HOLIDAY IN TURKEY

WHY GO TO TURKEY ?

Turkey is friendly, beautiful, culturally rich and good value for money. Turkey is modern and comfortable but at the same time traditional . Turkey has a very rich historical culture of 25,000 years and has been home to biggest civilizations throughout history. Turkey means "Sun and Sea" and has so many alternative activites to offer foreign visitors. Turkey gets about 20 million visitors annually and aims to be among the top 10 travel destinations within the next couple of years. It is safe to travel and spend a holiday in Turkey.

CLIMATE / WHEN TO GO :
The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have very hot and dry summers, and wet, mild winters when the coastal towns more or less shut down between October and April. Winter in Istanbul and Cappadocia can be very cold with a dusting of snow. The peak tourist season is during high summer, roughly between July and September. From June the mosquitoes can be a problem. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, as the climate is still hot, but not unbearable. Eastern Turkey should be visited during summer as roads and mountain passes may close due to winter ice and snow.

CULTURAL / SOCIAL / EVENTS
Istanbul International Film Festival
International Children's Festival
Kırkpınar Oiled Wrestling Festival
International Istanbul Music Festival
International Istanbul Jazz Festival
Istanbul Rock Open Air Festival
International Izmir Festival
Aspendos Opera & Ballet Festival
International Istanbul FashionFestival
International Troy Festival
Formula One - Turkish Grand Prix
Rock'n Coke Festival
International Bodrum Cup
International Istanbul Biennial Festival
St Nicholas Festival
Whirling Dervishes Festival
International Istanbul Fashion Festival

WHAT TO SEE / ATTRACTIONS
ISTANBUL: SULTANAHMET, HAGIA SOPHIA Sultanahmet Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Kariye Museum (The Chora Church)

OTHER PLACES IN TURKEY: Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Cappadocia, Mevlevi Convent and Museum, Pamukkale, Safranbolu,
Mt. Nemrut, Sanli Urfa (Halil Rahman Mosque)

WHAT TO BUY / WHERE & WHAT TO EAT
In Turkey, one can buy "Carpets & Kilims, Ottoman Books & Rare Prints, Turkish Delight, Pottery & Ceramics, Turkish Textiles, Copper, Gold & Silver, Foodstuffs, Meerschaum Pipes" to take back back home

Turkey deserves the reputation earned for its cuisine, which is rich and savory, with abundant use of vegetables, and reasonably hot. Turkish kitchen is based on lamb and mutton and it includes beef and chicken.Roasting and grilling is very common to produce Turkish kebaps, including world wide famous döner kebap and köfte (Turkish meatballs)

THE BEST OF TURKEY

Beaches : Alaçati Bay, Pirlanta Beach, Altinkum Beach, Ayayorgi Beach, Ölüdeniz Beach, Butterfly Valley, Marti Resort Deluxe Hotel, Iztuzu Beach, Kaputas Beach, Patara Beach, Konyaalti

The Best Ruins:
Pergamum, St. John's Basilica, Ephesus, Ancient Theatre, Temple of Apollo, Lycian Tombs, Yazilikaya

The Best Small Towns and Villages:

Bergama, Alaçati, Sirince, Gümüslük, Kayakoy, Kalkan, Kaleköy, Güzelyurt, Ayvalı