Turkey - Turkije

Info

In addition to long coastlines on the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey also has land borders with Bulgaria and Greece in the West, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the north East, Syria, Iraq and Iran in the southeast.

History of Turkey Country

Culture

climate

Turkey is a large country and has no fewer than three different types of climates. The Turkish resorts have a Mediterranean climate with mild winters, warm summers and little rain. Central Turkey has a steppe climate with warm summers and cold winters. Eastern Turkey has a moderate continental climate with relatively much rainfall. If you want to know what the weather is like in Turkey during the period that you want to go on holiday, look at the historical climate data Does the sun shine. There you will find for all months of the year what you can expect in the Turkish seaside resorts in terms of the number of hours of sun and temperature.

Holidays

Ramadan

During the fasting month of Ramadan (Ramazan in Turkish), many adult Turks try to abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. Tourists (and travelers in general) are not expected to participate in Ramadan. Most bus companies offer their passengers water and cookies even during Ramadan. About a third of the adult Turkish population does not participate in Ramadan. However, for most Turks it is a serious matter; there is also much respect among those who do not participate for those who do. Extensive eating in public space is therefore experienced as provocative in conservative parts of the country. In touristy parts of Turkey, and in the centers of the larger cities, restaurants will remain open during Ramadan. In conservative cities, some restaurants and liquor stores close during the day. It is then sometimes possible for tourists to get a meal here, whether or not inside. While it may be a bit of a headache for tourists traveling outside of the more westernized parts of the country, traveling during the month of fasting also offers an opportunity to get in touch with the spiritual and social sides of Turkish culture. Most municipalities organize large open soup kitchens for breaking the tide in parks and squares. During Ramadan, special dishes are also prepared in large quantities to share with neighbors, acquaintances and the poor.

Time difference

1 hour later than in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Regions

Towns

• Ankara — the capital of the Turkish Republic, also the second largest city
• Antalya — the fastest growing (tourist) city, on the south coast
• Bodrum — a trendy party town on the Aegean coast
• Edirne — the beginning of Turkey if you arrive from the west, the second former capital of the Ottoman Empire
• Erzurum — a major city in the east of the country, known for winter sports on the Palandöken Mountains
• Istanbul — the largest city in Turkey, divided in two by the Bosphorus; the western part belongs to Europe, the eastern part to Asia.
• Izmir — the third largest city in Turkey
• Konya — the Anatolian city where Jalaladdin Rumi lived and his tomb is located
• Trabzon — with the beautiful Sumela Monastery in the Pontic Mountains and the delicious regional fish dishes

Other destinations

• Nemrut Dağı

• Troy

Arrive

Passport and visa

Dutch and Belgians have to buy their visa in advance via the Internet. Cost is $20.70. You can only apply for the visa online at http://www.evisa.gov.tr and on (more expensive) commercial brokerage sites. Citizens of a number of other countries do not require a visa.

By plane

From airport Amsterdam, SchipholIn any case, companies regularly fly to the capital.
And also from the airport of Brussels Airport different flights can be booked.

For flight information to other cities in the country, look at the articles of that city. The national airline is Turkish Airlines, but other companies also fly to Turkey. From the Netherlands and Belgium you can find flights with a large number of airlines, including TUI. An overview of airports and flights is available on Fly to Turkey is an important holiday destination for the Netherlands and Belgium, every year many thousands find their way to the hotels and resorts on the Turkish coasts. Seaside resorts such as Antalya, Side, Bodrum, Lara and Belek are real hotspots and particularly popular as a beach holiday. You can find holiday packages to Turkey at pricefree.nl, TUI, sunweb, Corendon, TravelHunter, Holiday Deals, HolidayDeals.nu or compare the price with all these providers via cheapholidays.deals

Istanbul has become an important international airport in recent years. The airports at the seaside resorts are also served by a large number of charter companies.

By train

Despite the rise of budget airlines, train travel can still be a cheap, fast and certainly more convenient option for transportation. Because train stations are often located in the city centres, the train on the medium distance (for example Enschede - Paris or Bruges - Wolfsburg) can compete very well with the plane.

Currently in Belgium and at the Deutsche Bahn online only to order tickets for the neighboring countries of Belgium, resp. Germany and a number of easily accessible cities further on. Other tickets can only be purchased by telephone or at the counter, or of course in the country concerned. The latter is often much cheaper. Also keep an eye out for the many Sparpreis offers at the Deutsche Bahn, which can be very advantageous for a travel route to or via Germany.

However, it is quite possible to train journey map out from home. The two sites listed immediately below provide information not only about journeys from the Benelux, but also about all train connections throughout Europe and in the Russian part of Asia, e.g. between Moscow and Madrid. It is about this the site of the Belgian railways and the Dutch site of the Deutsche Bahn.

NS Hispeed only offers information about travel between the Netherlands and a few large foreign cities. As a rule, this information is also limited to trains that run directly to or from abroad (i.e. no connections between Utrecht and Paris or between Rotterdam and Germany, because there is always a transfer within the Netherlands). To plan trips within the Netherlands, it is best this website use.

NS Hispeed sells online a small range of journeys departing from the Netherlands to other countries (one-way and return journeys), and a very limited number of routes from abroad to (other) foreign countries (one-way and return journeys). You can book other trips by telephone via the Telesales department (0900-9296, €0.35 p.m.) and at the counters in the Tickets and Service shops at the (medium) large stations. This is the online International counter of the Dutch railways.

In all European countries it is forbidden to smoke on the train. Turkey has daily train connections with Greece (Thessaloniki and Athens) and with Bulgaria and other Balkan countries. A train journey from the Dutch-speaking region to Istanbul takes about three days and a dining car or a clean toilet is rarely seen in the Balkans.

By car

Turkey is reasonably accessible by car over the Balkan Peninsula. The overland journey takes a long time and is not entirely harmless. This road is popular among the more adventurous tourist, who has a lot of time, but especially among the Turks living in Germany who want to spend the big holiday "at home". There is a lot to see and discover on this tour. The tour leads through Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria to Turkey or via Germany, Austria, (possibly Italy), Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria to Turkey. The enormous flow of tourists, returnees and trucks passing through the countries have had a positive influence on the road network. Four-lane highways have been constructed or are under construction up to and including Turkey.

However, the fastest route to Turkey by car is via Italy and Greece, with a crossing by boat from Venice, Ancona or Bari to Igoumenitsa. The cheapest and fastest journey is usually the overnight crossing from Venice.

Travel around

By bus

The bus is an excellent and relatively cheap means of transport. The bus timetables are reliable, the buses comfortable, often have air conditioning and a video circuit. Book in advance, with an agent or with the bus company itself [1]. The buses depart from a bus station.

By train

Trains have first and second class seats. A number of trains are equipped with a restaurant and/or couchettes. You can order train tickets from an agent or at the train station. The railway company of Turkey is called TCDD. See their website for travel times [2] . In the European part of Turkey you can find the connections in Dutch at [3] . From west to east you can travel easily and cheaply by train. You can also take the train to Syria and Iran (Note the visa regulations for those countries first!).

Local transport

Dolmuş (meaning literally packed) taxi vans are relatively the cheapest means of transport. These minibuses follow a fixed route and run at regular times. You can stop them en route by raising your hand. Keep in mind that if the bus is full, it will not stop. You pay per distance and pay when you get off again dolmuş vans in places where many people come, such as the market square, the post office, a busy beach.

By taxi

Taxis are cheap by Dutch and Belgian standards. The taxis have a meter. Nightly rate is 50% more expensive than the daily rate. In many cases it is also possible to agree on a fixed price.

Food

Turkish cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the world, ranked third. The dishes are lightly seasoned and usually consist of meat or fish and a combination of rice and/or potatoes and vegetables. The average European therefore has no trouble adapting to the flavors of Turkish cuisine. There are many kinds of kebab, but the doner kebab is definitely recommended, because in Turkey it is prepared with fresh meat instead of the meat residues that are commonly used in the Netherlands. Also skender kebab is a must: this dish is only available in Turkey. It consists of slices of grilled meat on bread with tomato sauce and yogurt. Most tourists are pleasantly surprised by this delicious dish, which usually costs less than €3 per person.

Stews are in many cases prepared in a clay pot, which is smashed at the table. These stews usually contain a combination of meat and vegetables. Often at restaurant while waiting peynir offered. This is a white cheese similar to feta, which is sometimes drizzled with a layer of olive oil and some pepper. Fish is certainly recommended in the coastal areas, but outside the fishing season the price can sometimes be a surprise. Furthermore, pastas and pizzas are not lacking. Turkey is also a country for those who love sweets. Baklava is a dessert made from wafer-thin layers of puff pastry baked in syrup and nuts. Also the rice pudding or sütlaç (suutlatsj) is a must. Rice pudding is therefore a dish that became known in Europe from Turkey through the Low Countries.

Rakı (pronounced: rakke) is the most popular drink, this drink has an aniseed taste. The coffee served is Nescafe or Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is prepared by boiling water and ground coffee in a jug up to three times and pouring this into a cup without sifting. You can also drink a decent beer in Turkey (Efes), but the more famous brand Tuborg is also available. Furthermore, Turkey has a number of reasonable to good wines (kankaya, kavak, muscat).

Language

To look at

To do

To buy

Cost

Food

Going out

In Turkey, going out is dependent on the seasons. In the summer most of the clubs, parties and festivals are on the coast, while in the winter the nightlife mainly takes place in the cities. In the larger cities, however, many discos also continue programming in the summer.

Almost all major cities in Turkey have nightlife options. However, it differs per region, city and district what kind of music is played, and also what kind of audience comes there. Discos as we know them in the Netherlands can be found mainly in developed cities such as Istanbul and Izmir, but also along the Turkish Riviera and some in northern cities such as Samsun and Trabzon. In more traditional areas, the music will be less electronically oriented, and more towards folk music. However, that does not mean that less alcohol is served.

Turks are very proud, some even feel better than foreigners, and don't give them a glance. It can happen that a person in a nightlife breaks off a conversation if it turns out that you don't speak Turkish. This may also be related to the fact that they feel uncomfortable because they have no knowledge of English. In general, however, Turks in discotheques are also hospitable, and they will quickly be inclined to offer drinks to guests or strangers.

Istanbul

In Istanbul nightlife is concentrated in various neighbourhoods. The oldest of these is, of course, in the old European quarter, in the streets and alleys around Istiklal Avenue. Here you will find many cafes and dance halls at street level and restaurant-discotheques with roof terraces and views over the Bosphorus on the top floor. Some of the big names in Taksim are: Babylon, Roxy, Ghetto, Indigo, Peyote, 360, Jolly Joker, Mojo, Nardis Jazz Club.

A little further north, in the Ortaköy district, there are also many restaurants, cafes and discos. The most famous clubs are Anjelique, Crystal, Blackk, Sortie, SupperClub, Istanbul Jazz Club. However, the really luxurious clubs are located a little further north, on the other side of the 1st bridge on the bank of the Bosphorus: Reina and Laila, with a strict dress code. SuAda club is still located on an island in the Bosphorus, which can be reached by a free ferry.

There are also clubs in other richer neighborhoods of European Istanbul, such as in Levent, Nisantasi, Ulus and Besiktas.

The nightlife on the Asian side of the city is mainly limited to many cafes with live music such as Murphy's Dance Bar, traditional pubs like North Shield and hip spots like Livingroom.

Turkish Riviera

In Antalya you can go to Club Ally, Club Arma, Club JayJay at Dedeman hotel, CherryLady at Lara and others. Alanya also has many famous clubs. A well-known one is the Robin Hood with its 4 floors where different types of music are played. Club Aura is also known in Kemer. Furthermore, the Halikarnas in Bodrum is known worldwide. Most clubs are on the coasts anyway.

stay overnight

In cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Cesme, Bodrum, Antalya, Konya, Adana, Bursa, Erzurum, Kayseric, Mersin there are many five star hotels. Especially in Antalya and the surrounding area you can find several five star hotels.

To learn

Nowadays several hundred Dutch students study in Turkey every semester. Some universities in Istanbul, Ankara, Eskishehir and Izmir offer education at a European level. This is especially true for private universities. In every major city there is a university, and in some cities more. For Dutch HBO students there is also an option to study at some Turkish universities.

To work

To work in Turkey you need a Turkish passport or a work permit. Currently, about 2000 Dutch companies are active in Turkey, which also employ many Dutch and Dutch Turks. Dutch companies in Turkey are mainly active in the service sector and as project developers. There are many construction companies that advertise new projects every day. You can follow this on the [4] Real estate Turkey.

Safety

In general, Turkey is a safe country to travel in. In case of an emergency, Turks usually jump in massively to help, because of the strong group culture. However, it is still partly a poor country, in the evening the poorer neighborhoods are best avoided.

Traveling in the border region with Iraq can be dangerous, but in general the major Kurdish cities are also safe to visit. It is best to avoid political demonstrations here.

When taking a taxi, it is good to check that the number plate matches the numbers on the door. And it is best to take a taxi that is part of a company, so you can be sure that it is a legal taxi and that the correct rate is charged.

In Turkey, the car is the king of the road. The car almost always has the right of way. So pay extra attention in traffic as a pedestrian! It is also important to cross confidently; sometimes you have to claim your priority.

Terrorist attacks are regularly committed in the capital Ankara, in particular by the terrorist organization Islamic State or the Kurdish movement PKK. Stay alert as a tourist when you walk on large squares and/or stations/airports.

Health

Do not drink water from the taps in Turkey unless it comes from a local source. This is only the case in some mountain villages. In hotels and parks there are usually water coolers where you can get water. There is a wide range of bottled water in the supermarkets.

respect

The Turks are very hospitable. Often − if you are not traveling in a group − you are invited for tea. It will be much appreciated if you agree. If you are invited to people's homes, you are expected to take off your shoes upon entering. Furthermore, as everywhere in the world, it is important to behave politely.

Most people are moderate Muslims; Turkey is a Muslim country with a strict separation between church and state. Still, talking about politics can be a tricky one. Sensitive subjects are, in particular, Atatürk and the Armenian Genocide. Open criticism of both these subjects is not always appreciated. The Turkish government takes the position that there was no genocide, but that the dead were victims of civil war, famines and other hardships. She therefore prefers to speak of the 'Armenian Question'.

Turkey is one of the few countries where non-Muslims are welcome at all times in the mosque (including during prayers). You have to take off your shoes when visiting a mosque. This is done before entering the building or prayer room; you see that immediately because there are always some shoes, mules or sandals from people who are already in the mosque. There are also dress codes for both men and women. This means that in addition to the body, the shoulders, arms and legs should be covered. Women are also expected to cover their hair with a scarf, although this is not checked outside of prayer times. During the prayers (at night around 5 o'clock, in the afternoon around 1 and 3 o'clock, and in the evening around 6 and 7 o'clock) men and women are strictly separated; the women in the back and on the balconies.

Nor is it useful to be critical of President Erdogan.

Contact

Post office

Turkish post offices can be recognized by the yellow PTT signs. These are open from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 24:00 and on Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00. The small offices are usually already closed at 6:00 pm. Stamps are bought at the post office.

This is a usable article. It contains information on how to get there, as well as the main attractions, nightlife and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but dive in and expand it!

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