Tour operators say Turkey’s stable prices are attracting tourists from Germany and Russia who are opting out of Spanish holidays thanks to the high cost of package holidays. German and Russian tourist numbers have dipped over the past couple of years, but tour operators believe the visitors are returning, and that 2018 will mark a return to form for Turkey’s tourist industry.
Turkey is a large country with a wealth of beaches, cultural activities and historical sites. But if you’ve exhausted your local things-to-do list, take a trip to a neighbouring Greek Island. It’s easy and fast to take a ferry from Turkey to Greece, allowing you to take a day to explore, or stay overnight on beautiful islands like Kos, Lesbos, Rhodes or Chios.
Every year, Instagram reveals their top ten most photographed places in the world, and every year, Istanbul appears on the list. Locals and tourists Instagramming everything and anything in Istanbul isn’t unusual because not only is it the most populated place in Turkey, but also a top visited city break destination. Here are the most Instagrammable places to photograph while in Istanbul.
Anyone planning to visit the Mediterranean coast of Turkey will be pleasantly surprised with the full range of attractions in Antalya that are popular with young and old alike. Whether you want to explore the beauty of nature, delve into the history of the region or kick it up a notch by indulging in adrenaline-pumping sports, our favourite places in Antalya highlight the best things to do near and far.
Official Turkish government stats prove Antalya is popular, not only with foreign tourists but also Turks from around the country and expats. Antalya airport handles more than 18,000,000 million passengers every year, and copious more amounts of people come in via road and seaports. Sitting on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, Antalya is the second most popular holiday destination in the country after Istanbul.
As events go, this is certainly one of Turkey’s more unusual. Camels decked out in colourful outfits, wrestling each other until the “loser” screams, falls down or runs away. Marie Coggin, who lives in Bodrum, attends a local camel wrestling festival and reports back on the sights and sounds of this unique event.
The Turkish tourism industry has suffered lately, but one niche has stood out among the rest to become a winner generating millions in revenue. Despite a downturn in leisure tourists, such as beach lovers and history buffs, healthcare tourism in Turkey is booming, with many nationalities travelling to the country, for cosmetic and health procedures.
The travel and tourism industry has evolved immensely over the last twenty years. With various niches catering for every type of person, you will be hard pressed to find a hotel, destination, or attraction that doesn’t suit your needs and wants. One niche that has particularly taken off over the last ten years is halal travel. According to a report by Mastercard in 2016, the Muslim travel market is growing fast, and by 2020, more than 168 million Muslims will travel abroad for holidays.
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.
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.
Investment in Turkey's hotel industry is on the up - despite two less-than-stellar years of tourism. We explore Turkey's different tourist sectors and discover how hoteliers are diversifying their chances of gaining tourist income, as well as letting you in on the most favourable places to invest in a Turkish hotel.
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.
Fethiye, in southern Turkey, is the perfect example of a laid back seaside lifestyle. The backing Taurus mountain range and the calm, blue waters of the Mediterranean not only attract thousands of holidaymakers every year but also expats seeking to live out their days with copious amounts of sun, sea and sand. Away from the beaches, however, the attractions of Fethiye are equally as stunning and you will find them listed in this blog.
Bodrum on the Aegean coast of Turkey is a popular destination, for many foreign tourists. On the surface, it offers copious amounts of sun, sea, sand and any other requirement that constitutes the perfect holiday destination. Yet for many Turks, who know its history, and esteemed status, it seems like an alternative reality, marked with bohemian traits. Enjoy cultural things to do and see in Bodrum this summer.
The vast region of Fethiye on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey encompasses the main city centre and smaller holiday resorts like Calis Beach, Hisaronu, Ovacik and Oludeniz. As one of the top visited destinations in the country, everyone, whether young or old enjoys a full range of day trips from Fethiye, find the best available excursions in this blog.
Covering a huge geographical area, it's not surprising that Turkey's tourist attractions are not confined to the well known Antalya, Fethiye, Bodrum and Istanbul. It's only with a recent push by Turkey's tourism industry that travellers are now discovering the little-known areas and attractions scattered a round the country. Explore some of the growing areas of Turkey's tourist areas.
Upmarket Kalkan on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey has the distinct advantage of being close to many of the best tourist attractions and sites in the whole of the country. Holidaymakers and expats enjoy the best of both worlds, the wealth of day trips from Kalkan entertains everyone from the younger, more dynamic generations to the older, slow-paced adults.
Alanya, part of the Antalya region on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, is a key player on the tourism scene of the country. Attracting many nationalities including Brits, Russians and East Europeans, it is a buzzing city offering the best of shopping, nightlife and things to do. Have a read of our guide to things to see and do in Alanya this summer with your family.