Crossroads of European, Arab and Asian civilizations, symbolized by the cosmopolitan Istanbul, its economic and cultural capital, Turkey is also a formidable mosaic of landscapes. From the luxuriant mountains adorned with monasteries overlooking the Black Sea to the reliefs sculpted by erosion and volcanic eruptions in Cappadocia, from the steppes and canyons of Anatolia to the 7,000 km of coastline bathed by four seas, this destination has enough to fill many a trip well accompanied by its tourist guide to Turkey The choice is wide between the many remarkable archaeological sites such as the ancient city of Ephesus, the mythical Troy or the tomb of Nemrut Dag, the cities full of history such as Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya or Konya, the seaside resorts such as Bodrum or Marmaris, the fine sandy beaches of the Turquoise coast, or the innumerable hiking trails, the most prestigious of which is undoubtedly the ascent of Mount Arafat (5,165 m), the highest point of the country. You can also imagine the lifestyle of the sultans through the visit of the famous Topkapi Palace. And we are not talking about the local cuisine and the traditional hospitality of the Turkish people, never stingy with a welcome tea or coffee. A trip to Turkey is a dive into the vestiges of the Ottoman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Because of its geographical location, Turkey is a real bridge between Europe and Asia. By leafing through your Turkey guide, you will find many addresses of places to visit during your stay.

When to go Turkey ?

The high tourist season in Turkey starts in late June and ends in August. Therefore, the best time to go to Turkey is in May or September to October, when the climate is still very suitable and prices are low. The low tourist season is the winter in Turkey. Many Turkish tourists also travel within the country at the time of the Bayrams, the religious holidays, which take place after Ramadan. At this time, prices often increase and long term transport reservations are necessary.

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Practical information for travel Turkey

It's not wants that you'll lack when planning your trip, but time. The Turkish territory is vast and you will have to drive miles to get from one region to another. Therefore, we advise you to plan your itinerary taking into account the travel time (often by bus) and the accessibility of the roads. For a first stay, the majority of travellers opt for the three most famous tourist destinations: Istanbul, the Mediterranean coast and Cappadocia. However, the plains of Central Anatolia, the creeks of the Aegean Sea, the mountains and thick forests of the Black Sea or the lakes in the centre and east are places that will dazzle your eyes and your heart. Below are a few ideas for some must-see trips.

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How to go Turkey

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How to go alone

For Turkey, airlines mainly offer flights to Istanbul. Do not hesitate to use a price comparison service on the Internet. In addition, some airlines do not charge handling fees if you book your flight directly on their website, or these fees are greatly reduced if you buy your ticket at night.

How to go on a tour

The choice of sites is so wide and varied that there are a multitude of organized tours for Turkey. Some target the west of the country between Istanbul and Cappadocia via Ankara, others take you further south along the Lycian coast on the Turkish Riviera or north on the shores of the Black Sea to discover the famous monastery of Sumela.

How to get around

The bus is the most economical and most used means of transportation by Turks because it serves the whole territory unlike the railway network. Air travel is more expensive but convenient and there are many domestic connections. The road network is in good condition with 2,000 km of highways.

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Discover Turkey

Turkey is a tourist destination suitable for all types of travellers, and you will quickly understand why when you read this guide. To make you want to book your plane ticket even more, we reveal the secrets of the great empires, the Sufi masters and the tasting of raki. Between historical heritage and cosmopolitan country, discover by yourself the street vendors of simit bread and salep, wander among the spices, carpets and ceramics in the bazaars, taste mezzes and the famous Turkish coffee, meet inhabitants with unequalled kindness and hospitality. From the Bosphorus to Anatolia, from Cappadocia to the Aegean coast, admire a diversity of landscapes between white sandy beaches and breathtaking mountain peaks. Its history, its landscapes, its gastronomy, everything is fascinating and makes Turkey a dream country.

Pictures and images Turkey

Exposition photographique de Ahmet Ertug,
Presqu'île de Bodrum. Hugo Canabi - Iconotec
Port de pêche de Kuşadası. Author's Image
Le plafond de la chambre de la reine mère du palais de Topkapi. Sébastien Cailleux

The 12 keywords Turkey

1. #Atatürk

Hero and inspirer of the War of Independence, Atatürk, founder of the secular Republic of Turkey, saved the country from dismantling, created the foundations of a nation-state and set it on the road to modernization. His influence on Turkish political and social life is still very great. No disrespect to his person is tolerated.

2. #Ayran

Ayran © aytacbicer - iStockphoto.com.jpg

The yoǧurt is the main ingredient of this very popular and thirst-quenching drink, it is beaten with water and salt. Try it with a kebab. In 2013, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, then Prime Minister, decreed ayran the national drink of Turks, which is not to everyone's taste, some considering that the title belongs to rakı instead.

3. #Bosphorus

The Bosphorus Strait(Boğaz) is the passage between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, the southern boundary between Europe and Asia with the Dardanelles Strait. This magnificent blue channel crossing Istanbul gives the city an extraordinary character and separates it into two entities. Its traffic (50 000 ships per year) is one of the densest in the world.

4. #Camii

"Mosque" in Turkish. Turkey is full of them, Istanbul would count about 3,000. Every town or village has minarets rising towards the sky, from which the prayer is sung five times a day. With its domes, the style of these mosques is unique to Turkey. The most famous are built by the famous Turkish architect Mimar Sinan.

5. #Çay

Thé turc Cay © redtea - iStockphoto.com.jpg

Tea in Turkish, almost a symbol of the country, as it is found everywhere and at any time. Slightly more pungent than the tea drunk in Europe, it is drunk in very small glasses. If you want it less strong, you have to ask for it açık (clear). It is very common to come across Turks sitting on the street enjoying their tea with a few friends.

6. #Hammam

A must during a stay in Turkey. The hammam (Turkish bath) takes place in three stages: the "sweating" on the marble, the torpor which prepares the body for the scrub and the massage with soap. Many establishments are old. Men and women are separated: there are rooms reserved for each sex, at different times and days.

7. #Kebab

Kebab turc dans un pain pita © serts - iStockphoto.com.jpg

Culinary speciality of the country that has crossed the borders and that the traveller expects to taste when arriving in Turkey. Nevertheless, the kebab has multiple forms. This is the name of the dürüm, but also almost all the ways of preparing meat: şiş kebab (skewer), döner (on the spit), çop kebab (small pieces)..

8. #Mimar Sinan

This Ottoman Michelangelo built his first mosque at the age of 45 in Aleppo (Syria) and became chief architect at court. His masterpieces are the mosques of Süleymaniye and Şehzade, in Istanbul. The famous Blue Mosque is the work of one of his disciples. He made his final masterpiece in Edirne (Selimiye Mosque) at the age of 85.

9. #Nazar

Nazar © Daniel Simoc-Minea - shutterstock.com.jpg

The nazar (or nazar boncuk) is a fetish object used to protect from the evil eye. Handmade from glass paste, it is often tinted blue and its design represents the iris with its white dot in the center. It can be found everywhere: in his house, hanging from front doors, as a key ring, hanging from the rear-view mirror...

10. #Rakı

It's unofficially the national drink. Produced from the distillation of grapes, figs or plums, flavoured with aniseed, it belongs to the family of aniseed drinks from neighbouring countries: arak or ouzo. The rakı is eaten at parties, at mealtimes and traditionally accompanied by cheese, mezzés and fish. To be enjoyed pure or diluted.

11. #Carpeting

For centuries, carpets have been part of the life of nomadic or sedentary Turks. Useful or decorative, carpets are divided into 2 categories: knotted carpets(halı) and woven carpets(kilim, zili, sumak or cicim) which are differentiated according to the technique used. They have different names depending on their size and use.

12. #Tavla

This game is one of the oldest in the world, the first are said to have originated in Mesopotamia. A real institution in Turkey, you will see the Turks, from morning to evening, in certain alleyways filled with small tables provided for this purpose, in the çay evi where men gather or on the corner of a table. A chance to learn.

You are from here, if...

You never refuse to taste a dish that is offered to you.

You say Afiyet olsun ("Bon appetit") before, during and after meals.

You remove your shoes when you enter someone's home or a mosque.

You feed and care for street cats.

You avoid showing signs of affection for your boyfriend or girlfriendin public, such as languid kisses.

You have a deep respect for Atatürk and, by extension, a strong attachment to the republic, secularism and freedom.

You do not blow your nose at the table (the worst offense).

You use Turkish language polite expressions in everyday life: "Eline sağlık" (May your hands be healthy!), "Nazar deymesin" (May the evil eye not reach you!), "Aferin" (Well done!), or "Hoş geldin" (Welcome!).

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