Glance at any picture postcard of the famous tourist region of Bodrum, and you will see the nostalgic white houses, with blue doors and windows, and flowing pink bougainvillaea tumbling down the walls. Yet, head away from the main town centre, and you will also find modern properties featuring the latest in architectural trends and often featured in home and architecture magazines.
On September the 1st, fishermen across Turkey eagerly donned their gear and boarded large trawlers to sail the seas after a five-month fishing ban finished. Marking the beginning of the fishing season. So, is now the right time to be eating fish in Turkey? It certainly is, and this is our insider guide on how to ensure the best catch of the day ends up on your plate.
Out of all the things Turkey is famous for, one of the most under-rated is its ice cream. In contrast to other industries, we are not talking about some fake, copycat dessert for sizzling summer days but real Turkish ice cream with the unique ingredients of milk, sugar, salep and mastic. Turkish ice cream is called Dondurma which is a literal translation to mean “freezing.”.
A year or so of poor performance for the Turkish Lira saw the currency become one of the most talked about on the planet - for all the wrong reasons. But in a remarkable reversal of fortunes, the rebounding lira is now opening up a world of opportunity for investors with a 15% gain against the Dollar this year. With analysts saying the only way is up, the lira potentially offers some of the highest returns of any currency in the world.
In our series about expat life in Turkey, we talk to real people in the country to get a realistic outlook and viewpoint on what living in Turkey is like. In this article, we talk with Natalie Sayin. She has lived in Turkey for 15 years, been married and divorced here, worked as a rep, estate agent and is now a location independent freelancer. We asked her to tell us more about her life in Turkey as an expat.
The vibes of a new destination are strangely enticing, but sometimes, we wish there were certain things we had known before. Whether it was how to save money, cultural mistakes, or recommended dishes to try, knowing the secrets of the locals before you step off the plane brings its benefits. With that in mind, for first-time visitors in Turkey, here are our tips to get you off to a good start.
Turkey is one of the top beach holiday destinations in the world, and rightly so. Just over 7,000 kilometres of pristine coastline that during summer become “must-visit” places for couples, friends, solo travellers and families have earned it this sought-after reputation. But can we guess your favourite beach in Turkey? Have a read and let us know if we have missed any of your top Turkish beaches out.
Last year wasn’t the best year for Turkey. Security worries kept tourists away, which meant tourist revenue fell drastically. This year, the tourists are returning - but the crowds still aren’t back to 2015 levels. Hoteliers and others in the tourism industry have lowered their prices to attract tourists, and with the low lira, it’s now cheaper than ever before to visit Turkey - but these conditions won’t last forever.
Living in Turkey as a foreigner, exposes you to cultural awareness but it also changes your outlook on life. The lifestyle that at first seems baffling and sometimes absurd slowly works its magic on you, and before you know it, your thoughts, mannerisms and actions extensively change to the point, where your Turkish friends insist you are no longer the yabanci (foreigner) but instead their half Turkish brother or sister.
Here’s the thing about visiting Turkey on holiday. It has an acute knack of drawing you in, and by the time, your departing flight leaves the tarmac, you are already planning your next trip back. While the country has a hardcore fan base of holidaymakers, some people also go one step further by packing their bags and moving here permanently - here are five places in Turkey that will have you never wanting to leave.
The broad spectrum and diversity of tourist attractions in Turkey have earned the country gushing admiration in travel guide books and fairs. From the weird and wonderful to historical or natural places of beauty, most are family friendly destinations, as well as favoured spots for independent travellers. Have a read of the ten best tourist attractions that anyone visiting Turkey just HAS to visit.
In 1981, locals of a small village called Faralya on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey enjoyed the scenic delights of a broad valley, formed by two rock formations and fronted by a pebbly beach. Due to the butterflies that breed there at certain times of the year, they called it Kelebek Vadesi, and when the Anatolia Tourism Development Cooperative, made an offer to buy it, a deal was signed. Enjoy our guide to visiting Butterfly Valley in Fethiye.
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