The national airlines of Turkey are Turkish Airlines and SunExpress. International flights are operated at such airports as Antalya, Istanbul Airport (Istanbul New), Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport, Dalaman, Adnan Menderes, and Milas-Bodrum.
One of the largest airports is Antalya Airport. This airport receives more than 100 flights from more than 300 destinations from all over the world. The total number of passengers passing through the terminals of Antalya Airport exceeds 25 million people per year.
Antalya Airport has two international terminals and one domestic terminal. This airport has all the infrastructure and services necessary for the convenience of passengers. It takes about twenty minutes to get from the airport to the city center of Antalya by car.
Nowadays there are two operating airports situated in Istanbul: Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport (Sabiha Gökcen) and Istanbul Airport (Istanbul New, Istanbul Havalimani).
Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport is named after a Turkish female pilot. This airport is located 35 kilometers away from the city. It is easy to get here by public transport, bus or metro, the journey takes just a bit more than an hour.
This airport receives more than 25 million passengers every year. Excellent conditions for travelers are created here: there are currency exchange, cafes, shops, and a prayer room.
The newly opened Istanbul Airport is located in the north of the European part of the city. In the future, this airport will receive about 200 million passengers annually.
It is the most important transport hub of the country, equipped in accordance with all modern standards. You can get here the same way as to Istanbul Sabiha Gökcen International Airport by bus or by metro.
Turkey is a transcontinental country, located in Asia and Europe. Turkey has several mountain chains, the largest of which are the Pontic mountains, the Taurus mountains, which are divided into the Western, Southeastern and Central Taurus, and the Anatolian Plateau. The beauty of Turkey's natural landscapes is breathtaking.
The rivers in Turkey are mountainous and fast-flowing, with rapids, they are often shallow and even dry up. Therefore, the local rivers are not suitable for navigation. The shores of Turkey are washed by three seas belonging to the Atlantic Ocean basin: The Mediterranean in the south, the Aegean in the west and the Black in the north. The Marmara Sea, which washes the northwestern coast of Turkey, is inland.
The regions of the country are very diverse, they have various landscapes and climate zones. There are deciduous and coniferous forests, orchards, tea and grape plantations. In most parts of Turkey, the climate is continental with hot summers, low rainfall and cool winters. Closer to the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, the climate is changing, becoming something between Mediterranean and subtropical. It rains here in winter, but it is warm enough, and in summer it is hot and dry.
The territory on which modern Turkey is located has a centuries-old history. In the old days it was part of many other states: the Hittite Empire, Assyria, Urartu, Armenia, Byzantium, Georgia (Colchis and Iberia), Persia, Roman Empire and others. Due to the rich history of this region, there is a unique combination of traces of different cultures and monuments that cannot be found in any other country.
The ancient Basilica Cistern reservoir, located in Istanbul, is definitely worth visiting. This is such a colorful place that the popular Hollywood films "Inferno", "The Accidental Spy" and the famous James Bond saga were filmed here. The abundance of interesting and iconic places in Istanbul includes the Blue Mosque and the Topkapı Palace, the Mihrimah Sultan and the Süleymaniye Mosques, the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, the Spice Bazaar, etc.
The resort areas of Turkey are also rich in attractions. In Antalya, tourists can admire the magnificent multi-domed Yivli Minaret Mosque. While vacationers in Alanya can visit the famous Alanya Castle, a defensive fortification built in the III century BC which is now an open-air museum.
During your vacation in Kemer, it is worth going on an excursion to Phaselis. This city of ancient Likya belongs mainly to the Roman and Byzantine periods. The ruins of this city were discovered in the early 19th century.
An elegant colonnade, frozen in front of the sea in Side, the Roman ruins at Perge and the ancient Aspendos amphitheater, which are convenient to travel to from Antalya and Belek, the amazing atmosphere of Christmas miracle of the town of Myra, where St. Nicholas lived and whose church is now the landmark of the town, cave churches of Cappadocia and many other tourist attractions make Turkey a unique destination for travel and discovery.
About 50 million travelers come to Turkey every year. This is a really popular destination for tourism. The Turkish authorities pay great attention to the development of a convenient tourist infrastructure.
It is very convenient to travel around Turkey. There are modern highways and well-equipped airports that serve lots of flights daily. There is a railway between Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, and Ankara, the capital of the country.
You can travel around Turkey by taxi or public transport, by bus. Prices for such trips are relatively low here.
Turkey has developed not only air traffic, but also sea traffic. There are several seaports here: Istanbul, Izmir, Alanya, Bodrum, Marmaris, Kemer and others. Cruise liners and other vessels, whose passengers go to the resorts of Turkey, are welcomed in Turkey.
Tourist areas are mainly concentrated on the seashore. The resorts of Turkey offer travelers all the necessary modern infrastructure: hotels, shops, restaurants, cafes, entertainment centers, clubs, and discos.
Every year, many tourists come to spend their holidays at the resorts of the Mediterranean coast in Antalya, Belek, Alanya, Kemer, Side. Although the Mediterranean resorts are the most popular, many tourists prefer the Aegean coast: Marmaris, Bodrum, Dalaman. Other tourists choose the Black Sea coast: Amasra, Sinop, Samsun, etc.
There is no law in Turkey that obliges citizens and visitors of the country to observe the laws of sharia. This is a secular state, and tourists will not have to fast during the holy month of Ramadan or refuse to drink alcoholic beverages. This order was established during the time of Ataturk, the first president and founder of the modern Turkish state.
It should be taken into account that many Muslim people live here. There are 80,000 mosques in Turkey. When staying in resort areas, you don’t have to worry about the dress code. But in the east of the country, people are much more conservative. Away from the tourist areas, it is worth wearing more modest clothes.
Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Turkish economy. But tourism is not the only source of income for this country. Industry and agriculture also make a big contribution to gross domestic product.
Turkey has a wide variety of hotels of different service categories, so you can choose accommodation for almost any budget. As a rule, the most favorable prices for accommodation can be found in such Mediterranean resorts as Alanya and Kemer.
Travelers who prefer luxury accommodation of the highest level will like the hotels in Belek, Didim, Fethiye, Bodrum and Kusadasi. There is a luxurious tourist infrastructure, high-class SPA centers and perfectly equipped golf clubs.
There is also a great number of excursion programs in Turkey. You can find a guided tour in any price segment. The cheapest are short-distance excursions that last several hours. Such trips will cost you an average of $20-30. One-day tours over longer distances will cost about $50-70. The cost of a ticket to local attractions ranges from 10 to 60 Turkish lira. However, in some popular places, such as Istanbul, the cost may be much higher.
Here are some examples of food prices: a loaf of bread costs 6-12 liras, the price of cheese starts from 200 liras per kilogram, milk costs 15-25 liras per liter. Baklava, which is popular among tourists, costs 150-250 liras per kilogram, and the price of halva starts from 100 liras per kilogram.
The cost of the Internet in Turkey is quite affordable. However, when buying a SIM card, you will have to spend an amount of 150 liras or more.
Travelers focused on a variety of leisure activities will definitely find Turkey an interesting place. There is a developed tourist infrastructure, many parks and museums, entertainment complexes with water and land attractions, restaurants and cafes, colorful oriental markets and modern shops for exciting shopping. There are many excursion routes and places for beach holidays in Turkey. A trip to this country will give you many opportunities to have a great time and make your vacation unforgettable!
Many tourists enjoy diving in Turkey. Exciting underwater tours are organized in Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, Kalkan, Side, Kemer and other resorts. Diving is also very popular in Antalya, where you can see ancient ruins immersed under water.
Turkey is a country of beach and sea holidays, so all kinds of water activities and water sports are available here in a wide range. On the beach tourists can rent a sailboat or go kitesurfing. If you are more interested in river trips, you can go rafting along mountain waterways such as Dalaman, Manavgat, Köprüçay, Alara, Eşen. You can experience overwhelming emotions and an adrenaline rush by rafting on these rivers with rapids and waterfalls located in very picturesque places.
For those who like the height, hot air ballooning and paragliding will be truly interesting activities, and for those who like off-road driving, safari through interesting natural sites will be a good choice. Travelers are greatly impressed by trips to places such as the Köprülü Canyon. This is a nature reserve where you can see hundreds of species of trees, shrubs and rare plants, as well as a variety of birds, giant sea turtles and other amazing inhabitants of our planet.
The range of entertainment and excursions in Turkey is incredibly wide. Cruises along the Bosphorus and a visit to the healing springs of amazing beauty in Pamukkale are ideal for adult tourists traveling without children. Families with children and teenagers can have much fun in modern amusement parks, such as Disneyland in miniature Aktur Park in Antalya, The Land of Legends with its dizzying water slides, Kingdom of Sea, where you can dive into the fabulous world of ancient ruins. Young travelers will enjoy visiting Sealanya Dolphin Park with performances of dolphins, sea lions and seals. The list goes on and on, it's time to go on a journey to feel the spirit of adventure!
Turkey has all the conditions for comfortable MICE trips. Turkish hoteliers have a very extensive experience in holding MICE events of various levels, from small corporate outings to the G-20 summit. Thanks to their experience, they can be trusted with MICE travel and an event of any scale. The resorts have all the necessary facilities for holding a variety of business events: perfect accommodation, comfortable conference-halls and restaurants, modern technical equipment, high-quality service. Side, Antalya, Kemer, Belek, Kiriş and other tourist areas are happy to welcome business travelers, offering additional opportunities for organizing interesting and intense trips.
You can also successfully combine a business trip with a vacation by using the services of city hotels in Turkey. For example, Istanbul has a large selection of modern comfortable hotels and convenient venues for MICE events. Business trips here can be successfully complemented with the most interesting excursions to historical sites.
Alanya is a beach resort town and one of the districts of Antalya Province. This resort has been one of the favorites among German tourists for many years and is even unofficially called "German". Alanya attracts travelers with its magnificent beaches. There are beaches for everyone, both sandy and with small or large pebbles. Tourists like coming here to relax, swim, sunbathe, and do water sports.
According to some reports, the capacity of the resort's room stock is more than 150,000 beds. Alanya offers a diverse selection of accommodation facilities. Tourists can choose a hotel, guest house or apartment for any budget from luxury to low-cost. On average, prices in Alanya are affordable, it is quite profitable to spend holidays here.
There are many interesting sights in Alanya. The most famous historical places of Alanya are the Alanya Castle, which is reached by a funicular from the city embankment and the Red Tower which is situated in the seaport at the foot of this castle. Also, tourists like visiting the Damlatash cave with a unique healing microclimate and the incredibly beautiful Sapadere Canyon and other sites.
Many tourists mistakenly consider Istanbul to be the capital of Turkey. However, Istanbul is only the biggest city in the country with a large population and an extremely rich history. The real capital of the Turkish Republic is Ankara. This city was founded in the 7th century BC and was originally named Angora. Many people may know the breed of Angora cats and Angora wool.
Ankara is located on the Anatolian plateau at about 938 meters above sea level. The Çubuk and Ankara rivers merge at this point. From here, it is approximately the same distance to the Mediterranean and Black Seas, which wash the coast of Turkey.
In Ankara, travelers will find a huge variety of excursion itineraries to interesting sights. In the capital, you can dive into the depths of centuries and learn many facts about the history of mankind. Ankara has preserved many monuments, whose history goes back to antiquity, and lots of ancient artifacts. Tourists can visit the ruins of Gordion, the ancient capital of Kingdom of Phrygia, or the famous Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with a collection of artifacts from Hittite, Phrygian, Assyrian trading colonies, Urartian and other cultures, and many other attractions.
Those tourists who are more interested in modern architecture should visit the Atakule communications and observation tower. There is a restaurant on the upper floors of the tower, where travelers can enjoy bird's-eye views of the Turkish capital and culinary masterpieces of local chefs at the same time.
It’s Turkey's southern Mediterranean resort with a well-developed tourist infrastructure. There are many hotels of various levels of service, nice restaurants and cafes, modern shopping centers and lots of entertainment facilities for travelers.
This resort has a unique natural diversity of coastline. There are both sandy and pebble beaches, as well as places for those who like to sunbathe on the rocks above the sea. Tourists can choose a hotel with the type of beach they like most.
Antalya attracts tourists not only with its perfect beaches but also with a wide variety of attractions and excursions for all tastes. The Antalya Archeological Museum is one of the five largest museums in the country, its exposition shows the history of nations who lived on this territory since ancient times.
Antalya has preserved the old neighborhoods with narrow streets that keep the spirit of the Ottoman Empire. Tourists should walk through Hadrian's Gate, admire the incredible marine animals in the transparent tunnel of the Antalya Aquarium and visit the park of amazing sand sculptures in the open air, Antalya Sand Sculpture Museum. It is also impossible to avoid visiting the most famous natural attraction of Antalya, located right in the city, the Düden Waterfalls.
The administrative center of the Belek resort, located on the Mediterranean coast, is a small town of the same name. Its population is only about 7,000 residents. But in fact, this is a much more crowded place, travelers from all over the world come here all year round.
Belek belongs to the luxury resorts of the highest class. There are magnificent SPA centers and many golf fields equipped to world standards. Belek is considered the Turkish golf capital.
You can swim and sunbathe in Belek from April to October. There are beautiful gently sloping beaches with soft sand and no sudden changes in depth. The coastline in Belek is clean and kept in perfect condition. Most of the beaches belong to luxury five-star hotels located on the first coastline.
Leisure activities in Belek can be organized according to any preferences. Tourists can practice water sports, visit The Land Of Legends water park or even stay in a theme hotel at the park. Another option is to go to the sites of the ancient cities of Aspendos and Perga.
The resort will be a perfect choice for travelers who are fond of breathtaking sea views. The length of Kemer's coastline is 60 kilometers, of which 30 kilometers are occupied by beaches, and the remaining 30 kilometers are covered by cliffs.
Local pebble beaches are comfortably located among the rocks on the background of mountain peaks. This region is ideal for those who prefer pebble beaches. Only a few Kemer hotels intentionally bring sand and cover their beaches with it.
Kemer has many accommodation facilities of the affordable segment: four- and three-star hotels, guest houses, apart-hotels, mini-hotels and villas. There are about 50 five-star hotels and the same number of hotels without official five stars, but not lower in terms of service to luxury hotels.
Holidays in Kemer are relatively inexpensive, there are a huge number of affordable accommodation facilities that provide travelers with services according to an All-Inclusive concept.
Kemer has an excellent tourist infrastructure. Travelers who choose this region can visit numerous restaurants, cafes and shops. Tourists can also visit the Dolusu Park water park, where they can try extreme water activities on water slides. Those who like excursions can go to archaeological sites, take a funicular to the famous mountain Tahtalı Dağı, the so-called Lycian Olympus, or visit the mysterious Chimaera Mountain.
Kiriş is a popular tourist area and district of a seaside resort of Kemer. It adjoins another neighborhood, Çamyuva, in fact it’s one and the same resort divided with a water channel.
The beaches in Kiriş are covered with small pebbles, there are no sharp stones here. The length of the beach line is about 5 kilometers. The coast is really picturesque: there are green forests, massive mountains and deep blue sea.
Kiriş is a place for elite holidays at the highest level. In Kiriş travelers will find such comfortable hotels as Asteria Fantasia De Luxe, Limak Limra Hotel & Resort, PGS Hotels Kiris, Queen's Park Le Jardin, Club Marco Polo, Simena Sun Club and others.
Kiriş has a very developed tourist infrastructure, where tourists can find many restaurants, cafes and shops. Travelers who prefer active leisure will certainly like the water park Dolusu Park located on the seashore. There are many exciting slides in the water park: a "Springboard" with a fall from a 7-meter height, a "Cyclops" with a sharp descent and ascent, a "Cave" with steep turns.
Side is one of the famous Mediterranean beach resorts. Every year, many tourists come here to enjoy the sea and the sun.
The beaches in Side are as good as the beaches of Belek or Marmaris. On the beaches of Side, tourists can enjoy the delicate sand with small admixtures of pebbles, smooth entry into the sea without sudden changes in depth and the purest blue water.
There are more than five hundred hotels in Side with different levels of service. Most of the hotels operate according to the All-Inclusive concept. Outside the hotel, the tourist infrastructure is not as well developed as in other resorts. But there are also some interesting places, for example, the Western Beach, where travelers can go for a walk.
This resort has an unusual underwater museum, in which more than a hundred of statues are installed under the water, and some exhibits reach a height of six meters. Tourists can go diving among these unusual underwater constructions. Those who prefer extreme entertainment should go rafting on a mountain river. A more restful entertainment can be an excursion to the ruins of the ancient city, where a large amphitheater and baths have been preserved.
Istanbul is the most important economic and cultural center of Turkey. It is one of the largest cities in the world, with a population of over 15 million people.
In previous centuries, the name of this city changed several times. Previously, Istanbul was called Byzantium and Constantinople. This magnificent megalopolis used to be the main city of the Roman, Eastern Roman (Byzantine) and Ottoman Empires.
In the time of Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Great Silk Road, the legendary trade road connecting the Mediterranean and East Asia, ran through Istanbul.
Istanbul combines features of European and Asian cultures. Here Byzantine churches are neighboring mosques, and strong fortresses are situated next to elegant palaces. There are many sights in Istanbul that are worth seeing, such as the Basilica Cistern, Golden Gate, Aqueduct of Valens, various parks, and bridges. Walking around Istanbul, it is worth visiting the old bazaars, such as Grand Bazaar, Arasta Bazaar and Spice Bazaar. These places have a unique atmosphere in which you can feel like a real time traveler.
Nowadays Turkey is one of the most important centers of world tourism. The tourist infrastructure of the resort areas of the country is developed at the highest level. A wide range of hotels in Turkey includes hotels for every taste and budget, which are perfect for absolutely all categories of travelers. There are both family hotels for people on vacation with children, and adult-only hotels for couples and newlyweds. Business travelers who combine leisure with solving business issues can choose city hotels or large hotels with conference rooms. Groups of friends who prefer noisy get-togethers can choose hotels near popular nightclubs.
The largest number of hotels is concentrated on resorts located on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea (such as Antalya, Belek, Alanya, Kemer, Side), the Aegean Sea (Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, Dalaman, Kusadasi) and the Black Sea (Amasra, Sinop, Samsun, Rize, Trabzon, Hopa).
Considering the average cost of services at popular Mediterranean resorts, Kemer and Alanya are the most budget-friendly areas. A more expensive, luxury vacation is offered to travelers in Belek.
Travelers who prefer a calm and relaxing holiday will like resorts such as Alanya, Antalya and Side. Young people and lovers of the most active entertainment traditionally prefer hotels in Kemer.