Top 10 Activities

#1. Turkish Bath
When in Turkey, you must experience a traditional Turkish bath (hamam). This historical form of public bath has been in Turkey for thousands of years. Before you start thinking you'll be sitting in a communal pool of water, a Turkish bath is a type of steam bath. There are three rooms in a real Turkish bath and they're all designed to cleanse the body and offer relaxation. The first room is heated with dry air to let the bather perspire. The second room is even hotter and is where the bather splashes them self with cold water for a full body wash. The third room is the cooling room where bathers go to cool down and relax.

#2. Hot Air Balloon Ride
If you're in Turkey and you're not afraid of heights, then the best way to see this beautiful country is from the air. The gentle breezes in Cappadocia make hot air ballooning ideal, but it's the stunning view that makes the trip unforgettable.

#3. Whirling Dervishes
See a performance of the Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul. This ritualistic traditional dance is performed members from the Mevlevi order. The Whirling Dervishes are a sect of Islam and they're taught to love everything. When the musicians play, they are happy to show their remembrance of the one they follow by whirling around in dance.

#4. Sail the Coast
The best way to view Turkey's dramatic coast line is to sail along it. You can find plenty of cruises to choose from most harbors ranging from a day or two up to several weeks. The coastline boasts stunning hidden coves and amazingly lovely beaches. Head to Kekova and you can see a fallen Roman town beneath the clear blue waters.

#5. Ephesus
Ephesus is perhaps the best preserved ancient city anywhere in the world. Dating back to the 12th century BC, Ephesus was once an ancient Greek city and is famous for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It's believed that the areas surrounding Ephesus were already inhabited in the Neolithic Age, which was around 6,000BC.

#6. Aspendos
Take some time to visit the Antalya region and see Aspendos. This is the biggest and perhaps best-preserved Roman amphitheater in Turkey. The city was founded around 1,000BC, but the theater was built in around 155AD. You can also see some well preserved Roman aqueducts. Aspendos was renowned for being one of the earliest cities to mint coins back in 500BC.

#7. The Grand Bazaar
Shopping at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a must. This is one of the largest and oldest markets in the world and it is massive. It's renowned for its jewelry, pottery, traditional Turkish carpets, specialty leather goods and gold. The stunning ancient architecture alone is worth the visit, but the shopping is spectacular.

#8. Turkish Nights
Turkish nights are a source of pride for the Turkish people and spending an evening in a traditional restaurant is a good way to get in among the local custom. Enjoy the gorgeous buffet-style foods followed by traditional performances of folk dancing and belly dancers. They'll encourage you to join in, so don't be shy.

#9. Visit Troy
The remains of the legendary city of Troy can be found in Western Turkey. In fact, Turkey is a unique part of the world, boasting so many Roman ruins all over the country. Once you think you've seen some amazing Roman ruins, there are just as many Greek ruins dotting the countryside. If you're into ancient history, then Turkey is brilliant.

#10. Turkish Concerts and Operas
Turkey has a unique culture which was originally influenced by both European and Asian influences. This means that Turkish culture developed as a wonderful melting pot of some of the best of both worlds. The musical delights are a strange infusion of classical Western music blended with Ottoman music and shouldn't be missed.

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Turkish Cuisine

Kebabs

One of the more popular kebabs in Turkey is the Shish kebab. Consisting of meat, thread onto skewers, along with a mix of vegetables, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes, onions and mushrooms.

Turkish Coffee

Turkish coffee is made by boiling very fine powdered roast coffee beans in a cezve. Then serving it in a cup allowing the sludge to settle..

Börek

Borek is a type of filled pastry. Typically filled with sheep's milk cheese and various chopped vegetables like spinach and parsley.

Turkish Delights

Turkish Delights are a dessert made from sugar and starch, then flavored with lemon, mastic or rosewater. The final product is a jelly-like, sticky dessert. It's often topped with copra or icing sugar. Some are stuffed with walnuts, pistachios or hazelnuts.

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Best Time To Visit

Turkey has seven distinct climatic regions. Depending on where you intend to travel in Turkey, you should check the conditions of that specific area.

The majority of tourists head to Istanbul, but be aware that the summer months get very hot with average temperatures climbing to more than 100F (38C) at the height of summer and the humidity can be quite high at around 70-73%.

Spring (May and June) is a lovely time of year in Turkey. The weather is warm and sunny, although the evenings can become a little cool. The peak tourist season hasn't yet begun in the Turkish spring, so you may find it a little easier to get around at this time of year.

When you're searching for the best Turkey travel deals, be sure to consider how the weather will affect your plans.

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Travel Shopping

If you're shopping in Turkey, try to arrive early in the morning. An old Turkish belief is that the first customer of each day is sent by their Gods, so you may find yourself snapping up a few bargains if they're trying to please you.

It's acceptable to negotiate and bargain for everything in Turkish markets excepting the food. Be prepared to reduce the original asking price down to almost a quarter of the amount you're quoted. You won't pay this amount, but it will give you plenty of room to negotiate.

You may be offered water in the warmer months or sometimes coffee and tea. You may accept these and not be obligated to buy anything, but if a shop keeper or vendor offers you alcohol, you are expected to buy.

While the Grand Bazaar is a great starting point for any shopper, there are plenty of markets all over Turkey to browse and grab some great bargains.

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Festival Events

International Ankara Music Festival:
In April the International Ankara Music Festival brings Ankara to life with traditional, cultural and multi-cultural music offerings.

Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival:
During June the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival is a delight of classical and modern music and dance. Held in the Antalya region, there's plenty to see and enjoy.

International Wine Competition:
June sees some of the very best wines from around the world come together in Turkey. If you appreciate a good drop of wine, then this festival is a celebration of many of the best wines the world has to offer.

Formula One Races:
During June Istanbul hosts a massive Formula One race, transforming the traditional city into a frenzied party of people and car-racing enthusiasts.

Foka Music, Folklore and Water Sports Festival:
Once again June is the time for celebrating and the coastal regions near Izmir enjoy traditional music and water sports as the weather begins to warm up.

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Basic Turkish Phrases

Hello - Iyi aksamlar! (E ak-sham-lar)

Goodbye - Hosçakal – (hosh-cha-kal)

Thank you - Tesekkür ederim - (te-sh-qu-err ed-err-im)

Please - Lütfen (lut-fen)

Do you speak English? - Ingilizce konusur musunuz? (Ingliz-j cor-noosh muz-un-uz)

How much does it cost? - Ne Kadar? (Nay kad-r)

Yes - Evet

No - Hayir – (hi-er)

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Explore Turkey

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