Turkey borders Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Greece and Bulgaria. It is still a popular travel destination, although the risk of attacks and political despotism has increased in recent years. Rich in history and culture, Turkey offers an extraordinary variety of exciting destinations. See andyeducation.com for education in Turkey.
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Fast facts 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.
- St. Nicholas was bishop in Demre in Turkey.
- There have been repeated terrorist attacks in Turkey, especially since mid-2015.
- Information on the security situation 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
History of Turkey
- 6th to 8th century Köktürk kingdom.
- 11th century Turkish colonization of Anatolia begins with 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.
- 1920-22 War with Greece followed by ethnic cleansing in both countries.
- 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.
- The Kurdish conflict has dominated the domestic political debate in Turkey since the mid-1980s.
- 2016 coup attempt and subsequent harsh countermeasures by the government under Erdogan. Since then, Turkey has had a presidential system.
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
- Blue Mosque
- Bosphorus bridge
- Topkapi Palace
- Dolmabahce Palace
- 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.
- Lots of fresh vegetables, lamb and mutton used.
- 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).
- 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
- Olympos Beach, Cirali