Let’s skip the hotels, pools and beaches. Why on your holiday to Turkey would you want to lay by the pool and read a book? There is so much to see and do in this great country, why not get the whole experience and visit Turkey the only way it should be done.
Here are some of the best ways to make the most out of Turkey.
Grand Bazaar/Spice Market
The Grand Bazaar located in Istanbul, is one of the world’s biggest and oldest covered markets, with 250,000 to 400,000 people visiting each day. The market spreads across 61 streets with over 3,000 shops. Many of the stalls are grouped together by the types of goods they sell, with special areas for gold jewellery and leather.
If you like the looks of this market then why not try the Egyptian spice market, also located in Istanbul. It is called the Egyptian market because it is famous for selling goods shipped in from Cairo. The bustling market since 1664 is the best place to buy nuts, dried fruit, spices, olives oils and Turkish delight to the finest level.
Celebrate Republic Day
One of the national holidays in Turkey, Republic day marks the creation of the Turkish Republic in 1923 after victory in the War of Independence (1919-1923). On 29th October many people go to stadiums and other shows to watch performances dedicated to this holiday. The Performances usually consist of traditional Turkish dancing, theatre sketches and poetry readings. In the evening many cities have traditional processions to pay tribute to Republic Day with flags, musical bands and when it gets dark it usually ends with lots of fireworks. This is one of the best times to go to Turkey so you can get more of an insight Turkish traditions and Culture.
Lycian Way
To get away from the crowed tourism areas, and get a true sense of Mediterranean Turkey, put on them hiking boots and go for a hike. Why not walk along the unspoilt mountain paths with breathtaking views along the Lucian Coast; it can be a great way to explore parts of Turkey that are not seen by most tourists. The trail is 509km long, and no fees or permits are needed for camping and hiking along Lucian Way, but there are a few points of interests along the way that charge an entrance fee. Discover small towns, harbours and ancient ruins, such as Kas, Patara and Kayakoy.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
A must do when you visit Turkey, a chance to see a stunning and panoramic views of this surreal landscape. Why not see Cappadocia the best way possible why not gently float over and between the houses sculpted into the rock, fairy chimneys and the unique rock formations in a hot air balloon. This region has become one of the most famous places for ballooning; the excursion includes transfers from your hotels, snacks & drinks also insurance and a commemorative flight certificate.
Troy
One of the greatest and most popular archaeological sites in the world is the site of Troy, where it is said where the Trojan War took place. Tourists are able to explore the ruins and try and reinvent history for themselves. Troy has been built and destroyed over 9 times and each of these layers has something left to explore today. The Trojan War is famous for its wooden horse (Horse of Troy), there is a reconstructed horse at the entrance to the site with a ladder so tourists can visited inside the horse just like the Greeks did. It is better to visit these sites on a weekday as on the weekends the ruins are often filled with school trips and is much busier.
About the Author:
Jason Briggs is a travel enthusiast. “Iceland is my favourite, been there been there 6 times. Often joined with friends and family, also have travelled to each of the Canary Islands at least once. Been to a variety of places around Europe and Asia. Love food and sports and a proud Wolverhampton fan. Also a big film fan, best film ever made Scarface.”
He write extensive on travel, particularly on holidays to Turkey on behalf of directline-holidays.co.uk. You can follow him at @TravelBriggs