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HOTELS IN TURKEY >>
 Turkey is the country where the meeting of East and West becomes reality. Its Eurasian location is stretched across the Anatolian peninsula and the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. Turkey shares borders with eight countries namely, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Its shores are surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and the Black Sea to the north. Turkey’s transcontinental nature is not only apparent in its geography, as it has also brought great influences in its history and culture. Today, Turkey is a very popular tourist destination. Its beautiful beaches, modern nightlife, Mediterranean climate, archeological sites, delicious food and hospitable people attract thousands of tourists from all over the world. The offered facilities and options are also very vast. Hotels in Turkey could not be the exception as they vary from traditional apartments in the mainland to holiday resorts along the Turkish seacoast and luxurious hotels in Istanbul, the most historical and beautiful city of the country.
History
 Turkey as a unique strategic location has seen the rise and fall of great civilizations, such as the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empire. Upon today, the country has undergone influences from Eastern Europe, Asia, Russia and the Middle East. Great conquerors such as Alexander the Great, the Persians and the Romans have fought in its territories some of the biggest battles of history. It is not surprising that Istanbul had carried the names of Byzantium, New Rome and Constantinople, depending on the rulers of the area. The present citizens of the country, namely the Turks were originally a nomadic tribe that found permanent settlement within the Ottoman Empire. The founder and first president of the democratic secular constitutional Republic of Turkey was Mustafa Kemal Pasha, honored upon today with the name Ataturk, father of the Turks. Mustafa Kemal became the republic’s first president and introduced a number of reforms that still determine the fundamental institutions of the country. In 1945, Turkey entered World War II on the side of the allies and became part of the United Nations. The Truman Doctrine set by the United States in 1947, enunciated the American intentions to guarantee the security of Turkish-Greek relations and resulted in a huge US economic and military support. The decades that followed, characterized by internal conflicts and coups, leaded to inter communal violence on the island of Cyprus. Turkey invaded militarily in Cyprus in 1974, occupying the 37% of its territory. Today, the country is a leading power of Eastern Europe and candidate member of the European Union.
Art and Cuture
 The great historical influences that Turkey has been undergone throughout the centuries have also left an enormously rich cultural heritage to the country. Turkish tradition and art varies significantly, as it is a blend of cultures and civilizations such as the Anatolian, the Ottoman, the Roman and of course the Islamic. Especially, in Istanbul the cultural diversity is greatly apparent. Sites like the Dolmabahce Palace, the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofia demonstrate the meeting of such different and at the same time significant civilizations, a unique amalgamation that you should not miss. Another important site is the Topkapi Palace, a wonderful palace in the centre of Istanbul that used to be home to all Ottoman Sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839- 1860). Another place that demonstrates the historic importance of the place is the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul. Museums that present either the artistic heritage of the country or the new art tendencies include the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art and the Istanbul Contemporary Art Museum.
Gastronomy
 Turkish cuisine is considered one of the best in the world. It is a combination of traditional recipes with influences from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean cuisine. A traditional Turkish breakfast is often served around 7 am and consists of fresh bread (pide), white cheese, butter, tomatoes, cucumber, black salted olives, marmalade or honey. Around midday, it is time for lunch. On every street corner you can find some döner kebab, simit (sesame bread ring), pastries with different fillings and more. Around 7pm it is dinnertime, where soups, white beans and different kinds of meat are served and shared with the whole family. The national drink is raki, which resembles the Greek ouzo or the French pastis. Other well-known dishes in Turkey are the mezes and meats like Iskender Kebab, usually served with dinner. Mezes are small dishes, like stuffed wine leaves and different salads. Meats and kebab are usually grilled and accompanied by rice pilav. Every region has its own meat specialty. The most famous is the Iskender Kebab from Bursa, served on pide bread with tomato sauce, yogurt and melded butter. One should not leave Turkey without having tried one of its desserts (tatli). The most popular is baklava, made by thin layers of puff paste filled with crushed walnut, pistachio or almond and soaked in syrup. Other sweets worth trying are kadayif, a vermicelli pastry in syrup eaten with a thick cream and kazandibi, a pudding with thinned chicken breast, best when served with ice cream (dondurma)
Places to visit
 Istanbul is one of the most important and beautiful cities of Europe. A must destination for all year long, as it is the city where the European and Asian continents meet. There is really so much to see and do in Istanbul. The city is known for its famous Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia Mosque, Topkapi Palace (the residence of the Sultan and his family) and Dolmabace Palace (residence of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk). In the old districts of Sultanahmet and the Galata Tower you can stroll back to the era of Sultans and Pashas. The Grand Bazaar is a covered market full of small shops with traditional products and local handicrafts. After a long day of walk you can relax in one of the bathhouses (hammam). Nightlife varies from trendy roof cafés and rock bars to traditional places with live-music that lie in the side streets of Istiklal Caddessi in Beyoglu and the area of Bosporus. First time travellers should also know that hotels in Istanbul are known for their unique service facilities, a fact that contributes to a pleasant and relaxed stay. You will find all kinds of hotels in Istanbul that range from cheap hotels in Istanbul to family hotels in Istanbul and luxurious suites.
 The area around the Turkish coast is a woderful destination as well. Beautiful beaches and lively nightlife promise a perfect summer on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. The most popular destinations at the Aegean coast are Bodrum, Izmir and Marmaris. To start with, Bodrum´s city kept some of its original atmosphere from Persian and Greek times with its authentic harbour and small streets. You can also find here the Mausoleum of Halicarnassos, which was one of the seven world wonders. Hotels in Bodrum are really cozy and authentic. Izmir is one of the bigger cities of Turkey, with the second biggest harbour after Istanbul. Reserve hotels in Izmir and visit the historic symbol of the city, namely the Tower of Konak. Marmaris is a real summer holiday destination. It is known for its Bazaar and many open-air clubs. Trendy apartments and hotels in Marmaris are ready to contribute to a pleasant and relaxed holiday. Additionally, find hotels in Alanya or hotels in Antalya along the Turkish Mediterranean coast and discover why this part of Turkey is called Turkish Riviera. These splendid cities combine the atmosphere of a summer holiday resort with a rich heritage of historic sites and momuments. Visit Antalya and Alanya and discover the original side of Turkish Riviera.
 The Mainland of Turkey is another interesting place to visit. The inner Turkey has some very appealing parts, like Ankara, which is the capital of the country and the second largest city, after Istanbul. Ankara is an important commercial and industrial city, as it is the center of the Turkish Government and houses all foreign embassies. It has also a very rich history, depicted in the vast archeological sites that surround it. Hotels in Ankara, especially those close to its small historic centre (hisar) and the Mausuleum of Ataturk, are famous for their warm environment and friendly staff. A visit to Ankara is an encounter with another side of Turkey. A side closer to deep rooted traditions and Anatolian norms. Another interesting and historic destination is Cappadocia, a region south of Ankara, where you can visit the exceptional natural wonder of fairy chimney. It is also suggested a trip to Pamukkale, where you can see the natural phenomena known as White Castles of Cotton and the ancient Ephesus.
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