Turkiye

Turkiye country Turkey is located in the continent of Asia and covers 769.632 square kilometers of land and 13.930 square kilometers of water. The population of turkey is 80274604.

Turkiye is a destination that can be visited year-round. Summers are hot and dry and temperatures can be particularly high from June through to September - great for the beach worshipper or an island hopper. Generally, the best times to visit are spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) as the temperature is pleasant but not overbearing.

Turkiye is a dazzling destination that straddles Asia and Europe. Its vibrant culture, famous food, and vast history wow all who venture here, while its glorious landscapes, from the sun, soaked Mediterranean to the mighty mountains and arid steppe.

The currency of Turkiye is the Turkish Lira and dialing code for the Turkiye is 0090 and the tope level internet domain for Turkish sites is .tr.

Neighbouring counties are Armenia Azerbaijan Greece Iraq Iran and Syria.

The popular city in Turkiye are Istanbul Ankara Izmir Bursa Adana Gaziantepe Konya Antalya and…

Ankara

Ankara is Turkiye's capital and 2nd largest city. Ankara is the seat of government and diplomacy and is also a university town with a large student population.

Konya

Further inland the central city of Konya is the home of the whirling dervishes and hosts a sufi festival every December when the city comes alive with visitors.

Van

van is the easternmost city of turkey, situated on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city lies at an elevation of about 1,750 meter in an oasis at the foot of a hill crowned by an ancient ruined city.

Igdir

Igdir city has a rich historical and cultural heritage, and the various monuments you see bear a reflection on the struggles the civilization underwent in its quest for survival.

COASTAL CITIES

Istanbul

Istanbul is Turkiye's largest city and the country's undisputed cultural and financial center. Istanbul offers a great deal in the way of history, culture, food and entertainment, in fact far too much to take in on a short city break.

Antalya

Antalya is the largest city on the Mediterranean, also known as the Turkish Riviera, offering over 300 days of sunshine, fantastic beaches, resort towns, luxury hotels, a myriad of water-front bars and restaurants and great shopping.

Izmir

Izmir is Turkiye's third largest city and second most important port on the Aegean coast. Luxury hotels and facilities for sports, entertainment, shopping and business meetings give the city a cosmopolitan and lively atmosphere all year round.

Kushadasi

Kushadası is a resort town on Turkiye's Aegean coast. The municipality's primary industry is tourism. It was known as Ephesus Neopolis, during the Byzantine era, and later as Scala Nova or Scala Nuova under the Genovese and Venetians.

Trabzon

Trabzon on the Black Sea coast has its own Hagia Sophia from the 13th century and makes a good base to visit the cliff-hugging Sumela Monastery set in the spectacular semi-tropical forested landscape that so typifies this region.

What's the best time for a trip to Turkiye?

Turkiye has seven distinct weather and climate zones. You need to know a bit about them in order to pack the right clothes. Spring is the best time to visit Turkiye, autumn is next, then summer, last winter.

Top attractions in Turkiye:

• Pamukkale

Pamukkale is quite literally Turkiye’s cotton castle, with its gleaming white calcite shelves cascading with warm mineral rich water, down the mountains overlooking the place. Quiet and serene, the place promises exquisitely photogenic scenery and a relaxing escape from the busy lives of the city.

• Aya Sofya

One of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the spellbinding Byzantine glory of the Aya Sofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) is not only one of the top things to do in Istanbul, but also in Turkiye. The staggering bulk of its exterior is rimmed by the delicate minarets added after the Ottoman conquest, while the sumptuous and cavernous frescoed interior is a grand reminder of old Constantinople's might and power. This famed monument is a must-do for every tourist visiting the country.

• Ephesus

Not to be missed, the mighty ruin of Ephesus is a city of colossal monuments and marble-columned roads. One of the most complete, still-standing Roman cities in the Mediterranean region, this is the place to experience what life must have been like during the golden age of the Roman Empire. A sightseeing trip here will take at least half a day to cover the major highlights and longer, if you really want to explore, so make sure that you plan your visit so you don't feel rushed.

• Topkapı Palace

Sumptuous beyond belief, the Topkapı Palace takes you into the fantastical, opulent world of the sultans. It was from here that the sultans of the Ottoman Era carved out an empire that would extend up into Europe and down through the Middle East and into Africa. The interiors, with their decadently exuberant tiling and lavish jeweled decor, are an unforgettable peek into the Ottoman's power base. The surrounding public gardens were once the sole domain of the Royal Court but are now open to the public and provide a tranquil, green respite from the city streets.

• Aspendos

Just south of Antalya, the jaw-dropping mammoth bulk of the Roman Theater of Aspendos celebrates the pomp and ceremony of Marcus Aurelius' rule. Considered the finest surviving example of a classical age theater still standing in the world, it is one of antiquity's star attractions. Although the theater is the main reason for a visit here - and for most visitors on a half-day trip from nearby Antalya or Side the theater is all they see - there are more ruins to explore over a vast hilly area if you have time.

• Cappadocia

Situated in Central Anatolia, Cappadocia is best known for its fairytale landscape of unusual formations resembling chimneys, cones and pinnacles. Natural processes such as ancient volcanic eruptions and erosion have all sculpted these odd formations over the ages. Thousands of years ago, mankind added remarkable touches to the landscape by carving out houses, churches and underground cities from the soft rock. The Hittites were the first to chisel out underground tunnel complexes, seeking safety from invading Greeks. Much later Christians sought refuge in Cappadocia’s tunnels and caves. Today, some of the caves in the region are actually hotels and cater to tourists.

• Bodrum Castle

Located in the city of Bodrum in southwest Turkiye, Bodrum Castle was built by the Crusaders in the 15th century as the Castle of St. Peter. It is one of the world’s best preserved monuments dating back to medieval times. The castle now operates as a museum, with the focus on the Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It overlooks the internal marina of Bodrum filled with millions of dollarsworth of sailing crafts.

• Mount Nemrut

Nemrut is a 2,134 meter (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkiye, near the city of Adiyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Thoes of Commagene built a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek gods on the mountain top. Since their construction, the heads have toppled from the bodies and lay scattered throughout the site. The summit of Mount Nemrut provides a great view of the surrounding mountains. The main attraction is to watch the sunrise from the eastern terrace which give the bodyless heads a beautiful orange hue and adds to the sense of mystery of the place.

• Oludeniz

Ölüdeniz is a small village located on the south west coast on the Aegean Sea. It has a secluded sandy bay at the mouth of Ölüdeniz, on a blue lagoon. This beach is famous for its shades of turquoise and remains one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. Ölüdeniz is also regarded as one of the best places in the world to paraglide due to its unique panoramic views.

Things You Should Know Before Visiting Turkiye

1. Visa

Turkish visa is very easy to obtain for many countries. First, do not forget to check if your passport needs a Turkish visa on official site of Visa Information for Foreigners. Sometimes the entrance of Turkish borders might be very crowded and the approval processes might work slowly. In order to avoid the queue after landing, you can easily obtain your e-Visa through Electronic Visa Application System. Take a print-out before you travel and see how a sheet of paper can save you a lot of time.

2. Mobile

Turkiye has 3 mobile operators: Turkcell, Vodafone and Avea. If roaming is available on your mobile phone, you will connect automatically one of those.

3. Shopping

Turkiye is a rather cheap country comparing to big cities in Europe or US. As you see photos of Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and street markets before you go, you can easily imagine that shopping in Turkiye is a great fun! The famous bazaars are not only touristic, but also they are native shopping centers for all locals around the city. This makes Istanbul twice interesting for visitors. Although Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are also usual, daily and attractive markets for locals to go shopping, you should not expect to be offered the same prices as locals are. Like you would have noticed from the prior sentence, there is  no price labels in the shops! This makes possible to bargain the prices everywhere except supermarkets.

If you would like to negotiate and deal, Istanbul Bazaars will be a heaven for you. Moreover, if you feel shy about it, you will be an angel for shopkeepers. Keep always in mind that if you are a good negotiator, you can reduce the price as low as 50% at a shopping in Grand Bazaar.

4. Clothing

Turkiye is mainly a country with islamic population. Statistically, 99% of the Turkish people are muslim on formal documents. Not all but some of the women cover their heads with a headscarf. As you may guess, it is less in big cities and has a bigger proportion in smaller towns in Anatolia. As a tourist, you do not need to worry about your clothing in most touristic places. Even in small villages, people are very friendly towards foreigners and they are always open to communication. The only thing you should know is that you have to wear something which covers your knees and women have to cover their hair with a headscarf when visiting religious buildings and places. If you are planning to visit several mosques on a day, it is clever to have a scarf with you. Even if you forget to bring one with you, there are some scarves to borrow at the entrance of most important mosques for visitors.

Don’t Forget to Take Your Shoes Off

If you’re visiting a mosque, remember to take your shoes off before entering the building. It’s considered rude to wear shorts, as well. Women should also cover their heads. If you’re fortunate enough to visit a Turkish home, check the entry way for a pile of shoes. If you find one, take the hint and remove your shoes before entering.

Safety and security

The crime rate in Turkiye is low, but you shouldn’t leave yourself wide open to opportunity theft or safety issues. Use the same procedures that you use in your home country to stay safe such as letting people know where you are, only using licensed taxis, and always staying with your drink while in bars.

Regarding terrorism, many countries in the world now face this threat, but the Turkish government places high importance on everyone’s safety, whether Turkish or not, so strict security procedures are in places, especially in the major cities.

If you're planning to travel over the period of a Religious holiday, make sure you've got your tickets & your stays booked in advance.