Straddling the border between Europe and Asia, Turkey sits at a global crossroads, boasting an extraordinary history.

It’s this long and fascinating past that has shaped the modern country, creating a unique mixture of stunning cuisine, sites of huge archaeological and religious importance, as well as one of the world’s greatest cities.

From Alexander the Great to the Roman and Ottoman empires,

From Gobeklitepe ” Zero Point in time – World’s Oldest Temple” to Seljuq’s,

Turkey’s colorful history has left behind remarkable cultural riches: Hittite monuments, ancient Greco-Roman ruins, Byzantine churches, Seljuq caravenserais, Ottoman mosques, and more.

Even today, Turkey ranks among the top travel destinations in the world, thanks to such attractions as stylish Istanbul, which has one of the globe’s youngest populations, the chic beach towns along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, the wealth of world-class historic sites and ruins, and the unforgettable landscapes of desert spots like Cappadocia, the famous bazaars and artisan trades, and the decadent hammam spa traditions…

Add to that the incredible cuisine which

rich and countless gastronomic culture that has been affected by the country’s history as well as its geography. The abundance of diversity in terms of both ingredients and differences in regional cultures, as well as the legacy of the Ottoman kitchen, have all played a large role in its development. With a landscape that encompasses so many different variations of scenery, temperature, altitude, humidity, vegetation, and weather, Anatolia’s diversity is also a leading factor in the similarly diverse nature of its cuisine.

and it’s clear that Turkey travel offers something for everyone.

Capital: Ankara

Area: 783.562 km2

Population: 82.000.000 (estimated)

Language: Turkish is the official language; Kurdish is also spoken with addition of other minority languages.

Ethnic Groups: Turkish 70-75%, Kurdish 18%, other minorities 7-12% (Jewish, Christians)

Politics :  Secular Democracy

Climate: Turkey’s varied climate generally a dry semicontinental Mediterranean variant is heavily influenced by the presence of the sea to the north, south, and west and by the mountains that cover much of the country. The sea and the mountains produce contrasts between the interior and the coastal fringes. Several areas have the winter rainfall maximum typical of the Mediterranean regime, and summer drought is widespread.

However, the elevation of the country ensures that winters are often much colder than is common in Mediterranean climates, and there are significant contrasts between winter and summer temperatures.

Official Holidays and Observances

In addition to the holidays listed below, Turkey celebrates a number of religious holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as

Ramadan 3 and ½ days and Sacrifice Feast 4 and ½ days.

To find out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please visit :

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/turkey/