Culture

Considered as one of the finest resort towns in Turkey, Aegean Alacati certainly lives up to its name. With its tastefully restored Greek houses, colourful streets and wonderful cuisine, Alacati simply has to top your 'to see' list. Property supply is limited yet there are fine renovated stone houses for sale in Alacati that will give any Tuscan property a good run for its money, certainly in terms of affordability. 

Istanbul is crammed with quality free sites. You can feast your eyes on free art, or sit in a square and enjoy free music. You can explore parks where tulips nod in their thousands, or gaze upon Ottoman mosques, palaces or mansions. You can learn about a city’s history, or step inside the home of one of its most famous inhabitants. From museums to beaches, we have compiled a list of the very best cultural, historical and leisure attractions available to all in the city.

There are thousands of expats living in Turkey - from the charming beach resorts in Bodrum, to the busy city life in Istanbul, to the sweeping town of Kalkan, it seems as though those who move to Turkey just can't get enough - some going so far as to write down their thoughts on life in the country in the form of blogs that have became credible sources of information for those thinking of joining the trend by moving to Turkey. We bring you the top 10 Turkish blogs by expats. 

The gateway between the Middle East and Europe, a vast and diverse country, Turkey stands at a crossroads of cultures and traditions solidified over hundreds of years of different empires and influences resulting in a huge variety of customs and local traditions that you should be aware of depending on where abouts in the country you find yourself. Highlighting the key differences between Turkey and what you come to expect as the norm back home, we blog to make your move to Turkey easier, your purchase of a house smoother, and your transition into life in Turkey a seamless and easy process. Think we have missed something from our list? Comment and let us know your experiences of culture in Turkey. 

A country so diverse and widespread, Turkey hosts over a thousand festivals every year - giving you a wealth of options to explore and embrace some Turkish culture while you are here. As expected, summer is prime festival season. While cosmopolitan Istanbul is the cultural centre of it all with several hundred festivals in the city alone, you can also venture out to destinations in Cappadocia or the sunny Aegean coast for a range of festivals and sunny delights to enjoy. We’ve narrowed down the list of options to give you our highlights of what to expect and what to put on your list to visit this summer. From live improvised jazz, oiled-up men wrestling like gladiators, and fun activities - these are just a few offerings in a mixed lineup of events

Planning a trip to Fethiye anytime soon? Make sure you do not miss out on the Nomadic Museum, dedicated to the Yoruks. Local Turk, Enver Yalcin realised the importance of the historical nomadic tribes of this region in Turkey and decided not to let their rich culture go unnoticed by the tourists and travellers who come to this part of the world. He developed the first museum of nomads in Turkey, with particular homage to the Yoruk nomads of his native Fethiye area. You won’t want to miss this important cultural time capsule if you are in the Fethiye region - a must see for anyone who appreciates history.

Turkey's largest city, Istanbul is home to many gems and beautiful sites that attract millions every year to the city. However, not many are as grand as Topkapi Palace - designed and built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1459 and completed some six years later, the palace, when it was completed, was surrounded by five kilometres of walls and occupied an area of 700,000 square metres - a stunning site back then, and still today. Any visit to Istanbul is an empty visit unless you take in the breathtaking Topkapi Palace. Here is our total guide to getting the most out of your visit. 

Are you an expat, traveller, or tourist in Turkey looking for things to do or see while on this side of the world? In this blog we give you our top hobbies and activities to undertake whilst in Turkey - some that might be obvious, some not so. A large percentage of foreigners in Turkey are either retired or cannot work legally in the country for one reason or another, so what do you do with your time if this is the scenario you find yourself in? At some point, dreams of sitting by the pool, basking in the sun while sipping on a glass of wine soon become monotonous. Find out how to keep yourself entertained here. 

Anyone who has been to Turkey will know one thing - Turks know how to cook, and cook well. From authentic Turkish dishes to extravagant modern twists in cuisine, food in Turkey whets the appetite as much as any dish from around the world. In this blog we present our top five Turkish food tours in Istanbul, as well as a range of different places where you can try your hand at learning how to cook in Istanbul and prepare your very own Turkish dishes. Put your chef hat on and prepare to feel very hungry, an empty stomach is not advised when reading this. 

Taking a look at Turkey's weird and wonderful, here are 11 travel destinations you might not have heard of, but are definitely more than worth a visit when in Turkey. From the spooky, to the weird, to the wonderful, there are many Turkish gems to gaze upon or experience in this vast nation. With many historic and ancient monuments, there was bound to be some with more than just a back story that attracts the tourists every year. Before you read, write down some of the weird destinations you know in Turkey or have experienced first hand when in Turkey and see if your list matches up with ours - or if we have left anything out! Let us know. 

A tradition dating back more than 300 years, Turkish Hamams are found all over the country and enjoyed by millions of people every year. Offering the ultimate in relaxation and an intimate experience in bathing, the Turkish bath has historically been not only a place to cleanse and ease muscle pain, but a core nucleus to social life in Turkey - a place where political opinions were aired, news is shared, and more. A trip to Turkey without experiencing the pleasure of the Hamam would be a trip wasted. A guide to Turkish Hamams and what makes these amazing baths just that - amazing. 

Being neighbouring countries, and with such a rich and intertwined history between the two, you are bound to see Turkish influences on Greek lifestyle, monuments and buildings, and vice versa with Greek influences in Turkish way of life, houses and culture. In this blog, we take a deep look into the influence Greece has had on the formation of two of Turkey's most loved regions - Bodrum and Kayakoy in particular. Stretching all the way back to the Ottoman Empire and beyond, you just might be surprised at what we have managed to dig up from the past in this fascinating read on the historical guidance that came to shape Turkey today.