Famously thought of as the bridge between the East and the West, Turkey is a traveller’s dream. Boasting amazing natural beauty as well as stunning historic buildings, Turkey is also rich in culture, and wonderfully varied, from the bustle of the cities to the calm of the countryside. It’s no wonder that tourism is such big business there.

That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to planning a trip to Turkey. As well as some advice on what to do with your time there, it contains some tips that every traveller would do well to keep in mind: how to make sure you spend your money sensibly.

Do your research

True, the most important thing about a holiday is that it gives you a chance to relax. But it’s still worth putting in a little bit of effort to plan your trip before you get out of your plane and realize you have no idea where to go next.

As well as looking up the basics before you travel – like how to get from the airport to your hotel, how to pay for stuff while you’re there, and where you’re actually going to go while you’re there – it’s well worth researching a little about how Turkey works and what it offers to tourists. That’s why this guide contains:

• How to get the most for your money, so you don’t end up overspending;
• How to make sure your visa is sorted before you travel;
• What the best options are for accommodation;
• How to travel around within Turkey;
• Some of the best places to visit; and
• A few extra tips to help you make the most of your stay.

How to get the most for your money

The Turkish currency is the lira, and at the time of writing there are 4.03 lira to one Australian dollar¹.

You may well be able to use your Australian credit or debit card while you’re in Turkey, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. Costs for this can vary a lot, so it’s well worth checking with your bank to find out what they’ll charge you for using foreign ATMs and paying for stuff in a foreign currency. You could consider looking into specialist travel cards, or getting a borderless multi-currency account with Wise, which comes with a debit Mastercard you can use widely.

The traditional option for paying for stuff abroad, of course, is to get hold of some cash in the foreign currency before your trip. But while it remains useful to have a bit of cash on you, especially for smaller purchases, you should always watch out for bad exchange rates. Even if a currency exchanger is offering you “zero commission”, they’re almost certainly still making a tidy profit through the exchange rate.

Get a specialist account for your travels

A specialist account is a good way to save when you travel. Take a look at the Wise multi-currency account which offers a linked multi-currency Mastercard, as well as currency conversion using the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees.

You can hold dozens of currencies, and top up using dollars before switching to the currency you need for your trip. It’s then free to spend any currency you hold using your card, cutting out foreign transaction fees, and leaving you more to spend on yourself.

Get to know the visa situation

Australian citizens travelling to Turkey will need to get a visa, and it’ll be valid for 90 days.

It’s possible to do it when you get there, but much easier and more relaxed to get it sorted in advance of your trip. Get an e-visa from the official website. It’ll currently cost you 60 US dollars².

Make sure there’s plenty of time left on your passport.

Accommodation in Turkey

There are plenty of options for places to stay in Turkey, and they vary widely, depending on both where you are, and how much you want to spend.

If you’re heading to Istanbul, it’s well worth booking in advance, because of the high demand from tourists. In other places, however, you might have luck simply turning up – although planning ahead is always a sensible thing to do.

Here are a few of the options you’ll have:

• Hotels. As you’d expect, you’ll find hotels wherever you go in Turkey, with options running the gamut from the luxury to the run-down. The most luxurious hotels aren’t all in the major cities: there are plenty of high-end resorts in smaller spots like the coast and even up in the mountains.
• “Apart hotels” or villas. If you prefer a bit more independence than you get in a hotel, renting a place for yourself (or a group) is a great alternative. This is often cheaper than a hotel, and can take you to some wonderful and picturesque parts of the country.
• Backpackers’ hostels. Stick to the major tourist trails and you’ll have your pick of options here. They’ll likely be nice and cheap, but of course the trade-off is sharing a large room with some strangers. Take a look out for trekkers’ lodges, too, along the hiking routes.
• Camping. If you want to get properly off the beaten track, camping and caravanning are options in special camping parks or even national parks. Glamping is an option too, naturally.
• Airbnb. Just like everywhere else, Turkey has Airbnb as an option too, so if you’re after a truly immersive experience it could well be worth hunting down a bargain here.

Getting around in Turkey

Turkey is huge, so it’s well worth planning your itinerary carefully. Here are your basic options.

• Fly. Simply hopping on a plane between Turkey’s major cities is often a surprisingly cheap option if you plan ahead. However, there are plenty of ways to make the trip by land, so it’s probably worth exploring them first.
• Get a boat. To travel across the Bosphorus in Istanbul, there’s no better way than via ferry. Around the rest of the country, ferry sadly isn’t a practical way to travel, but any time you can spend on the Mediterranean coast – or out at sea – is well worth exploring, especially in a major coastal destination like Antalya.
• Take the train. This can be a wonderfully scenic option as well, travelling through some of the country’s most beautiful regions. This needn’t just be a way to get from A to B, but can also be a tourist activity in its own right. Turkey’s official tourism site has a few of the best rail journeys you can take.
• Ride the bus. Like the train network, Turkey’s buses are a convenient and efficient way to get between its cities and towns. Local bus services within the cities are plentiful as well.
• Use the public transport systems. The major cities are as well equipped as you’d expect when it comes to public transport, with metro options, trams, and even minibuses. There are taxis too, if the bustle of the metro isn’t for you. A cheaper option here are dolmuş – shared taxis that operate on fixed prices.

Sights to see

Of course there are too many to mention, but here are a few of the manifold attractions that Turkey has to offer tourists, organized by area.

Istanbul

You’ll find whatever you want in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, whether you want vibrant nightlife or spectacular historical sites. The Hagia Sophia museum is unmissable, as are the Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) and of course the Grand Bazaar.

Ankara

The capital city, Ankara, is inland, in Central Anatolia. While there are plenty of remarkable historical places to visit such as Ankara Castle, it’s also a great spot to go shopping.

Antalya

There’s more history on display in Antalya, but this time alongside stunning cliffs and beautiful beaches, in this Mediterranean coastal location. Even Australians, no strangers to beach culture, will be stunned by Lara and Konyaalti beaches.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia isn’t one city but rather a whole region in Central Anatolia with some absolutely stunning natural scenery and historic sites. Take a hot-air balloon from Göreme or trek through the valleys, and stay in a cave hotel, for an utterly unique experience. The major city in the area is Kayseri.

Other places

That really isn’t it. Explore Ephesus – one of the most complete Roman cities anywhere – as well as Pamukkale (whose name means “cotton castle”), Bodrum, Safranbolu and Izmir, or avoid the cities altogether and trek your way up Mount Ararat… and you’ll still probably feel like you’ve only scratched the surface of what Turkey has to offer.

Want to get really off the beaten track? Check out the remarkable archaeological site of Gobekli Tepe, an 11,500-year-old site that may be among the oldest religious sites we know of. Or consider venturing to Ani, a medieval “ghost city” near the Armenian border.

Tips for a great trip

Here are a few more useful facts that’ll help you get the most out of your trip.

• If you’re into beaches, go between May and October, when the weather is best.
• Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Turkey, unless you go somewhere really remote. You could consider getting a Turkish SIM card or even an international phone if you’re likely to be using it heavily.
• WiFi is widespread, so cross your fingers and you should be easily contactable.
• You don’t absolutely have to tip in hotels and restaurants, but if you’re happy with the service you’ve received, you should. In a taxi, you can just round up. One that might catch you out is spas – if you visit a hamam, a tip is customary at the end of your visit, in the region of 15%.

Things to be aware of

Here are a few more words of advice about the culture you’ll experience in Turkey.

• As Turkey is an Islamic country – albeit one well familiar with tourists – you’ll need to act respectfully at religious sites. When visiting mosques, women should cover their heads and legs, and men shouldn’t wear excessively short shorts either.
• It’s not advisable to drink tap water in Turkey – sticking to bottled water is the safer bet.
• Don’t do drugs – you could face severe punishment if you do.

You might also be wondering if Turkey is a safe place to visit. Via the Smartraveller website, the Australian government cautions that you should “exercise a high degree of caution”, stay away from the Syrian border and Diyarbakir city, and reconsider plans to visit a number of other areas too. As is well known, there have indeed been terrorist attacks in Turkey in recent years.

With decent planning, you can put together a magnificent holiday in Turkey. Good luck exploring this wonderful country.

Sources:

Sources accurate as of 20 February 2020