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!
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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,...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
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...
See All 390 Local Customs in Istanbul
Sponsored Links
When you get invited to a family house, and most likely you will, shake hands with the male family members if you are male, and shake hands with the female members if you are female.Most likely you will be offered the best seat available. Make sure you sit next somebody of your own gender. Only if you know the persons in the room very well this is the best behaviour.
The Sultan, Murad I was the 2nd Sultan who used a standing army, and formed the elite unit called the “Yani Corps” (Yeni Ceri). These troops originally were Christian slaves, that the Turks captured, and later were donated as children, as a tribute payment to the Sultan. Later on, this became the Sultan's elite life guard under Sultan Murad I (1362-1389) and were legally instated under a law, known as the Kanun, which stipulated their pay and terms of duty. This elite corps devided the regular troops, which served in the provinces and the special troops, the Sultan's life guard. This is a picture of a young boy, up is keeping his forefather's tradition up. The only difference is, these days, there is no more Sultan, and his is not Christian.
Moustafa Kamel pasha Ataturk 1881-1938:This is the charisma of Turkey, the father, the leader, the general, the hero, and the most famous person in Turkey, he is the founder of the modern Turkey, a whole new epoch of the end of the Ottoman empire and the forming of the Laic new Republic of Turkey, he made lots of improvements for Turkey, and because of him Turkey started to become a European candidate of the European Union, and lots of other good things that any Turk will mention with respect and thankful pride tone.
A typical building in Ankara, new, high and modern, actually Ankara is full of such buildings as it is a new founded city as I said before,Modernized buildings accorded with the spirit of the Capital of Turkey.
Outside every school in Turkey I saw the Turkish flag, even though it was summerholiday. At Swedish schools we are only flagging if there is a special flag day, like the National Day, Kings Birthday etc.
Faeces from the animals is collected and dried, to be used for heating.The outside of this conical shaped mound is waterproof so the inside is always kept dry.These mounds can been seen in villages around Ararat in eastern Turkey.
You probaly heard that in Turkey is allowed to get married under aged and it is done by the agreement with parents. (well not completly true),Just recently, you must of heard about the wedding of the son of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.from newspapers: "Bilal Erdogan, 22, and 17-year-old Reyyan Uzuner were to tie the knot before around 10,000 guests, including prime ministers Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and Fatos Nano of Albania.Bilal, a student at a US college, is one of Erdogan's four children, while Reyyan, who is yet to finish high school. Their marriage required court permission for the bride, who -- under Turkish law -- cannot marry before becoming 18 without such ruling."But there are cases when some get married at the age of 13. Read about it here:http://www.turkishdailynews.com/old_editions/09_13_00/dom.htm#d4The picture with little bride here I tooked at a...
Who would of thought, but I read this recently, don't know if it's true, but who knows!If wife wants a divorce on grounds of forced sex, she places an upside down shoe on the judge's table and there is no more need to explain the situation. "Result is often quick and unchallenged by the shamed husband" - I read :)
Guests take off their shoes when entering the house they are visiting! (in order to avoid the dirtying the floors).That's why in most households they have what is considered "guest slippers" available in many shapes and sizes to offer visitors.Some even carry with them, although I personally never seen someone to carry with him his own slippers, but...
1.The bride and the groom try to be the first to step on each other's toes after being declared husband and wife.This is believed to enable the one who succeds to give then an upper hand during the course of their marriage.2. Bride's unmarried friends write their names on the soles of her bridal shoes to help them find a good husband quickly.
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.
More Cities in Turkey
More Regions in Turkey
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...
Read 11 Replies
Sponsored Links
