Turkey

Turkey is in the Balkan region of Southeast Asia. It borders eight countries, Bulgaria to the northwest, Greece to the west, Georgia to the northeast, Armenia, Azerbaijan (the Nakhichevan exclave), and Iran to the east, Iraq and Syria to the southeast. Turkey is lucky enough to border three seas, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west, and the Black Sea to the north. Along with that, it also contains the Sea of Marmara!

Turkey has a strategic location, as it lies alongside two continents. It is a place that has been continually inhabited, as it is the intersection between Europe and Asia. Turkey has a unique cultural blend that sometimes contradicts itself. Trendy boutiques and hot-spot nightclubs stand alongside exotic bazaars and ancient churches, with their tolling bells. Roman ruins and the beginning of Christianity compete for attention against the daily drink-all-you-can boat trips that leave from the beautiful sandy shores.

For those who wish to see the bright lights of the city, then Istanbul is the place to be. There are thousands of hotels to stay in, each offering their own unique patronage. Modern Istanbul oozes trendy bars and nightclubs, office blocks, smart shopping arcades and elegant suburbs. Beggars walk alongside the wealthy, in the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets. It seems that everyone has jumped on the tourist trade bandwagon in Istanbul. But it’s not all bright lights and glitz; Istanbul has a history dating back many millennia. Visit the cathedral at Hagia Sofia; this is a 6th Century Christian site, well known for its remarkable architecture and beautiful mosaics. The Blue Mosque, or the Sultan Ahmet Cammi, as it is officially known, with it’s magnificent domes and minarets dominate the skyline. The Topkapi Palace Museum is a collection of buildings, which are arranged around interconnecting courtyards. Built by Mehmet the Conqueror as a Sultan’s Palace, the Topkapi Palace is magnificently situated on one of the seven hills of Istanbul. It has uninterrupted views of the Bosphorus River and the Golden Horn.

There are many beautiful places to visit along the Aegean Coast in Turkey. Altinkum, Bodrum, Izmir and Kusadasi are but a few examples of top tourist destinations. Bodrum is in the Mugla Province of Turkey and is serviced by Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV). It is well known for its yachting activities as well as tourism. 

A few places of interest worth seeing are:

Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology - within Bodrum Castle

Bodrum Castle – Built by Knights Hospitaller back in 1402, formerly known as the Castle of St Peter

Turgutreis – the second largest town of the Bodrum Peninsula

Blue Cruise – Take a recreational boat trip along the south-western coast of Turkey

Mausoleum of Mausolus – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The region known as the Cappadocia is between the Black Sea in the north and the Taurus Mountains to the south, from Ankara in the west, to Malatya in the east. This part of Turkey is famous for its amazing natural rock formations and the Goreme National Park. The remains of underground cities, stone chapels and monasteries can be found all over the area, many dating back to 400 BC. Modern day houses and pretty hotels are built partially into the rock, keeping in style with centuries gone by. Houses are painted with earthy shades of ochre and yellow and blend in well with the landscape.

There are many beautiful places to discover along the Mediterranean coastline. This part of Turkey has magnificent scenery with pretty coves and rocky headlands. Turquoise beaches gently lap the golden beaches, and the air is filled with the aroma of pine forests, simply magical! Dominated by the Taurus Mountains, this is where the Mediterranean reaches the Turkish Riviera. Small villages share the water’s edge with sophisticated resorts, local fishing vessels are moored alongside multi-million pound yachts. This coast merges the past with the present and many ancient ruins are to be seen, the Chimaera at Olympos is well worth a visit. Boat cruises are always on the agenda in this part of Turkey, along with water-sports and sunbathing of course! The main tourist destinations on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast include: Alanya, Antalya, Dalyan, Fethiye, Hisaronu, Icmeler, Kas, Marmaris, Oludeniz and Side.

Marmaris is full of charm and natural beauty despite the tourist boom back in the 1980’s. It has managed to retain its character despite the fact that over half a million people visit its glorious shores every season. It boasts a magnificent sailing centre, which harbours some extraordinary vessels. Large cruise ships can often been seen in the bay, it’s passengers disembark and spend the day perusing the promenade which is full of top-notch shops. Marmaris has so much to offer the tourist, spend the day on one of the glorious sandy beaches, swim with fish in the clean turquoise waters or take a boat trip to the nearby islands of Rhodes. 

Marmaris has its fair share of archaeological sites too; the ruins at Physkos, Saranda, Amos and Loryma are well worth seeing. Marmaris Castle and the harbour were used as a Naval supply point during the Ottoman Empire. If you are staying in Marmaris for a while, try to hire a car, this way you can really discover the feel for the place. Please be aware that the locals are a little crazy when they drive their little scooters around. They don’t tend to wear crash helmets either; so do be a little cautious. Scooters and mopeds can be hired, but do ask for an extra helmet if you plant to ride pillion. Take a trip into the Taurus Mountains, or pop to the other side of the bay and spend the afternoon in Icmeler. Boat trips are also available from the beach to Icmeler; do try to catch the wonderful market there every Thursday. Brilliant bargains can be purchased, but please remember that counterfeit goods are often sold to poor unsuspecting tourists! Don’t forget to haggle also.

During your stay in Marmaris, there are several things that must be done:

Take a Turkish bath – and have the full works
Experience a Turkish Night – let your hair down and try belly dancing
Visit the local Bazaar – watch out that you don’t get lost in the maze
Eat local cuisine – especially in the bazaars. Turkish cuisine combines Mediterranean, Caucasian, and Arabic influences, and is extremely rich.
Do some sightseeing – beautiful scenery, majestic backdrops – what more could you wish for?
Respect the locals – East meets west – Bikini’s or Topless?  Please remember that topless sunbathing is illegal in Turkey; so do try to cover a little when sunbathing.

Turkey is a magical place to visit. It is vibrant and colourful, yet quaint and reserved at the same time. Cheaper package holiday deals to Turkey are available for most of the year, and prices seem to get cheaper and cheaper. Accommodation is abundant; there are thousands of 4 and 5 star all-inclusive hotels available throughout the country, as well as self-catering apartments, flats, and guesthouses.