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Turkey: Background and travel essentials

It was in Turkey that Julius Caesar uttered the immortal words "I came, I saw, I conquered". These days it seems like Turkey is being conquered mostly by tourists, especially on the Aegean coast. Turkey is a vast country larger that Spain and France and it is more than possible to escape the tourists hoards if you head off the beaten track. Sandwiched between Europe on one side and the Middle East and Asia on the other, Turkey is a vast country with a population of 60 million people, most of them Muslim.

Turkey is the home of the world's oldest city Catal Hoyuk, and it is a nation know for history, classical civilisation, and captivating arts. The mystic of Turkish harems and oriental luxury are far from the reality of Turkey which is a welcoming land, far removed from the "terrible Turk" of ancient warfaring legend. It is becoming increasing modern, with great food and plenty of attractions and things to do.

Istanbul at dusk

Turkey is the true meeting point of east meets west, with half of the country lying in Europe, the other half in Asia. The capital of Istanbul lies on this geographic line. The city has a fantastically rich history: it was once the capital of the entire civilised world. It is considered the capital of the East and linked to Europe with the Orient Express in 1883. It's been called Byzantium and Constantinople in the past. There is no better place than Istanbul to explore the mysteries of the Orient. No longer Turkey's capital, it is still a fascinating city. The European part is the main city and forms the South Eastern tip of Europe. Its separated from its suburbs in Asia by the Bosphorous strait; and is itself cut in half by the Golden Horn inlet with the old city on the South bank and the new on the north. 12 million of Turkey 60 million poplation live in Istanbul. Most are Sunni Turks, but it's a secular country and a rich melting pot of East and West.

You can pack a huge variety of things into a trip to Turkey, from visiting archaeological splendour ruins, mountain treks, clubbing and package sun holidays, and water sports.

Climate

Turkey isn't just about deserts and palms, it's varied terrain's include icy mountains, rich green valleys, and rolling hills and river rapids. Temperature range from 110F around the Mediterranean coast and black sea in the summer down to 0F and a humid climate in the eastern regions during the winter. The climate in Istanbul is mild, rarely falling below 2C in the winter and exceeding 30C in the height of summer. June is the warmest, driest month, but beware winter when smog and humidity in the capital are unbearable.

The best times to visit Turkey are April to June or September to October when it's a little cooler and you can avoid the summer tourist crushes.

People

The Turks are a population of 60million, around the same as Britain, but in a vast land 500,000 miles square. Most are Sunni Muslim Turks, but Turkey is home to a large Kurdish population who speak their own language and a small minority of Jews and Armenians, most of which are either Sunni or Sh'ite Muslim.

Language

The national language is Turkish, a very unique and individual language group thought to be descended from Finnish and Hungarian. In tourist areas you can expect to find some people who can or will try and speak European languages, especially English but also German, French, Danish or Dutch. The Turkish people are really good with languages and very friendly. If they don't speak your language they are willing to go next door to the next shop so they can get their friend who does speak English to help you out.

Travel

Turks love travelling, and public transport is fairly sophisticated. Internal air flights courtesy of Turkish Airlines connect all the major cities. Trains are more limited but buses are great and travel nearly everywhere, and cheaply.

Dress

99% of the population are Muslim, so women should try to cover arms and legs and men to dress modestly. Bring plenty of cottons and natural fibre fabrics to counteract the heat.

Cash

The local currency is the Turkish Lirl (TL) divided into 100 kurus, but inflation has made this small unit virtually obsolete. Exchange rates vary so check with your local bureau prior to travel.

$1 US = approv 1.3 million TL
1 Euro = 1.1 million TL
£1 = approx 1.6 million TL

Exchange rate for Turkey fluctuates dramatically. Check with your local currency exchange bureau for up to date currency information.

The best place to change money in Istanbul is in the back streets across the road from Aya Sophia mosque where you can haggle money rates on larger sums.

Also look for the sign “Doviz”, an exchange shop. There you will find the best money changing rates and there is no commission charge. It’s often better to trade in US $ dollars or other western currency as the Turkish Lira is notoriously unstable and raw goods and western money have a higher street value.

Visas

Citizens of most countries can enter Turkey on a valid passport without visa for up to 3 months. Great Britain and USA citizens however must get a visa sticker upon entry for $20.

Accommodation

Budget hotels have dormitory beds for around 6/8 US dollars per night, and private rooms are priced around 25/40 dollars.

Pilot Guides recommend:

Istanbul
Hotel Pera Palace
Tel: 212 251 45 60
www.perapalace.com

Canakkale
Hotel Akol
Tel: 286 217 9456
www.hotelakol.com

Edirne
Hotel Efe
Tel: 284 213 6166
www.efehotel.com