Five Reasons to Visit Turkey
When it comes to potential holiday destinations, Turkey probably doesn’t spring to mind as easily as some more accessible destinations like France and Spain. But with its unique blend of culture and history, its fantastic food and its seasonable weather, there’s a great deal to recommend about a trip to this part of the world.
Let’s take a look at five good reasons to pay a visit to Turkey!
It’s affordable
According to research, Istanbul is among the more affordable of the world’s tourist cities, sitting at ninetieth place out of a long list of other major cities. Visit Istanbul and you’ll spend an average of just £92.91 per day. This compares favourably with London, where visitors can expect to spend £296.86.
Of course, this average is a very blunt instrument for measuring living costs, and it doesn’t account for the cost of flights. With that said, there can be no denying that you can have a wonderful holiday in Turkey without spending over the odds.
Natural sights
The Turkish landscape is loaded with hot springs. This means plenty of naturally-occurring saunas, but it also makes for some fairly unique geography. For example, at the thermal pools in Pamukkale, you’ll find a strange white landscape formed by the calcium brought to the surface by the water pressure.
Turkish Baths
Turkey has a long history of communal bathing, and among the most impressive bath-house is the Çemberlitaş Hamamı in Istanbul. Built by Mimar Sinan back in 1684, it’s still functioning, and offers a bathing experience that you won’t find elsewhere. If you’re looking for a place to relax, then you’ll find few better – but this isn’t the only bath of this sort in the country, so be sure to do your research and find out where the one near where you’re staying.
Turkish Coffee
Before coffee ever reached Europe, it came through Turkey. Coffee brewed in this part of the world is extremely strong, and has even earned a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, reserved for those unique practices that speak of a certain place and people. Given that the practice has been around for so long, it should probably come as no surprise that it’s acquired its share of rituals and superstitions – Turkish fortune-tellers claim to be able to discern the future from a glimpse at the spent coffee grounds!
Ballooning
Among the best ways to see the Turkish landscape, especially in Cappadocia, is from the basket of a hot-air balloon. You’ll get a perspective on things that simply isn’t attainable from ground level. There’s a rich tradition of balloon-flying in the region, so when you take a trip of this part, you’re participating in the history of the place!
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