Travel Designers Turkey a country of diverse scenery, climate, and historical monuments
Travellers are sometimes overwhelmed by the choice of places to visit. Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the North, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the West. In the northwest, there is also an internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.
Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, golf courses and lakes that offers visitors a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From April to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquillity of mountains and lakes.
Turkey also has a magnificent past and is a land full of historic treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even a short visit to Turkey can offer a sense of the history of this unique Country. Istanbul, separating Europe from Asia straddling the Bosphorus straits and the Marmara coast, is a lively, sophisticated city offering a rich legacy of mosques, churches, museums and magnificent palaces together with bustling bazaars and vibrant street life.
Turkey is an immensely rewarding place to travel. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat, cross the ancient Euphrates and Tigris rivers, or simply unwind on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach. There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary location after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common: the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country. Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Etiquette demands that you wear modest clothing and remove shoes when visiting mosques. Most areas of Turkey are very safe, check with your tour operator or embassy for up-to-date information on travel. For assistance in planning a package holiday to Turkey contact us
Turkey Weather – When best to go?
Temperatures in Ankara vary between -4C (25F) and 30C (86F). Marmara and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The swimming season becomes shorter the further north one goes Marmara and North Aegean – June to September; South Aegean and Mediterranean – April to October.
- Black Sea Coast: Warm summers, mild winters, and relatively high rainfall.
- Central Anatolia: Step climate with hot, dry summers; cold winters.
- Eastern Anatolia: Long snowy cold winters with mild summers.
- Southeast Anatolia: Hot summer with mild, rainy winters.
Events in Turkey
More than 100 festivals are organized in Turkey every year. Along with the local festivals organized in almost every city of the country, international culture and art festivals are also held in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya.
Top Events in Turkey: Secular festivities include camel-wrestling in mid-January, in the village of Seluk, south of Izmir.
There are celebrations abound in summer: there’s an oiled wrestling festival in early June at Sarayii, near Edirne.
- KafkasÖr Festival near Artvin in north-eastern Turkey in the 3rd week of June;
- International Istanbul Festival of the Arts (late June to mid-July)
- Bursa’s Folklore and Music Festival in mid-July
- Diyarbakir’s Watermelon Festival in mid or late September
Restaurants & Food in Turkey
Turkish food is famous throughout the world. The painstaking preparation of simple, but fresh ingredients brings out the richness of their flavours in a way that never fails to delight. The range is enormous, from the many soups to an astonishing variety of hors d’oeuvres (meze) followed by meat and fish dishes. There are many top-notch restaurants in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul and Ankara where international cuisine is quite prevalent.
There are also a large number of small, family restaurants, which offer simpl but tasty dishes at moderate prices. Fish and shellfish are fresh and very tempting. At most of the establishments along the road, there is spit-roasted lamb, salads with tasty dressings, and fresh vegetables stuffed with savory rice. If you don’t know the names of the dishes, you can always go to the kitchen and choose from the dishes displayed. In cheaper restaurants it’s not necessary to leave more than a few coins in the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you’re expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d’.
Accommodation, Hotels, Apartments in Turkey
Turkey has made a considerable effort to develop its hotel facilities In recent years. A certain number of hotels throughout the country are registered with the Ministry of Tourism as offering satisfactory facilities. They abide by certain regulations and standards of facilities, and are given the name ‘Touristic‘ Hotels are graded from 1 *r (tek yildizli) to 5 * (5 yildizli). Classification is based on the standard of service and facilities. Motels and Holiday Villas are first class (1 sinif) or second class (2 sinif). There have been in recent years a lot of 5 Star hotels built in, however, not all would compare to a 5 star hotel in other parts of Europe.
Weddings in Turkey
In order to marry in Turkey you will need to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment which is issued as a result of notifying your local registry office of your intent to marry, IE publishing your banns. This basically confirms that you are both free to marry. You can obtain the document in Turkey but you will need to be resident for 21 days to apply for the document then wait another 21 days for the documents to be produced.
Other legal documents required are; Full passport, Birth certificate, 8 passport size photographs of the bride and groom, if divorced the decree absolute, if adopted the adoption certificate, if you have changed your name the deed poll and if you are under 18 years old a letter of consent from your parents.
Once your legal documentation has been completed you are free to marry. You will need two witnesses and if you do not speak Turkish a translator is also required. You will also need to give notice to your consulate so that the marriage can be registered in your own country. Go Easy Travel can assist with weddings and packages from £699 per couple.
Contact go easy travel 01256 536020 now for details on weddings
Honeymoons in Turkey
Turkey is an excellent choice for value honeymoons in Europe. There are an abundance of hotels offering 5 star accommodation on an all inclusive food and drink basis, helping to keep control of the costs of your honeymoon. A good twin Centre for Turkey is a few nights in Istanbul with a luxury spa hotel at the beach or even on a luxury gulet cruise.
Contact go easy travel on 01256 536020 for more information on honeymoons.
Car Hire Turkey and Driving Tips
Car hire in Turkey is available from all the major airports and cities by most of the international companies as well as local operators. Check out our online car hire prices.
Turkey has an extensive network of well maintained roads linking its towns, cities, and popular tourist areas. When arriving from Europe, the Bosphorus crossing to Asia has been greatly facilitated by the completion of the Istanbul- bypass and the two Bosphorus (Bogazici) bridges which lead to the Istanbul – Ankara Expressway
The E80 and E90 are the two main roads leading to Turkey from European borders; they also connect the Iranian and Iraqi borders. Filling stations are well distributed over all roads, And those on the main highways often have service stations with restaurants, and are open round the clock. Unleaded fuel is available at most stations.
You drive on the right in Turkey, and give priority to the right, even on roundabouts. Speed limits are 50kph in towns, 100kph on main roads and highways. Foreigners are rarely stopped by the police at the frequent checkpoints, but if you are you will be required to produce your driving license and proof of ownership (or car rental papers) and may be given an on-the-spot fine for not wearing a seatbelt or for speeding. The alcohol limit in Turkey is 0.5%.
Banks and Currency in Turkey
The national monetary unit is the Turkish lira (TL). However most restaurants, hotels and bars will accept Euro and Sterling. Exchange offices in tourist resorts are generally open until midnight.
Banks: 8:30 – 12:00; 13:30 – 17:00 (closed Sat. And Sun., open daily in tourist areas)
Essential information about Turkey
Capital City – Ankara
Language – Turkish
Currency – Turkish Lira, Euro
Flight Time – average from London 4 hours
Time Difference – March 27 to October 30 GMT +3 otherwise GMT +2
Airports to Fly into – Izmir, Bodrum, Dalaman, Istanbul, Antalya, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.
For more detailed information on Turkey you can also visit the Turkey Tourist Board website.
Visa Requirements for Turkey Citizens of New Zealand, Japan, South Africa and most of the countries of Western Europe, need only a valid passport for stays of up to 3 months. Australian, UK and US citizens, as well as those from Austria, Israel, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain – do need visas, obtainable in advance at a Turkish consulate. All visitors to Turkey from April 11, 2014 will be required to purchase their entry visa via the Turkish Government website prior to travel