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.

Capital city Ankara
Size 783.562 km²
Resident 80.819.525
Language turkish
Currency Turkish Lira
Time zone UTC+3
Phone area code +90

 

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).