Top Turkey hotels
local food Istanbul
33 Reviews This syrupy sweet treat - dessert ring - is made from semolina and deep fried. It's very rich. You can find these in street carts all around Istanbul. Not one of my favorites, but a definite must-try!
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mosques etiquette Istanbul
26 Reviews It was nice to see and hear how Muslims pray in real, how they are invited for a pray, how they clear their bodies before pray, bowing at pray time or putting shoes after going out of mosques. Most...
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clothes Istanbul
9 Reviews Istanbul has all the seasons like winter, spring, summer and fall. So check the weather report before your visit. The city is with more than 14 million people and very cosmopolite. Unlike some...
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tea and coffee Istanbul
31 Reviews Being a coffee lover, I assumed that I was going to love Turkish coffee. But after my first glass of Turkish tea (cay), I was hooked!! We found every excuse to stop in one of the many cafes for a...
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turkish words Istanbul
14 Reviews The Foreign Service Institute is a branch of the US Department of State, so all their materials are copyright-free--anybody can use them without charge. Some generous people who owned the tapes or...
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nargileh Istanbul
11 Reviews This is an old looking teahouse where you also get the chance to try out a nargileh (water smoking pipe which bubbles when you suck air out of it). There are a few establishments inside but the one to...
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raki (drink) Istanbul
8 Reviews In meyhane culture it is very important to stay sober and cool, act reasonable while drinking. I’ve been in meyhanes in which waiters can kick you out if you get drunk and start to sing or talk...
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hospitality Istanbul
15 Reviews Yes, hospitality is a real characteristic of Turkish people, and my room in Dolmabahce Palace was very comfortable. I didn't want to abuse their hospitality, and that's why I didn't accept to stay...
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bargaining Istanbul
12 Reviews In Istanbul, and, I believe, other parts of Turkey as well, it is hard to imagine selling without bargaining. Even in shops, if you see it is like private owned, prices are not always fixed and it is...
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shoes Istanbul
8 Reviews Getting your shoes polished won't be a problem. On the major street you will find men that handle their antique tools with great enthousiasm. My advice is to pick out a seasoned shoe shiner and not...
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phone numbers Istanbul
3 Reviews International telephone access code of Turkey is 90.Then area codes. For Istanbul it is 212 (European side) and 216 (Asian side), Ankara 312 and Izmir 232. All telephone numbers are have seven digits...
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music Istanbul
8 Reviews In Istanbul people listen to all kinds of music, from rock to pop to jazz to metal to electronica, you name it and there's probably a club for it. Every year there is an International Jazz Festival,...
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tipping Istanbul
2 Reviews Turks are generally a welcoming race of people, eager to help and proud to show off their country. Sometimes the help can become overbearing. People here, once they've assisted you in any small...
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Baths are very special buildings dating back to Roman and Byzantine periods when those peoples had their own variations of bathing rituals. First you enter the sweating area. Afterwards the skin is washed with soap and warm water followed by the muscles massaged. After all, your body temperature returns to normal from swimming in cold water.
Carptets have ever played a big role in Turkish culture. Turkey is justly famous for its carpets and traditional textiles. An unforgettable part of anyone's journey to Turkey is purchasing a carpet.The cost of a carpet is determined by its age, the quality of the material and dyes, the intricacy of the design and the number of knots per square centimetre. Silk carpets are by far the most expensive, wool is more hardwearing than cotton. Compare prices of the different dealer before purchasing!!
Textiles seems to be very cheap in Turkey and most of them are but it’s always worth checking the stitching to make sure that they are strong.Note: Don't buy brand mark products on the bazaar! Or do you really believe a jumper by Calvin Klein costs US$ 3 only?
If you wanna be your girl's best friends you shall give her a diamond-chain or a diamond-ring. Qualtity is equal to Europe but the product is much cheaper in Turkey due to the lower labor costs.
In Turkey you get excellent leather products for little money. Leather jackets, bags and shoes are particularly good value and the quality is generally high, although it’s always worth checking the stitching and the handles of bags to make sure that they are strong.
I was surprised to see so many parabols for sattelite TV on the roofs in the small villages in eastern Turkey. I was told that people could sell a carpet or a sheep just to be able to watch TV-programes in Kurdish. Turkey has not sent Kurdish programes but they are sent from Belgium, Irak and other countries. But a couple of months ago I heard that Turkey is going to start sending TV-programes in Kurdish.
If you happen to be the first customer to purchase something in a store you may run into this (depends on where in Turkey you are). If you give your money for a purchase, and it is prompty thrown on the ground, do this... Step on the money (lightly) and hand it to the person you originally gave it to.This is a rather strange custom that is supposed to bring the store luck for the rest of the day on sales.
The price on anything from the meal at a restaurant to an $100,000 carpet is negotiable in Turkey. Especially in the tourist areas! If you are stubborn and don't show your hand, I guarantee you that you can bring the price down!There are essentially "Turkish" prices and tourist prices. If you see something you like wear your "poker" face. Never show money. Never show interest.If the store won't come down in price at least once or twice walk out! Another store will accomodate you. Most likely the store will try to give you a business card. Take it, make sure you have a pen, write the negotiated price on it and tell them that you're going to shop around to see if you can find a better deal. You'll get another price... Of course first they'll tell you that none of the other stores can offer the same price. Ignore this, or tell them you don't really care.If you're really persistent and have...
After you had your hands sprayed with cologne and are seated the famous Turkish tea is served.It is customary even for the poorest to serve something to eat when drinking tea. At the richer folks you may get some Turkish pastries, but most likely it is leblebi.Leblebi are roasted chickpeas (most come from the city of Corum) and they come in various tastes. Plain, salted, sugared, with pepper and so forth. The best thing is that they are cheap and everybody eats them. The con is that they are dry as .. as.. sand. I did not enjoy them very much but not to upset your host, eat some of them.
Normally when you enter a home you will be greeted with "Hosj Geldiniz (wrong spelling, I know)" which you should answer with "Hosj Bulduk (Bulduk spoken as Boeldoek). Another ritual is getting some cologne sprayed on your hands. 'Wash' your hands and clear your nose (snif your hands when cupped). This leaves you very refreshed.
Esans Hotel Istanbul
7 Reviews and 181 Opinions a very new hotel. very near to grande museums and sophia dome. sea is very near to hotel. we enjoy...
Welcome Barut Hotels Lara Spa Antalya
5 Reviews and 511 Opinions This was our first time in Turkey and first time in an all-inclusive hotel. i have to say - we all...
El Vino Hotel Bodrum
2 Reviews and 272 Opinions This small property is both central (10 min walk to the bazaar and waterfront) and secluded and...
Reviews and photos of Turkey attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Turkey sightseeing.
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Q: Hi, my wife and I organize trips for high school students (groups of approx. 35 ppl) and our next trip is scheduled for June-July...
A: Hi, Turkey is stable, with broad-minded politians & people. I had never thought about visiting TR, till I all of a sudden & surprisingly decided! Why? A VERY...
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