Articles about Turkey
General information:
Capital: Ankara
Language: Turkish
Religion: 98% Islam, 2% others
Population: 83 million (2019)
English-friendly: It is easy to find someone speaking English in big cities, in the countryside it may be harder
Wi-fi reliability: Wi-fi is widely available and reliable
Currency: Turkish Lira
Average cost per day: 25$-30$ (2019)
Visa: Most nationalities do not need visa to enter Turkey. We remind that some Chinese consulates may not grant visa to travellers who have the Turkish stamp on their passport. As EU citizens, we entered Turkey using our ID cards so we avoided problems entering China at Irkhestam border.
Safety: Good
When to go:
Spring (April-May): The temperatures in these spring months are moderate, making this an ideal time to visit the many ancient ruined sites dotted around the country. April is also peak tulip season, and the parks and gardens of Istanbul are bursting with colour. That only negative aspect is that accomodations are generally more expensive. Average temperature: 16 °C – 20°C
Summer (June – August): Temperatures in summer can be very high, especially in Cappadocia. Despite the high temperatures, turkish summers are filled with tourists so don’t forget to book your accomodation in advance, particularly in Goreme! Average temperature: 25°C – 30°C
Autumn (September- November): Early September is still hot, but from the middle of the month onwards temperatures begin to cool. Again, this is an excellent time to explore the cities and ancient sites, as well as to visit the Turquoise Coast as prices are lower and crowds are fewer. Average temperature: 15°C-25°C
Winter (December – March): Turkish winters can be cold and snow is not unusual in Istanbul. If you are thinking about travelling to Turkey in Winter, you should consider heading south, towards Antalya, which remains fairly warm the all year. Average temperature: 9 °C – 13°C
*Average temperatures in Istanbul