Guide to Turkey

Belly dancing. Bustling bazaars. They all scream Turkey. With one foot in the East and one in the West, it’s an explosion of cultures and influences. And as you can imagine, the results are pretty amazing. Ottoman mosques rub shoulders with Roman temples. Spice markets sit alongside chic boutiques. And dramatic mountains sweep down to sun-baked beaches. Talking of which, Turkey comes out all guns blazing on the sun, sea and sand front with waters of deepest blue whispering sweet nothings to gold-dust sands. Whether you’re stretching out on Side’s duvet-soft beaches or waxing lyrical about the eye-popping scenery of Antalya’s shores, you won’t know which dazzling sliver to head to next. What’s more unlike some other parts of the Med, most of Turkey’s tourist resorts have lost little of their native flavour. You’ll find sugar-cube towns, old castles and temples peppering many of the key sun-traps. And if it’s history you’re after, you couldn’t ask for more. Journey back in time and explore the ruins of Ephesus. Gaze in awe at needle-like minarets in Istanbul. And relive the days of the crusades at St Peter’s Castle in Bodrum. But this exotic country is also moving with the times. So turn your travels on their head and get to grips with Turkey’s bang up-to-date Side, too. Live the high life and mingle with the jet-set at Marmaris’ marina. Spend an indecent amount of time trying on posh togs in the chic boutiques here, too. Or shake things up and have an after-dark ball in Bodrum’s buzzing bars and clubs. Wherever you make tracks in this mesmerising Middle-East-meets-Europe land you’re sure to fall for its charms in a heartbeat.

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