Asia meets Europe in Turkey
Long a favourite of the backpacker set, Turkey is coming into its own for the more refined traveller. That said, Turkey is an incredibly different country from anything you may have seen before; from the biggest market in the world to one of the world's most beautiful Mosques. From stunning natural rock formations to incredible man-made rock homes and villages, Turkey's contrasts, sights, sounds and people are turning it into Europe's number one destination. Go, and see for yourself..
Holiday Supermarket will make your journey cheaper and easier - so get cracking and discover one of the most interesting countries in Europe.
Holidays to Turkey will start on the Turquoise Coast or in Istanbul, one of our favourite cities of all time. Waking up to the sound of the morning prayers, watching the sunrise over the Bosporus and heading out to an early morning pastry at the coffee shops that dot every street corner is one of life's great pleasures. (And that coffee!)
Turkey holidays should factor in a lot of sightseeing, because there are sights to be seen! The Blue Mosque is one of the most striking buildings you'll ever see - up there with the Taj Mahal for sheer extravagant majesty. It was built in 1665 and is an incredibly graceful building with six minarets and a series of cascading domes and half domes. The real pleasure is inside with the famed blue walls and luminous blue dome. Prepare to spend at least two hours luxuriating in a truly splendid building.
Right next-door is one of the other great architectural wonders of the ancient world. The Aya Sofya. Built in 537 by the Roman Emperor Justinian, it is the grandest Christian Church of all time. The exterior is monumental and is exceeded only by the interior. The vast internal area is a maze of arches and windows, carved stone and domes.
It would be easy to spend cheap holidays to Turkey just in Istanbul - there is so much to see and do. The Topkapi Palace was built in the 1400s for the Ottoman Empire and is a series of gardens, buildings and monuments. You must see the harem quarters, which were built to house hundreds. The Treasury museum holds some incredible artefacts from the Ottoman rule, including, it is said, the severed hand of John the Baptist. You can see it all with holidays Turkey!
Before leaving the capital, make sure you leave a day free to roam the biggest markets in the world at the Grand Bazaar. You'll get lost for sure, but with 4000 stalls and shops to browse, it's a pleasurable lost.
Holidays to Turkey demand time at the beach, so head south to one of the most popular resort areas. The beach of Olu Deniz is near the town of Fethiye, itself a historic city with an ancient tomb and plenty of ruins. Olu Deniz is justifiably famous and often rates as a top ten beach in the world. Perfect white sand is lapped by crystal clear water. The swimming is excellent and the resorts and surrounding hotels are of high quality.
The town of Bodrum, north of Fethiye has an ancient castle built by the Crusaders in the fifth century - it’s quite magnificent and part of what drags many history buffs to holidays Turkey. For others the marina, the beaches close by and the restaurants, bars and boutiques of the old city are an equal draw card!
If you do love your ancient ruins, then look no further than the town of Ephesus for Turkey holidays with a historic bent. It is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the world. This ancient Greek city is famed for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The city is one of the seven churches of Asia as cited in the Book of Revelations and it is said the Gospel of John was written here.
Turkey holidays appeal to everyone - there are fabulous beaches and seaside towns, boating, paragliding and diving. There are ancient ruins and a cultural heritage the match of anywhere. If you've a mind for something quite extraordinary, make the trip inland to Goreme. The fairy chimney formations, the ancient villages carved out of the bare rock and the underground cities are an amazing sight. You can walk through the area and venture underground to see churches, wine cellars, rooms and sleeping quarters, all carved out of solid rock.
Marmaris, on the Turkish Riviera coast of south-western Turkey is a great little port town; full of good quality hotels, excellent resorts and plenty of action. You can sun yourself on a beach or take to the Turquoise waters in the protected coves and islands that dot the area. Scuba diving is big here and so is off shore sailing and boating excursions. The once sleepy little fishing village is no more - this is a bright and vibrant tourist town with a nightlife during summer that rivals Istanbul. That said, it still retains its friendliness and the dozens of restaurants serving up seafood and more are an absolute delight.
The limestone terraces of Pamukkale, inland from Marmaris, are an extraordinary sight. Terraced lips of white limestone form a natural cascade of rock down the hills, all filled with hot geothermal spring water. You can no longer bathe in the hot spring pools but the sight of dozens of terraced pools cascading down a mountain is awesome! There's plenty to see in the surrounding area so a visit is well worth the effort.
Turkey is one of the warmest, friendliest countries on the Mediterranean coast. The food is spectacular and the facilities are generally of western standard. And the biggest bonus of all - it's relatively cheap.