13 reasons why you should visit Turkey

July 18, 2014
1,164 Comments
Turkey, a mosaic made up of many
different facets keeps on mesmerizing traveller’s every time. Surrounded on
three sides by warm seas, it falls in the temperate climate zone that witnesses
pleasant weather year round. Summers in Turkey are long, almost eight months in
some areas, therefore creating various options for perfect vacations. 

One can
choose from picturesque mountain tops, laid back beach flairs, whimsy
backdrops, warm tropical climate, history, culture, spas, shopping, and of
course the friendly culture to make holidays truly memorable.



Home of Bazaars
 
Although modern Turks have embraced designer boutiques and shopping malls, bazaars are still the place where most locals shop and visitors explore in search of traditional Turkish flavors & goods. Turkey has some of the best bazaars for souvenir picking, bustling market areas house ceramics, handicrafts, soaps, sweets, carpets, lanterns, tea cups, chess sets, clothes, shoes and trinkets. From big cities to small towns, the country has plenty of bazaars, often specialising in a few particular products. The bazaars range from glittering medieval quaint spice bazaars to back-street haggling pits. All markets in Turkey usually open at dawn and close at dusk. Some of the best bazaars of Turkey include Bakircilar Çarşisi, Urfa’s bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Kemeraltı Bazaar, Tarlabaşi, Kadiköy, Bakirköy, Beşiktaş, Sahaflar, Yeşilköy, Inebolu and Çarşamba.
 
Home of Ancient Ruins

Turkey has always been at the crossroads of civilizations. Nobody can visit the country without sighting intriguing ancient ruins scattered all over the country. Ephesus is one of the world’s great historic sites, with its large number of excavated buildings dating back to the Roman times. Similar sites run along the Aegean coast including Pergamum, which has some of the best well-preserved remains and the hugely famous Troy. Evidence of Turkey’s long past and importance in world history can be found at three remarkable spots – Hattuşa, capital of the Hittite Empire; Çatalhöyük, a 9000-year old Neolithic settlement and Göbekli Tepe, believed to be the world’s oldest place of worship. Hierapolis is another extremely well known archeologically impressive site.
 
Home of Natural Wonders

Turkey has many extraordinary and truly unique natural wonders. The landscapes of Cappadocia are world-famous and enjoyed best on hot air balloon flights over its fairy chimneys. Cappadocia presents a beautiful dreamy slice of central Turkey that is lined with rock formations formed by volcanic eruptions that led to sculpted sinuous valleys and pointy chimneys. Local Cappadocians have chiseled beautiful homes into the soft rocks and make a perfect vacation for experiential travelers. Cappadocia also houses exclusive boutique fairy-chimney hotels. Pamukkale has beautifully compelling and blindingly white terrace pools filled with therapeutic waters. The Turkish Riviera or the Turquoise Coast is an integral part of Turkey’s tourist visits. It has beautiful beaches, headlands and coves which are best enjoyed on a gület (sailing ship) cruise. Other options are the impressive Kaçkar Mountains that give tourist’s plenty of great hiking options, peaceful Lakes such as Lake Van, mythical beauty of Chimaera and the Caves of Heaven and Hell.
 
Home of Beaches

A summer holiday in Turkey entail hidden arcs of sand, pretty shingle bays, un-spoilt villages, simple authentic restaurants and beach resorts scattered among the mountainous peninsulas.  Most beaches in Turkey can only be reached by car or boat making them rarely busy even during the peak summer season. Some of Turkey’s most beautiful crowd-free beaches comprise of hidden bays to pristine secluded coves like Ovabuku, Butterfly Valley, Amos, Gemiler, Cirali, Kaputas, Hisaronu Bay, Ortakent, Gunluklu, Kabak, Saros Bay, Alktinkum, Aydıncık, Patara beach, Mermerli beach, Iztuzu Beach and Kabak Bay.
 
One more place well worth a visit in the summer is Marmaris. On the southwest coast of Turkey, this city has it all – Flawless beaches within easy reach, great shopping opportunities, and a nightlife. There are also many excursions available that include a trip around the beautiful peninsula ‘Paradise Island’, boat rides to the Greek island of Rhodes and coach trips to some very interesting Turkish towns and villages.
 
Home of Gastronomy

Turkey is one of the world’s best culinary destinations as the whole country offers an exceptional food and wine experience. The food in Turkey is prepared using fresh fruit and vegetable locally produced that make  delectable gastronomic delights. All coastal resorts and major towns have restaurants to suit every palette – from traditional Turkish cuisine to modern global food. One can discover traditional Turkish food through a wide range of starters, main courses and desserts that are quite unlike any other dishes in the world. A lot of traditional Turkish food is based on the old ancient Ottoman cuisine and is inspired from Arab, Armenian, Greek and Turkish cuisines combined. The top Turkish foods include Adana Kebab, Testi Kebab, Sac Kavurma, Menemen, Kofte, Dolma, Borek, Lahmacun, Pide, Manti and Mezes. The wide range of delicious sweets includes Baklava, Kadayif, Burma and Sobiyet.
 
Home of Nightlife

Night life in Turkey is energetic and one can tell the difference and contrasts of Turkish culture through its nightlife. Popular establishments range from over thirty years old extremely exclusive clubs to new up to date party hotspots. Being a big country with several city centers, Turkey has more than one entertainment destination. Istanbul alone has immense party options divided between the Asian and European sides including Kadıköy district, Şişli district, Beşiktaş district or Taksim, Istiklal Street and Beyoğlu district. Turkey promises some unforgettable nights with fancy exclusive places as well as little places known mostly to locals. A night out in Turkey can be full of contrasts and can be easily planned according to budgets and preferences.
 
Home of Relaxation

The existence of seismic faults makes Turkey one of the richest countries in the world for thermal resources with almost 1300 springs. The temperature of these hot springs varies between 20-110 degrees Celsius and their flow is between 2-500 liters per second. The ancient Romans discovered the therapeutic powers of Turkey’s many thermal springs scattered throughout western Anatolia. Spa holidays with their pampering health and beauty treatments are a relatively new phenomenon, but the health giving properties of Turkey’s natural springs have been renowned since antiquity. Turkey has hot springs, healing waters and muds, which come highly recommended by the medical authorities as a remedy for many diseases, galore and also one of the healthiest diets in the world. These factors make it the best destination for relaxation, rejuvenation, excellent physical health and the search for well-being. State-of-the art picturesque hotels and resorts are also available near these natural springs for complete comfort and holistic stays along with quality-trained and licensed professionals. The best natural springs are found in Ankara, Afyon, Balikesir, Bingol, Bolu, Bursa, Canakkale, Eskisehir, Izmir, Konya, Kutahya and Mugla.
 
Home of Romance

Choosing a dream destination for weddings, honeymoons or renewing wedding vows is an exciting process. Couples and their families are looking for unique ways to commemorate their union in intimate celebrations. The beauty of destination weddings is in the theme, locations and settings. With multiple natural, cultural and historical attractions, Turkey is a country that has plenty of options to celebrate. It has so much to offer to its visitors – breathtaking natural beauty, unique historical and archaeological places, some of the best hotel and touristic infrastructure and a tradition of hospitality at competitive prices. Luxury hotels in Turkey strive to augment the natural beauty of the area with an experience that complements the local atmosphere, cuisine, and customs.
 
Some of the most popular wedding destinations include Kaleiçi and Antalya, Bozcaada, Islamlar and Kalkan, Blue Lagoon Islands, Olu Deniz, Dalaman. Ideal honeymoon destinations are Istanbul with its Horse backed carriage rides, Aya Yorgi and Bebek Park, hot air balloon tours of Cappadocia, exploring the Turkish Riviera through romantic cruises on gullets, healing in the hot springs and natural pools of Pamukkale. There are several luxury hotels and resorts in Turkey including Çirağan Palace Kempinski, The Marmara Taksim, Conrad Istanbul, Mardan Palace, Gloria Serenity Resort, Kempinski Hotel The Dome, Cappadocia Cave Resort and many more that offer unique experiences.
 
Home of Adventure

Turkey is blessed with majestic mountains and valleys, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and grottoes perfect for summer tourism and sports of all kinds. There is ample scope for aero, aqua and terrestrial adventure tourism activities. Mountain climbers, trekkers, hikers, hunters and skiing fans have ample opportunities to enjoy and take back unforgettable experiences and memories. 
 
Watersports

With such a long coastline along the sea, Turkey offers all water sports ranging from swimming, boating, water rafting and canoeing, yachting, hiking, biking, banana boating, kayaking, water skiing, kite boarding, zorbing, speed boat cruises, power-sailing, scuba  diving and snorkelling. Water sports are available in just about every beach resort in Turkey.
 
Terrestial Sports

For the active tourists, Turkey has many mountains that offer sport activities like skiing, mountain climbing and hiking including climbing sites such as Agri-Mount Ararat, Kayseri-Mount-Erciyes, and Rize Kacker Mountain Ranges. Turkey has approximately 40,000 caves and caverns to explore from the Caverns of Antayla to the Caves of Zongulduk. This sport is known as spelunking. Turkey also presents to mountains lovers an incredible variety of interesting climbing opportunities that are sure to satisfy the most demanding hikers, climbers, and winter sports fans. In Turkey, mountains come in all sizes, geo-morphological and tectonic structures and boast abundant wildlife and forests teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Popular Climbing Sites are Kaçkar Mt. Range, Antalya-Beydağlar, Mt. Erciyes, Niğde Aladağlar, Mt. Ararat, Mt. Süphan, Bolkar Mountains and Mercan Mountains. Some of the popular skiing destinations include Bolu, Kastamonu, Ankara, Antalya, Bingöl, Elaziğ, Erzincan, Gümüşhane, Isparta, Izmir, Ludağ Ski Centre, Palandöken Ski Centre, Erciyes Ski Centre and Arikamiş Ski Centre.
 
Aerosports

The popular air sports found in Turkey are hang gliding, parachuting, plane gliding, and para gliding. The summer weather for air sports is inviting and stable. Some of the well-known flight zonesinclude Ölüdeniz (Babadağ), Denizli, Ankara, Bolu, Eğridir, Kayseri, Antalya/ Aksu, İnönü and Efes.
 
Home of Culture

Turkish Culture is unique that has influenced and has been influenced by cultures and civilizations from all over the world. The unparalleled cultural richness clearly reflects how it has been the cradle of many civilizations for thousands of years. Today, tourists are keen to explore this rich cultural heritage and the large repository of various civilizations. For centuries, Turkey has catered to the beliefs of almost all religions. Many religious devotees can find a site, a shrine, a monument, a tomb or a ruin connected with their faith or belief. Turkey is considered to be one of the richest countries in terms of archaeology and is the biggest “open air museum” of the world, a repository of all the civilizations. It has always been a bridge between the East and West and has been noted by scholars as the “melting pot” of various cultures.

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