The Genuine Turkey Travel Guide

planning a trip to

Turkey

Here is what you need to know: Turkey travel Guide

Turkey is one of a kind. It has a long history. Their land encounter Greeks antiquity, Roman and Byzantine time, was the Ottoman Empire and is now the Republic of Turkey.

All over the country, vestige of the past can be found.

I (Alex) lived 10 months in Turkey, and before that travelled it a lot.

We do not only love Tukey for its history, but also for its warm people, nice traditions, yummy food.

The çay, Turkish coffee and Raki are all top drink to taste.

And the food, while it may not be the heathiest, it is amazing. the fresh fish, the kebab, the meze….

About

Turkey is a transcontinental country located on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia with a small portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.

Istanbul, its biggest city, straddles Europe and Asia but Turkey capital is Ankara.

Turkey stands on 783 356 km² of land and its population reach up to 83 million people. It is the 18th most populous country in the world.

Approximately 70 to 80% of the population identify themselves as Turkish, and 15 to 20% as Kurd.

Called al bayrak (the red flag), its design is directly derived from the late Ottoman flag.

While the star and crescent are the symbol of the Ottoman and therefor the one for island, it is believed that its origin come from the Byzantine empire who used this symbol since the 4th century. It was display on Byzantine Empire’s coins and shields of Christian warrior saints till the 13th century.

The red in Ottoman time was the sign of the secular institutions.

Simit is a circular bread, encrusted with sesame seeds. It is a must to try in Turkey and can be buy from bakery or on the street from Simitçi.

It was found across the cuisines of the former Ottoman Empire and it still a speciality in Turkey.

Of course, modern versions of it has been made, but the original is a must to try with a çay (black tea). This is the local way of snacking.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is most probably the most known and admired person in Turkey.

He was a Turkish field marshal, revolutionary statesman, author, and the founder of the Republic of Turkey, serving as its first President from 1923 until his death in 1938.

His leadership is what shaped the Turkey of today’s. He was a modern leader and used progressive reforms to modernize its country into a secular and industrial nation.

It’s also him that introduced the new Turkish languages and integrated over 100 000 French word in it. He was found of the French language.

Belly dancing is extremely popular in Turkey. Night club or local restaurants are the most common venues, but belly dancers can also be hired at weddings, circumcisions, and other events…

Far from being a simple tourism show, it is an old art still enjoyed by Turks of all classes and ages. It may be the descendant of ancient Anatolian fertility dances.

Belly dancers are usually women with well-trained abdominal muscles. They accompany their moves with clangs on small finger cymbals called zil (Turkish for “cymbal” or “bell”).

During the dance, appreciative observers can place money’s note into her costume. They dance close enough…

What to expect?

Language: The official language is Turkish. Younger generation will also be able to speak some English in the main city. And most of the people in the touristic area.

Food: Is amazing, super yummy, delicious. Meat lover will adore the local kebab, fish lovers must try the ‘Fish and Raki”, and Plant-based diet will devour the meze.

Transportation: Within the main cities Metro or buses are the easiest options. To get around cities, buses and coaches are the right choice. To get to further city, plane is the best.

Money: The currency in Turkey is the Lira. Rates changes, but at the time we were there 1€ was worth 7.75 Lira. ATM are everywhere and credit card can be widely use.

Plugs: The plugs in Turkey are type C (Euro). The standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50hz.

Safety: Touristic place are really safe. Travelling within Turkey as well. You may want to avoid getting to close to the Syrian border though and getting into demonstration.