Travel quotes
Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. Benjamin Disraeli
In America there are two classes of travel - first class, and with children. Robert Benchley
Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. Mason Cooley
The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." Daniel J. Boorstin
There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror. Orson Welles
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Turkey : When and where to go ?
Click on a city for complete climate and weather tables
| Town | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Istanbul |  | | | |  | | | | |  | | |
| Ankara |  | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kars | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Izmir | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bodrum | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Antalya | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
Turkey : Maps and Facts
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The climate in Turkey is influenced by its eastern location and by the sea that surrounds it. Summers are very hot and humid in some areas. As soon as one moves away from the sea, temperatures can be scorching. At altitude, however, the nights are cool. On the Black Sea Coast, the climate is almost tropical in some respects and the vegetation is very dense. |
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What to do in Turkey
Straddling the two continents, Europe and Asia, Turkey goes well beyond the clichés expected by many tourists: It is a multi-faceted country with likeable people; it will appeal to you in many ways.
Istanbul, vibrant and dynamic, modern yet rich in history, it will take you into another world: St. Sophia’s Cathedral, the famous Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, these are obviously all places you should visit. Do not miss one of the many excursions available on the Bosphorus with its beautiful shoreline. The west coast, bordered by the Aegean Sea, is totally dedicated to tourism, and you will find beautiful beaches there and famous places with many vestiges of antiquity such as Ephesus, Troy and Bergama. Another region to discover is Cappadocia and its high plateaus, located at more than one thousand meters of altitude, its caves and canyons and its troglodyte villages and cave churches. The Lycie coast at the south will satisfy those who appreciate coves and turquoise waters, there are also ancient ruins to discover in the beautiful hilly landscapes. In the centre of the country, high up, is the city of Konya, with its beautiful mosques and a museum dedicated to the whirling dervishes; the Mevlâna Museum. |
Turkey : The basics
Many airlines fly to Turkey departing from several European capitals.
A visa is not required for the majority of European citizens. The currency in circulation since 2009 is the Turkish lira. The required budget is fairly low: Less than €40 for an average double room (a little more in Istanbul), and less than €15 for a decent meal. Do not forget to include the entrance fees for museums and other sites you may wish to visit which can be quite expensive. In relation to health, avoid drinking tap water and eating seafood and vegetables. Protect yourself from the sun. For transportation within the country, the bus is widely used and quite cheap for long journeys, minibuses are more convenient for shorter journeys. A rental car is ideal for exploring the whole country but is quite expensive. In town, taxis are quite numerous and affordable. |
Towns in Turkey
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• Ankara
Capital of Turkey, Ankara has about 4 million inhabitants.
Very old origin, however it became a modern city, very green, which combines several architectures are quite different.
One of its strengths is the Byzantine citadel overlooking the city from the top of the hill where it is located: you can stroll through its streets, where you will experience a change of scenery, contrasting with the very atmosphere of the modern city.
There are also several Roman ruins in Ankara, including those of the Temple of Augustus, those of the Roman bath, and the Column of Julian. Do not miss visiting the mausoleum of Ataturk, who founded the Turkish Republic, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations for its unique collection of prehistoric art. The Ethnographic Museum is also very interesting and you will discover life in the Ottoman era.
Two mosques are also worth a detour: Haci Bayram Mosque, restored in the 16th century and decorated with tiles of Kutahya, and Aslanhane Mosque, dating from the 13th century, with its portal decorated with stalactites and turquoise colors.
Traffic in Ankara is hellish enough, so you have to gain by bus or local taxi, inexpensive and easy to find.
City of Turkey, Kars has a particularly harsh environment due to its high altitude. Influenced by many cultures, Russian, Turkish, Armenian and Caucasian, who crossed its history over the centuries, its diverse architecture is reflected in very different buildings.
You admire its 13th century castle, the Church of the Apostles of the 10th century converted into a mosque today, but especially the archaeological site of ANI, the ancient capital of Armenia, situated on the Silk Road, in wild landscapes and sublime, forty kilometers from the city, which remains some religious buildings such as the Church of the Redeemer from the 11th century, the cathedral of the 10th century, or fortress, whose windows open onto a breathtaking panorama.
You will find some hotels in Kars, but a day probably will be enough to go around the city.
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• Bodrum
Port in southwestern Turkey, Bodrum was built by the Greeks. It now has about 90,000 inhabitants, but its population increased tenfold in the summer: it is indeed a very popular tourist center, both by tourists from abroad by residents of Istanbul.
Several monuments worth visiting: the Castle of St. Peter, built in the 15th century, and its famous Museum of Underwater Archaeology, the Ancient Theatre with its gigantic magnificent views over the city, the public garden in which the old shipyard, and the excavations of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the world, and those of the Temple of Mars.
But you'll also enjoy the city for its nightlife, numerous beaches, trendy restaurants, various shops, especially jewelers, and nightclubs, making it a place young and dynamic, popular with the younger generation. Its idyllic location between hills and turquoise sea, white houses on the slopes to the shore, still add to its charm.
You'll have no trouble getting them to stay, the hotel park is important and good quality.
Tourist capital of the Turkish Mediterranean coast, also called Turkish Riviera, Antalya has about 800,000 inhabitants. Its old town is built against a limestone cliff overlooking the harbor, and the Taurus mountain ranges surrounding it, forming a beautiful landscape. It dates back 150 years before Jesus Christ, and has never ceased to be inhabited since that time.
City sunny all year round, it offers a pleasant climate even in summer thanks to sea breezes that cool the atmosphere.
You can visit the temple of Apollo, dating from Roman times, or the construction of the city, the gateway to Hadrian's all marble, the mosque and its minaret Yivli peculiar striated grooves, the ruins of an ancient church dating from the 6th century 7th century converted into a mosque, but also near the archaeological site of the ancient city of Phaselis.
The Old Port is also worth visiting, as well as the City Park and its botanical garden where you can admire a beautiful panorama. Remember to also discover the Museum and its collections of antiquities, statues and its ethnographic section.
From beautiful beaches will welcome you to the west, for pleasant moments of relaxation.
