Why I love Turkey

“My first visit to Turkey was 20 years ago, when I finished a European rail odyssey in İstanbul, discovering the Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet's sights. I'll never forget drinking çay on my hostel's roof terrace, scribbling in my notebook and watching the ferries cross over to Asia. Wanting to visit somewhere between the continents, I jumped on a boat to the Princes' Islands, where an old man gave me a lift in his...” Read More

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James Bainbridge
Writer

Top experiences in Turkey

Recent articles

The rise of Karaköy: Istanbul's hippest neighbourhood

Edging the water on the northern side of İstanbul’s Galata Bridge,  Karaköy is an exhilarating and contradictory neighbourhood within Beyoğlu where tradesmen’s workshops share narrow streets with chic cafes and galleries, and where bohemian boutiques coexist alongside traditional pastaneler (bakeries). In many ways, it’s a microcosm of modern İstanbul.

The inexorable process of gentrification is well and truly underway, but the area’s fin-de-siècle buildings and rich multicultural heritage are being preserved, making it a fascinating destination for a day’s exploration.
Virginia Maxwell
Lonely Planet Writer

Top 10 traditional cheap eats in Istanbul's Bazaar District

Many of the merchants, artisans, porters and local shoppers who spend their days in Istanbul Old City’s world-famous bazaars are committed chowhounds. Having taste-tested their way through the district, they are the best possible guides when it comes to identifying the district’s freshest, fastest and most delicious food.

Scorning foodie fads and embracing cheap eats, these champions of traditional Turkish cuisine can often be found queuing at the following favourites.
Virginia Maxwell
Lonely Planet Writer

How to eat like a local in Bodrum

Sparkly beaches, serene coves, a grand castle and jaw-dropping vistas: just a few of the reasons the one-time fishing village of Bodrum is a Turkish hotspot. A flurry of elegant hotels and boutique guesthouses may have established this Aegean coastal town as firmly en vogue, but  it’s still possible to lap up a delicious array of food without fretting about extortionate prices. Tucked around the castle, cobbled alleys and shiny marina you’ll find markets, meyhanes and mezze aplenty in Bodrum town. Just follow the locals and you’re sure to dine well.

Simit is a popular Turkish bread, served from stalls around Bodrum. Image by Hannah Summers / Lonely Planet
Hannah Summers
Lonely Planet Writer
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Turkey adventures

$299 History & culture

ANZAC Day Memorial Tour

With symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, stand in the morning breeze and pay respect to the fallen on ANZAC Day at a dawn vigil. This special three-day trip includes a private bus along the Dardanelles, from Istanbul to the memorial site commemorating the common sacrifice for all of the nations involved. This moving tour will also include visits to other important sites such as Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair, and the war cemeteries, making this visit to Turkey a unique and beautiful experience.
$240 Small group tours

2-Day Small-Group Troy and Gallipoli Tour from Istanbul

Step back in time at Gallipoli and Troy on this enlightening 2-day tour from Istanbul, including round-trip transport, three meals and overnight accommodation. Head to Gallipoli to visit the battle sites of the World War I campaign, when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops fought the Turks in what would become a deadly stalemate. After an overnight hotel stay in Çanakkale, explore ancient Troy, famed for the Trojan War and legendary wooden Trojan horse. Enjoy in-depth attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to 14 people.
$405 Small group tours

4-Day ANZAC Tour: Istanbul, Gallipoli and Troy

If you only have a few days in Turkey and want to see the major highlights, this is the tour for you. This four-day trip takes you to Troy, Gallipoli and Istanbul, combining Turkey's vibrant capital and surrounding historic sites.
$411 Sightseeing tours

4-Day Istanbul City Stay Package

If this is your first time to Istanbul and you want to see all the highlights of this amazing city at a leisurely pace, this is the tour for you. This four-day stay will take you to the palaces of Topkapi and dolmabahce, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and there's even time for shopping in the Grand Bazaar to pickup a souvenir or two.
$255 Small group tours

2-Day Cappadocia Trip from Kayseri

Take time out to tour Turkey's famous moon-like landscape of Cappadocia
$428.76 Small group tours

5-Day Aegean Tour from Istanbul: Gallipoli, Troy, Pergamum, Ephesus, Kusadasi, Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Travel along the breathtaking coastline of Turkey’s Aegean region, full of ancient Greek cities, on this tour from Istanbul. With your local guide, visit the battlefields of Gallipoli, explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Troy and tour ancient ruins in Pergamum and Ephesus. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Hierapolis, admire the white limestone terraces of Pamukkale and get a taste for culture as you browse hand-crafted leather goods in Kusadasi and explore a silk bazaar in Bursa. You’ll stay in 4- to 5-star hotels, with daily meals included, and enjoy comfortable transportation.
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