Turkey is a land rich with history and beauty. Home to some of the world’s greatest civilizations, Turkey is at the intersection of two very different continents. İstanbul, on the land bridge that connects Europe and Asia, is the infinitely intricate and surprisingly seductive progeny of three thousand years of migrant history. Though resolutely secular by government decree, Turkish life is graced by the religious traditions of its 99% Muslim population. Tourists cram İstanbul and the glittering western coast, while Anatolia (the Asian portion of Turkey) remains a backpacker’s paradise of alpine meadows, cliffside monasteries, and truly hospitable people.
Facts And Figures Official Name: Republic of Turkey. Form Of Government: Republican parliamentary democracy. Capital: Ankara. Major Cities: İstanbul, Adana, Bursa ...more
Finding work in Turkey is tough, as the government tries to restrict employment primarily to Turkish citizens. Foreigners seeking jobs must obtain a work visa, which in turn requires a permit issued ...more
Flights: Atatürk Havaalanı ( IST; ☎ 663 6400), is 30km from the city. Buses (3 per hr. 6am-11pm) connect domestic and international terminals. To get to Sultanahmet from the airport, take the HAVAS ...more
Waterways divide İstanbul into three sections. The Bosphorus Strait (Boğaz) separates Asya (Asia) from Avrupa (Europe). The Golden Horn, a sizeable river originating just outside the city, splits Avrupa ...more
Public Transportation. AKBİL is an electronic ticket system that saves you 15-50% on fares for municipal ferries, buses, trams, water taxis, and subways (but not dolmuş ). Cards (6YTL) are sold ...more
Tourist Office: 3 Divan Yolu (}/fax 518 8754), at the north end of the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet. Open daily 9am-5pm. Branches in Taksim’s Hilton Hotel Arcade on Cumhuriyet Cad., Sirkeci train station ...more
Budget accommodations are concentrated in Sultanahmet (a.k.a. Türist Şeğntral). As Turkey has become a backpacker’s must, there has been an explosion of cheap places to stay, turning Akbıyık Cad ...more
İstanbul’s restaurants often demonstrate the golden rule: if it’s well advertised or easy to find, it’s not worth a visit. Great meals can be found across the Galata Bridge and around Taksim Square ...more
İstanbul’s array of churches, mosques, palaces, and museums can keep an ardent tourist busy for weeks. Most first time travelers to İstanbul spend a lot of time in Sultanahmet, the area around the ...more
In the past, a man found in a women’s bath was sentenced to death, but today customs have relaxed and it’s not rare to find co-ed baths where both genders strip beyond their skivvies. Most baths ...more
Locals and travelers alike pour into the streets to savor intense nightlife, which falls into three categories. The first includes male-only çay (tea) houses, backgammon parlors, and dancing shows. ...more
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For 50 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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