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Turkey

The statements and opinions on this page are solely those of its authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of CouchSurfing International.

Turkey (Türkiye) is a country partly in Europe and partly in the Middle East.

Contents

Places

Turkey has been home to many civilisations,lying as it does at a strategic geographical junction where Europe and Asia meet.The country is actually located on both continents. Anatolia, the land on Asia, is called the cradle of the civilisations Today, East meets West in Turkey's culture and government as well. Formerly center of the Islamic Ottoman Empire,Turkey became a republic in 1923.And the new leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk made series of reforms. This set the stage for rapid modernization and the adoption of Western systems of law, education, and politics. You can find the first of many things in Turkey,like first pottery , first village (Catalhoyuk), first written trade agrement, first coin, first writing... etc.

Moreover, Christianity was developed at this land leaving thousands of ancient churchs including the first one. No need to mention that Istanbul was the capital of several empires. Istanbul, the worlds blue pearl or the city of legends, has attracted people and captured the admiration of all who come to visit. If you travel to the historical sites and museums with a good guide book, you will be amazed.

You can find detailed information at the Turkish embassies and so at the website of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, and any more information tourismturkey.org

In fact,there are a lot of historical sites in Turkey. Almost in each city you can see the tracks of history, touch the ruins of the past, feel the mysticism. If you prefer to see greens and greens only, just go to the North. The cities, towns and villages by the Black Sea make you feel that you are in green paradise.The mountains, lakes on the top of the mountains, valleys, rivers and platoes are so charming. At the province of Rize everywhere is covered with tea plants. There is a plateau called "Anzer"where there is an endemic honey bee species which take honey from endemic plants. And the resulting honey is so good but really expensive!

Top Things to See and Do You can read Wiki Travel guide for Turkey

  • Visit Cappadocia, early Christian settlement and volcanic

rock formations( Fairy Chimneys) If you plane to go there on friday or return on sunday, especially in summer season you may have problem to find ticket in the travel date, so reserve or buy ur ticket from before.

  • Mount Nemrut -in the Eastern part of Turkey- to watch the sunrise,
  • Taste "doner,Sish Kebap"and the dishes of Sultans!Turkish food is really good.
  • Visit the House of Virgin Mary in Ephesus and Selcuk ruins. Established in 3000 BC and including remains from the Ionic,Lydian, Roman, Byzantine and Seljuk periods, Ephesus is a sight not to be missed.
  • Enjoy the sun and the sea in Antalya,tourist paradise in the Southern part of the country . Old Quarter- The historic nucleus of Antalya. This district is now restored and has became an attractive touristic center with its taverns, hotels, restaurants and entertainment facilities. Perge- The origins of this ancient city 18 km north east of Antalya go back to 1000 BC. An exceptional open-air museum. Side- At this lovely resort on the east of Antalya, the houses and ancient ruins inextricablly interwined. There are two agoras and amphitheatre and a museum in which statues and other works of art are exhibited. Aspendos- A major port and commercial center in antiquity. Its magnificient Roman amphitheatre is the best preserved in the world and known for its superb acoustic and it is still used for concerts.
  • Go on a boat trip which is called " Blue Journey" in Bodrum and Marmaris.You will never ever forget it.
  • Enjoy oriental night clubs and belly dancing
  • Climb up the mountains in the Black Sea region.It will be your unforgettable tracking experience in your life. Spend a few days in Ayder Plato of Kaçkar Mountains, walk up to the hidden mountain lakes and fell inner-trueself of you.
  • Go shopping and buy pure silk, soft towels from Bursa, the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire,carpets ,leather and jewelry!
  • Grand Bazaar / Covered Bazaar. Just mentioning their names is enough I guess.
  • Visit Southeast of Turkey, the city called Diyarbakir which is famous for huge city Walls as in China and enjoy with your visit to old churches and fascianting mosques in the city and taste at least a slice of Watermelon! it is so sweet and famous all around the country. Also visit the ancient city of Urfa in the southeast that includes "gobeklitepe" which has the most ancient sculptures ever found anywhere of the world.
  • Anitkabir (Moseleum of M. Kemal Ataturk in Ankara)

some more better advices and details for istanbul are in Istanbul page

Created by zuzunakiTalkCS 18:21, 22 February 2007 (EST)

Mailing List

These are active mailing lists from Turkey:

Turkey

Greek Turkish Friends organizing meetings!

Istanbul


Easy couches

Go visit Bursa, Kappodokia, Edirne, Antalya, and even more.


Off the beaten track

CouchSurfers

Myself (zuzunaki) I am an easy-couch, Im accepting everybody to my couch when it is requested before it is reserved. I can host more than one CS'er so I try to answer positive for as many requests as possible. Sometimes the house hosts more than 3 groups of CS'ers, so it becomes like a CS meeting point and it works like a CS hostel 365 days a year.

Tips and trivia

How to be a good guest

History of meetings

History of meetings in Istanbul

Media mentions

Transportation

All these sites may have problem in english, ask help from your host for Turkish pages

Bus companies: http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Transport/esenler_ofisler.html http://www.kamilkoc.com.tr/ http://www.niluferturizm.com.tr/

To Cappadokia (Goreme / Nevsehir) If you plan to go there on friday or return on sunday, especially in summer season you may have problem to find ticket in the travel date, so reserve or buy ur ticket from before. Nevşehir Seyahat - Tel: 444 50 50
Öncü Göreme Turizm - Tel: 444 00 07
Nevtur Göreme 212 658 12 13
(otogar reception reported that the above 3 has merged and theyre anymore the same company, so trying one should help)
Metro Turizm - Tel: 444 34 55
http://online.metroturizm.com.tr/metro/buy/ (It is in Turkish but you can make it)

Airlines: national airline: http://www.thy.com/

discounted flights http://www.flypgs.com/
http://www.onurair.com.tr/onurair/
http://www.flyair.com.tr/
http://www.atlasjet.com/en/default.asp

a good tourism company that would find nearly all international flights (maybe doesnt include easyjet, germanwings, airarabia etc didnt check it) http://www.ekobilet.com/ also http://www.vikingturizm.com.tr/default.asp you can check them if you want to arrange a trip program, but I dont have idea on prices. also ure advised to check from google.

train tickets prices and schedule to many destinations
http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/tcdding/ortadogu_ing.htm

Learning Turkish

http://www.internetpolyglot.com/lessons-tr-en

http://www.onlineturkish.com/vocab.asp http://www.rosettastone.com/en/individuals/languages/turkish/

See also

and his other photos http://www.alpalper.com/portfolyo.html


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