Turkey Overview

Sitting on the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey is a fascinating land of contrasts and cultures. Although the country is rapidly developing, the mysteries of the Orient and Arabia are still very much alive. Travellers love Turkey’s delectable cuisine, stunning architecture, beautiful beaches and its bustling bazaars. The ancient city of Istanbul is a main attraction with the Bosphorus Bridge linking the European and Asian continents. Whether you are hiking Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, basking on the sun-soaked shores of the Mediterranean and Black Sea or marvelling at the ancient underground cities and churches carved from stone, Turkey is an exotic land worth discovering.

The Turkish people have a reputation for hospitality, the cuisine is to die for, the coastline is a dream, and many Turkish cities are dotted with spectacular mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean's most affordable destinations.

Turkey offers myriad of outdoor activities. You can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of Saint Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara Beach. Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, and a history scented with harem intrigue and cavalier Sultans.

In Turkey, you can also cruise along more than 1000km of Mediterranean coastline, past secluded coves, rocky headlands and picturesque fishing villages, or explore a hinterland rich in preserved remains of Graeco-Roman cities such as Ephesus. For the adventurous, the austere beauty of the Anatolian plateau, the surreal rock-chimney landscape of Cappadocia and the atmospheric ruins of the Hittites await discovery. Here, too, is the unique experience of watching the dervishes whirl in Konya.

The summers are hot and dry as can be expected from the Mediterranean climate, winters are generally quite mild but can be wet. The eastern mountainous region of Turkey is much colder in winter and normally experiences heavy snow. The Southeast is the hottest area often reaching 45C in the summer. This region also experiences very mild and dry winters.

Peak season is from July to mid-September, when most Turks take their holidays. The best time to visit eastern Turkey is from late June to September. Don't plan to venture east before May or after mid-October unless you're prepared for snow. Try to avoid travelling during Kurban Bayrami, Turkey's most popular public holiday.

Earliest records of the Turkish people show that their ancestors in Central Asia date back to some time before 2000 BC. Roaming widely throughout Asia and Europe, the Turks established vast empires throughout these continents.

By the 10th century, most Turks implemented the religion of lslam. Following this substantial change, the Karahanid Empire of central Asia (10th and 11th centuries) and the Ghaznavid Empire (10th and 12th centuries) developed in areas known today as Iran, Afghanistan, and Northern India.

Some Turks travelled south-west to Anatolia (Asia Minor) considered to be the cradle of civilization because it had embraced more than 20 cultures and civilizations, including the Hitites, Assyrians, Lydians, Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, lonians, Romans, Byzantines and Turks.

In 1071 AD, the Turks fought a crucial war with the Byzantine Empire. Settling in Anatolia, the Turks established many small feudal states and some empires.

The Seljuck Empire was the first Turkish empire in Anatolia. After the Seljucks' influence declined, Anatolia fragmented into a number of small states. The Ottoman Turks unified these separate units, which eventually became the largest empire in recent history, the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottomans ruled for more than six centuries (1281 - 1922), in part because their system of government allowed flexibility in the practice of diverse religions, languages and cultures. The empire included most of Eastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

The 18th century marked the beginning of the decline in of the Ottoman Empire. Weakening continued until World War I (1914-1918), when Ottoman armies fought and lost on several fronts throughout the empire. Eventually, Anatolia was divided and occupied by allied forces. Although the Ottoman Empire was dissolved, the fight had just begun for the Turkish people.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a highly respected army general from World War I, led the Turkish people in their War of independence (1919-1922) against the allied occupiers. It was the first successful war of national liberation in this century.

After many miraculous victories, the occupying forces were pushed back. And in 1923, a national Turkish state, the Republic of Turkey, was established. As the leader of the new nation, Ataturk created the foundations for a modern, secular state based on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Turkey became an official EU candidate country in 1999, whereupon it initiated a series of important human rights and economic reforms in accordance with EU requirements. The death penalty was done away with, tougher measures against torture were introduced and the penal code was revised. There were also important reforms in the areas of women's rights and Kurdish culture, language education and broadcasting.