Events

In January, see the Camel Wrestling Festival in Selcuk, Izmir. Cultural festivals include the International Ankara Film Festival in March; the International Film Festival in Istanbul in April; the International Istanbul Theater Festival in May and June; the International Aspendos Opera & Ballet Festival in Serik, Antalya, and the International Istanbul Music Festival in June and July; the International Istanbul Jazz Festival in July; the Izmir International Fair in September; the International Bodrum Cup & Gulet Competition in October; and in December, the Mevlana (Whirling Dervishes) Ceremonies in Konya, and two festivals in Istanbul—one for Mystic Music and another for the Piano.

Outdoors

With 5,000 miles of beaches, there is ample room for water sports of every kind, including chartering of boats from many ports. Forests near Ankara provide dozens of trails for hiking, and rivers throughout the country offer rafting and fishing. You can ski at Sarikamis or Palandoken. In winter, you can swim in the Mediterranean in Antalya and ski the same day at Saklikent, just 30 miles away.

Health

With more than a thousand thermal springs in Anatolia, there are several good spas and health facilities.

Lodging

Turkey has hundreds of fine hotels, ranging from great luxury establishments to modest residences, with outstanding resort facilities in the better spots along the Aegean and Turquoise coasts. For more information, check out the Turkish Tourist Office site listed below.

Dining Out

Turkish cooking is one of the world's great cuisines, and continues this tradition by insisting on simple recipes and presentations, eschewing the school of "one too many ingredients" which some modern chefs exemplify today. Highlights include eggplant, mint, dill weed, zucchini, lemon, yogurt, meatballs and kebabs. Small dishes called meze begin a meal, with items such as fresh fish, spinach or other vegetables, cheese or melon. After the main course of fish or lamb, perhaps, desserts include baklava, puddings and pastries. And of course, there is Turkish Delight, usually taken with coffee, while baklava is eaten after kebabs. And don't forget that powerful coffee!

Shopping

You'll find carpets everywhere, especially in the Grand Bazaar, and ceramics, too, though the latter come mainly from the Iznik region. Leather is good and not too expensive here as well.

Major Destinations

Istanbul, Capital of Two Empires
You should allow yourself several days to see this city, starting with the Big Five destinations: (1) At the fabulous Topkai Palace Museum, you'll see marvelous jewelry and art objects, as well as priceless relics sacred to Islam. You can dine here, too, lunching on the terrace or inside, in either case overlooking the Bosphorus. (2) St. Sophia (Ayasofya), originally built in the 4th century by the emperor Constantine (but destroyed) and rebuilt by Justinian in the 6th, then a mosque after 1453, this huge structure is now a museum, with fascinating mosaics from its Christian period, inscriptions from the Moslem era. (3) The Blue Mosque, formally known as the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I, is exquisite, with carpets and lamps adding to the hushed ambience. (4) Even if you dislike shopping, you must visit the Grand Bazaar for its unique appearance, and if you come away without buying anything, you will be a rare visitor. (5) The magnificence of the Hippodrome can now only be imagined, but several columns and other pieces of the foundation give you a good idea of what once was the center of empire here.

Art lovers may wish to add a visit here to the Archeology Museum, one of the world's largest museums, the Turkish Islamic Arts Museum, in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace (on the Hippodrome), or the Fethiye Museum, the latter with great 14th-century mosaics. Making for a splendid diversion is the Basilica Cistern, underneath the Hippodrome, its 6th-century reservoir roof supported by 336 columns. Finally, the city is proud of its new (2005) Istanbul Modern museum, overlooking the Sea of Marmara.

On the Asian Side
Istanbul is the only city in the world, authorities here say, that is located on two continents, Europe and Asia. That alone makes for interesting contrasts. Near Istanbul, moreover, are the twin attractions of ancient Troy and Pergamum, modern Bergama. In the former, see the model of the Trojan Horse, in the latter the Acropolis, with its famous library, imposing theater and historic temples.

The Aegean Coast
Among highlights of any Turkish visit are these: the fabulous Aegean coast, with Izmir the port town and Ephesus, the Hellenistic ruin, some of the best Greek remnants in any country. The Temple of Artemis here (now gone) was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. After seeing the ruins, check out the Selcuk Ephesus Archeology Museum, with many mosaics, statues and artifacts from the original site. Also along the Mediterranean coast are smaller cities that make for perfect holiday bases, such as Kusadasi or Bodrum (ancient name Helicarnassus). In Bodrum, another of the Seven Wonders was the first Mausoleum, and it is gone, but go see the Museum of Underwater Archeology in a medieval castle by the bay. Inland from this coast, two special sites are the ancient city of Aprodisias and the Pamukkale cliffs.

The Turquoise Coast
Along the gorgeous Mediterranean coastline (part of the 5,000 miles of sandy beaches Turkey boasts of), such sites as Marmaris, Fethiye, Antalya, Side, Alanya, Antakya and Mersin attract visitors from spring through autumn. It's no wonder the authorities call it the Turquoise Coast. In Antalya, be sure to see the Antalya Museum, and in the former Antioch, the Antakya Mosaic Museum and the grotto/cave recently designated "the world's first cathedral" by the Vatican because legend says St. Peter preached here. If time permits, check out St. Nicholas (also known as Santa Claus), who was born and lived in Demre (the former Myra), where the church named for him is said to contain his tomb.

Anatolia
Several ancient heroes were born here, including Homer, Herodotus, Midas and St. Paul. In Central Anatolia, the first place to visit is, of course, Ankara, the capital of Turkey since 1923. Highlights here include the Tomb of Ataturk, founder of the republic, the Anatolian Civilizations Museum and the Ankara State Museum of Paintings & Sculptures. Don't miss the Roman Citadel, in which there are several restaurants with great views of the city.

In Cappadoccia, be sure to visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, with its grouping of churches and living spaces carved into the area's unique rock formations.

Konya, south of Ankara, is home to the festival called the Mevlana Commemoration Ceremony each December, featuring the ritual of the Whirling Dervishes.

The Black Sea Coast & Eastern Turkey
Far from the crush of tourist are the Black Sea Coast and the fabled city of Trabzon, with its history, its many churches and mosques. In Eastern Turkey, legend says Abraham was born, and for certain the famous Islamic general Saladin was born here, in Harran. The major tourist target of the region is Nemrut Dagi, the 1st century (BCE) tomb of Antiochus I, with its gigantic statues on a mountaintop (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Another highlight is Van and its Lake Van, blessed with ancient history and a 10th-century church. Legend asserts that Noah's Ark came to rest on Agri Dagi, Mount Ararat, in this part of the country.

Getting There

More than 70 tour operators in the USA and over 20 in Canada have packages to Turkey, and you can easily reach Istanbul in less than ten hours on Turkish Airlines or Delta Airlines. Many other airlines have one-stop service with connections in western Europe or other locations nearby.

General travel information, including that on hotels and arrival formalities, can be found at www.tourismturkey.org, and there are specific sites for most cities as well.