Turkish is the official language, Kurdish and Arabic is also spoken in the southeast, but most shopkeepers can speak rudimentary English, German and even Italian. All directions, apart from tourist signs, are written in Turkish. The Turkish language belongs to the Ural – Altaic group and has an affinity with the Finno – Hungarian languages. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and is spoken by at least 150 million people around the world.
Turkey is a country with a rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions, and a generally warm climate for most of the year. Visitors will find that clothing choices can vary depending on the season, destination, and local customs. In major tourist areas such as Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris, and coastal resorts, people usually dress casually and comfortably, especially during the spring and summer months.
During warm weather, lightweight and breathable clothing such as shorts, cotton pants, T-shirts, summer dresses, sandals, sunglasses, and hats are commonly worn. A comfortable pair of walking shoes is highly recommended, especially for sightseeing tours, historical sites, and city exploration. Even in summer, evenings can occasionally become cool, particularly near the coast or in mountainous regions, so carrying a light sweater or jacket is a good idea.
Winter travelers should be prepared for colder temperatures, rain, and sometimes snow, particularly in central and eastern parts of Turkey. Warm waterproof clothing, thick sweaters, gloves, scarves, hats, and sturdy shoes or boots are essential during the winter season.
Turkey is a modern and secular country, but it also has strong traditional and religious values in many regions. For this reason, visitors are encouraged to dress respectfully, particularly outside major tourist destinations.
Women are generally expected to dress modestly in conservative areas. Extremely revealing or skimpy clothing may be considered disrespectful by some local people, especially among older generations. However, in popular tourist resorts and beach destinations, women commonly wear shorts, skirts, swimsuits, and other summer clothing without any issues. A light cotton dress or loose-fitting cotton pants are practical and comfortable choices for travel throughout the country.
Men’s clothing is usually less scrutinized, though respectful attire is still appreciated in religious or traditional settings. Cotton trousers, lightweight shirts, and casual shorts are suitable for most situations.
When visiting mosques and other religious sites in Turkey, both men and women should dress conservatively out of respect for local customs and Islamic traditions.
Women should:
Men should:
Shoes must also be removed before entering mosques.
Many major mosques provide scarves and coverings for visitors if needed, but carrying your own scarf is recommended for convenience.
Turkey’s coastal resorts and beaches are generally relaxed regarding swimwear. Swimsuits, bikinis, and beachwear are perfectly acceptable at beaches, hotel pools, and resort areas. However, visitors are advised not to walk around towns, restaurants, or public streets wearing only swimwear.
In more conservative areas, women may feel more comfortable wearing a one-piece swimsuit or modest beachwear, although bikinis are widely accepted in tourist destinations.
Overall, Turkey is welcoming to international visitors and tourists from all over the world. Dressing comfortably while remaining respectful of local customs will help travelers enjoy a smoother and more culturally rewarding experience.
Casual wear is appropriate for most tours and daily activities, but modest clothing is recommended when visiting religious sites or traditional communities. By balancing comfort with cultural sensitivity, visitors can fully appreciate Turkey’s unique blend of modern life and centuries-old traditions.
Protected to the north, west and south by sea, guarded to the east and southeast by impenetrable mountain ranges, Turkey has the varied landscape of a continent complete in itself. Arable plains change over long distances into areas of steppe and pasture suitable only for livestock, surrounded by barren rocky regions or dense swathes of virgin forest. Throughout the course of history, the landscape has played a key role in determining the settlement of civilizations, migrations, invasions and the spread of numerous religions.
Turkey is located in south/western Asia (the part that is west of the Bosphorus is included with Europe, or referred to as the ‘European side’) and borders south eastern Europe. In the north it borders the Black Sea. To the west is the Aegean Sea, Greece and Bulgaria and to the east are Georgia, Armenia and Iran. In the south it borders the Mediterranean Sea, along with Iraq and Syria. It occupies a landmass of 780,580 square kilometres and its capital is Ankara.
Maden Suyu is the name for mineral water. Elma cayi (pronounced alma CHA-hy) is the ubiquitous apple tea. Bira means “beer” (Efes was our favorite brand). Turkey also produces good wine, the best being yakut, a full-bodied dry red. The local spirit is the aniseed-flavored raki (similar to Greece’s ouzo), which is usually mixed with water.
Turkish food is well seasoned and delicious reminiscent of what many people think of as Greek food (but don’t ever make that comparison out loud!). Menus in smaller restaurants or lokantas (taverns that serve food) are often written in Turkish only, so look around at what others are eating and point at what looks good. Rice, mutton, fish (along the coast), pinenuts, eggplant, onions and other vegetables are common ingredients. Fried, grilled and smoked foods are also common.
Be sure to try hunkar begendi (eggplant with beef or lamb), izgaralar (grilled lamb or beef), pide (kind of a Turkish pizza—lahmacun was our favorite variety), the many different kinds of kebabs (especially Iskender), kofte (meatballs), ic pilav (fried rice and raisins) and kuzu dolmasi (lamb and rice).
You can often make a meal from the numerous appetizers offered, such as yaprak dolmasi (stuffed grape leaves), spicy midye (mussels), peynirli borek (cheese rolled up in flaky pastry) and stuffed vegetables. Many desserts are excellent: some are milk based, while others are baklava-type pastries.
Even if you think you don’t like Turkish Delight, try some very sweet and crammed with nuts, it’s a real treat. (Some of the names of dishes have colorful translations: Lady’s thigh is a meat croquette, and nightingale’s nest is a sherbet-filled pastry.) The produce is great; sample fresh giant cherries and figs, in particular. Excellent yogurt, used in desserts or salads, is also available.