Lonely Planet Turkey (Travel Guide)

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Key events: Istanbul Biennial (alternating years), Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, Bosphorus Cup Istanbul Regatta October In the summer and fall, the water levels are high enough to float into Altınbeşik Cave on rubber rafts to explore the cavern’s gigantic underground lake, gliding past stalactites, stalagmites and travertines. The surrounding landscape in the Manavgat Valley of Antalya is a dramatic mix of karst and pine forests. Yedigöller Milli Parkı Nevertheless, with outdoor activities gaining popularity in Turkey, more and more local municipalities and community organizations are creating new hiking routes, including urban treks in the capital led by Hiking Istanbul, the expanding Mysia Ways network in Bursa, new Ecotrails around Dalyan and the Leleg Way on the Bodrum Peninsula. Close to the Antalya airport and city center, this nine-mile-long sand beach is lined with all-inclusive resorts that cater to families with kids’ clubs and other activities and entertainment for all ages. The water here is warm, shallow and calm. You can take a banana boat ride or visit Sandland, an open-air display of sand sculptures. Ovabükü Beach Best beach for peace and quiet Cappadocia and the coasts are generally still warm, Istanbul usually has more nice days than gray ones, the southeast is starting to cool off, and crowds and prices are diminished most everywhere.

Though the full trek includes some tough mountain sections where hikers must be entirely self-sufficient, – which means carrying a tent, food and water – much of the trail can be hiked in manageable one-day sections, staying each night at small pansiyons (guesthouses) that offer a taste of village life and hearty local meals. Assuming the peak is open, climbing Mt. Ararat requires a guide, who will sort out the permit process and set out a schedule that allows time to acclimate to the altitude en route to the 5137m (16,854ft) summit. During the ascent, there are epic views across a vast landscape stretching into Turkey, Armenia and Iran. Yazıköy–Kanyonüstü–Kent Forest, Yenice Forests Domestic flights are operated by national carrier Turkish Airlines, along with its subsidiaries AnadoluJet and Sun Express, and by low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines. While it’s worthwhile splurging on a sunrise hot-air balloon, there’s a chance the weather will prevent the ride. We went on a magical and somewhat challenging guided bike tour from Ürgüp, weaving between the otherworldly fairy chimneys that give Cappadocia its reputation as a place of beauty and Unesco-protected heritage. Things to do in your free time This pretty little path gives visitors a taste of the beautiful nature inside Dilek Peninsula–Büyük Menderes National Park south of Kuşadası and it's a great starter for families. Some 801 different species of plants are found there, including 31 that are endemic to Turkey. Notable species are identified on informative signs posted along the way.With generally good highways and varied landscapes ranging from sea shores to summits, Turkey is prime road-trip territory. Larger cities have metro and tram systems, while even the smallest villages are generally served by at least one daily dolmuş (shared taxi) or minibus. Spring and fall are pleasant times of year to be almost anywhere in the country, with temperatures often warm enough for outdoor dining and drinking but not oppressively hot. Istanbul and other big cities usually have a lively calendar of arts and cultural events. In the fall months, it’s still warm enough to swim, especially along the Mediterranean coast, and blissfully relaxed after school holidays end and most tourists return home. Low Season: November to March Best for skiing and for bargains elsewhere

People drive from all over the area to watch the sunset from Gümüşlük, a tiny village at the western edge of the Bodrum Peninsula. The beach here isn’t anything special, but it’s lined with a bevy of charming (and mostly pricey) waterfront fish restaurants with romantic seating areas and camera-ready views. Lara Beach Best beach for family-friendly resortsIstanbul’s sidewalk cafes and rooftop bars are hopping, and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are warm but not yet sweltering. Even Turkey’s far east is thawing out. It’s a good time to be pretty much anywhere in the country. With beaches heaving with people during the high summer holidays, a blue cruise on a gulet (traditional wooden yacht) around the Aegean or Mediterranean coast is an ideal escape. In Istanbul, catch a breeze on a ferry ride or Bosphorus tour. It’s also prime time to hike the Kaçkar Mountains, which are snowed in for much of the rest of the year. Key events: Istanbul Tulip Festival, Anzac Day, Istanbul Film Festival, Alaçatı Herb Festival, Urla Artichoke Festival May With its scenic coastlines, rugged mountains, peaceful villages and dramatic natural features, Turkey is a hiker’s dream – if you’re prepared for a bit of an adventure. NEW pull-out, passport-size 'Just Landed' card*with wi-fi, ATM and transport info - all you need for a smooth journey from airport to hotel

Turkey is not a particularly bike-friendly place, with limited infrastructure and little driver awareness of sharing the road, but bike touring in the Turkish countryside is rewarding for experienced and well-prepared cyclists. Several marked trekking routes, including the Evliya Çelebi Way in western Turkey and the Hittite Trail east of Ankara, are also accessible by cyclists as well as long-distance walkers. Accessible transportation in Turkey The “rakı-balık” night is a quintessential Turkish dining experience, particularly in Istanbul and along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. What some call the national drink of Turkey, rakı is a strong anise-flavoured liqueur typically mixed with water and ice, and balık is fish. Such meals typically start with an assortment of meze, which are often the real stars of the show. While some of the best trails have been mapped by the Culture Routes Society, a non-profit organization raising awareness of culture-focused hiking in Turkey, paths aren’t always well-marked, and it can be difficult to get information about hiking routes in English.Turkey’s first and best-known long-distance hiking route is a classic. It traverses a vast swath of the Mediterranean shoreline between Fethiye and Antalya, taking in dramatic coastal vistas, secluded beaches and dozens of atmospheric ruins, including the ancient cities of Xanthos, Olympos and Phaselis.