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Turkey Photos
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Turkiye - Republic of Turkey
 Hospitality,
history, sun, sand and beaches. Turkey is not only perfect in summer but
also winter is very nice at Turkey. Turkish winter resorts welcomes you.
Turkey is a rapidly modernising country with
one foot in Europe and one in the Asia. Turkey is the only country in the
world to sit astride two continents: a unique position that has given rise
to a culture that reflects both East and West. It is a country where
European aspirations sit comfortably alongside Asian traditions and the
volatile atmosphere of the Middle East morphs seamlessly into the relaxed
outlook of the Mediterranean world. It's not all oriental splendour,
mystery, intrigue and whirling dervishes but it is a spicy maelstrom of
history knocking up against a pacy present. The Turkish people have an
unrivalled reputation for hospitality, the cuisine is to die for, the
coastline is a dream, and many Turkish cities are dotted with spectacular
mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the
Mediterranean's bargain-basement destinations.
Where to Visit in Turkey
Try our guides for
Istanbul
, Fethiye
, Marmaris ,
Didim. For
brief info :
Turkey is split into 7 regions. Each has its own distinct climate, landscape
and traditions. The first four are named according to their adjacent seas
(the Black Sea, the Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean Regions). The
other three in relation to their location in the whole of Anatolia (Central,
Eastern and South East Anatolia Regions).
As a Country, Turkey spans two continents (Europe and Asia) and boasts some
8,000km of coastline. Whether you are fond of art, history, archeology,
nature or if your idea of bliss is a relaxing beach or sailing holiday,
there really is something for everybody in Turkey.
You should give a try for not only western Turkey but also eastern parts of
the country as it is full of history and interseting places.
When to Visit Turkey
Spring and autumn are
the best times to visit, since the climate will be perfect in
Istanbul and on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. It will be cool in
central Anatolia, but not unpleasantly so. Visiting before mid-June or after
August may also help you avoid mosquitoes. The Black Sea coast is best
visited between April and September; there will still be rain but not so
much of it. With the exception of İstanbul, Turkey doesn't really have a
winter tourism season. Places catering to backpackers usually see Anzac Day
as the official start of the season; those catering to package
holiday-makers get going in early May. Peak season is from July to
mid-September, when most Turks take their holidays. The best time to visit
eastern Turkey is from late June to September. Don't plan to venture east
before May or after mid-October unless you're prepared for snow. Try to
avoid travelling during Kurban Bayramı, Turkey's most popular public
holiday.
Weather for Turkey
Weather The Aegean and
Mediterranean coasts have mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. In
Istanbul, summer temperatures average around 28-30?C (82-86?F); the winters
are chilly but usually above freezing, with moderate rain and perhaps a
dusting of snow. The Anatolian plateau is hotter in summer and very cold in
winter. The Black Sea coast is mild and rainy in summer, and chilly and
rainy in winter. Mountainous eastern Turkey is very cold and snowy in winter
and only pleasantly warm in high summer. The southeast is dry and mild in
winter and very hot in summer, with temperatures above 45? C (113? F) not
unusual.
Money & Costs
 The
New Turkish Lira (YTL)(brought into circulation at the start of 2005 to
replace the old lira's unwieldy denominations) comes in notes of 5, 10, 20,
50 and 100. The New Kuruş (YKr) comes in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and one
New Turkish Lira. One hundred New Kuruş equals one New Turkish Lira. Please
click on the picture for YTL samples :
it's perfectly possible to get
around Turkey with nothing else but a credit or debit card. Just remember to
draw out money in the towns to tide you through the villages and keep some
cash in reserve for the inevitable day when the machine throws a wobbly.
It's easy to change major currencies in exchange offices, and many post
offices (PTTs), shops and hotels; however, banks may make heavier weather of
it. Cashing even major travellers cheques can be a hassle (although post
offices in tourist areas are a good bet) and the exchange rate is usually
slightly lower. Places that don't charge a commission usually offer a worse
exchange rate instead. Although Turkey has no black market, foreign
currencies are readily accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants in many
tourist areas. If you're left high and dry, most banks countrywide can do
Western Union transfers.
Turkey is a relatively low-slung dollar burner. You can travel on as little
as €20.00 to €35.00 per day using buses and trains, staying in pensions, and
eating one restaurant meal. For €35.00 to €50.00 you can travel on plusher
buses, take sleepers in overnight trains, kick back in one and two-star
hotels and eat most meals in restaurants. For more than €50.00 per day you
can move up to 3 and 4-star hotels, take the occasional airline flight, and
dine in restaurants all the time.
In cheaper restaurants it's not necessary to leave more than a few coins in
the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even
if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you're expected to give
around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre
d'. Porters expect a dollar or so; in taxis you might like to round up the
bill; in other situations, for example, helpful guardians at archaeological
sites, delicacy is required. Although a tip may be initially refused through
politeness, you should offer the money a second and third time. After three
refusals, you can safely assume they really don't want the money. In hamams
you should tip 10% to 20% of the admission price to the masseuse/masseur.
How to get into and out of Turkey
There are plenty of
ways to get into and out of Turkey by air, sea, rail and bus. There are
international airports at İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and some of the
Mediterranean resorts. Turkish Airlines has direct flights from İstanbul to
three dozen European cities and New York, as well as the Middle East, North
Africa, Bangkok, Karachi, Singapore and Tokyo. Departure tax is about
US$12.00 but is normally included in the ticket price. By train, the daily
Bosfor Ekspresi links Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Sofia to İstanbul.
Major European cities such as Frankfurt and Vienna are also well serviced by
Turkish bus lines. The overnight Dostluk Ekspresi links İstanbul to
Thessaloniki and is becoming a popular option with travellers.You can travel
by train and bus to Syria and Iran, and by bus to Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Marmara Lines runs car ferries from ?şme to Ancona and Brindisi
from late March to late October. Private ferries run between Turkey's Aegean
coast and the Greek islands.
Turkish Airlines links all major
cities, including the busy İstanbul-Ankara corridor. Buses go everywhere in
Turkey frequently, cheaply and usually comfortably. Trains have a hard time
competing with long-distance buses for speed, but the sleeping-car trains
linking İstanbul, İzmir and Ankara are good value. If you're driving around
Turkey, you'll find mechanical services easy to find and relatively cheap
but dealing with impatient drivers may be more of a problem. Driving in
cities should be avoided - traffic is terrible and parking difficult.
Dolmuşes (shared taxis) are a good option for short trips. Car ferries can
save you lots of driving - there's a useful hydrofoil from İstanbul to
Yalova, for Bursa.
Some Key Facts
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your
head up, while`no` is achieved with an identical gesture while lifting
your eyebrows and clicking your tongue at the same time.