Turkey welcomes tourists at any time of the year with its high mountains, natural beauty, pristine waters, large cosmopolitan cities, nightlife, small lovely towns, food culture, and ancient ruins. Some popular tourist destinations in Turkey are Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, Bursa, and Izmir, making Turkey one of the most developed nations in Europe.
You can find Turkish Airlines flights connecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Bahrain, and Amman with Istanbul. Turkish Airlines offers cost-effective flights if you book tickets at least 8-6 weeks in advance. Becoming a Miles&Smiles member will help you earn miles with each trip, offering services like cabin upgrades and extra baggage, as well as discounted fares.
A few convincing reasons to have Turkey on your bucket list are:
Primeval Archaeological Sites
Turkey is home to 28 archaeological sites that shed light on some earliest civilizations of the world. These historic locations, which spanned all the periods from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Empire, draw visitors from all over the world. The most ancient Neolithic sanctuary close to Anlurfa is called Göbeklitepe. The Neolithic era saw the construction of the Atalhöyük village in the Konya Province.
One of the most popular archaeological sites is Ephesus, a prehistoric port city in present-day Turkey with well-preserved remains. The city was previously considered the most significant Greek metropolis and the most significant Mediterranean commerce hub. It is roughly 80 kilometres south of Turkey’s Izmir.
The agora or public space, vast amphitheatre, aqueducts, and the Library of Celsus are a few examples of the Ephesian ruins that were constructed or reconstructed during Augustus’ rule.
Miletus is the other site, which was once a significant maritime power and a hub for philosophy and science during Archaic Greece. The site features the remains of the Hellenistic Theatre, the Faustina Baths, the Church of St. Michael, and the Apollo Delphinium Sanctuary.
Turkish Hospitality
Turkish people are famed for their warmth and hospitality above all else, and nearly every visitor will recall a wonderful person who invited them for a meal or helped them. Turkish people are renowned for being quite friendly and hospitable.
Whether you go to a restaurant, mall, or hotel, the staff will go above and beyond to make sure you have a great time enjoying your meal, shopping, or stay. You will also find general Turkish people highly helpful, friendly, and humane.
If you have any trouble or difficulty, they will strive to understand and support you. They try their best to help you locate the address you are requesting using their geographic knowledge. The most significant factor is that Turks have great tolerance towards everyone, regardless of their religion, gender, and race. Accepting individuals for who they are and treating them like guests is part of their culture and history.
Delectable Turkish Food
Turkish cuisine is well-known around the world. It has developed over many years, drawing inspiration from the rich history of the regions that hosted various empires. The cuisine of Turkey is incredibly colourful and has a wide variety of influences and flavours, like the cultural mosaic.
You will find more than Turkish baklava, kebab, and lokum. You can try hotter red meat if you are in Adana, Urfa, and Mardin of Eastern Anatolia. On the other hand, the Aegean region will give you a chance to taste several seafood delicacies.
There are dozens of different meze varieties across the Mediterranean. The best breakfast to have when visiting small towns like Cumalikizik in Bursa and Sirince in Izmir is a traditional Turkish one. Therefore, the first thing you must do before visiting that particular region of Turkey is research the cuisine and various dishes you will be eating there.
Relaxing Turkish Bath (Hammam)
A Turkish bath, also known as a hammam, is more akin to a Roman bath than a Scandinavian sauna. Although it uses the same fundamentals as a steam bath, water is the main component instead of steam. Turkish bathhouses, for unwinding, are still a prominent aspect of Turkish culture.
You can find several traditional and historical hammams in Turkey that help relieve your stress and rejuvenate your mind and body.
The Largest Grand Bazaar
A network of street stalls makes up the Grand Bazaar, a historic shopping hub where you can get anything from Turkish towels and lamps to rugs, ceramics, antiques, and carpets as well as sweets like baklava and tavuk gogsu and Turkish delight. In the Grand Bazaar, which has about 4000 shops, haggling is one of the customs associated with shopping there. The Grand Bazaar has a long history, connecting to Turkish culture.
Amazing Palaces and Museums
Turkey is home to several ancient cities that contain Byzantine, Greek, Seljukid, and Roman archaeological sites, historical places, and ancient cities. With over 300 palaces and museums, you can visit as many as you want using a Museum Card. Topkapi Palace, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Yildiz Palace, etc. are a few of the must-see palaces and museums.
Beautiful Islands
Turkey’s topography is also filled with vibrant islands, some of which are well-known travel destinations because of their beaches, historical landmarks, and five-star resorts. The most well-known of them are Büyük Ada, Heybeliada, Bozcaada, Avşa, Gökçeada, Knalada, Burgaz Ada, and Alibey Ada.
To conclude, you can travel to Turkey at any time of year and during any season. There are Turkish Airlines flights connecting Istanbul to all major cities in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.