The Turkey

Turkey borders Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Greece and Bulgaria. It is considered a popular travel destination. Rich in history and culture, Turkey offers an extraordinary variety of exciting destinations.

Interesting to know

• It was Turkey that brought the tulips to Europe.
• Istanbul is the only city with a population of over a million that lies on two continents.
• Turkey has 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Troy is located in what is now Turkey.
• Turkey is considered the father of coffee.
• Only 3% of Turkey is on the European continent
• 99 percent of the residents are Muslims.
• The Turkish identity card is pink for women and blue for men.
• Nicholas was bishop in Demre in Turkey.
• Germans can enter with an identity card and passport, the German driving license is valid.
• Turkey is particularly popular with package holidaymakers for beach holidays. Tetanus, measles or hepatitis A and B are among the recommended vaccinations.

Exciting cities in Turkey

• Istanbul
• Bodrum
• Antalya
• Ankara
• Marmaris
• Fethiye
• Alanya
• Pamukkale
• Izmir
• Bozcaada
• Kas
• Mardin
• Side
• Alacati

History of Turkey

• 6th to 8th century Köktürk kingdom
• Century Turkish settlement of Anatolia begins by the Seljuks
• 1299 Beginning of the Ottoman Empire
• 1920 Peace Treaty of Sèvres means the end of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey is to be dismembered, but is not implemented
• In 1923, with the Treaty of Lausanne, the borders of today's Turkey were defined under international law
• 1923 Proclamation of the republic
• Largely neutral in World War II
• One of the 51 founding members of the United Nations
• 1952 Joined NATO
• 1980 military coup
• 1982 The constitution of the Republic of Turkey, presented by the military and still valid today, is adopted by a referendum

Particularly scenic

• Mountains in Adana
• Turkish riviera
• Tea plantations in Rize
• Erciyes Dagi volcano in Kayseri in winter
• Blue Lagoon in Oludeniz
• Yerkopru Waterfall in Mut, Mardin
• Mount Ararat on the border with Armenia
• Cappadocia
• Olympos Beach, Cirali

Climate & travel weather in Turkey

• Marmara region: maritime climate (hot summers, snowy winters).
• Black Sea region: oceanic climate (humid-warm summer, humid-temperate winter).
• Aegean Region: Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers, mild winters).
• Mediterranean region: subtropical climate (very hot summers, very mild winters).
• Anatolia: continental climate (hot, dry summers, very cold, very snowy winters).

Recommended travel time:

• Suitable for travel all year round.
• Skiing in the mountains: Dec to April.
• Southern Regions: Spring & Autumn.

Ideas for trips in Turkey

• Rock world Cappadocia
• Ruins of Ephesus and the Library of Celsus
• Limestone terraces of Pamukkale, rock tombs of Myra, statues of gods by Nemrut Dagi, ancient ruins of Xanthos
• Istanbul: Blue Mosque, Bosphorus Bridge, Topkapi Palace
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Pergamum
• Hagia Sophia (Wonder of the World Candidate 2007), Amphitheater of Aspendos
• Sumela Monastery
• Pertek island fortress in the Keban reservoir

Eating& Drinking in Turkey

• Influenced by Indian, Persian and Arabic cuisine. Similarities with oriental and Greek cuisine, which uses a lot of fresh vegetables, lamb and mutton.
• Aromatically seasoned.
• Elaborate and time-consuming preparation of the dishes.
• Breakfast usually simply with feta cheese, olives, jam, white bread. Lunch is eaten lightly.
• You take a lot of time for the evening meal. Highlight: cold starters (Mezeler).
• Favorite Meat: Lamb, Mutton, Poultry, Beef. Soups come in many varieties, mostly eaten at lunchtime.
• Salads are usually served with a marinade of olive oil and lemon juice. Flatbread or white bread is often served as a side dish, otherwise rice or bulgur are common.
• Desserts mostly very sweet.
• Popular drinks: black tea or coffee. Unofficial national drink: aniseed liquor raki.
• Non-alcoholic soft drink based on yoghurt: Ayran. Water is usually drunk non-carbonated.
• Local wines: Doluca, Kavaklidere.
• Typical dishes:

• Turlu (vegetable stew)
• Shepherd's salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, feta cheese, onions). Ahtapot salatasi (squid rings in oil with green olives).
• Arnavut cigeri (fried, cold pieces of liver with onions).
• Iskender kebap (kebab slices on flatbread with yoghurt, doused with butter).
• Karni yarik (aubergines stuffed with onions and minced meat).
• Kebaps (grilled, seasoned meat, thinly sliced). Kofte (spicy lamb or beef meatballs).
• Biber dolmasi (peppers stuffed with minced meat and rice). Iç pilav (rice dish with raisins, liver and peas).
• Iskembe corbasi (tripe soup).
• Manti (ravioli with garlic yoghurt and fresh mint leaves).
• Sis kebabi (tender pieces of lamb grilled with tomatoes, onions and peppers).
• Baklava (sweet dish made from puff pastry with pistachios, nuts). Halva (sweet made from sesame oil and sugar).