Whether you’re here to immerse yourself into the busy bazaars of Istanbul or to sun yourself on the southern coast, you’ll find a rewarding vacation in Turkey. Few countries contain as much variety and ancient history, fusing east and west.
Istanbul not Constantinople
Istanbul’s history is rich and eventful. This huge city has fallen to the Byzantines, the Romans and the Ottomans and all have left indelible traces – even when they’ve tried to erase the former tenant’s glories. Here you can haggle in bazaars for local crafts, clothes and spices, gasp in awe at the dome of the Aya Sofya, or wonder at the six minarets of the Blue Mosque.
The Black Sea Coast
While many visitors flock to the sunny south, there are treasures to be discovered along the northern coast. You’ll find evergreen forests hiding ancient churches and harbor towns that played their own role in history.
Head for the pretty town of Sinop with its cafes and fish restaurants, and make a beeline for the wonderful monastery at Sumela. It perches precipitously on a cliff-face, and while most of the remains date from the 12th and 13th centuries, work started here on this site in the 4th or 5th.
The Turquoise Coast
The golden beaches and scorching sunshine are, undoubtedly, key parts of Turkey’s allure. The Turquoise Coast, west of Antalya, is, for the most part, unspoiled and undeveloped, meaning you can drive along it and find quiet coves and deserted beaches, or seek out the resorts if you want a livelier time.
The sea doesn’t disappoint and is a tempting blue all along the coast, giving the area its unofficial title. The larger resorts are still only mid-sized – places such as Fethiye and Kas – while sophisticated Kalkan is known for its excellent restaurants. It’s not all sun and snorkelling, however, with great places to walk too.
Park up your rental car and wander the Lycian Way which winds along the coast and through forests in the shadow of mountains for over 300 miles. You’ll see plenty of ancient ruins along the way.
Turkish Delight
Turkish cuisine showcases the country’s myriad influences, and you’ll find mouth-watering things to try both in restaurants and at the countless street food stalls. You might be familiar with dolmades and kebabs, but the authentic versions you’ll find here are nothing short of incredible.
Opt for the Iskender kebab, sliced lamb with a tomato sauce. Turkish pizza – lahmacun – is a cheese-free version of pizza with a variety of toppings and is pretty much ubiquitous. You’ll find good mezze platters everywhere you go, before polishing off your meal with sweet and sticky baklava or fragrant Turkish delight.
For a polished taste of Ottoman classics, Deraliye in Istanbul serves dishes that the Sultans once feasted on. You’ll find almond soup made to a 1539 palace recipe and the same stuffed fillet of perch dish that would have been cooked for Mehmet the Conqueror at Topkapi palace in 1473.
Ancient architecture, cultural treasures and spellbinding coastline, Turkey is a country with unparalleled breadth and variety. Make the most of this great destination with Hertz car rental in Turkey.