Question 1

Why Visit Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Turkey sits at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and has been inhabited since the Paleolithic age by many civilizations, making Turkey one of the best destinations to travel to for history buffs and adventurers alike who enjoy walking around historical places. Other than that, the people are amazingly friendly, especially in the east. The food is outrageously delicious, and the cost of traveling is very affordable. If you are looking to introduce yourself to the Middle East region, there is no better place than Turkey.

Question 2

When to Visit Turkey?

Accepted Answer

While June - August is a high season when the price, temperature, and the number of tourists are at their highest, I would recommend visiting Turkey either in May or September to avoid the high price and the crowds. The weather in May and September is still great and the price is not at its highest. You might experience some rainy days, but I think it is worth sacrificing to avoid spending more during the high season.

Keep in mind that from May to June is Ramadan, and even though you won't have a problem finding food in the west, it is more difficult in the eastern part of Turkey. So, prepare accordingly or avoid visiting during Ramadan.

Question 3

How to Get to Turkey?

Accepted Answer

To get to Turkey, you can fly into either Istanbul, a popular tourist hub, or Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. I highly recommend flying into Istanbul so that you can hit the ground running, start exploring when you arrive.

Istanbul is one of the largest hubs in the region; you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to one of the 2 main airports in the city, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).

From the US, there are several direct flights you can take to Turkey from major cities in the US, such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, etc. All these flights are operated by Turkish Airlines, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a flight from the US to Turkey.

From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs such as London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Turkish Airlines or local carriers like British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa, which also offer direct routes to Istanbul or Ankara.

From Asia, you can fly directly with Turkish Airlines from several hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and Bangkok. You can also go with other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad if you are willing to transit to get a cheaper deal.

To find a cheap flight to Turkey, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

Question 4

How to Get Around Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Buses are the best mode of transportation in Turkey. They are luxurious, quite reliable, and often one of the cheapest ways to travel around the country.

Bus companies like Metro and Ulusoy are recommended for most main routes, but other small regional companies are perfectly fine too. You can book the buses online via 12Go.com.

Keep in mind that most Turkish buses are not equipped with a toilet, but they stop quite often at rest stops.

For bus schedules, be sure to check out the Turkey Travel Planner website. You can find almost any information about traveling in Turkey there.

Question 5

Is it Safe in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

Turkey is generally quite safe for tourists, even in major cities like Istanbul. People are very friendly, especially the further east you go.

That said, if you are visiting big tourist cities like Istanbul, it is always a good idea to take precautions and be aware of your belongings and surroundings at all times. Petty thefts, such as bag snatching and pickpocketing, still happen in big cities, especially in crowded areas. So, don't forget to keep your belongings near you when you are out and about in places like Istanbul.

Other than that, you will find Turkey to be a safe country to travel in, and the further you go off the beaten path, the friendlier the locals are.

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