Many people describe Turkey as the biggest open air museum because the history of this country at the crossroads of Asia and Europe dates back to when Noah landed his famous ark near its highest peak, Mount Ararat, in Biblical times. It takes about ten hours for flights to travel the 7,478 km distance between Bangkok and Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city. Istanbul may have been the former Byzantine and Ottoman Empire capital, but Turkey's current national capital is centrally located Ankara.
Don’t MissSeptember, October, April, and May are the best months to come to Turkey since these autumn and spring shoulder seasons bring smaller crowds and milder weather to this country whose climate zones are diverse. Some Mediterranean and Aegean Sea beach resorts are closed in winter but are crowded between June and September. In Turkey winter temperatures fall as low as -30°C in the east, while staying around freezing in the western areas.
History lies around nearly every corner of not only Istanbul, but everywhere else in Turkey. Despite the Blue Mosque's name, this Istanbul landmark's coloured windows change tints throughout the day. Another Istanbul building, Hagia Sophia, was a Greek Orthodox Christian church, then an Ottoman imperial mosque, and now contains the Ayasofya Müzesi museum. Early Christians sought refuge from persecution in the underground cities of Cappadocia.
Restaurants and BarsTurkey's kebab stands and restaurants serve not only kebabs, but also dürüm (flatbread) wraps at affordable prices. More formal Turkish meals start with appetizers like köfte (minced lamb with onion and garlic) followed by main courses such as dolma (stuffed grape leaves with rice and herbs) or manti (meat filled ravioli). Dessert is typically lokum, otherwise known as Turkish delight, or baklava, layered pastry filled with honey and nuts. Ortakoy is Istanbul's liveliest nightlife district, while the Galata district features Istanbul's finest restaurants.
ActivitiesTourists can easily stroll around the ancient Roman ruins of Ephesus in two hours, but more experienced hikers may wish to tackle the 500 km seaside Lycian Way. Beach lovers can choose between the Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon and the Çesme Peninsula's Aegean Sea coastline. No Cappadocia visit would be complete without soaring in a balloon above this ancient area’s moonlike landscape, unusual rock chimneys, and cave churches.
ShoppingTurkey has been a significant trading hub for centuries and the country remains one of West Asia's top shopping spots. Istanbul's Laleli, Beyazit, and Mahmutpasa are Turkey's leading leather goods districts. Kilims, traditional Turkish carpets, are among the country's most popular souvenirs along with Bursa scarves, castile soaps, and Cappadocian pottery.