You are thinking about traveling to Turkey – that’s great! Turkey has a vast array of offerings that will appeal to all types of travelers. In Turkey you will encounter ancient history, modern cities, stunning coastline, rich culture, friendly people, outstanding food and so much more. This website is your go-to resource for information to…
Istanbul Eats
Istanbul has tons of eating options. Like any major city, some are outstanding and some are sub-par. If you are looking for good food, you generally want to avoid just walking into a restaurant in Sultanahmet. There are a handful of good spots in Sultanahmet, but many restaurants make up for their prime locations with…
Transportation in Istanbul
Although it is an ancient city with winding streets that don’t even come close to forming a grid, Istanbul is surprisingly easy to travel around. It’s easy to walk between many of the main tourist sites, and there are plenty of solid public transit options to use when your feet get tired.
Bursa
The fourth largest city in Turkey, Bursa has a ton to offer visitors and makes for a great weekend destination. Bursa’s location on a plane that stretches out in front of Mt Uludağ gave the city its nickname “the green city” and makes it a prime destination for skiing tourism in the winter months. Its…
Istanbul Orientation
I may be biased, but Istanbul is the most beautiful, unique, and mesmerizing city in the world. It is a city defined by its juxtapositions: the place where east meets west, ancient meets modern, tradition meets innovation. These contradictions have created a city full of life, history, culture, and intrigue unlike any other. It is impossible…
Istanbul Itineraries
These daily Istanbul itineraries describe a full week of activities in Istanbul. I have listed these out in my order of priority – if I only had three days in Istanbul I would do the itineraries for the first 3 days listed below, etc.
Istanbul sites and activities
You can easily spend a week or more as a tourist in Istanbul with all the fabulous things there are to see and do. This page discusses the major Istanbul sites and also highlights some popular activities. The good news is that many of the historic sites are clustered together which makes visiting several of the big guys in one…
Istanbul hotels
Most of Istanbul’s hotels are clustered around three primary areas: Sultanahmet, Taksim / Beyoğlu and the Bosphorus.
Istanbul museum pass
If you plan to spend several days in Istanbul and visit most of the major museums you may want to consider purchasing an Istanbul museum pass. The pass will give you free entry to most of the government-run museums in Istanbul and save you from waiting in long lines to buy tickets. You can buy a museum…
Ankara Sites and Activities
Ankara is the second largest city in Turkey with a population of nearly 5 million. Most Turkish travel websites and guidebooks do not devote nearly as much space to Ankara as I do here. Truthfully, it isn’t a tourist destination. It doesn’t have Istanbul’s beautiful Bosphorus or historic Ottoman landmarks, boasts none of the crazy…
General tips
These tips for visas, money, tipping, visiting mosques, dress, and safety will help you prepare for your trip to Turkey and let you know what to expect while you are in the country.
Suggested Itineraries
Turkey has a great deal to offer its visitors: a rich culture, history that spans from the dawn of civilization through to Greeks, Romans, Ottomans and modern-day Turks, diverse areas of geographical beauty, friendly people, and one of the world’s best cuisines. There is so much to see and experience in Turkey that narrowing down…