The best travel recommendations come from locals. Check out these Wonderguides from Turkey by locals sharing their travel tips and hidden gems.
The most popular experiences from our users visiting Turkey.
Discover the best experiences, tours, activites and excursions in Turkey in one place. Read articles, travel tips and guidebooks from locals.
Turkey is one of the few transcontinental countries in the world, acting as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Although Istanbul is the country’s most well-known city, it is not the capital. The capital is Ankara, which is the second largest city after Istanbul, with nearly 5.5 million people.
Its unique geographical position played a huge part in shaping the country’s history and culture. Turkey was once home to a number of prominent empires including the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Modern Turkey was founded in 1923. Although not a member of the EU, Turkey has close ties to the union and talks of membership have been circulating for years.
Turkey is a fascinating country, one that has been shaped largely by its location as a transcontinental country. This strategic location between Europe and Asia has allowed the country to develop an incredibly unique culture with influences from various civilizations that once occupied the land. The cultural and historical aspects make it an attractive destination for many, as does the cuisine. Surrounded by three seas, the country is far from lacking in beaches, which is just another reason to choose Turkey for a vacation. Turkey has also allowed gained notoriety for being one of the best places to take a hot air balloon ride.
An entire trip could be spent roaming through Istanbul, the country’s most notable city. Attractions include majestic mosques, churches and palaces including the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapı Palace. Although you could find enough to do in Istanbul, you won’t be disappointed with other parts of the country like Cappadocia, a region known for its peculiar rock formations, which can best be seen from above in a hot air balloon. Given that Turkey is surrounded by three different seas, it’s no surprise that the country has a plethora of gorgeous beaches. A few popular coastal destinations include Fethiye, Antalya and Kaş.
High season is roughly from April to October when the weather is pleasant throughout the country. Bear in mind that from June to August the temperature can get unbearably hot and the beaches overcrowded. The time leading up to and just after the high season is a great time to save a bit of money and avoid flocks of tourists.