One of my favourite rituals is to sit down at the end of the day with an ice-cold beer and watch the sun sink below the horizon. Certain places in Turkey are renowned for their sunsets, and photographers often gather at those spots hoping to capture the perfect moment. A glowing orange sky slipping behind … Read more

Turkish tea, not coffee, is the national drink of Turkey. Visitors are often offered tea when they go to a Turkish home, and meetings in tea gardens—family-friendly social spaces—are a common part of daily life. Traditional teahouses in villages and town centres tend to be male-dominated, with women visiting less frequently, but tea itself remains … Read more

The ruins of Ani are the remains of a medieval Armenian kingdom: an impressive spread of churches, mosques, and fortifications on the border with Armenia. Situated on a wide plateau, Ani is one of Turkey’s most overlooked historical sites, yet its architecture and historical importance make it unique. Ruins of Ani – Northeast Turkey on … Read more

We walked up and down the street three times and, realising we were lost, asked a passer-by where the Gaziantep Mevlevi Lodge Foundation Museum was. Located in the Şahinbey district, it is one of several museums in Gaziantep, but its entrance is easy to miss. The passer-by smiled and pointed behind us. We had been … Read more

Beautiful, unspoiled nature, sandy beaches, ancient castles, and colorful seaside towns — if that sounds like your ideal getaway, it’s time to visit Lesvos. Greece’s third-largest island is easy to reach by ferry from Ayvalık (Türkiye) or by boat from nearby Greek islands. Lesvos offers countless sights and activities, so this road trip itinerary will … Read more

One of the greatest pleasures is biting into a favorite dish. I love dolma, and today I quickly enjoyed two for lunch. If you travel in Turkey and spot a traditional restaurant, be sure to stop in and try dolma. The word dolma literally means “stuffed,” and in Turkish cooking vegetables such as peppers or … Read more

The Turkish bath experience is a familiar recommendation on many lists of things to do in Turkey. While it may not be my personal favorite, it is an important cultural experience worth mentioning for visitors planning a trip. Many five-star hotels in Turkey include a Turkish bath in their spa facilities. These hotel hamams are … Read more

If a building could hold untold stories, Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul’s Fatih district would be one of them. Founded in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, Topkapi served as the administrative heart and family residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries. Within its walls were political intrigues, fierce struggles … Read more

From the outside, the wooden mosque of Maral appeared plain and unremarkable. Perched on a slope beside a winding mountain road, it could easily be mistaken for an abandoned building. The weathered timber looked tired and the metal minaret felt out of place. After seeing the grandeur and detailed decoration of the Blue Mosque in … Read more

One thing you will quickly notice when visiting Turkey is how sociable Turkish culture is. People in Turkey enjoy meeting others and often spend long stretches of time conversing with strangers, sharing stories and opinions. Visitors from more reserved societies may be surprised by this openness. Below is a concise guide to Turkish social customs … Read more