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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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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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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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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Turkey is a very rich country in the folkloric music.Every city has is folkloric flavorI decide to find music for the people which are interested with the local folkloric songsImmatriculation number of Gaziantep is 27this is an example for Erzurum music please watch the video clip: A song from Gaziantep
Turkey is a very rich country in the folkloric music.Every city has is folkloric flavorI decide to find music for the people which are interested with the local folkloric songsImmatriculation number of Giresun is 28this is an example for Erzurum music please watch the video clip: A song from Giresun
Turkey is a very rich country in the folkloric music.Every city has is folkoric flavorI decide to find music for the people which are interested with the local folkloric songsthis is an example for Adana music please watch the video clipThe immatriculation plate of Adana is 01 A song from Adana
You may know Ramazan better as Ramadan.Ramazan is a time of fasting. It last for 30 days and is not exclusive to food and drink. Nothing may pass the (strict) Muslim's lips during this time - not even a cigarette. Quite how in the sweltering heats of summer anybody is able to survive without a vast intake of water I just don;t know but I am very relieved that travellers are let off the hook as are pregnant & nursing mothers, the old and the young.During Ramazan you will have no problems eating and drinking (even, in some places, alcohol) all the time you are tarrying in a tourist spot. Outside tourist zones you will find it more difficult and should you find anywhere to serve you do not expect service with a smile... your waitor is probably salivating over the thought of the food he is carrying to your table!Fasting is only required during the daylight hours. So, around 8pm you will hear...
Indeed, they are soon parted! Even though the currency is Turkish Lira, in many places they have their prices showing Euros. This can lead to confusion when you enquire as to the cost of something that is NOT priced. I would talk Lira, while they would talk Euros.This is no country in which to be shy when shopping. Learn to haggle, or pay over the odds for your purchases. Never pay the first price that is asked. Offer a third of the asking price and enjoy the performance as that is upped, and an agreed price is reached. Sometimes this can be almost half of the original. However, do keep it friendly and remember, there is no need to be agressive. You can always just walk away...you will find the exact item at another market or shop, if you really need to buy that leather camel/elephant or coloured glass lantern. I was told the minimum wage here is one Euro (2011). They must think European...
Backgammon, or "tavla" as the turks call it is a national passion and you can make many friends if you know how to play this game.It is a game that origins from the eastern part of the mediterranian and it is extremely popular to play in cafes and the locals generally love when a foreigner challenge them to a game, so if you know how to play it then get out there and join the locals.
Cold Hors d'Oeuvres (Soguk Meze)Antakya/Hatay is one of turkish city near the syrian borders when I use to travel to this city the meal use to start with 40 different ( I am not kidding))) mezes served in small plates you dont have to eat or taste all of them but they are there !!!My list is just a small example of mezes...White cheese (Beyaz Peynir) and mellon ( kavun) Olives (Zeytin), black and green ,stuffed with sardines etc Aubergine (Begendi),stuffed grape leaves ( yalanci dolma) Stuffed green peppers (biber dolmasi), Stuffed tomatoes (Domates dolmasi), Stuffed cabbage (Lahana Dolmasi), Chopped cucumbers with yogurt and garlic (Cacik), Aubergines with parsley (Imam bayildi / "Imam fainted), Mussels cooked with olive oil and served cold (Midye Pilakisi).
The Turkish cuisine is one of the best and most varied in the world.Its an ocean and I am not promising you to discover all the islands but anyway I will try to give you some hints about this trip to gastronomie .I hope that my tips will help you what to order and when to order.Generally it starts with a soup ( if you dont want to attend a raki night) With the raki nights you have to start with mezes (cold appetizers)than it comes the hot appetizers like calamar,muscles,boreks etc than it come the main dishes which can be meat or fish or boththan it comes the sweets fruits folows the sweets tea or coffee is the punch lineTurkish cuisine inherited its Ottoman heritage which could be described as a fusion and refinement of Turkic, Arabic, Jew,Greek, Armenian and Persian cuisines.Turkish cuisine also influenced these cuisines and other neighbouring cuisines, as well as west European...
Turkey is a very rich country in the folkloric music.Every city has is folkloric flavorI decide to find music for the people which are interested with the local folkloric songsImmatriculation number of Amasya is 05this is an example for Amasya music please watch the video clip :the singer is ZaraA song from Amasya
Eid ul-Adha or Kurban Bayrami is celebrated by Muslims worldwide as a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son (Ishmael) for Allah..This happens to be approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice; this sacrifice is called "Qurban." The meat is equally distributed amongst their neighbours, relatives, and the poor and hungry. In Turkey it is often referred to as the Kurban Bayramý or "Sacrifice Feast". Similarly, in Bosnia and Albania it is referred as Kurban BajramiThe Qur'an describes Abraham as follows: One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had...
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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