You might be forgiven for thinking Turkey as being the land of sunshine and beaches. But scratch the surface and the country's incredible history springs to life. Underground cities, atmospheric ruins and abandoned villages - they're all part of Turkey's varied and colourful past. These sites each have a story to tell. Whether you believe in spirits or paranormal phenomena or not, we think you'll find these spooky sites as intriguingly fascinating as we do.
With the advancement of technology over the few years and the introduction of the app store, information for all your daily living is just a push of a button or a click of a phone away. For expats who move to Turkey, you can find everything from helpful tips, tour guides, historical facts, currency convertors, leaving no question unanswered about life in another country. Here are some apps that every expat should use.
Heroes of the ancient world, gladiators were revered for their fighting prowess and physical strength. The gladiator graveyard at the ancient city of Ephesus continues to reveal the secrets of the lives of these legendary fighters, from their diet to the way they fought and died - and the results have been surprising, challenging what we thought we knew about gladiators.
From textiles to tomatoes, Turkey's largest city offers a wealth of bargains for keen shoppers. Istanbul is a shopper's paradise, with markets found in every corner of the city on every day of the week. There is truly something for everyone - even non-shoppers will enjoy sitting down with a cup of tea and watching locals and tourists sift through the piles of antiques, leather goods, brassware and produce. We give you the lowdown of the 10 very best markets.
One of the first things new visitors to Istanbul notice is that Cats are everywhere. In restaurants, cafes, schools, businesses - cats of all shapes and sizes and colours are found loitering, dozing and purring on whoever cares to show them some affection. We explore the history behind Istanbul’s enduring love for its feline residents.
There's plenty to like about living in Turkey. Moving away from home has its challenges, but it certainly has its rewards. From its colourful street vendors to its great customer service, here are the things that keep people coming back again and again - and even up stakes and moving to the country where east meets west.
The Turkish language is full of unusual proverbs. Some will be slightly familiar to English speakers as there are equivalents in our language. However, there are a number of proverbs that will leave you scratching your head. Once explained, however, most of them tend to resonate as proverbs are by and large the expression of common sense.
Kurban Bayram, or the Sacrificial Feast starts 70 days after the end of Ramadan. The four-and-a-half day festival is centered around family and community, and usually celebrated by slaughtering a goat or sheep and preparing a great feast. Read up on how Kurban Bayram will affect you if you're in Turkey - and what you can expect if you're taking part in a Kurban Bayram feast.
Negotiating is a way of life in Turkey. This comes as a shock to those of us who aren't familiar with a bargaining culture and are more used to paying fixed prices. However, by employing some of our handy tips and with a little practice, you should be an expert haggler in no time.
As a predominately Muslim country, people are often surprised to learn that Turkey has a historical timeline steeped in Christianity. The most abundant and obvious relics from that era are old churches, still standing in places like central Anatolian Cappadocia and Istanbul. Indeed one doesn’t have to look far to see the signs of Christianity’s history in Turkey, here you can read all about churches in Turkey.
The whens and how-muches of tipping -or baksis (baksheesh) - can be confusing to newcomers to Turkey - especially those of us who come from a non-tipping culture. Here is a breakdown of how to navigate Turkey's tipping culture. When to tip, how much and those times when a tip just is not appropriate at all.
Travelling to Turkey for the first time? Wondering what you’ll encounter? You don’t need to be the world’s most intrepid explorer to travel to Turkey, but there are still a few need-to-know things first-time travellers might not know. From what Turks eat for breakfast to how much to tip a waiter, we answer the most asked questions about travelling to Turkey.
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