The Best of Turkey: An A-Z Guide

by Dr. Jessie Voigts /
Dr. Jessie Voigts's picture
May 01, 2015 / 0 comments

Turkey – this ancient, complex culture calls to travelers. Whether you love food, music, culture, archaeology, friendly people, extraordinary landscapes, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, architecture, books, or art, Turkey has it all. If you’re planning a trip to Turkey, we’ve got you covered. 

I asked my travel writing friends  - and fellow White House Travel Bloggers (we’re headed to Turkey next week, courtesy of Turkish Airlines!) – for their best Turkey travel tips. Soon, I'll add my own, and those of my fellow #WHTravelBloggers, so check back! 

 

Turkish Air, the Newseum, and the White House Travel Bloggers !

The White House Travel Bloggers welcomed at the Newseum, hosted by Turkish Airlines

 

Want more travel tips for Turkey? Follow along on twitter: 
#widenyourworld and #lovefromturkey

 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo Natalie Sayin, Turkish Travel, adapted by Wandering Educators
 

Before we dive into the A-Z Guide, here are the best websites that focus exclusively on Turkey. They will have articles on all of the categories below – and I can guarantee once you dig in, you won’t want to leave!

Lisa Morrow runs Inside Out in Istanbul - a site that I am forever digging into, for her astute insights about Istanbul (and Turkey). Bonus: she's an educator!

Natalie Sayin runs Turkish Travel - a complete guide to travel to Turkey. We recently interviewed her for her best travel tips, but be sure to dig in deeply to her expansive, interesting site!

Tom Brosnahan runs Turkey Travel Planner - it’s also a complete guide to everything Turkey! We interviewed him back in the day - and he’s still going strong.

Turkey’s for Life has great recipes, details life in Fethiye, shares Turkey travel tips, and espouses slow travel. 

And our article, #WidenYourWorld: Most Influential Travel Bloggers Share the Best of Turkey, is a good overview!

 

Turkish Travel tips

Photo Natalie Sayin, Turkish Travel

 

Accessibility

Finding Unexpected Joy in Turkey

 

Airlines

Turkish Air, of course!  http://www.turkishairlines.com/

What's It Really Like to Fly Turkish Airlines Business Class?

Behind the Scenes with Turkish Airlines: Food, Safety, Training, and Smiles

Behind the Scenes: Turkish Airlines Headquarters in Istanbul

5 Reasons to Plan a Layover at the Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul

 

Books

Tom Brosnahan’s Bright Sun, Strong Tea – an interview with the author about his Peace Corps experiences that started a love for Turkey.

Books about Turkey, at Turkish Travel 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Olives in the market. Mark Yee

 

Culture

Virtual Field Trip to Turkey to #WidenYourWorld

Turkish Culture – A Guide to Social Traditions 

Citizen Selfies and My Trip to Turkey

Travel Eater shares thoughts on Turkey 

Baby-friendly places - Nobody beats the Turks

Travelling in Turkey: my love hate relationship with no resolution 

How to Use a Squat Toilet 

10 Reasons Turkey Rocks 

7 Things You Must Do in Turkey

Turkey, Blindness, and the Philosophy of Traveling Slow 

Transitional Enigmas: Living in Istanbul, Turkey: The Queen of Turkish Cities

Turkey: Under Construction

Introduction to Mosques in Turkey

On the Making of Turkish Carpets: Culture, Skill, and Meaning

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Escape Artistes

 

Drink

Getting Your Buzz with Turkish Coffee 

Don't Call It 'Turkish' Coffee, Unless, Of Course, It Is
 

 An A-Z Guide
Photo: Sharon Yee

Black as Hell, Strong as Death, Sweet as Love 

For the Love of Turkish Coffee

5 Simple (Yet Little Known) Rules to Enjoy Turkish Coffee

The best Turkish Coffee in Istanbul 

Turkish Tea: How to Make, Serve and Drink 

Sipping Raki in Istanbul, Turkey

 

Hammam

Bathing with Strangers: What to Expect at a Turkish Hammam

Exploring Istanbul — Our First Turkish Baths 

She Spa-a-a's in Turkey

What to expect at a Turkish bath house in Istanbul

You Want Me to Do What? 4 Things to Know About Your First Turkish Bath

 

History

Homeschooling history—literary sleuthing in Istanbul 

Is Troy Worth Seeing? 

12,000 Years Of Struggle, Spirituality, and Sanctuary in Southeast Turkey

Ephesus: An Ancient City Full of Surprises

Istanbul’s Waterways: Rich Historic Roots of a Very Contemporary City 

Our Lady of Electricity: Istanbul to Taos

Untouristed SE Turkey: Beauty and Hospitality in an Ancient Land 

Dolmabahce Palace: Last Historic Days of the Ottoman Empire 

What is Gallipoli?

5 Historical Places in Turkey That Everyone Should Visit

Visiting the House of the Mother Mary

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Heads of Mt Nemrut. Turkish Travel

 

Istanbul

So you’re visiting Istanbul: read this 

A  video by the Vagabrothers – Top 10 things to do in Istanbul!

 

20 things women should know about Istanbul (it’s for everyone, actually!)

How to Get the Most Out of Istanbul: A Highly Opinionated List

10 Amazing Sights to See on a Study Abroad Weekend in Istanbul

The Ancient Art of Ebru Painting in Istanbul

Top 10 Things to Do in Istanbul

The Spice Market in Istanbul Gives an Unexpected Gift

Best Budget Hotel in Istanbul

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Head of Medusa at the Basilica. Mark Yee

 

Nine misconceptions about Istanbul 

Five things in Istanbul 

The Blue Mosque - astounding details

 

 The best of Turkey - An A-Z Guide. Here, shopping in the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Photo: Shopping at the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul. Sharon Yee

 

Through the eyes of an Educator: Istanbul 

The hidden gems of Istanbul 

Incredible Istanbul (video)

Exploring Istanbul

60 Hours in Istanbul

Wheels down: Navigating Istanbul with a baby

 

Hungry? Fresh fish! From The Best of Turkey: An A-Z Guide

Photo: Fresh fish! Talia Klundt

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Sharon Yee

 

Exploring Istanbul by Neighborhood 

Exploring Istanbul — The Suleyman Mosque

Exploring Istanbul — The Ayasofya 

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey: Photos and History

Exploring Istanbul — The Blue Mosque 

Katie Parla’s Istanbul 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Spices, Istanbul. Sharon Yee

 

Getting Istanbul Wrong – Again! 

Istanbul for 91 days 

What not to do in Istanbul 

A Guide to Study Abroad and Living in Istanbul: The Queen of Cities is Fascinating and Memorable 

How to do Istanbul in Six Hours

First impressions of Istanbul 

The Other Side of Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Leeches at the market. Escape Artistes

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Sharon Yee

Learning

Ten interesting facts about Turkey 

A travel guide to Turkey 

Playing tourist in Turkey 

Academic papers on Turkish History

 

Music

Galata Mevlevi Whirling Dervish House and Museum 

The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey 

The Turkish Music Portal

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Transitions Abroad 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Sharon Yee

 

Outside of Istanbul

10 Best Things to do in Cappadocia 

Hiding a Geocache in Cappadocia

5 (wait, 6!) Great Activities for Kids in Fethiye, Turkey 

Our first trip to the completely-awesome Fethiye fish market 

Göreme, Cappadocia — Definitely Worth It 

Ballooning in Cappadocia – Photos!

A Hidden Gem in Southeastern Turkey: Visit Şanlıurfa

A CITY OF CAVES // Cappadocia, Turkey (video)

Why You Need to Visit Sanliurfa and Mardin, Turkey – Before Everyone Else Does

Holy Wisdom and Heavenly Food in Trabzon, Turkey

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Ballooning in Cappadocia. Escape Artistes

 

A Spotter’s Guide to a Turkish Waterpark 

Surprise Adventure: Turkish Men Playing Yard Games 

This Frozen World, Like Snow in Midsummer 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Pamukkale. Escape Artistes

 

The hot springs and antique pool of Pamukkale, Turkey 

The highs and lows of Cappadocia, Turkey

What Would YOU Buy at This Great Turkish Arts Market?

 

Transportation

Day Dreaming – the Ferries of Istanbul 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Ferry, Istanbul. Turkish Travel

 

And the best for last!!

 

What to eat

Honestly? Start at IstanbulEats - they’ve got everything covered!

Eating Asia has a great section on Turkish food 

Also, Culinary Backstreets

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Mark Yee

Savor Istanbul with a Walks of Turkey Food Tour

Eating Istanbul: Experiencing Turkish Flavours 

5 Mystery Turkish Foods Vs. Tourist

8 Family Friendly Dishes from Turkey

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Sharon Yee

 

Best Street foods in Istanbul 

Turkish Street Foods: Ice Cream, Mussels, and More!

Katie Parla’s Istanbul food (swoon)

Istanbul – gateway to the culinary world 

My Turkish Love Affair

Love this site: Delicious Istanbul

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Turkish delight. Sharon Yee

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Turkish desserts. Sharon Yee

 

Food from Turkey: A Country’s Cuisine Reflects The Essence of its Culture

Eat Smart in Turkey tours (we love them!)

Food on Foot in Istanbul: A Tour of Traditional Culinary Treats

Stretchy, Super-Cool, Turkish Ice Cream!

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Stretchy Turkish ice cream! World Foodist

 

Eight Turkish Foods to Try Before You Die 

 

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Turkish delight! Sharon Yee

 

Food for a Quid: Turkish Stuffed Mussels (Midye Dolma)

 An A-Z Guide

Photo: Turkish stuffed mussels. World Foodist

 

Get inspired by the amazing photos of Turkey by my friend, Lola Akinmade.

 

Do you have more to add? What are your favorite things to see, do, learn, and eat in Turkey?