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Turkey spans two continents, Europe and Asia, the historic city of Istanbul is the only city in the world to be divided by two continents. Turkey is often described as the “Gateway to the Eastâ€. Turkey is bordered by Bulgaria and Greece on the European side and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq and Syria on the Asian side. Turkey has over 6,000kms of coastline that stretches from the Black Sea in the north, the Aegean to the west and the Mediterranean in the south, making a popular holiday hotspot for tourists.
Most Holidays in Turkey are taken in the popular resorts on the west and southern coasts. Resorts have grown steadily over the years and offer great facilities including water parks, shops, bars, restaurants and clubs. Most of the major resorts have their own traditional Bazaar and weekly markets as well as a Turkish bath.
Turkey holidays have diversified over the years, many people choose to do two centre holidays in the form of a Gulet Cruise for one week and a stay in a resort for the second. Gulet Cruises in Turkey are on a traditional wooden boat which usually visit small coves where you can dive in the clear seas or spend time on the beach, and all cooking is done on board or by BBQ on the beach.
All Inclusive holidays in Turkey are becoming more and more popular thanks to the excellent value for money they offer. Hotels in Turkey that offer all inclusive holidays tend to range from basic 3* to luxury 5* hotels, it is worth noting that all inclusive in Turkey can differ to other popular holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, whereby it may not include snacks or entertainment.
Many people prefer to go self catering in Turkey or bed and breakfast as the food in local restaurants offers great value for money. Even the pickiest eater can find something to suit, everything from English breakfasts to egg and chips can be found on menus. The local food is wonderful, everything from traditional kebabs to casseroles are served in hotels and restaurants. Lamb and fish are particularly popular and the local cheese is always a good choice too. The usual fast food companies are in the resort too. The local and most popular beer is Efes and is served in most pubs and clubs. Most of the bigger resorts have a Bar Street which is usually full of pubs and clubs that are open until the early hours and serve local cocktails as well as international brand drinks.
Turkey is rich in historic and archaeological sites, described as “The Cradle of Civilisation†it has what many historians believe is the first town in the world, Catalhoyuk in central Turkey. The landscape is scattered with many monuments from the previous inhabitants that include Persians, Romans, Byzantines and the Ottoman Empire. Popular excursions in Turkey include Ephesus – one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as Pamukkale the natural site that contains hot springs and is a world heritage site.
Turkey holidays are great for all ages whether you want to lounge on the beach, dance the night away or discover ancient civilisations, Turkey really has it all.
At some point during your stay in Turkey, you will encounter the Turkish national hero, Ataturk. The founding father of the new Turkish Republic. He is very much loved by the Turkish people and most have a picture of him in their homes and places of work. He became a powerful man in 1923 when the Sultanate was abolished and he was head of the newly formed Turkish Republic, he sadly died just 15 years later.
Turkey is a vast country with a population of around 70 million. Turkey is surrounded by four seas; the Mediterranean on the south, Aegean on the west, the Marmara on the northwest and Black Sea in the north. Istanbul is the largest city, although Ankara is the capital.
Language: Turkish - English is widely spoken in most resorts.
Currency: New Turkish Lira (approx 2.7 Lira to £).
Capital: Ankara,
Time: GMT +2
Flight Time: Approx 4-4.5 hours from most UK airports
British and Irish passport holders require a visa (currently £10/€10), which can be obtained on arrival at Turkish airports. Please not only English £10 notes are currently accepted. It is advisable to have a minimum of six months validity on your passport from the date of your entry into Turkey. For further details and up to date information please check with the Turkish Consulate or call them on 020 7591 6900.
