The many interesting facts about Turkey surprise most people, even those familiar with this secular country. With a population of roughly 85 million people and a historical timeline encompassing many civilisations and empires, Turkey cannot be stereotyped. From the basic history to the 21st century, there are diverse and fun things about this Muslim country. From the climate to the official language, the Turkish population, and more, modern-day Turkey is a beautiful country to fall in love with. So, let's see what fun, surprising facts there are to learn.
- The famous Turkish Delight prompted the idea for jelly beans. Turkish delight was invented in Constantinople for Ottoman sultans who craved sweetness after their meals. The sweet then went to Europe, who got the idea for jelly beans.
- Tea Versus Coffee: Turkey ranks fourth globally for tea consumption and exports millions of tonnes yearly. The government-owned tea producer Caykur in the Northeast Rize province produces the most tea, and Turks drink more tea than coffee.
- Turkey produces many hazelnuts that are exported worldwide. Trabzon City contributes much to the production, and the famous Nutella spread that people like includes hazelnuts from Turkey.
- The Anatolia area was an early wine-producing region. Today, over 140 wineries and vineyards across Turkey produce more than 8 million litres annually. Granted, Turkish wine isn't as famous as French wine, but wine lovers will enjoy exploring their options.
- In the 16th century, it was illegal to drink coffee. Coffeehouses had become associated with political activities, and the Ottoman sultan wanted to curb rebellious behaviour. Before that, if a man didn't supply his wife with coffee, she had legal grounds to divorce him.
- If you want to learn Turkish, know that the Turkish alphabet is phonetic, so words are pronounced the same way they read. There are no separate words for “he, she or it.” One word used for all.
- The longest Turkish word is Muvaffakiyetsizlestiricilestiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmissinizcesineyken, which has 74 letters. Loosely translated, it means “As though you are from those whom we may not be able to easily make into a maker of unsuccessful ones” Try saying it after you drink a few beers!
- On June 21, 1934, Turkey adopted the surname law. Before this, surnames weren’t used. Elderly family members choose a name that did not refer to foreign nations, cultures, traditions, or religions.
- Noah's Ark might have landed on a central plateau in Eastern Anatolia called Mount Ararat. In 1959, aerial photographs revealed unusual land markings, which increased interest. Historians and archaeologists have found wood and metal artefacts resembling the outline of a ship, but several counterparts say this is not proof enough.
- Most people assume the Battle of Troy was a mythological story, but that's not the case. Known as the site of the famous Troy wars, where soldiers secretly entered the city inside a wooden horse, the site in present-day Turkey now belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is a famous ancient site for tourists to visit.
- Two of the seven wonders of the ancient world were in Turkey: the temple of Artemis near the ancient ruins of Ephesus and the Bodrum mausoleum. Sadly, little remains, although parts of the mausoleum were taken to build the current-day Bodrum castle.
- The ancient kingdom of Lydia covered the current western coast, and they invented the first coins for trade.
- Also on Turkey’s western coast is ancient Pergamum, the first city to invent parchment paper.
- Julius Caesar was famous for saying, "Veni Vidi Vici," which means "I came, I saw, I conquered." This references his victory at the Zela battle, which is current-day Zile.
- Ottoman sultans ruled for over 400 years, but some practices were strange. For example, when an Ottoman sultan gained power, he would imprison his brothers so none of them could stage a coup. If he became a father to a son, then he could also execute the incarcerated brothers.
- The first female Turkish pilot was Sabiha Gokcen, who was 23. Born in 1913, she was the adopted daughter of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In 1937, she became a fully trained combat pilot.
- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first prime minister of the Turkish Republic, adopted 12 daughters and one son. He died in Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, and the clock in the room where he died stays at the exact time: 9.05 a.m.
- In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci wanted to build a bridge across the Bosporus in Istanbul. He submitted plans, but the Ottoman rulers never approved them. Today, three bridges cross the Bosporus, connecting Asia with Europe.
- Did you know that Santa Claus (Christian Saint Nicholas) was born in what is known as modern-day Patara? He then moved to Myra, currently called Demre, to become the bishop. There, he slid presents down the chimneys of poor people, hence his reputation. It was only Coca-Cola that commercialised his image, which is what we see today.
- Some people think Istanbul is Turkey’s capital, but it isn't. Ankara is. However, Istanbul is Turkey’s beating heart as the top destination for tourism, domestic and foreign house sales, as well as the economy, business, and finance. You would need a whole book to learn the facts about Istanbul, but here are a few quick facts to start.
- Istanbul is the world’s only city covering two continents. 95% is in Asia Minor, and 5% is in Europe. Most tourist attractions are in European Istanbul.
- Istanbul, previously called Constantinople, was built on seven hills to replicate Rome. Before the Ottomans conquered it, the Byzantine Empire ruled the city.
- Famous author Agatha Christine wrote her most famous novel, Murder on the Orient Express, at the Pera Palace Hotel. The hotel still operates today.
- There are 89,000 impressive mosques, of which 3000 are in Istanbul. Examples of beautiful mosques include the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Suleymaniye, and Ortakoy. These breathtaking mosques often appear in travel magazines and publications to symbolise the city.
- The Grand Bazaar shopping place dates from the 14th century. Ottomans grouped sellers according to the items they sold, so you will still find all jewellery shops and clothes bazaars together. The vibrant culture is ideal for souvenir shopping.
- The underground railway in Istanbul is the world’s second oldest.
- Many films and parts of films have been shot in Turkey. And why not? The beautiful and diverse landscapes present good background scenery, and the government welcomes filmmakers and producers. So, what are the connections with the big screen?
- If you hear about a film called Midnight Express, don't believe the background story. Midnight Express was a 1978 film about an American student jailed for smuggling drugs. The movie portrayed Turkey in a bad light. However, in 2004, the screenwriter Oliver Stone apologised for tampering with the truth and portraying Turks badly.
- Three James Bond films feature areas of Turkey: Skyfall, From Russia with Love, and The World Is Not Enough. Iconic places include the Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Maidens Tower, and the Grand Bazaar roof. Parts of Skyfall were filmed in Fethiye.
- Scenes from the film Taken 2, featuring Liam Neeson, were filmed in various neighbourhoods around Istanbul.
- The 2016 film Inferno, starring Tom Hanks, ends in the Hagia Sophia and, later, the Basilica cistern of Istanbul.
- The 2014 film The Water Diviner, starring Russell Crowe, was about a father's search for his three sons who were in the 1st world war, Battle of Canakkale.
- Everyone remembers the famous Nicholas Cage film Ghost Rider, which was shot in 2011. Some parts were filmed in the central Anatolian region of Cappadocia, famed for fairy chimneys and rock-carved churches.
- The central Cappadocia region housed early Christian populations. The three famous Cappadocia fathers came from here. Head to the Goreme open-air museum to see the early 4th-century churches and monasteries carved into rocks.
- Turkey’s Aegean coast is home to the seven churches of revelation, as mentioned in the New Testament. These churches were, in fact, cities, and two excellent ones to visit today are Izmir and Ephesus.
- On the rolling green hills above Ephesus is an old stone house managed by the Catholic Church that holds services. Although never verified, the church believes this to be where the Virgin Mary died, and nowadays, both Catholics and Muslims make pilgrimages to the house.
- The famous Artemis riots, as mentioned in the Bible, took place in the Ephesus Grand Theatre, which is these days, marvellously excavated and open for tours.
- Turkey has several different climate zones; hence, in certain months, the northeast snows, while people experience dry summers in the south. The Mediterranean climate is Turkey’s hottest, making this area the top beach holiday destination. Meanwhile, the central Anatolian plateau can experience harsh winters.
- Istanbul was the capital city of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires but when the new Turkish Republic was formed, they moved the capital for geographical reasons. The sea could easily penetrate Istanbul, whereas Ankara in central Turkey is landlocked.
- Four seas surround Turkey: the Aegean, Mediterranean, Marmara, and Black Seas. Turkish culture in each region is vastly different. The first two are home to coastal resorts that are popular holiday destinations during the summer months.
- Eight countries border Turkey, including Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
- Türkiye changed their name from Turkey in 2022 by applying to the United Nations. But in truth, the name never changed for Turks because that is always what they have called their country.
- The current Turkish Republic is younger than the United States. Up until the 20th century, it was part of the Ottoman Empire, and the Turkish Republic was only formed in 1923 after the War of Independence.
- The Turkish lira we see today is known as the new Turkish lira. Turkey changed its currency in 2005. Before then, it was possible to be a millionaire but still poor.
Seven Regions: You could explore Turkey for a lifetime, but still not fully understand this country since each official region has distinct cultures, traditions, and landmarks to celebrate. Learn in this article about each area and why it stands out on the regional map.
Beautiful Places to Visit: As one of the world’s top tourist destinations, Turkey speaks for itself when looking at beautiful places that make your jaw drop. From the rolling green plateaus of the northeast to the white calcium pools of Pamukkale and much more, this article introduces some bucket-list destinations to add to your knowledge of interesting facts about Turkey.