Turkey, Europe

 

Sometimes the water here is warm enough to tempt bathers even in December. On the so-called Turkish Riviera the Taurus mountains meet the sea, walkers meet bathers swimming in the crystal-clear waters, and life is leisurely on the coast. Life is also fun on the Turkish coast.

Anatalya and Bodrum are known to many holidaymakers today: possibly because Bodrum´s nightlife seems to spark many a romantic encounter or because there is something here for every member of the family? Turkey also has a rich and great history, to which palaces like the Topkapi palace in Istanbul, the former headquarters of the mighty Ottoman empire, still bear witness today. Antique Troy, Hagia Sophia and the cave church in Anatolia are all well worth a visit. Come and step inside a strange and simply beautiful world of wonders.

Hotels in Turkey

Great bathing and party fun
If you love the sea or enjoy diving, bathing, swimming or sailing, you will find your place in a hotel, pension, holiday home or holiday apartment somewhere on the turkish riviera or the southern Aegean coast. For example, in Alanya, you will be charmed by a boat trip through the bizarre world of stalactite caves.
The town´s nightlife is a particular draw for singles and party animals with its countless bars and nightclubs, where the dancing goes on from dusk until dawn. A town like Antalya with its narrow winding streets is a very special treasure: with picturesque fishing villages, beautiful beaches and an open air museum that takes visitors through 3000 years of Turkey´s history. The waterfalls near Antalya are a natural spectacle: inhabitants of the region come here to picnic and enjoy their free time. In comparison to the southern Aegean and the Turkish Riviera, the Turkish Black Sea coast is relatively unknown: this is unfair. A holiday apartment in Agva, for example, offers a wonderful beach in a beautiful bay and a much more leisurely pace of life than in Bodrum or Alanya.

Cultural Treasures
Two of the seven wonders of the world were in Anatolia: the Temple of Artemis and the Halikarnossos Mausoleum: and you can still visit the remains today. Many different groups of people had a hand in shaping what is today Turkey: Greeks, Persians and Romans amongst others all held sway in ancient times, before the Ottomans took power and left their own majestic buildings behind. You can visit the remains of antique cities, for example Milet, the home of the important mathematician Thales. Istanbul bears witness to its varied history. It was formerly the site of both Constantinople and the headquarters of the Byzantine Empire. Christians were oppressed by the Ottoman rulers, churches were transformed into mosques, like the Chora church, today a museum. Istanbul´s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just like the small town of Safranbolu, which impresses visitors with its medieval atmosphere. The ruins of the antique town of Xanthos and the former temple region Letoon which belongs to it are a part of this heritage as well as, of course, the excavated ruins of Troy.

A natural experience
You can experience wild and beautiful nature throughout Turkey. The city of Bolu in the Black Sea region is surrounded with thick forests and overshadowed by mountains, rivers and lakes. In the region of the same name, in the town of Mengen, there is Turkey´s most famous school of cookery, which is an attraction for budding chefs and foodies. The chalk terraces of Pamukkale are famous as a UNESCO natural heritage site, some of which - filled with water - are thermal spas offering the ultimate in relaxation. Turkey´s highest mountains, some of which are over 5000 meters high, are located in east Anatolia, for example Ararat, on which Noah´s arc is said to have landed after the flood.
Turkey´s regions vary greatly from one another in terms of their flora and fauna: palms and olive trees grow in the mediterranean region, black pines cover parts of the Taurus mountains and you can find steppes in the highlands of Anatolia. It is impossible to be bored here.

Accommodation
Turkey offers accommodation to suit every pocket and taste: villas in tropical gardens, modern holiday homes, luxury hotels and simple family-run pensions, some with an in-house fish restaurant for freshly-caught sea treats. Perhaps you are attracted by a holiday apartment in a historical manor house in Anatolia? A holiday in Turkey is sheer enjoyment. . . especially when it comes to choosing the right accommodation.

 

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