All countries are shaped by their history. In Turkey’s case, it has taken the great empires of the world to create a homeland that’s bursting with spark and charm. Its long and complex history can be seen in what remains of its successive ruling powers - the most influential of these being the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Magnificent ancient buildings and equally cherished ruins serve as time-honoured landmarks. Equally enduring are the social influences that intertwine with the wider forces at play such as geography, trade and commerce, religious and cultural diversity. From a history of conquests, Turkey has emerged the conqueror of hearts and very much a must-do fun-filled destination loaded with bucket list highlights.
There’s plenty of local rivalry for which of Turkey’s two major cities is the best - Istanbul, the capital for fun or Ankara, Turkey’s actual capital. In fact, there’s really no contest. Both are great places to visit with their own unique character.
For a start, Istanbul is based on the spectacular Bosphorus Strait, which naturally lends itself to lashings of holiday jollies. It would be impossible to inject any more wow-factor into this people-packed destination. Istanbul is edgy and exciting with precincts famous for all the best things in life - fantastic food, sizzling nightlife, shopping and fun-filled seaside spaces alive with families and friends out and about in the sunshine. Intermingled with all this vitality are the vestiges of past victors. In a star-studded line-up of architectural triumph, the hills behind the waterfront are resplendent with magnificent historic buildings including the Ottoman inspired Topkapı Palace, Aya Sofya Museum (Hagia Sophia) - initially a Greek Orthodox cathedral and then later Ottoman mosque, the monolithic Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet Square and Hippodrome. Gifting Owl has guided tours of these eye-popping wonders that will fill you in on the fascinating facts and stories of the people and power behind them. You’ll also find a city and cruise combo tour enjoying the aromatic pleasures of the spice bazaar before a scenic cruise of the beautiful Bosphorus and its shore-line that boasts the Rumeli Hisarı Fortress and Dolmabahçe Palace.
Turkish cuisine is universally loved, and nothing tastes quite as good as experiencing Turkish food on Turkish soil. From top restaurants to cafes and street vendors, Istanbul offers foodies a tantalising array of taste sensations. There are several districts known for their cuisine. As a visitor with only a few days to enjoy all the destination offers, you may decide to confine yourself to the main tourist haunts. And there are options aplenty for the hungry traveller with wonderful Turkish flavours often with a western twist. However, for enriching and authentic food experiences its often best to head out of the mainstream and into the neighbourhoods where locals gather in their favourite eateries or open their homes to you for an entertaining afternoon of cooking and friendship and a shared family meal. These types of authentic experiences are as good as it gets when it comes to being immersed in the culture of the country, its people and customs. If you’re considering a gift for a happy traveller in this part of the world, there are some excellent home cooking experiences on offer. If your gift recipient changes their plans, they can always use their gift voucher in another destination, wherever they happen to be.
Ankara became Turkey’s capital city in 1923, transforming it from agricultural heartland into a vibrant and cosmopolitan hub for politics, commerce and industry, the arts and education.
Geographically, Ankara also serves as a junction point between north and south, east and west, making it the country’s foremost centre for international trade. As a thriving nest of sophistication, anyone in the mood for some heavy-duty holiday retail splurging will be kept entertained for hours scanning the mix of modern and traditional in the shopping precincts. From the carpets and copperware of Çıkrıkçılar Yokuşu and Bakırcılar Çarşısı bazaars to Cankaya’s haute couture! The Anatolian cuisine is on full display in the capital too with bazaars and shops filled with all types of culinary goodies such as nuts, spices, dried fruits and fresh meats - especially the seafood harvested from the Black Sea. Along the way, you can recharge with hot cups of Turkish coffee, sumptuous savoury platters and delicious pastry desserts before hitting the shops again! After dark, Ankara is full of options with a lively arts scene and night clubs that beat out the latest dance tracks until dawn.
From Ankara, it’s not far to Cappadocia one of the country’s top adventure playgrounds, if not one of the most unique historic sites in the world. Cappadocia or Kapadokya as the locals call it lies in the semi-arid region of Central Anatolia. The highlight attractions are the fantasy-fashioned Fairy Chimneys - a natural phenomenon, elaborate ancient dwellings carved into the hillsides, underground cities that could house up to 10,000 souls to escape the onslaught of marauding mobs of soldiers, the three valleys of Zelve and the World Heritage listed Göreme Open-Air Museum. You can spend days wandering through the region taking in the sights and learning the stories behind an ingenious community and people that created fantastic above-and-below-ground cities of stone. Hot air ballooning is also a thing here. So, before or after you start your scouting, take the chance to see the region from a birds-eye view. We have some great adventure gift ideas that showcase the best of the best in Cappadocia.
The southern coastal regions of Turkey are magnificent. Facing the Mediterranean Sea, resort cities and towns are blessed with year-round warm temperatures, sunny summer days and beachside suburbs. Marinas are everywhere and stretch out along parts of the waterfront. Jammed with moorings, the mass of runabouts and white yachts are an enticing site with masts gently rocking back and forth with the movement of the water. Cruising the Mediterranean is a sought-after experience here, particularly in spring (May-June) and autumn (Sept-Oct) when the days are warm, and the sea is calm.
Antalya is a major city in the south and a great starting point if you intend to head north-west up the coast. With beaches and bustling cobbled streets, the city is a spectacular place to relax and lap up the good life. We recommend you spend a day or two in the surrounding region too, where you’ll find hidden gems among the hills and fields such as Serik’s Roman Theater of Aspendos, an extraordinary and world-renowned attraction and further down the coast, the ancient port city of Side.
A three-hour journey inland from Antalya to Pamukkale is a definite must. Pamukkale is home to one of Turkey's most stunning and beautiful natural wonders with travertine terraces that look like something you may find in the mythical city of Utopia. Then dart back to the coast for more unforgettable experiences of the Mediterranean, calling into the small resort cities of Kas, Ölüdeniz Belediyesi and Fethiye before reaching Ephesus, about an hour south of Izmir. Ephesus is yet another must-see destination that takes you back in time to the reign of the Roman Empire. Huge monuments along with traces of opulence such as the marble columns that line the streets are still very evident - you can get a real feel for what life must have been like during that era. You’ll want to spend at least half a day or more in Ephesus before hitting the next major city of Izmir on the shore of the Aegean Sea.
There are literally thousands of spectacular sights to see and adventures to do across this wondrous and beautiful country. Turkey is a country of contrasts and deep traditions that will continue to surprise and delight you, no matter where you travel or how long you stay.
