Destination: Turkey
BLOGGED LOCATIONS
Turkey (Türkiye) is one of our favorite countries to visit. It is such a blend of culture, history, fun and food. If you want more of the hustle and bustle while still being able to visit antiquities, then visit Istanbul. If you want to get outdoors and enjoy the forests, beaches, seas and have more of relaxed stay, then head to the southern shores near Marmaris.
Turkey has a lot to offer for the price. Crime is low, the people are beautiful and have immense pride in the country, and for foreigners, it is a relatively inexpensive place to visit.
So whatever you feel like doing, Turkey has it to offer you.
Average costs in this area
Transportation
- Turkish Airlines is a great airline. The planes are new, modern and safe. The service that I have experienced onboard is usually superior to other western carriers. So check out their website for flights and wait for some great deals they periodically offer. There are a number of other airlines that service Turkey as well and if you are more on a budget then any airfare based website will give you options.
Istanbul airport has had a huge makeover. The airport is massive and it has been designed to not only be a hub for Turkey but a hub for Europe as well. Designer boutiques and good food can be found within.
Getting around Turkey usually means taking a bus or coach. They are comfortable, efficient and relatively inexpensive. You can of course organize a private van if you want to take you to most places. Around the cities, you can take buses, trams or simply walk and take in the views.
Accomodation - AirBNBs, hostels, hotels bot 2 star and 5 can be found everywhere. All tastes and budgets are catered for. At the more resort like places, you can get all inclusive stays catered for as well.
Food - 'Fresh' is the word that springs to mind. Salads are always with fresh lettuce, tomato, onion and the like. Its almost as though the kitchen has their own garden that they just plucked from, and a few of them actually do. Special shout out to the honey and the onions. Whaaaat? The Honey has a really unique flavor, I suspect it is due to the hives being placed in the many pine forests in the south. The pollen and natural environment contribute to the unique and yummy taste. As far as the white onions on the salad go, they seem to be milder without that sharp bite that gives you that onion breath for the rest of the day. You get good onion flavor without the 'heat'. Watermelon excellent. Yoghurt excellent. Fruit excellent. The fish is good too but can be surprisingly expensive in the main restaurants compared to other dishes. TIP: Avoid Italian dishes unless you are at a good restaurant known for them. I had a few spaghetti bolognaise dishes that resembled (and tasted) more like cat foot than their culinary compatriots found further west in Europe.
Suggested daily budget – Of course this depends on where you stay, what you do, and where you eat as it all makes a difference. We like to walk the streets to see the ‘real’ stuff going on and to call in at interesting street food vendors for lunch. If many locals eat at a place that means the food is usually good and inexpensive and you should eat there too. On days where we have more to see, we organize a guide (see below at the bottom of this page) to buy tickets, show us around, and tells us the stories. So, decide what you want to see and how long you have as there is always a tradeoff between time and money. Turkey however remains one of the most exotic, affordable, and safest places to visit in Europe.
TIps for first visit
1. Getting Around – What do you want to see or do? Is it going to be a cultural, culinary, or adrenaline junkie trip? How much time do you have? Organized tour for optimizing time, or do-it-yourself to optimize flexibility, or something in between?
2. Get tour and entrance passes – Doing your research in advance, gives you MANY benefits: Allows you to prioritize activities, allows you to know costs in advance for budgeting, and gives you some idea of time needed at each activity. When you know what you want to do, reserve a ticket in advance so that when you turn up you will not be turned away!
3. Check where the locals eat – PRO TIP: If you forgot to make a reservation then this holds true … walk a MINIMUM of THREE blocks away from a tourist attraction. If you still see restaurants with photos of food plastered along their fronts, keep on walking until you dont see them. When you dont see any ‘photo menus’, you have just entered the ‘local’ zone! The food here will be cheaper, better, fresher and you are more likely to meet locals than other tourists. Good food will sell by itself and doesnt need a photo to sell it. These restaurants without the ‘photo menus’ stay in business because the food is good and they want your repeat business, NOT because they have an endless supply of tourists coming through that they dont need to impress.
Do’s and don’ts
Be respectful and be kind. Learn some local lingo. Always remember that you are a GUEST in their country. You are in Turkey, so .. relax and watch this part of the world open up in front of you. Go for an early walk, have a coffee or sandwich at a corner cafe and people watch. Some of the best times are before and after the work day when you can see food being delivered to restaurants, linens being washed, families going off to activities. Sit, watch, and listen, its free and fun!
What you shouldn't do?
Be smart with your bags and gear. Cars get broken into in each country in the world and not just Italy so do advertise to would be car thieves. Carry just enough cash for a couple of days, and use your credit card for as many purchases as possible. Use the local ATM machines to get out more euros when you need them.
Hopefully the tips above will give you enough information to start your own planning. If you want to check out some of the locations we visited in Turkey and what we though of them, then click the [EXPLORE LOCATIONS] button below, or select a specific Turkish location from the list on the right.
