- When to visit
- How to get around
- Where to go
- What to eat
- Packing list
- Insider tips
- How to stay connected
When to Visit
The best time to visit Turkey is during a shoulder season, i.e. spring (April-May) or fall (late-September to mid-November). There’ll be fewer crowds, less intense weather, and prices tend to be cheaper. If you’re looking for solid beach time, the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas warm up around mid-June and stay pleasant through early October. For skiing, Uludağ, Kartalkaya, Erciyes and Palandöken have the best snow and most manageable crowds in January-February.
How to Get Around
Plane: Traveling within Turkey is a breeze, with Turkish Airlines and budget carriers like Pegasus offering many flights a day all over the country. Tickets are best booked via their apps.
Train: Certain train routes can make for a scenic experience, and run through cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, Izmir, Selçuk, Kars, and Erzurum. You can book tickets on the TCDD website. The Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi) is a famously adventurous experience, though hard to book. This sleeper train runs between Ankara-Kars, making many stops in the Anatalian countryside and totaling 26 hours.
Metro: A handful of Turkish cities are connected by a rail network, be it an underground system, tram, light rail, cable car, or all of the above. Istanbul’s metro system is massive, and covers a lot of ground – making having a car unnecessary.
Bus: Destinations without an airport are generally well connected by intercity buses, and aggregate websites like Obilet.com make it easy to compare companies’ schedules and prices. When it comes to local transportation within cities, most have robust bus networks and many have even incorporated contactless payments (including Izmir, Muğa, Antalya, and Bursa) so you don’t have to worry about buying tickets or transportation cards.
Car: Renting a car can be a great way to hit hard-to-reach destinations like hidden ruins and quiet coves. (But a word of caution: driving in major cities like Istanbul and Ankara might not be worth the headache.)
Taxi: Locals use BiTaksi and Uber to hail cabs all over the country. Be sure the meter is running, and it’s always smart to keep an eye on your map in case there are any communication barriers.
Ferry: Without a doubt the most relaxing way to travel, you can take ferries between various Turkish cities, as well as up and down the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Definitely do not leave Turkey without experiencing a ferry ride with a glass of Turkish tea.
Where to Go
For city seekers: Istanbul, Antalya, and Bodrum are where modern luxury collides with beauty and history. For smaller cities that still have a sense of hustle and bustle – with a little extra charm – Bursa, Izmir, Ankara, Gaziantep, and Mardin, are worth exploring. Check out our travel guide on the the must-visit cities in Turkey.
For nature lovers: Catch a hot-air balloon in Cappadocia, swim in waters of the Turquoise Coast, hike the Lycian Way, and trek through the Kaçkar Mountains. There’s an endless amount of stunning geography in Turkey, and you can read more in our piece on the must-see spots in Turkey.
For history buffs: There’s seemingly no end to the amount of ancient ruins and grand monuments in Turkey. From the Ancient Greek cities of Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Aspendos, and Hierapolis, to the Carian tombs of Dalaman, the colossal statues of Mt. Nemrut, and the Neolithic archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe, you’ll never run out of historical sites. Then there are the architectural wonders like the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Galata Tower – and that’s just in Istanbul!
What to Eat
- Turkish breakfast: Skip the hotel buffet and head out for a “serpme kahvaltı.” This style of Turkish breakfast involves a table absolutely laden with different dishes: fresh cheeses and herbs, scrambled eggs in tomato, endless portions of marmalades and honey, delectable clotted cream, the list goes on.
- Kebabs: Everyone typically knows about döner kebab, but it’s usually the least interesting. Look for grill houses (called ocakbaşı) serving perfectly seared chunks of lamb on a spit and tender, melt-in-your-mouth Adana (spicy kebabs of ground meat).
- Meze: Turkey’s answer to tapas, order a bunch of small plates at any meyhane with a few friends and a liter of raki to really experience a Turkish night out.
- Dessert: While Turkey is a phyllo heaven and baklava is its reigning king, be sure to check out other sweet treats like künefe (melty cheese and vermicelli), sütlaç (rice pudding), and even tavuk göğsü, a milk budding made with chicken breast.
- Tea and coffee: Get your caffeine fix at a traditional tea house or cafe, serving çay (tea) and kahve (Turkish coffee). Both brews are strong, and may not be as sophisticated as the third-wave coffee shops that have taken over the city, but they are a tradition that goes way, way back. Look out for a game of backgammon (called tavla), and try your hand at some more coffee house-culture.
What to Pack
Beyond your everyday essentials and travel gear, we recommend being sure to have these items on had:
- Comfortable walking shoes – so you can tackle the cobblestones and hills in Istanbul.
- Pants/long skirt – For when you visit mosques.
- Shawl or scarf – To cover hair and shoulders when visiting a mosque.
- Light jacket – If you’re traveling during warmer months, it’s still a good idea to bring a light jacket for cooler nights, especially in more arid climates like Cappadocia.
- ATM card or cash to exchange – Though you can use your card in most places in Turkey, even on the bus, street markets and some older institutions are still cash only.
- Extra luggage space – Make sure you have room to take souvenirs home!
Insider Tips
Bargaining: While the art of bargaining is slowly fading away with the rise of supermarkets and chain shops, you can still put your negotiation skills to use in open-air markets and in some shops at Grand Bazaar. The best tip for bargaining is to think of the price you feel is worth paying, and work your way toward that – don’t get caught up on getting the best deal for the sake of it. Showing genuine interest in whatever you’re bargaining over and friendly smile can go a long way. And it’s always polite to accept a cup of tea if you think you’ll be buying something.
Tipping: Though not mandatory, tipping is common in Turkey and many folks round up their bill in restaurants and taxis. A 10% tip is generous and appreciated.
Souvenir shopping: Take a look through the wares on offer at different shops and even grocery stores before settling on a big purchase. You will find many beautiful, artisanal handicrafts – handwoven carpets, colorful ceramics, interesting textiles, and unique jewelry – but beware of cheap imitations.
Cultural experiences: Whirling dervish and belly dancing shows are certainly entertaining, but they are less cultural experiences and more tourist attractions. Exploring a neighborhood market, joining a cooking class, or hitting up a local hamam (bath house) are all activities that are more connected to everyday Turkish life.
Staying connected: Ditch the hassle of exorbitant roaming fees and the need to hunt down a local SIM card by downloading an eSIM. With the Red Bull MOBILE eSIM, you can have all your necessary apps right on hand. You’ll definitely want to stay connected so you can translate menus, pull up public transportation options, and hail a cab in a pinch.
For more information on how to stay connected and avoid roaming charges while traveling in Turkey, check out our piece on the benefits, FAQs, and installation process for the Red Bull MOBILE eSIM.
