Turkey - Turquía

Introduction Turkey (In turkish: Turkiye), officially the Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti), is a country located in Asia Y Europe, extending throughout the peninsula of Anatolia and the region of Thrace, separated by the marmara sea and the straits of Bosphorus and of the Dardanelles. It limits the northeast with Georgia, east with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iran, to the north with the Black Sea, northwest with Bulgaria Y Greece, to the west with the Aegean Sea, to the south with Syria and the Mediterranean Sea and to the southeast with Iraq.

Capital Ankara Idiom Turkish Surface 783 562 km² Population 76 667 864 (2013) Currency lira Time zone UTC 2 (UTC 3 in summer) Telephone prefix 90

Understand

Istanbul, the ancient Constantinople, is still the most important city in the country.

For several millennia, the territory of present-day Turkey has been of great relevance for the development of civilization. Located on the border between Europe Y Asia, and surrounded by the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Turkey has witnessed the passage of the first civilizations and some of the largest empires. This confluence of cultures is reflected in every corner of the country: from the great Ottoman mosques, the Hittite ruins and the ancient Greek temples.

Geographically, Turkey consists of two territories separated by the marmara sea and the straits of Bosphorus (where is it located Istanbul, the Ottoman imperial capital and the country's largest city today) and Dardanelles. The European part represents 3% of the Turkish territory and 13% of the population; Belongs to the Thrace region, being the last remnant of the great rule that the Ottoman Empire maintained in Europe until the 19th century. The Asian part, meanwhile, includes the great peninsula of Anatolia (the old one Asia Minor), reaching up to the high Armenian and Persian plateaus.

In the last decade, Turkey has regained ground in its economic development and has become a regional power. Between Europe and the Middle East, Turkish society has managed to successfully blend its traditions and modernity. Islam is still the majority religion of the population, but present in a much more liberal way than in other Middle Eastern countries (especially in areas closer to Europe).

All these characteristics of Turkey, in addition to its favorable climate and natural beauties, have made it an attractive tourist destination. In the last fifteen years, the number of tourists has increased four times. Today, Turkey receives more than 40 million tourists annually, making it the sixth most visited country in the world.

History

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo, in Side.

In the first centuries before Christ, the Anatolia region saw the rise of various civilizations. Among the most relevant of these were Hittites, which dominated much of the center and east of the peninsula, the lydians in the Aegean coastal region and the Thracians in the European zone. Around 1,200 B.C., the Aegean coast and part of Thrace were colonized by the greek, who founded cities like Smyrna, Ephesus, Miletus or Byzantium. Various empires would come to dominate, from the 6th century BC, the territories of Anatolia and Thrace: the persian of Cyrus the Great Y Darius I, followed by Alexander the Great and their heirs, the Seleucids, until the arrival of the romans in the 2nd century B.C.

Byzantine mosaics found in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.

Under the Romans, Byzantium managed to establish itself as an important commercial center, controlling the main routes between Europe and Asia. In order to control a decaying and dissolving empire, the emperor Constantine (the first to convert to Christianity) decided to rebuild Byzantium and make it Constantinople, the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire. As Rome It lost prominence and the western Roman Empire disintegrated, Constantinople acquired more and more power and controlled the entire eastern sector of the Mediterranean. The Byzantine Empire, born in 395, expanded Christianity and laid the foundations of the current Orthodox branches of that religion. During the government of Justinian, Byzantine rule came to cover much of the Mediterranean and Constantinople was the most important city in the world.

The Mevlid-i Halil Mosque in Sanliurfa, built by the Ottomans where he would have been born Abraham.

The Byzantines, however, began to lose power from the 6th century. To his constant struggles with the kingdom sassanid persian the Muslim invasion was added and the arrival of Turkish nomadic tribes from Central Asia and Siberia, who adopted Islam as a religion. These tribes gave rise to the Seljuk empire and to Sultanate of Rum, who disputed the dominion of the region with the Byzantines for two centuries. The invasion of the Mongols, the end of the sultanate and the slow Byzantine disintegration created a power vacuum that allowed the emergence of a small Turkish group from the Marmara region. The Ottomans, named after their founder Osman I, they managed to dominate the entire Anatolian peninsula and much of the Balkans around the year 1300. Constantinople managed to remain the last bastion of Eastern Christianity for several more years until its fall in 1494. This fact is considered as the end of the medieval era in Western history.

The Ottoman empire managed to expand rapidly. During the reign of Suleiman, the Ottoman Turks dominated the entire Middle East, Arabia, North Africa and the Balkans, practically imitating the maximum extension that the Byzantines had at the time. The Ottoman Empire became the main Islamic state in history and allowed a great development of culture, arts and sciences. In general, the Ottomans had an important level of respect for the various ethnic and religious groups existing in their domains, which allowed the formation of a particular cultural identity, both in their domains and in their metropolis.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, considered the Father of the Nation, is considered a figure highly revered by the Turks.

Towards the 18th century, the Ottoman Empire began a slow period of disintegration, mainly in North Africa (at the hands of European colonialists) and in Southeast Europe, where several nations achieved their independence. The Ottoman defeat in the First World War it was the final condemnation of an anachronistic empire. Much of its territory was distributed among the victors, while local revolts caused the fall of the sultanate. Mustafa Kemal, better known as "Atatürk", founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923 and began an extensive process of modernization, from economics to writing, and established a secular democratic state.

The state created by Atatürk approached the western powers, forming part of the NATO during the Cold War and applying to the European Union, although still without success. The economic problems and political instability that plagued Turkey for much of the 20th century began to disappear from the 2000s on, in part thanks to the government of Turkey. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, many criticize that the Islamist government of Erdoğan has established a strong authoritarianism and has undermined the foundations of the secular republic that Atatürk founded.

Geography

Ölüdeniz, the "blue lagoon", is one of the most famous beaches in the world due to its calm waters.

Turkey has several clearly marked geographic regions. The European zone and the region adjacent to the Sea of ​​Marmara on the Asian side consist of coastal plains, as well as some hills and valleys of great agricultural interest.

The Anatolian Peninsula (Anadolu in Turkish) makes up much of Turkish territory and is bounded to the north by the Black Sea, east by the Aegean and the south for the Mediterranean. Along these seas are narrow coastal plains, which extend particularly in some regions of the Aegean and Marmara coasts and, in the south, in the valleys of Antalya Y Adana. The plains are abruptly bounded by mountain ranges, oriented from east to west: along the coast of the Black Sea rise the Pontic and Köroğlu Mountains, while to the south are the Taurus Mountains, bordering the Mediterranean coast. Along these seas are narrow coastal plains, which extend particularly in some regions of the Aegean and Marmara coasts and, in the south, in the valleys of Antalya Y Adana.

View of the Taurus mountains in winter.

The plains are abruptly bounded by mountain ranges, oriented from east to west: along the coast of the Black Sea rise the Pontic and Köroğlu Mountains, while to the south are the Taurus Mountains, bordering the Mediterranean coast. Between these ranges, the center of the peninsula forms a large plateau, which generally grows in altitude to the east, as it approaches the mountains and plateaus of Armenia and Persia. The eastern region is very rugged, with large mountains like the mount ararat, the highest point in the country (5,137 m.a.s.l.), and the imposing lake van.

The southeastern region of the country is characterized by the rivers Euphrates Y Tigris, which are born in the eastern mountains of Turkey. These two rivers are the main characteristic of the plains that give rise to the Mesopotamia to the south.

Weather

The coastal areas of the country have a temperate climate, which becomes much more Mediterranean in the Aegean areas. There, the summer is dry and hot and the winter, somewhat cold and rainy. The Black Sea coast has more oceanic characteristics; winter is somewhat colder and the rains are permanent throughout the year, being the wettest area in the country. In both areas the presence of some days with snow is normal, but they are occasional and the snow usually melts quickly. The south coast, meanwhile, is hotter in summer; the winter cold, meanwhile, is less intense and rainfall is somewhat higher. While in Istanbul temperatures vary between 19 ℃ and 28 ℃ in summer, in Antalya can reach 35 ℃; In winter, meanwhile, the temperature in Istanbul varies between 3 and 9 degrees, while in Antalya it ranges between 6 ℃ and 15 ℃.

The interior of the country is much more extreme in terms of temperatures and drier. Temperatures have a high daily oscillation and the cold of winter can reach a few degrees below zero. Ankara, the capital, can have temperatures in summer that reach 28 ℃, but drop to -7 ℃ in winter. As one goes east and the altitude increases, the cold becomes more extreme. Snow tends to accumulate over several days, making it especially attractive to those interested in winter sports. Erzurum, the main city, can face days with temperatures below -15 ℃ in winter.

In contrast, the Southeast region has the highest temperatures in the country, especially during the summer. Some cities face maximums that exceed 39 ℃. The region is very arid and the little rainfall that occurs is concentrated on winter days.

Regions

Map of Turkey and its tourist regions:      The Marmara     Aegean Coast     Southeast Anatolia     Central Anatolia     Eastern Anatolia     Black sea coast     Mediterranean coast

The Marmara
	The Sea of ​​Marmara is the one that geographically separates Europe and Asia, but it is Istanbul the one that unites the culture of both continents. Throughout this history, this city has seen empires rise and fall, leaving a unique legacy both in its monumental mosques and in its exotic bazaars. You can also visit historical Ottoman cities like Edirne or Bursa, travel the coasts until you reach beautiful islands such as Avsa, or ascend to mount Uludağ.
Aegean Coast
	On the coasts of the Aegean you can find both fascinating beaches and ancient ruins. Izmir, ancient Smyrna, is the main city of the region and from there you can depart to the remains of Ephesus, one of the best preserved Roman cities, or the temples in Assos, Aphrodisias Y Sardis. Finally, you cannot miss visiting the hot springs of Pamukkale and its impressive white limestone walls.
Black sea coast
	Being one of the wettest and mountainous regions of the country, the north coast stands out for its large expanses of forests and parks. From the main city, Trabzon, you can go to the monastery of Add it inserted in a cliff. Amasra It has pristine beaches that attract thousands of tourists during the summer and Boğazkale It is famous for the Hittite ruins of Hattuşaş.
Central Anatolia
	The central steppes present several Hittite and Phrygian ruins of great interest to archeology enthusiasts. Ankara, the capital of the country, has slowly emerged from the shadow of Istanbul and has become a modern and attractive city. Konya stands out for its grandiose Seljuk monuments and Kayseri It is the gateway to the ski centers of Mount Erciyes. Cappadocia It is the jewel of the region, with its caves and houses carved into the rocky mountains that seem from another world. Do not miss the opportunity to observe this unique landscape from a hot air balloon!
Eastern Anatolia
	This rugged area stands out for its beautiful mountains and the ancient peoples that lived in its valleys. You can visit Ani, the ancient Armenian capital, or the ruins of the mount nemrut. The lake Go it offers spectacular landscapes and a chance to get to know Kurdish culture. From Erzurum, the main city of the region, you can visit the ski center of Palandöken, while in Kars You can observe the Russian influence in the region.
Southeast Anatolia
	This border region is the most influenced by the culture of the Middle East, mainly Arab and Kurdish. Gaziantep, the main city of the region, stands out for its collection of mosaics, while Diyarbakır It is considered the capital of Turkish Kurdistan. Sanliurfa It has a strong Arabic influence and has points of religious interest. Finally, Hasankeyf It is a small town of great archaeological interest that is threatened by the construction of a dam on the Tigris River.
Mediterranean coast
	The southern coasts, thanks to its beaches, palm trees and luxurious hotels, attract thousands of tourists annually. Antalya It is the center of the so-called «Turkish Riviera», which includes other beautiful cities such as Alanya, Bodrum, Fethiye or Kaş. Visit the famous "blue lagoon" of Ölüdeniz and the ghost town of Kayaköy. In the eastern region, Adana, Mersin and the historical Antioch.

To get

Visa

Before traveling to Turkey, check the requirements for entering the country. Although Turkey has a relatively flexible immigration policy for tourists, do not be misled: some countries of the European Union and the United States require a visa, unlike other countries that do not require such a document.

The following countries have visa exemptions for their citizens as tourists:

Many of the countries that do not have an agreement to enter without a visa, are only allowed to enter by requesting an electronic visa before their trip. The process is quite simple and is done in this website, where you can make the payment directly with an electronic card. You can also acquire this visa when you arrive at the main airports in the country, but this will cost more and will slow down your entry process to Turkey.

Citizens of countries not listed above will need to apply for a tourist visa at Turkish embassies and consulates. In certain cases, they will be able to access the electronic visa if they meet certain conditions, such as demonstrating economic capacity or obtaining visas in other countries of the OECD. For more information, check the site of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

By plane

The Atatürk International Airport It is today the fourth busiest in Europe.

A plane of Turkish airlines.

Istanbul It is the main gateway to the country by air. The city is served mainly by the Atatürk International Airport, the 10th airport with the highest international passenger traffic in the world. This terminal has services from all the capitals and main cities of Europe, as well as several transcontinental flights from different companies. In addition to Atatürk, Istanbul has the Sabiha Gökçen airport, which receives low-cost services and national services, although in recent years several international services have been transferred to this terminal, as a result of the saturation that Atatürk has. It is expected that this problem will be solved with the opening of a new airport in 2017, which would be the one with the largest capacity in the world.

In addition to Istanbul, several Turkish cities have international services. Due to its tourist attraction, Antalya It has the second most important airport, with flights from various cities in Europe and the Middle East. Esenboğa airport in Ankara and the Adnan Menderes of Izmir They are also good alternatives for entering the country, depending on the destinations you want to visit. Most of the country's cities have airports and domestic flights, so traveling by plane is a very good option to explore the country.

Turkish airlines, the country's flag carrier, is one of the world's leading companies. It serves more than 200 destinations worldwide, which qualifies it among the airlines with the largest number of destinations on the planet. In addition to the extensive network of domestic flights that connect the entire country, Turkish Airlines has services to the main cities in Europe and the Middle East. From Spain, there are flights connecting Istanbul with Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Santiago de Compostela Y Valencia. Turkish Airlines also has several transatlantic services: from the United States there are flights from Boston, Chicago, Houston, The Angels, Miami, New York, San Francisco Y Washington, while from Latin America there are flights to Istanbul from Buenos Aires Y São Paulo.

Due to the wide travel network owned by Turkish Airlines and the flights of other international companies, in recent years Istanbul has positioned itself as an important hub connecting flights from Europe and America with the Middle East, Africa and Asia, acting as in the past it was the main hub of the Silk Road.

Boat

A passenger ship in Antalya.

Due to its extensive coastline, there are several ways to get to Turkey by sea. For those who enjoy cruises, many lines that travel the Mediterranean or the Greek islands have stops in various cities on the Turkish coast, mainly Istanbul, Kusadisi Y Bodrum. There are also some services along the Black Sea, also with regular stops in Istanbul.

There are several permanent ferry services.

• Several ferries from various points on the Black Sea arrive in Istanbul. The most relevant service is the one that connects with Odessa, in Ukraine. The ancient services to Crimea (mainly Sevastopol Y And tall) are suspended as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
• In the eastern Black Sea there are regular services from Trabzon to Kutaisi (Georgia) Y Sochi (Russia).
• On the Aegean coast there are many services that connect with the nearby Greek islands. The main routes are Kos-Bodrum, Rhodes-Marmaris, Rhodes-Bodrum, Rhodes-Fethiye, Samos-Kuşadası, Lesbos-Ayvalık Y Chios-Çeşme, plus some combinations. Most of these services tend to have daily frequencies and last between 1 and 2.5 hours. The price can be around $ 40 and the $ 80 according to the destination.
• There are several maritime services to the island of Cyprus. As a result of the Cypriot conflict, all services to the island reach the territory of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. There are ferries that connect Famagusta with Mersin and from Kyrenia to Taşucu Y Alanya. The shortest route, Kyrenia-Taşucu, has daily services; while the passenger and vehicle ferry takes about 7 hours, the passenger-only express service takes 2½ hours. For reference, the prices per passenger range between € 40 Y € 70 one way, and between € 80 Y € 100 round trip.

In winter, ferry services are significantly reduced, so please inquire about their availability. Also, consider that many times shipping fees can reach a very high value, almost doubling costs.

By car

The border post between Georgia and Turkey at Sarpi.

In the Thrace region, there are several routes that connect Turkey with the rest of Europe. The main routes come from Bulgaria, either through Route I-9 (Varna Y Burgas south) and Route I-8 or Highway A4 (Sofia Y Plovdiv southwest), or from Greece, in particular through the A-2 motorway from Thessaloniki Y Alexandropolis. All of these routes eventually converge in Istanbul, from where you can cross the Bosphorus and continue your route through the country. These routes are heavily used and there can be high traffic, especially during holidays and vacations, when many families living as immigrants in Europe return to their country of origin. There are several bus services from the main cities to Istanbul, although they usually take a long time as they have several intermediate stops.

From the Caucasus, the main route is from Batumi, on the Ajaria Georgian, traveling south on Route 2 until reaching the Sarpi Pass; Once you have crossed the border, you can continue along the Black Sea until you reach the attractive Turkish cities of Rize Y Trebizond. There are other passes, such as Türkgözü, located in the continuation of the route between Tbilisi Y Akhaltsikhe, but the routes are often in poor condition and do not lead to relevant tourist destinations. Although there are steps built between Turkey and ArmeniaThese have been closed for several years. From Iran, meanwhile, the main passage is through Route 32. This route is born as a continuation of the highway in Tehran Y Tabriz, and then continue from there to the border near the Turkish city of Dogubeyazit. Through this Iranian route it is also possible to connect with the enclave Azeri of Nakhichevan, a territory that is also directly connected with Turkey through its M7 highway.

From Iraq and Syria there are several passes to Turkey. However, many are closed or are extremely dangerous as a result of the wars currently in these countries and the occupation by the Islamic State (ISIS). The main steps with Syria were those that connected Latakia Y Aleppo with Antioch, Aleppo with Gaziantep, while in Iraq it was from Mosul until Cizre.

Before traveling, check your driving license. Turkey recognizes that of some European countries; if yours is not included, you will need to obtain an international driver's license. Also, verify that your car has the respective automotive travel insurance; not all insurance covers Turkey, and even in some cases its use is restricted only to the Turkish European territory and not to the Asian one.

By train

A poster of the old Orient Express, which today works only as a luxury tourist train once a year.

A century ago, the train was the main connecting route between Europe and ancient Constantinople. The Orient Express It was one of the most luxurious and emblematic trains of the golden age of railways and connected the Ottoman capital with the main European capitals, reaching up to Paris. Unfortunately, little of that remains after the train has been displaced by more profitable means such as automobiles and airplanes. However, there are still some services that may be attractive to railroad lovers.

The most frequent international service from Europe to Istanbul is the train Bosphor which part in Bucharest, which can be reached by various rail combinations from the main cities of Western and Central Europe, usually via Budapest. This service takes about 19 hours as it crosses much of Romania and Bulgaria before arriving in Istanbul. Prices start from approximately € 50 and they increase according to the type of seat or bed. In case you come from the Balkans, there is the service Balkan express what part of Sofia and takes about 14 hours. Although its journey is shorter and cheaper (from € 30 approx), it is a simple train and does not have bunk services as it does have the Bosphor. In both cases, you will have to get off the train when crossing the border between Bulgaria and Turkey and, later, take a bus that ends the rail route as a result of maintenance work on the track. From Greece, international rail services were canceled in 2011 as a result of the economic crisis in that country.

A last alternative, much more luxurious, is to take the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, a tourist train that runs the old Orient Express route annually; The trip lasts 6 days visiting various cities and has a cost from € 10 000 per person.

On the eastern side, the most used service was the Trans-Asia Express connecting with Iran on a weekly basis. The service was actually two train services: it departed in Tehran (Wednesday, 21:25) and Tabriz (Thursday, 10:56 am) to get to lake van in Turkey, crossing it by ferry, and then taking a Turkish service to Ankara, arriving on Saturday at 8:30. The reverse service departed on Wednesdays at 10:25 from Ankara and arrived in Tehran on Friday at 8:20. As a result of the latest clashes in Turkish Kurdistan, the service is temporarily suspended. Other services in the Middle East to Syria and Iraq are also canceled as a result of the military conflicts in both countries.

From the Caucasus there is no continuous train service that crosses the border. The only option is to get to Batumi by train, take a bus to the border in Sarpi, cross it on foot and take a Turkish bus or taxi there to Erzurum or Kars, connecting there with the Turkish railway network.

Walk

By plane

The low-cost airline Pegasus Airlines It has a wide network of flights within the country.

Turkey has an extensive network of airports in all corners of the country, making it a good option for those who want to quickly visit Turkey's main tourist landmarks. For logical reasons, larger cities have more frequencies and promotions, while those of smaller size or closer to large cities have fewer frequencies and the prices are more expensive. Sometimes it is conv

During years, Turkish airlines it has remained the leading domestic airline, serving most of the local airports. But in recent years, several low-cost airlines have emerged with force, highlighting Pegasus Airlines, Onur Air Y AtlasGlobal. Most domestic flights use as hub the airports of Istanbul and Ankara, with very few services that connect two cities without going through one of the above.

In most airports you can find the Havaş buses that connect the terminal with the city centers. These services are much cheaper than taxis and, although you may have to wait a few minutes, they are usually quite frequent.

Boat

Ferries are a widely used means of transport in Istanbul to cross the Bosphorus, even though there are bridges and tunnels that connect both sectors of the city. Crossing the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia at sunset is undoubtedly one of the must-see activities in the old Ottoman capital. Several cruise ships or ferries also depart from Istanbul that cross the Black Sea coast, reaching as far as Trabzon, and the Aegean up Izmir.

On the Mediterranean and Aegean coast, meanwhile, there are endless sailboat offers that can bring tourists closer to the most charming Turkish islands or simply offer a ride along the coast. From Canakkale It is possible not only to cross the Strait of Dardanelles but also to cross to the island of Gökçeada in the Aegean.

By car

The main highways (otoban) from Turkey.

Turkey has a growing network of highways and main roads, which are in relatively good condition. The signs are similar to those used in other European countries, so it is not very difficult to find your way around, even though they are in Turkish.

The highways (otoban or otoyol) are usually marked with the letter O and connect the main cities of the country. Most of these highways are paid. There are two forms of payment, in which the flow of cars is separated when arriving at the toll point: through automatic systems with subsequent charge (OGS) or with prepaid cards (KGS), the most convenient way for a tourist. You can buy prepaid cards at some banks or when entering the highways. In the latter case, the service points are usually on one side of the road; if it is on the opposite side from which you enter, you must stop and cross the road on the marked roads.

A secondary road in eastern Turkey, near Giresun.

Most of the roads tend to avoid the main urban agglomerations. If you want to enter the city center, follow the signs that indicate Şehir Merkezi or Centrum. If you go into rural areas, use caution. The secondary roads are in very bad condition; They are narrow, without lines, with very sharp and dangerous curves, and in some there may be unpaved sections. Fortunately, they do not usually have a lot of traffic.

The service stations (benzin istasyonu) tend to be concentrated in urban areas and main roads. If you want to visit smaller cities, keep in mind that the stations are fewer in number and usually offer only diesel fuel (dizel or motorin). In case you use gasoline cars (kurşunsuz) u otro combustible, es recomendable ir lo más abastecido posible.

By bus

Un grupo de dolmuş, taxis colectivos, en Bodrum.

Una buena forma de recorrer Turquía, más allá de las grandes metrópolis, es utilizando los servicios de buses. Existen varias compañías, destacando algunas como Metro Bus, Pamukkale, Varan, Ulusoy Y Kamil Koç, las cuales cuentan con una amplia red y servicios de compra en línea de tickets. Las estaciones de buses (otogar) suelen tener una buena oferta de compañías, varios servicios por día a las principales localidades, múltiples conexiones con otras ciudades y precios asequibles.

Los buses suelen ser de buena calidad, aunque eso obviamente dependerá de la empresa elegida. En los autobuses existen azafatos que organizan al pasajero y ofrecen alimentos. También coordinan las paradas en las áreas de servicio; en muchos casos, los usuarios pueden ser transferidos a otros buses, incluso en recorridos que ellos adquirieron como directos.

Junto con los servicios regulares de buses, existen servicios más informales de minibuses o dolmuş. Estos servicios usualmente realizan recorridos dentro de grandes ciudades, desde la periferia al centro, pero también puede encontrar algunos que conectan con pueblos y aldeas que no cuentan con servicios de buses. The dolmuş suelen iniciar su recorrido cuando se llena (de allí su nombre) y puede pagarle directamente al conductor (kaptan) o a alguna persona designada para ello.

By train

Red ferroviaria de Turquía.

El tren es una alternativa interesante al bus, algo más cómoda y más barata, pero más lenta que éstos. TCDD, la compañía ferroviaria estatal, ha llevado un proceso de mejoras del sistema ferroviario en los últimos años, dando paso a las primeras líneas de trenes de alta velocidad. Sin embargo, esto ha provocado que varios tramos estén en construcción o reparación y algunos servicios estén suspendidos. Antes de planificar su viaje, verifique las condiciones del servicio.

Un tren de alta velocidad (YHT) en la estación de trenes de Ankara.

La ruta más relevante es la que conecta Estambul y Ankara. Desde hace algunos años, una línea de alta velocidad (yüksek hızlı tren or YHT) conecta la capital con Pendik, en el sector asiático de Estambul en un tiempo aproximado de 6 horas de viaje. Además, existe un servicio de YHT entre Ankara y Konya. Hay otros servicios desde ciudades como Izmir, Kayseri, Diyarbakir o Edirne, pero los servicios suelen abarcar únicamente las ciudades cercanas. A diferente de otros sistemas ferroviarios, la red turca suele contar con servicios desconectados, por lo que recorrer el país únicamente en tren puede ser fastidioso, con largas esperas en estaciones y varios desvíos.

Los trenes suelen ofrecer servicios de 1.º y 2.º clase. En los trenes nocturnos suelen haber también camarotes (kuşetli) y carros dormitorio (yataklı vagon), aunque verifique esto antes de comprar los pasajes. No todos los trenes, especialmente aquellos dirigidos hacia la zona oriental, cuentan con vagones comedor, por lo que siempre lleve algún tipo de alimento para los viajes, especialmente los más largos.

Los servicios de Inter Rail y Balkan Flexipass son válidos para los trenes turcos, excepto aquellos de carácter internacional hacia Siria, Irán o Iraq. TCCD además cuenta con su propio programa Tren Tur, que consiste de pases mensuales para viajar en los trenes a su cargo. Aunque cuente con pases, consulte con la TCCD si es necesario reservar algún asiento; en algunos casos puede ser necesario, por ejemplo en aquellos trenes que cuentan únicamente con 1.º clase.

Para información sobre horarios y precios, visite el sitio de la TCCD.

Talk

El único idioma oficial del país es el turco, una lengua de origen centroasiático, por lo que es muy diferente a los lenguajes hablados en sus países vecinos (a excepción del azerí). Este idioma se escribe con el alfabeto latino, incluyendo algunas letras adicionales; previo a la adopción de dicho alfabeto por Atatürk en 1928, el turco se escribía con la escritura árabe. El turco, al ser una lengua aglutinante, es difícil de comprender y aprender por aquellas personas que hablan español. Pero, por otro lado, el turco es de fácil pronunciación, al tener una alta correlación entre las letras y los sonidos.

El kurdo es hablado por cerca del 10% de la población, principalmente en la zona oriental del país. Hasta el año 2002, el uso del kurdo estaba muy restringido y su uso en medios de comunicación estaba prohibido. Aunque el uso del kurdo ha sido aceptado lentamente por el gobierno turco, su uso sigue siendo relativamente controversial en algunos rincones del país. En algunas regiones fronterizas de la región suroriental podrá encontrar a algunos hablantes de árabe.

En los últimos años, Turquía se ha convertido en un importante polo turístico. En ciudades como Estambul y los balnearios del Mediterráneo, es posible que pueda comunicarse en inglés, especialmente con los operadores turísticos. En lugares como el Gran Bazar es posible incluso hablar con los vendedores en español. Sin embargo, la mayoría de la población -especialmente los de mayor edad- no tiene gran conocimiento del idioma. Debido al alto número de turcos que han sido migrantes en Europa Occidental, es posible que encuentre a algunos hablantes de alemán o neerlandés. En cualquier caso, tenga a mano un diccionario o una lista de frases comunes para tenerlo en caso de emergencia.

To buy

El bazar de la ciudad de Tarso.

La moneda oficial es la lira turca (TRY, ), que reemplazó a la antigua lira en 2009. Con el fin de diferenciarla de la antigua moneda, la actual a veces es llamada “nueva lira” (yeni lira, abreviada YTL). Existen monedas de 5, 10, 25 y 50 kuruşes, además de una de 1 lira, mientras hay billetes de 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 y 200 liras. Aunque la moneda de 1 kuruş es de curso legal, su uso está muy limitado, por lo que en general se redondea a los 5 kuruşes.

Existen varias casas de cambio en las ciudades grandes, donde puede convertir dólares, euros y, en algunos casos, libras u otras monedas. Puede también cambiar divisas en bancos, pero suele no ser conveniente; el costo es alto y suelen estar atestados de gente. Si bien algunos lugares turísticos aceptan moneda extranjera, en general lo hacen a un cambio poco conveniente. Las tarjetas de crédito están bastante extendidas en las ciudades y es posible pagar con MasterCard, Visa y, en menor grado, American Express. Los cajeros automáticos son de uso común y podrá, si su banco lo permite, retirar liras de allí.

Visitar los mercados y bazares de Turquía es una experiencia única. Disfrutar de los olores de las especias y de los colores de las delicadas alfombras son un verdadero atractivo turístico. Aquí, el regateo es fundamental y prácticamente obligatorio. Con excepción de supermercados y tiendas pertenecientes a cadenas internacionales, siempre podrá regatear. Con práctica, usted podría llegar a bajar el precio hasta en un 75% respecto al original.

En general, no es considerado obligatorio dejar alguna propina. En restoranes, si es que el servicio ha sido bueno, se suele dejar una propina de un 5% a 10% (hasta 15% en restoranes finos). Dado que no es posible incorporar la propina en el pago con tarjeta, en general la gente deja las monedas sueltas que tenga, con el fin de redondear a una cifra razonable. Eso explica también que los meseros suelan dejar el cambio en monedas. En los taxis, no se deja propina, pero se suele redondear el cambio; si no desea redondear, diga “Para üstü?” (que significa “¿Cambio?”).

To eat

Una variedad de platos turcos sobre una bandeja llamada sini.

La comida autóctona turca es una mezcla perfecta entre productos y técnicas provenientes de Oriente Medio y de la costa mediterránea. A ellas se suma el intercambio culinario mantenido con los diferentes rincones por los que se extendió el Imperio otomano. Así, es posible encontrar influencias balcánicas, caucásicas y de Asia Central. Por otro lado, tanto la influencia otomana pasada como los recientes flujos migratorios han expandido la cocina turca a diferentes rincones de Europa, principalmente en la región central y occidental.

Dentro de los productos que más caracrterizan la cocina turca está el uso de especias, de cereales como arroz y burgul, legumbres, vegetales como berenjenas y cebollas, y carnes de vacuno, pollo y cordero. En las zonas costeras del mar Negro y el Egeo es también popular el uso de pescados como la anchoveta.

El plato que más identifica a la cocina turca es el kebab. En general, el kebab corresponde a cualquier tipo de carne que es ensartada en un pincho mientras se asa. Fuera de Turquía se conocen en general dos variedades de kebab: el döner kebab en Europa (carne cortada en láminas, equivalente al shawarma árabe y el gyros griego) y el şiş kebab en América (trozos de carne en pincho, similar a un anticucho). Sin embargo, en Turquía se dará cuenta de la gran variedad de kebabs existentes. Prácticamente todas las ciudades importantes cuentan con su propio medio de preparación. Además del kebab, otros platos populares son los pide (pizzas de masa fina), koftes (mezcla de hamburguesa y albóndiga) y el lahmacun (pizzas turcas con carne).

En general, los turcos toman un desayuno contundente, que puede incluir preparaciones con quesos, tomates, pepinos o aceitunas. El almuerzo suele partir con una sopa, principalmente de lentejas (mercimek çorbasi), y una serie de aperitivos llamados meze. Luego viene el plato principal, para cerrar con los famosos postres turcos, donde destacan los baklava, un pastel de masa filo con frutos secos (nueces o pistacho, principalmente) y bañado en almíbar o miel, o las famosas delicias turcas (rahat lokum), gomitas de diferentes sabores.

En la mayor parte de las ciudades podrá encontrar restoranes de comida turca, además de locales de comida rápida que cuentan principalmente con variaciones de kebabs (destacando el dürüm, que es servido en una tortilla enrollada como un burrito). En las ciudades más grandes hay un creciente grupo de restoranes de comida internacional y grandes cadenas de comida rápida. Para los vegetarianos será difícil encontrar fuera de las grandes ciudades un restorán dedicado exclusivamente a ellos, ya que la mayoría de los platos contienen carne. En los restoranes tradicionales, principalmente en la región del Egeo, podrá encontrar algunos platos de vegetales sazonados en aceite de oliva que pueden servirle. En otras regiones del país, sin embargo, podría tener que recurrir a vegetales enlatados u otros platos preparados para evitar problemas.

Drink and go out

Junto al café turco, suele servirse una delicia turca para contrastar el sabor amargo del café.

The café (kahve) es uno de las bebidas más tradicionales y su consumo se remonta a la época de gloria del Imperio otomano, desde donde fue exportado y popularizado al resto del mundo. Usualmente es servido en pequeñas tazas junto con un vaso de agua, para evitar que el poso se quede entre los dientes. El café suele ser muy fuerte: el sade kahve es el café negro tradicional, mientras el şekerli, the orta şekerli and the çok şekerli corresponde al café con un poco, algo y mucho azúcar, respectivamente.

Pese a la historia del café, es el té (çay) el que tiene mayor consumo y es hoy la bebida nacional. Aunque recién en los años 1930 se introdujo en el país, hoy Turquía cuenta con varios salones de té para disfrutarlo. Además de las versiones mas tradicionales de té, existen algunas variantes populares como el té de manzana (elma çayı) y el de salvia (adaçayı).

Otra bebida popular es el ayran, una mezcla hecha con agua y yogurt con un poco de sal y sin azúcar. Esta bebida es bastante popular en la región de los montes Tauro, donde destacan las variantes de köpüklü ayaran Y yayık ayaranı. The boza es burgul fermentado con agua y azúcar, el cual puede encontrar incluso en supermercados. The sahlep, en tanto, es una bebida caliente, hecha con lecha, raíces de orquídeas, azúcar y un toque de canela.

Aunque la mayoría del país es musulmán, gran parte de la población consume alcohol de forma regular. La cerveza es una de las más consumida, seguida por el vino y el tradicional raki. Este último es la bebida alcohólica más popular de Turquía, se toma disuelta con agua y tiene un gusto anisado y fuerte (unos 40º).

Salir en Turquía es muy diferente según el lugar donde estéis. Estambul y Ánkara son un mundo aparte, mucho más próximo al estilo europeo. Sin embargo, la vida nocturna es muy limitada fuera de las grandes ciudades y la vida social se encuentra en los salones de té, donde en general sólo asisten hombres.

Sleep

Un resort en Konakli, sobre la costa mediterránea.

La explosión de turismo que ha vivido Turquía en las últimas décadas ha ampliado enormemente las posibilidades de alojamiento en el país. Estambul, al igual que otras ciudades importantes, cuentan con una gran variedad de hoteles, incluyendo varias cadenas internacionales, por lo que tendrá todo tipo de opciones y un amplio rango de precios. Eso sí, debe considerar que Estambul es notoriamente más cara que otras ciudades como Izmir o Ankara o incluso que destinos turísticos específicos como Capadocia or Pamukkale.

Pese a la gran variedad de ofertas, no existe una amplia red de hosteles juveniles fuera de Estambul. En su reemplazo, puede buscar alojamiento barato y sencillo en pensiones (pansiyon en turco), que está disponible en la mayoría de los pueblos y ciudades del país, aunque dirigidos a un público mucho más amplio.

En las costas del Egeo y del Mediterráneo podrá encontrar un buen número de resorts de lujo; además, es común recibir varios cruceros que cuentan con servicios de alojamiento mientras recorren los mares. En tanto, en la zona de Capadocia podrá descansar en alguno de los típicos hoteles-cueva cavados directamente en las rocas de la zona.

Si bien muchos hogares aún cuentan con los llamados baños a la turca, en la actualidad, la mayor parte de los lugares de alojamiento cuentan con inodoros de tipo occidental.

Security

Un automóvil de la policía turca (polis) frente a su estación.

En Turquía, el teléfono de emergencias para la policía es el 155, el que puede utilizar de forma gratuita en cualquier lugar. Sin embargo, en muchos lugares rurales, la policía no tiene cobertura; en dichos casos, debe llamar al 156 para contactar con la gendermería (jandarma) a cargo de la seguridad en dichos lugares.

En general, Turquía es un país seguro, aunque los turistas pueden encontrar varios problemas de hurto en grandes aglomeraciones (por ejemplo, el Gran Bazar o la plaza Taksim). Use el sentido común: evite caminar con grandes cantidades de dinero en efectivo, no exhiba costosos aparatos electrónicos o joyas, mantenga sus pertenencias a la vista, etc. En general, las ciudades más importantes cuentan con grupos de "policías turísticos" que atienden a los visitantes que han tenido algún problema de seguridad; en general, dichos oficiales hablan inglés y alemán, al menos. Las ciudades más pequeñas suelen no tener problemas de seguridad. En general, la gente es confiable y tratará de ayudarlo siempre que pueda hacerlo.

En los últimos años, el conflicto kurdo, la guerra civil en la vecina Siria y la aparición del Estado Islámico han elevado los niveles de alerta interna en Turquía. Varios atentados terroristas han impactado grandes ciudades como Ankara y Estambul, algunas veces dirigidos a turistas. Estos atentados han sido situaciones puntuales hasta la fecha, pero en cualquier caso, se solicita que los turistas estén atentos en todo momento, eviten concentraciones políticas, porten su pasaporte en todo momento y sigan las instrucciones del personal de seguridad. Sobre todo, se recomienda no viajar al sector sudeste del país, especialmente a lo largo de la frontera de Siria.

Evite beber agua del grifo o de fuentes. Si bien en las ciudades el agua es potable, puede que no esté acostumbrado a ella y le produzca algún problema estomacal. Puede comprar agua embotellada fácilmente y en diferentes tamaños. De igual forma, evite comer en lugares callejeros si usted tiene un estómago sensible, por muy apetecible que parezca la comida.

En caso de sufrir algún problema de salud, existen hospitales públicos y privados en Turquía. Las ciudades más grandes y las zonas turísticas tienen varias clínicas privadas, que atienden más rápido y suelen ofrecer mejores servicios que el sistema público, pero que suelen ser costosos. Es recomendable contratar un seguro de viaje que cubra cualquier problema que reciba. En caso de emergencia grave, los servicios públicos le proveerán de tratamiento lo más rápido posible, lo cual es muy útil especialmente en zonas menos pobladas.

Respect

Un hombre orando en una mezquita de la provincia de Antalya.

Turquía es un país predominentemente laico y moderno, esto no significa que no sean religiosos. Casi la totalidad de sus habitantes son musulmanes y muchos de ellos son muy tradicionales en sus costumbres. Esto es importante de considerar al momento de interactuar en Turquía. Si bien los locales suelen ser más tolerantes con los turistas, pues pueden no conocer las costumbres del lugar, siempre es mejor comportarse y evitar problemas.

• Muchas personas, especialmente en los sectores centrales y orientales del país, es profundamente conservadora y religiosa. Respete la religión de dichas personas; no haga bromas con el Islam y sus tradiciones ni hable mal de ellas. Aunque muchas mujeres usan un velo en su cabeza, si usted no lo usa, no tendrá problemas en la mayoría de las ocasiones.
• Muchas mezquitas son importantes atractivos turísticos. En general, no hay problema con que usted ingrese, incluso si no profesa el Islam. Si desea ingresar, deberá descalzarse; en muchos casos, las mujeres deberán cubrirse la cabeza con un pañuelo. El ingreso con pantalones o faldas cortas o los hombros desnudos suele estar prohibido. Una vez dentro, manténgase dentro de los espacios de seguridad y no intervenga con los fieles que están practicando su religión. En las mezquitas más grandes podrá interactuar con guías que están ahí para resolver todas sus dudas sobre el Islam.
• Los turcos están muy orgullosos de su historia y de su nación. Evite cualquier insulto al país, sus símbolos, su gobierno, la figura de Atatürk o cualquier otro símbolo del país. De igual forma, no cuestione temas sensibles (y que pueden ser considerados ofensivos) como el genocidio armenio, el conflicto kurdo o la disputa de Chipre. Hacerlo no sólo le generará problemas inmediatamente con los locales, que pueden reaccionar hasta violentamente, sino con el gobierno: las ofensas a la nación turca son un delito que implica penas de cárcel entre 6 meses y 2 años.
• Evite muestras públicas de afecto, especialmente en las regiones más conservadoras. De igual forma, mantenga la distancia con los locales, especialmente si son mujeres; responda dando la mano o abrazando sólo si su interlocutor lo ofrece primero.
• Estar ebrio en la vía publica es un comportamiento bastante mal visto.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on Turkey.w:Turquía
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Turkey. Commons