Turkey Travel Guide

There is plenty to see and do in Turkey; sights and activities range from belly dancing, scuba diving, bazaars, beaches, and ancient temples. The sands are golden, the seas are deepest blue and the culture is just as colourful. Hiring a car opens up great possibilities for exploring this vast country. If you are interested in visiting the historic sites, you will appreciate having the flexibility to visit some of the most spectacular ruins off the main excursion routes.

Turkey Tourist Board The official website for the Turkey National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Turkey.

Things to see and do

• Visit Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, it is the world's largest covered market.
• Learn a new water sport in the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal resorts.
• Charter a traditional wooden boat known as a ‘gulet’.
• Go white water rafting on the Dalaman River, Koprulu River, Zamanti River, or the Coruh River.
• Visit a Turkish bath.
• Visit the Roman theatre at Aspendos – The best way to appreciate the largest and best preserved theatre in Anatolia is by attending the summertime opera and ballet festival.
• Visit the underground city, Kaymakli – Burrowed out of soft volcanic tuff, this subterranean labyrinth provided refuge for Cappadocians from the Hittite through to the Byzantine eras.
• Visit the “Beehive” houses in Harran – Mud-built dwellings in Harran; they are inhabited by ethnic Arabs.
• See the whirling dervishes – members of a sect founded by the Konya-based Sufi mystic Mevlana conduct “turning” ceremonies to effect union with God.
• Drinking tea – Tea from the Black Sea has been the Turkish national drink since the 1930s, and it’s available everywhere, at almost any hour.

Festivals and events

• International Istanbul Biennial Festival, Istanbul (September-November).
• Whirling Dervishes Festival, Museum of Mevlana (December).
• International Istanbul Music Festival, Istanbul (June).

Useful Telephone Numbers

Time Difference

GMT +2