The best time for touring is April – May and September – October, when the day temperatures are most comfortable and the least amount of rain falls. For the beach worshipper, June – September is best. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.
Guides can be pre arranged prior to departure through any of the Turkey tour specialists, or can easily be hired upon arrival in Turkey. Most hotels offer concierge services, which can provide reliable guides to their guests for an affordable fee. The advantage of hiring a guide through your hotel is that the guide will usually have a long history of working successfully with the hotel and its previous guests. However, visitors may also go to any local travel agency in Turkey and make arrangements on the spot.
Tour operators listed in our Travel Directory, are Turkey specialists – they have extensive knowledge and experience in Turkish tourism. Some exclusively offer trips to Turkey. Others offer trips to Turkey in combination with other countries, such as Greece and Italy. The companies listed in the Travel Directory can provide a wide range of services including package tours, air ticketing, rental car reservations, hotel reservations, day tours, customized itineraries, guides, and more.
Many companies specialize in different areas of Turkish travel and tourism. Almost all tours include western Turkey and focus on historical and archeological sites. However, some tour operators also offer tours of the Black Sea region and eastern and southeastern Turkey. There are also special-interest tours such as golf tours, photography tours, culinary tours, trekking tours and more.
– As an ancient land and modern nation, Turkey today holds and protects the common past of all people.
– The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires – Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman – for more than 2000 years.
– Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents Europe and Asia. During its 25,000 year history, it has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires.
– The number of archaelogical excavations going on in Turkey every year is at least 150.
– The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7500 B.C.).
– Ephesus and Halicarnassus – two of the seven wonders of the ancient world – are in Turkey.
– Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Homer (the poet), King Midas, Heredotus (the father of history), and St. Paul the Apostle.
– Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated words, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered) in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
– The famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.
– The first church built by man (St. Peter’s Church) is in Antioch Antakya, Turkey.
– The Amazons originated in Turkey’s Northeastern region.
– The First Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik, Turkey.
– Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia. The first clay tablets – in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (merchant colony) – date back to 1950 B.C.
– Prophet Abraham was born in Sanliurfa in Southeast Turkey.
– St. Nicholas, known as Santa Claus today, was born and lived in Demre (Myra) on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The village contains the famous Church of St. Nicholas, which contains the sarcophagus believed to be his tomb.
– Many archeologists and biblical scholars believe Noah’s Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in eastern Turkey.
– The last meal on Noah’s Ark, a pudding with nearly 40 ingredients, is still served throughout Turkey.
– The last home of Virgin Mary is in Selcuk, Turkey.
– St. John, St. Nicholas, St. Paul and St. Peter have all lived and prayed in Southern Anatolia.
– Part of Turkey’s Southwestern Shore was a wedding gift that Mark Anthony gave to Cleopatra.
– The first man ever to fly was Turkish. Using two wings, Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from the Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Uskudar in the 17th century.
– Homer was born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted Troy in his Epic the Iliad.
– Suleyman the Magnificent (the famous Ottoman Sultan) was a poet who wrote over 3000 poems some of them criticising the greed of mankind.
– One of the biggest and best preserved theatres of antiquity seating 15,000 is Aspendos on the southern coast of Turkey where international music festivals are held each year.
– Aesop – famous all over the world for his fables and parables – was born in Anatolia.
– Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a bridge over the Bosphorus, the strait that flows through Europe and Asia. (It was never built then; but now there are two Bosphorus bridges.).
– President Woodrow Wilson was fond of telling some of the tales of Nasreddin Hoca (13th century Turkish wit and raconteur; UNESCO has declared a “Nasreddin Hoca year”, 1996-1997).
– Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey – and cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium) not far from Turkey’s present day capital Ankara.
– Greek Cynic philosopher Diogenes was born in Sinop on Turkey’s Black Sea Coast.
– Croesus – whose name is synonymous with great wealth – had his kingdom (Lydia) in Western Turkey.
– Smallpox vaccination was introduced to England and Europe from Turkey by Lady Montagu in early 18th century (after Turkish phsycians saved her son’s life).
– Istanbul’s Robert College, established in 1863, is the oldest American School outside the United States.
– Throughout history Anatolia – land of Turks has been a bridge between Europe and Asia where people of different origins have come together and mingled with the ones already settled each time creating a new sythesis.
– Early Christians escaping Roman persecution nearly 2000 years ago sheltered in Cappadocia in Central Anatolia.
– In 1492 Sultan Beyazid II, learning about the expulsion of Jews dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring the Jews safely to the Ottoman lands. Like wise Jews expelled from Hungary in 1376; from Sicily early in the 15th century; from Bavaria in 1470; from Bohemia in 1542 and from Russia in 1881, 1891, 1897, 1903 all took refuge in the Ottoman Empire.
– As it was the case during the Bolshevik revolution, Turkey served as a safe passage an haven for those fleeing their native countries during the World War II, Turkey was one of the few countries in the world which welcomed the Jewish refugees escaping the horros of Nazism.
– During the Gulf War in 1991, Turkey welcomed nearly half a million Kurds from Northern Iraq, who were fleeing the torment of Saddam.
– Turkey provided homes for some 313,000 Bulgarian refugees of Turkish origin expelled from their homelands in Bulgaria in 1989.
– According to Turkish tradition a stranger at one’s doorstep is considered “A Guest from ALLAH” and should be accommodated accordingly.
There are no vaccination requirements for any international traveler. The World Health Organization web site, www.who.org, provides vaccination certificate requirements by country, geographic distributions of potential health hazards to travelers and information on health risks and their avoidance.
Northern Cyprus I look over Girne Harbour lost in thought. The light slowly fades and as the night plays its most colourful game with the day, the candle flames stretch out and fall over the sea. A white sailing boat has already glided into the harbour.
The historic Girne Castle at the tip of the harbour rises out of the dark blue Mediterranean. The stone walls gradually glow red. I realise that Cyprus is not just very beautiful, but has a hidden quality quite different from anywhere else; something which eases tired spirits, brings tranquility and makes even the unforgettable sink into oblivion.
Perhaps it is the fragrance – of flowers in the gardens overlooked by windows with blue shutters in Girne, and of the orange trees along the road in Guzelyurt.
Perhaps it is the fresh scent of a cool breeze from the misty Besparmak Mountains blowing through a castle perched upon rocks, or the salt smell of the turquiose sea on the Karpas Peninsula; the old scent of the photographs in an old woman’s one-roomed cottage in the village of Korucam, or the holy scent from Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque in Gazimagusa.
Which it is I have no idea. Perhaps Cyprus is a mixture of all these scents. The easiest and most enjoyable way of getting to know Northern Cyprus and experience all its fragrances is to rent a jeep and explore the country from end to end. We began in Girne, whose luxury hotels, casinos and inviting beaches make it the most popular resort in Northern Cyprus. The place where everyone exploring Cyprus gets to meet up is the harbour. Surrounded by café-bars and restaurants, it is always lively.
Right next to the harbour rises one of the most impressive and impregnable mediaeval castles to have survived anywhere. But it is easy to storm Girne Castle today and spend a few hours visiting the several tiny independent museums to which it is home. And what about the other three castles in the Besparmak Mountains? The castles of Buffavento, Saint Hilarion and Kantara kept watch for uninvited ships on the distant horizon and warned the islanders of approaching danger.
To see the scenic beauty which they have been savouring for centuries, all you need is a bit of adventurous spirit and stamina for the climb. From a dizzying wind blown height is a matchless view over the Mediterranean. On a mountainside is the tiny village of Karmi where the whitewashed houses draped with bougainvillea nestle amidst roses, geraniums, almond trees and plum trees. Here most of the inhabitants are German and British. The village of Koruçam near Guzelyurt, meanwhile, is home to a community of Maronites from Lebanon and Syria who settled here centuries ago.
Their houses too are whitewashed, and their windows frame the sea. At the doors stand elderly women dressed in black, matching the black and white photographs on the walls. Melancholy and joy are mingled inextricably here. One of the best ways to get to know the local people is to visit Yorgo’s Place, where the famous Northern Cyprus pit roast is the main speciality, served with hellim cheese, tahini, gabbar (pickled leaves of the milk thistle), garlic sausage and Mediterranean salad.
Then off we go again, leaving the Besparmak Mountains behind and heading for the capital Lefkosa (Nicosia). Here we wander through the narrow streets of the city’s oldest districts of Arabahmet and Selimiye, where the houses in an eclectic mix of styles Ottoman, Lusignan and even in a few cases Venetian in origin, made of adobe or stone, and with bay windows or balconies. Most have been restored. The Church of Saint Sophia (Selimiye Mosque) is one of the capital’s principal monuments, dating from the 14th century and characterised by marvellous stonework.
In Gazimagusa is another but still more imposing monument in similar architectural style, the Cathedral of St Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasa Mosque), where light filtering through the long stained glass windows enhances the spiritual atmosphere of the interior.
After visiting the ruins of Salamis, the island’s oldest church of St Barnabas, the Venetian city walls, and Othello’s Tower in Gazimagusa, it is time to head for the Karpas Peninsula. As we drive along through a landscape of yellow wheat fields, I am already excited at the prospect.
The Karpas Peninsula is the furthest extremity of Northern Cyprus, where the island tapers out in a long narrow finger of land towards Turkey. It is a remote unspoilt spot of long sand beaches. When the road ends, we get out of the jeep and begin to walk.
My head is whirling with thoughts of all the scents, faces, and tastes of the island, the salt of the Mediterranean, and flowers I dreamed of gathering. Wait for me, I want to get there first… to the very tip.
Source: Skylife
BY PLANE: Virtually every major city in Turkey has air service and Turkish Airlines offers nationwide services. Most flights connect through Istanbul or Ankara, both of which have domestic and international terminals. You can check Turkish Airlines’ schedules and book flights at www.turkishairlines.com
BY BUS: Busses are an efficient and affordable way to travel in Turkey. Private bus companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities. Local Tourism Information Offices usually have bus schedules for their regions; their addresses can be found at www.turizm.gov.tr
Tourism Information The major bus lines have spacious, comfortable coaches, and offer coffee, tea and snacks. The two largest bus companies’ web sites, www.varan.com.tr and www.ulusoy.com.tr, provide routes, schedules, ticket prices, and office addresses.
BY TRAIN: The extensive Turkish State Railways network connects most major cities. On some trains, sleeping compartments are available. Detailed train schedules and prices as well as reservation telephone numbers and authorized ticket agents are listed on their web site at www.tcdd.gov.tr. Transportation From and To the Airport Havas airport busses are a convenient and affordable alternative to taxis for transportation from airports to downtown areas or from downtown areas to airports in Turkey. You can find detailed information about the schedules at www.havas.com.tr
As known when people travel to another country a valid travel document (Passport) or valid identity is needed (Except EU countries). As Turkey is still not an EU country the entry regulations are set according the custom and entry regulations Turkey has agreed with each individual country.
U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Turkey. U.S. citizens may obtain a visa upon entry into Turkey or in prior to departure from one of the five Turkish Consulates in the United States. Please find your state in the Turkish Consulates Jurisdiction List. Business visas must be issued prior to departure by Turkish consular offices.
Visas issued upon entry are valid for three months. Visas for longer stays and for study, research or employment must be obtained in advance. Passengers in transit through Turkey who do not leave their port of transit do not require visas.
Non-U.S citizens must apply for tourist or business visas before traveling to Turkey. Applicants should contact the relevant Turkish Consulate in person, by mail or by a courier service. Applicants outside the united States should contact the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate to learn their visa requirements and procedures. Turkish missions abroad are listed at www.mfa.gov.tr
Most of the Turks You Will Meet – Crew Members, Hotel & Restaurant Staff, Shop – Keepers Will Speak At Least Some English, and Many Will Be Fluent.
| English | Turkish |
| Hello | Merhaba |
| How are you? | Nasilsiniz? |
| I am fine | Ben iyiyim |
| Yes | Evet |
| No | Hayir |
| Thank you | Tesekkur Ederim |
| Please | Lutfen |
| Excuse Me | Affedersiniz |
| When? | Ne Zaman? |
| How? | Nasil? |
| Why | Nicin? |
| What? | Ne? |
| Who? | Kim? |
| Good | Iyi |
| Bad | Kotu |
| Very | Cok |
| Do you speak English? | Ingilizce biliyormusunuz? |
| I don’t understand | Anlamadim |
| I understand | Anliyorum/Anladim |
| I want | Istiyorum |
| A double room | Cift yatakli bir oda |
| A single room | Tek yatakli bir oda |
| What is a room rate per night? | Bir gecelik oda ne kadar? |
| Cheap | Ucuz |
| Expensive [very expensive] | Pahali [cok pahali] |
| Where is the nearest bank? | En yakin banka nerededir? |
| Can you exchange my traveller’s check, please? | Seyahat cekimi bozabilirmisiniz, lutfen? |
| How long will it take? | Ne kadar surer? |
| Give me the check, please | Hesabi verirmisiniz |
| Where is the rest-room? | Tuvalet nerede? |
| Call a doctor | Doktor cagirin |
| Call the police | Polis cagirin |
| It is an emergency | Cok acil |
| New Friends | Yeni Arkadas |
| What’s your name? | Adiniz ne? |
| My name is… | Benim adim… |
| Where are you from? | Nerelisiniz? |
| Are you alone? | Yalniz misiniz? |
| Are you married? | Evli misiniz? |
| Where’s your hotel? | Oteliniz nerede? |
| What kind of music do you like? | Ne tur muzik seversiniz? |
| What do you like doing? | Nelerden hoshlanirsiniz? |
| Nice to meet you: | Memnun oldum |
| Would you like an icecream? | Dondurma ister misiniz? |
| No thanks | hayir, tesekurler |
| What are you studying? | Ne okuyorsun? |
| Let’s go and dance! | Hadi, dans edelim |
| Your eyes are beautiful | Gozlerin cok guzel |
| You dance so well | Mukemmel dans ediyorsun |
| I feel so close to you: | Kendimi sana yakin hissediyorum |
| I love you | Seni seviyorum |
| I love you too | Ben de seni seviyorum. |
| Don’t do that | Yapma! |
| No, not tonight | Bu aksam olmaz |
| Shopping | Alisveris |
| Do you take credit cards? | Kredi karti kabul ediyor musunuz? |
| I’m just looking | Yalniz bakiyorum |
| That’s too expensive | cok Pahali |
| What’s Your Best Price? | Son Fiyatiniz ne? |
| Can I try this on? | Bunu deneyebilirmiyim? |
| A larger / smaller size | Daha buyuk / kucuk beden |
| I don’t understand | Anlamiyorum |
| I don’t know | Bilmiyorum |
| Sunday | Pazar |
| Monday | Pazartesi |
| Tuesday | Sali |
| Wednesday | Carsamba |
| Thursday | Persembe |
| Friday | Cuma |
| Saturday | Cumartesi |
| How much is this? | Bunun fiyati ne kadar? |
| Goodbye | Hosca Kalin |
Foreigners who want to reside for a long time or be employed in Turkey are supposed to apply to our foreign representatives and require a due visa for longer stays or employment.Those who apply for employment are to submit the copy of the written permission on their application. The required document enabling the residance of foreigners is “Residence Permit For Foreigners”. In relation to the document taken from the Provincial Security Directorate, Division of Foreigners, detailed information will be acquired from the Police Headquarter of the province of residence.
Application Address: Icisleri Bakanligi Emniyet Genel Mudurlugu Yabancilar Daire Baskanligi Ilkadim Caddesi No:89 Dikmen – Ankara
Residence and Work Permission Office
For further information; www.egm.gov.tr