephesus and Troy, you’ll be among many visitors marveling at the ruins, but at places that are more off the beaten path, you’ll be free to wander and explore with virtually no one else around.

TRAVEL THE COUNTRY BY BUS
Taking an intercity bus in Turkey is a lot like taking an airplane in other countries. Since most Turks travel this way, bus terminals are as heavily trafficked as airports, and house a myriad of different companies with buses departing around the clock for every corner of the country. Seats are assigned, with unrelated males and females usually not seated together. During the ride, a uniformed bus attendant will regularly come around distributing snacks, water, and tea and coffee for no extra charge; he’ll also offer you lemon-scented cologne to refresh your face and hands. Long-haul buses break every few hours at a rest stop so passengers can smoke, use the toilet, or just stretch their legs.

EXPERIENCE AND APPRECIATE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS
Turkey is a cultural crossroads where the world’s three Abrahamic religions have coexisted for centuries, and one of the most surprising things for many visitors is the way these religions are juxtaposed. Particularly in Istanbul, but in other places as well, you’ll see ancient churches and synagogues right around the corner from mosques. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about different religious traditions as you listen to the Muslim call to prayer, visit Istanbul’s Jewish Museum, or gaze at Eastern Orthodox iconography in a Byzantine church.

Top Reasons to Go to Turkey

Top Reasons to Go to Turkey

Istanbul: The Aya Sofya, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, plus fabulous food and shopping.

History: Greco-Roman ruins such as Ephesus, Ottoman palaces, World War I battlefields.

Local Eats: Kebabs and meze are essential, along with regional and cutting-edge fare.

Natural Wonders: Cappadocia’s fairytale rock formations, Pamukkale’s travertine pools.

Shopping: Markets and bazaars brim with treasures from carpets to fragrant spices.

Seaside Serenity: Beautiful beaches, charming coastal towns, memorable Blue Cruises.

Kars Harakani Airport

Kars Harakani Airport

Kars Harakani Airport is a public airport in KarsTurkey (IATAKSYICAOLTCF). The airport, opened in 1988, is located 6 km (3.7 mi) from Kars.

In 2006, Kars Airport served 2,352 aircraft and 270,052 passengers. The passenger terminal open to the public covers an area of 1,695 m2 (18,240 sq ft) and has a parking lot for 100 cars. The airport was closed in the spring and summer months of 2007 for renovation works. The re-opening took place on October 22, 2007. The new terminal was designed by architect Yakup Hazan.

Kars Airport has importance for serving also other cities like AğrıArdahanArtvin and Iğdır in north-eastern Turkey.

TOP 10 HIDDEN BEACHES

TOP 10 HIDDEN BEACHES

Discover Turkey, home of secret beaches

TURKEY’S TOP 10 SECRET BEACHES

Here are the top 10 unspoilt, deserted beaches with a perfect blue sky, scorching sun and azure coloured sea. Crowd free beaches, from hidden bays to pristine secluded coves. If you are looking for a quiet escape, check out these 10 secluded beaches.

TURKEY’S UNSPOILT BEACHES

If a summer holiday in Turkey makes you think of crowded beaches and heaving resorts, think again. For swimmers and sun worshipper, Turkey offers the best dream beaches.

Scattered among the mountainous peninsulas lie hidden arcs of sand, pretty shingle bays and unspoilt villages with simple restaurants opening out on to the beach. Most can only be reached by car or boat, meaning they are rarely busy, even in the height of summer.

MEDITERRANEAN

Cirali: If you want a more relaxed, romantic atmosphere, Cirali is the beach for you. It is far more secluded and smaller than the other two beaches mentioned so far, and is backed by a forest, which is filled with Roman ruins.

Phaselis: Phaselis is a ancient city, which has magical mix of pine forests and golden sandy beach. This secret beach is famous with its superb swimming opportunities and natural beauty of the clear sea.

NORTH AEGEAN

Assos: The old town and ancient city occupy a rocky peak, with stunning views of the Aegean and Greece beyond, while its harbour is one of the most picturesque to be found anywhere on the Aegean coast.

Foca: Foca is popular with Turkish holidaymakers living in nearby Izmir. Its historic sites include a Genoese castle and a small ancient theatre. The resort is split into two bays with beaches in each.

SOUTH AEGEAN

Sarigerme: Sarigerme is a large sandy beach, scenic and spacious. With its back surrounded by pine forests and facing a long beach with fine sand and a clean sea. It is a very special location indeed for families with children.

Palamutbuku: This untouched cove just far out into the South Aegean and is awash with almond trees, olives and wild flowers. The water is clean and cool, and the sea is like turquoise silk linen.

Butterfly Valley: Turkey’s most photogenic beach is Butterfly Valley. Thousands of butterflies live in the trees behind the beach. There are just a few treehouses in which to rest your head.

Kabak: Kabak is the perfect place to escape package holiday groups and most visitors come here to chill out in one of the many wooden huts and bungalows, set in the pine-forested valley behind the sand-and-pebble beach.

BLACK SEA

Sinop: Sinop has many fascinating things to see, and the beaches are small. Nice beaches, never crowded, because the Black Sea water is usually pretty chilly.

Inkumu: Inkumu is a unique tourism attraction on the Black Sea coast. Sea shore is full of green pine forests, sand and bright sea.

TOP 10 SWIMMING BEACHES

TOP 10 SWIMMING BEACHES

Discover Turkey, home of swimming beaches

TURKEY’S TOP 10 SWIMMING BEACHES

Stretching from Europe all the way to the Middle East, Turkey has truly beautiful swimming beaches in the city centres. See below for the top 10 swimming beaches, which are public, mostly crowd but the swimming is great.

MEDITERRANEAN

Konyaalti: Konyaalti is Antalya’s very popular city beach with its long pebble beach. You can enjoy swimming in the blue flag sea or have fun with the activities. The beach is largely divided up by concessions, each with its own restaurant, umbrellas, deck chairs and showers.

Lara: Lara has lots of wonderful beaches for swimming, known for its golden sand. Here, you will be finding several options for accommodation just by the side of golden sandy beach. Lara Beach is definitely an ideal place for swimming.

Mermerli: Mermerli is a beautiful city beach in Antalya. It is small, but has everything necessary for swimming and sunbathing, a sandy beach, calm shallow water, bar and restaurant.

NORTH AEGEAN

Pirlanta: Pirlanta, which means diamond in Turkish, describes the creamy whiteness of this sandy stretch of the peninsula. The beach is long and wide and faces the open Aegean. It is also easily accessible by public transportation.

Sarimsakli: Sarimsakli Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ayvalik. The beach is a popular attraction amongst locals and tourists alike.

SOUTH AEGEAN

Ladies: Ladies Beach is one of the most beautiful sandy and busiest swimming beaches in Kusadasi. The sunset at Ladies Beach is worth to see. You can also enjoy all the water sports activities in this beach.

Calis: Calis Beach is all about a long stretch of sand and shingle. Gently lapped by warm blue waters, this great beach is sprinkled with plenty of comfortable loungers just waiting for sun hungry bodies.

Altinkum: Altinkum literally means Golden Sand an appropriate description of the beautiful beach. Popular with families it has a range of accommodation and plenty of restaurants and bars for entertainment.

Gumbet: Gumbet is the closest long sandy beach to Bodrum, very popular with holidaymakers to stay here close to the beach and venture into Bodrum at night.

BLACK SEA

Kilyos: Kilyos has the sandy beaches, hotels, motels and camping facilities. It is located on the European Black Sea Coast, only 35 km away from Istanbul.

Travel Insider

Weather in Turkey

Istanbul
broken clouds
16.4 ° C
19.1 °
16.2 °
58 %
1kmh
75 %
Thu
16 °
Fri
19 °
Sat
20 °
Sun
20 °
Mon
20 °
LUXURY HOMES INTERNATIONAL REALTY - REAL ESTATE