Turkey Vacation Packages

Travel to Turkey

Straddling Europe and Asia, Turkey offers a canvas painted with the beauty of Istanbul’s Blue Mosque and the ancient ruins of Ephesus. Cruise the Bosphorus and taste the rich layers of baklava in a bustling Istanbul café. Turkey is a gateway to diverse civilizations, from the battlefields of Gallipoli to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. This country not only connects continents but also weaves together epochs of history with contemporary charm, making every visit a deep dive into its profound cultural heritage.

Discover Turkey

Geographically and culturally straddling both Asia and Europe, Türkiye is a destination of unparalleled diversity. Whether your idea of a perfect vacation is to visit ancient historic sites, discover a new culture, relax on a Mediterranean beach, dine on delicious cuisine or stroll through markets brimming with exotic ware, Türkiye delivers.

Geographically and culturally straddling both Asia and Europe, Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey) is a destination of unparalleled diversity. Whether your idea of a perfect vacation is to visit ancient historic sites, discover a new culture, relax on a Mediterranean beach, dine on delicious cuisine or stroll through markets brimming with exotic ware, Türkiye delivers.

Türkiye is a large peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is built on the Bosphorus seaway.

Istanbul is the starting place for most visits, and offers such a wealth of touristic sites and sights that “you’ll wish you had more time” should be the city’s official slogan. Istanbul flanks both sides of the Bosphorus, a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. With Asia on one side and Europe on the other, a cruise along the Bosphorus showcases the fascinating dual personality of the country.

From Istanbul, myriad locations beckon.

Head to one of the the hundreds of beaches that cover its immense coastline; The Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon is probably the most famous beach in all of Türkiye, and for good reason. Few places in the world match up to its natural beauty. Located in the south-west of Türkiye, bordered by the Aegean Sea, Bodrum is a perfect destination for beach lovers, gastronomy, scuba diving and wine. This incredible city, dedicated to relaxation and leisure, is also known as the Turkish Saint-Tropez.

Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Türkiye, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations. Other notable sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 300 foot-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.

Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey’s Central Aegean region. Its excavated remains reflect centuries of history, from classical Greece to the Roman Empire – when it was the Mediterranean’s main commercial center – to the spread of Christianity. Paved streets wind past squares, baths and monumental ruins. The Temple of Hadrian was built before 138 A.D. for Emperor Hadrian’s visit.

Whichever you choose, you will be awed by Türkiye, a country of contrasts.

People

Turkish history extends back thousands of years before the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Turks, originally a nomadic people from Central Asia, established several empires, including the Seljuk Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, which was founded in Anatolia by Turkish ruler Osman in 1299.

Language

Turkish is the national language of Türkiye, but English is widely spoken, particularly in the tourism sector.

History

Türkiye is home to one of the earliest settlements in the world. Built 8,800 years ago, Catal Hoyuk was a labyrinth of 150 mud homes joined together. There were no streets in between, so people had to enter the homes through holes in the roof!

About 4,000 years ago, the Hittites created an empire in the central part of what is now called Türkiye in Anatolia. They ruled for hundreds of years. The Trojan War took place when the Hittites were losing power. The ruins of the city of Troy are believed to be in the city of Hissarlik in Anatolia.

King Midas ruled western Turkey around 700 B.C. In 334 B.C., Alexander the Great took Anatolia under Macedonian Greek rule until Rome took over and Anatolia became part of Roman Asia Minor. In A.D. 330, Constantine became the Roman emperor and formed a new capital called Constantinople. After the fall of the Roman Empire it became part of the Byzantine Empire.

The city of Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453 and Türkiye became part of the Ottoman Empire. After World War I, the country was invaded by Greece, which led to the Turkish war of Independence in 1920, led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In 1923, the Turkish assembly declared Turkey a republic.

The city formally became Istanbul in 1923. Türkiye became a secular country, meaning there is a separation between religion and government. Women gained the right to vote in 1934.

Currency

Turkish lira is the official currency of Turkish lira.

Best Time to Travel

Turkiye is a year-round destination, but spring and fall seasons are the ideal times for visiting Turkiye. From early April to late May, temperatures are moderate. Similarly, September and October are perfect times for sightseeing, since the warmness of summer lingers on and popular spots are less crowded.

Health Requirements

No shots are required for entry to Turkiye.

Visa Requirements

To enter Turkiye, travelers must hold a passport that will be valid for at least 60 days after departure from Turkiye. Additionally, U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Turkiye. Asia Answers
recommends obtaining a visa online in advance of your trip. The link to get an eVisa online is https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/.
Visa on arrival in Turkiye is also possible, but lines and waits for processing can be long. The cost of either visa is 50usd, subject to change without notice.

Tipping & Porterage

Tips are generally modest in Turkey - a small percent of the price paid.
In restaurants, you usually cannot include the tip on a credit card charge. You should tip in local cash and, in most cases, hand the tip directly to the person who has served you.
A 10% tip to servers and bar staff is appropriate.
Tour guides should receive $20 per day from solo travelers or couples, and up to $40 per day from larger groups. Drivers should receive about half of this.
Porters should receive a tip of about $1-$2 per bag.
If you visit a Turkish baths or Hamam, at the end of your bath, all the attendants will line up to “bid you goodbye” and expect a tip. Share out among all of them about 15% of the total price of the
services you’ve used.

Credit Cards

American Express, Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, Cash is needed for shopping at markets, and for tips. US dollars can be readily exchanged for lira at banks and currency exchange
concessions.

Electrical Appliances

The electric system is 220-240 Volts. Plug sockets are usually round-pin European type.
For more information on plugs and voltage, please visit http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/

Water

Turkish tap water is safe to drink. However, heavy chlorination used to purify the water often makes the taste unpalatable.

Turkey