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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The first thing to remember is do not throw the loo paper down the bog the plumbing cant handle it and boy does it make a mess.Oh and dont drink the water that also makes a mess mostly in your trousers.You will also get a lot shop owners urging you to bye from there shop just say no thanks and walk on.just remember one golden rule you are in ther country so treat them right and they will be your friends for life.
So, there you are in your domus (bus) at 3.00am in the morning and it stops in the middle of nowhere. Men armed with guns get on board and ask for your passport (which you have conveniently left in the luggage underneath) and are very threatening when you try to explain to them in English that it's underneath. Especially since they only converse in Turkish. After much arm waving, nasty looks and a trip out into the snow, the matter is resolved some time later, just as I reached my bag which I had made sure was first loaded so I could conveniently locate it inderneath all the others. They decided it wasn't worth the wait and that a dumb Aussie didn't really look like a Kurdish terrorist. Very unnerving! On another trip I had to wait between transport and went for a walk around the Antalya terminus, coming back in where the buses enter. Young man with sub machine gun fronts me and refuses...
The Turkish Alphabet:You should learn it if you're going to Turkey! Why you ask? Well, first of all you'll sound so much smarter when speaking, and second it is sooo easy!What you need to know:c - is the English 'j' as in 'John'ç - is the English 'ch' as in 'church'ý/I - (undotted 'i') is sort of like the English 'a' as in 'about'Ý/i - (dotted 'i') is the English 'i' as in 'bit'ð - only follows vowels and is basically silentö - is the French 'eux' as in 'deux'þ - is the English 'sh' as in 'shovel'ü - is the French 'u' as in 'tu'The rest of the consonants are very similar to English and the vowels are pronounced short and with the sound of Italian.Note that in Turkish one says Ýstanbul not Istanbul (the pronunciation is quite different) and Topkapý Palace not Topkapi Palace.
I learned TWO very important Turkish words.....tuvalet..... toilette-sha-crem (think tea suger cream).... thank youThat panic stricken look on your face as you say TUVALET? and then say TE-SHA-CREM as you run off is priceless!!!!
Always tip as staff rely in tips to make their wages up.Be polite-it costs nothing and most importantly,remember it is a muslim country,so dress accordingly.If you are visiting a mosque or a place away from the tourist areas,you will need to cover your legs and arms.Women must also cover their heads at certain times.
Among the prominent statesmen of the 20th century, few articulated the supreme importance of culture as did Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, who stated: 'Culture is the foundation of the Turkish Republic.' His view of culture encompassed the nation's creative legacy as well as the best values of world civilization. It stressed personal and universal humanism. 'Culture,' he said, ' is a basic element in being a person worthy of humanity,' and described Turkey's ideological thrust as 'a creation of patriotism blended with a lofty humanist ideal.' To create the best synthesis, Atatürk underlined the need for the utilization of all viable elements in the national heritage, including the ancient indigenous cultures, and the arts and techniques of the entire world civilization, past and present. He gave impetus to the study of earlier civilizations of Anatolia --...
One thing you should try while you ar e in Turkey is a 'hammas' also known as a turkish bath. It is so refreshing - I felt like a completly new person after having one. Basicly what happens is you get scubbed and cleaned from head to toe for about thirty to forty-five minutes and then after that you get a full body massage with all these exotic oils - it's awsome!!!!!!!!
You can never see the same thing like this in the world. Lie down on the warm marble close your eyes listen to the echoes of the runniing hot waters and leave yourself to the magicful hands of the masseur.
Die Türken sind die einzigen Anrainer im Mittelmeer, die durch strenge Bestimmungen ihre Buchten und Häfen sauber halten. Das türkische Tourismus-Ministerium hat strenge Vorschriften erlassen. Alle Yachten müssen mit Toilettentanks ausgerüstet sein. In den Buchten und Häfen würden die abgepumpten Fäkalien schnell zu einer Überdüngung führen, und damit zum Umkippen des Wassers. Folge: Zerstörung des Lebensraumes für alle Meeresbewohner, nicht nur für Fische. Schwimmen und Tauchen wären nicht mehr möglich. Noch gibt es keine Absaugstationen. Deshalb wird empfohlen, die Tanks auf offener See zu lenzen, wo die Strömung für eine bedenkenlose Verteilung sorgt. Wer will, kann folgende Rechnung nachvollziehen: Beliebte Bucht mit durchschnittlich 6 Yachten pro Nacht, je Yacht 5 Personen, je Person zwei Toilettenbesuche = 60 mal Kakke in die Bucht. Dies auf eine Saison hochgerechnet, ergibt eine...
Tee wird nicht nur im Teehaus oder Teegarten getrunken, sondern überall: Beim Kauf eines Pullovers in der Boutique genauso wie beim kuaför (Friseur) oder im Teppichladen. Als das osmanische Reich zerschlagen wurde, verlor die Türkei den Jemen als billigen Kaffeelieferanten und damit das eigentliche Nationalgetränk. Atatürk gab den Auftrag, Ersatz zu suchen. Eine von ihm eingesetzte Expertengruppe entdeckte die günstigen Bedingungen für den Anbau von Tee (çay) an der feuchtwarmen Küste des Schwarzen Meeres. Seither ist çay Nationalgetränk in der Türkei.
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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