Turkey Travel Guide
Everything you need to know before you go — from Istanbul's domes to Cappadocia's dawn balloons.
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Overview
Turkey is a country that consistently surprises. Travelers who arrive expecting Ottoman history leave talking about Cappadocia. Those who come for the coast discover that Istanbul deserves twice the time they gave it. Those who plan a beach holiday find themselves standing in a Roman theatre wondering how they nearly missed Ephesus. The country has a rare quality: it rewards almost any travel style and almost any interest. Geographically, Turkey is vast — roughly the size of Texas and California combined — and diverse in a way that its neighbours are not. The western coast is Mediterranean in character, with olive groves, turquoise water, and ancient Greek and Roman ruins. Central Anatolia is a high plateau of dramatic volcanic landscapes. The Black Sea coast is green, forested, and almost entirely off the international tourist circuit. Istanbul anchors most itineraries and deserves to. It is one of perhaps five cities in the world that can legitimately claim to have shaped the course of human history, and its physical fabric — the skyline of domes and minarets, the Bosphorus dividing Europe from Asia — makes that claim tangible. The city is also entirely alive: a population of 15 million, a restaurant and music scene that extends through the night, and neighbourhoods that make it as interesting to walk as to visit in formal tourist mode. The best time to visit Istanbul and Ephesus is April through June and September through October. Cappadocia is extraordinary in every season. The Turquoise Coast is a summer destination — May through October — with the sailing season running June through September.
Top Attractions
Hagia Sophia
Built as a Christian cathedral in 537 AD under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, converted to a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453, secularised as a museum in 1934, and reconverted to a mosque in 2020. Non-Muslim visitors access the building via a dedicated tourist entrance on the northeast side — entry costs €25 and grants access to the upper floor gallery to view the Byzantine mosaics. The tourist gallery is open daily 09:00–19:00, with a closure on Fridays from 12:00–14:30 for Jumu'ah prayers.
Topkapi Palace
The administrative heart of the Ottoman Empire for four centuries. The palace complex contains the Imperial Harem, the treasury (including the Topkapi Dagger), and a collection of Islamic relics. The views from the fourth courtyard over the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn are among the best in Istanbul.
Cappadocia Balloons
Approximately 150 balloons lift off over the valleys of Cappadocia on clear mornings — the most concentrated hot air balloon operation in the world. Flights last approximately one hour. The experience — the silence, the light, the fairy chimneys below — is consistently cited by travelers as among the most memorable things they have ever done. Book well in advance; ARTA books these at itinerary stage.
The Grand Bazaar
One of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, operating on the same site since 1461 with over 4,000 shops across 61 covered streets. It trades in gold, carpets, ceramics, leather, and spices. Navigating it without a destination in mind, stopping for tea in the internal cafes, is one of Istanbul's great pleasures.
Pamukkale
A natural thermal spring that has deposited calcium carbonate over the hillside for millennia, creating white terraced pools that look from a distance like a snow-covered cliff. Visitors can walk and bathe in designated sections. Above the travertines lies ancient Hierapolis, a Greco-Roman spa city.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Built between 1609 and 1616, the Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. Its interior is covered with over 20,000 İznik tiles in blues and greens. It faces Hagia Sophia across the Hippodrome — the two buildings together encapsulate 1,400 years of Istanbul's religious history within a five-minute walk.
Local Culture & Cuisine
Turkish hospitality is genuine and consistent. Tea — çay, served in small tulip-shaped glasses, black and without milk — is offered in carpet shops, hardware stores, and government offices with equal frequency. Accepting it commits you to nothing; refusing is mildly impolite. Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) is one of the great meals of the world — a spread of white cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, kaymak, fresh bread, and multiple varieties of jam, served with unlimited tea. In Istanbul and tourist regions, this is a leisurely event that can last two hours. The kebab in Turkey is a broad category: döner, şiş, Adana, and İskender are all distinct dishes. Street food staples include simit (sesame bread rings), balık ekmek (grilled fish sandwiches at the Galata Bridge), and midye dolma (mussels stuffed with spiced rice). Turkey is a secular state with a Muslim majority. Istanbul and the Aegean coast are relaxed in approach. Central Anatolia and eastern Turkey are more conservative. Dress modestly when entering mosques — remove shoes, cover hair (women), shoulders and knees covered. Bargaining is expected in bazaars and for carpet purchases; not in restaurants or metered taxis.
Practical Information
- Visa
- Most nationalities require a Turkish e-Visa, obtainable online before travel at evisa.gov.tr — the only official government portal. Do not use third-party sites. UAE residents holding some passport nationalities may require a consulate sticker visa rather than an e-Visa if they do not also hold a valid US, UK, Schengen, or Ireland visa. ARTA confirms e-Visa eligibility per passport at time of booking.
- Currency
- Turkish Lira (TRY). The lira has experienced significant inflation and depreciation in recent years — confirm current exchange rates before travel. US dollars and euros are accepted at many tourist establishments. ATMs are widely available.
- Language
- Turkish. English is widely spoken in Istanbul, Cappadocia, and coastal tourist areas.
- Getting Around
- Domestic flights between Istanbul, Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir), Izmir, Bodrum, and Antalya are frequent and inexpensive. Istanbul's T1 tram line connects the historic peninsula sites efficiently. ARTA arranges all transfers and domestic connections.
- Best Time to Visit
- April–June and September–October for Istanbul and historical sites. June–September for the Turquoise Coast. Cappadocia year-round.
- Safety
Suggested Itineraries
3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Historic peninsula — Hagia Sophia upper gallery, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace. Day 2: Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus ferry to Asian side (Kadıköy). Day 3: Beyoğlu, Galata Tower, İstiklal Street, departure.
7-Day Itinerary
Day 1–3: Istanbul — historic peninsula, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus, Beyoğlu. Day 4: Fly to Cappadocia — afternoon Rose Valley walk, cave hotel check-in. Day 5: Hot air balloon at dawn, Göreme Open Air Museum, Derinkuyu underground city. Day 6: Fly to Izmir — transfer to Selçuk or Kuşadası. Day 7: Ephesus full day, House of the Virgin Mary. Return to Istanbul or fly home from Izmir.
Travel Tips
- Book Cappadocia balloon flights as early as possible — reputable operators fill months ahead in spring and autumn. ARTA books these at itinerary stage.
- Hagia Sophia upper gallery costs €25 for non-Muslim visitors and closes Fridays 12:00–14:30. Plan your visit accordingly.
- Walk the historic peninsula rather than taking taxis — Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi, and the Grand Bazaar are all within 15 minutes on foot.
- Ephesus is best visited early morning before tour groups arrive from cruise ships at Kuşadası.
- Apply for your e-Visa at evisa.gov.tr only — before travel, not on arrival. Confirm eligibility for your specific passport nationality with ARTA.
- Turkish carpets are a genuine artisanal tradition — ask your guide to explain the difference between hand-knotted and machine-made before entering the Grand Bazaar.
- Carry small change in Turkish Lira for mosque donations, minor entrance fees, and street food.
- Tipping in restaurants is 10–15% and appreciated but not mandatory.
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