Turkey Tour Package

What is the best time to visit Turkey?

Turkey is considered as a year-round destination and the best time depends on the places you wish to visit and the activities you want to indulge in. The weather in Turkey also plays a huge role in determining the right time to visit.
The best time to visit Turkey is between April – May and September – October, as the weather is warm and pleasant, so you will have a great time exploring the numerous ancient sites of Turkey. There are fewer crowds around the country, including Istanbul.
Peak Season in Turkey is between June and August. The weather is typically hot and dry, making it great for island hoppers and beach lovers.
Low Season in Turkey is between November and March. The weather starts to cool off in late October and get extremely cold in November till March. The temperature drops to below 0°C in the interior of Cappadocia areas. Winters can be also the best time to travel, as they are less busy at this time of the year.

Spring – April to May / Good Season
Average Temperature: 10 – 25°C
Rainfall: 28 – 59 mm

Spring is a beautiful season in Turkey. The weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. The temperatures range between 12°C and 25°C and there are a few brief showers occasionally. Tulips and many beautiful flowers are in blossom and runs right through to the end of May just as the temperatures begin to soar. Gardens and parks of Istanbul are filled with vibrant colours. Spring is the best time to visit Turkey to experience beautiful nature, local life, mild temperatures and smaller crowds.

Summer – June to August / High Season
Average Temperature: 25 – 32°C
Rainfall: 8 – 14 mm

Summer is peak season in Turkey as it is a summer holiday for the international travellers as well as Turkish. The temperatures are the highest during the summer months. The hot weather is ideal for unwinding by the delightful Turquoise Coast and enjoying swimming in the Mediterranean, especially with the sea breeze. However, it is stifling towards the inland. The temperature reaches up to the maximum of 40°C in Istanbul, while the temperature in the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts is around 48°C. The high temperatures can make exploring a bit uncomfortable. So, if you want to explore Turkey’s ancient heritage, it may not be the best season to travel. On the other hand, Cappadocia tends to be rather quiet during these months, remains carpeted with beautiful wildflowers blooming throughout, makes it an excellent time to hike.

Autumn – September to October / Good Season
Average Temperature: 08 – 20°C
Rainfall: 2 – 11 mm

Autumn is shoulder season in Turkey with mild weather, but the days are shorter and rain may begin again in October. The summer heat starts to fade away by mid-September and the autumn weather sets in. The days start to get shorter, but you will still have a pleasant tourist experience. A very comfortable temperature with around 15 – 25°C, very limited rain during this period, making it perfect for outdoor explorations. Autumn is a great time to explore the ancient sites, cities and the turquoise coast, as the crowds are fewer too.

Winter – November to March / Low Season
Average Temperature: -5 – 15°C
Rainfall: 4 – 104 mm

Winter is low season in Turkey because of the winter. Different regions of Turkey experience different quality of winter. It can range from mild to snowy or from rainy to dry cold. The weather gets rather chilly, except for the southeast (near Antalya) remains comparatively warm. The temperature in and around the areas of Istanbul is around 10°C with much colder nights, lowest recorded temperature was -15°C, while mountainous Eastern Turkey experiences temperature as low as -43°C. The Central Anatolia also sees extreme lows of -25°C.  Winter months in Istanbul can be rainy with some snow, but not that much extreme as some other areas of Turkey. Temperatures in Cappadocia and Konya can be quite cold in November and December, but the snow creates fantastic scenery. Central and eastern areas like Anatolia and Cappadocia remain covered in snow with freezing temperatures in January and February. The temperature starts to warm up a bit by late March. Snowfalls in Istanbul would not last more than 10-12 days in the whole winter period.
This would be a great time to visit the city and explore all the sites that this beautiful country has to offer. The low season means fewer tourists, so you are pretty much on your own.

Average Temperature and Precipitation

The Do’s and Don’t when travelling in Turkey

Turkey, one of the most visited countries in the world, is an amazingly diverse and complex country. As Turkey is a Muslim country, you always need to exercise great respect for their local tradition and culture. Even in a cosmopolitan city like Istanbul, people understandably revere their traditional customs. Turks are inherently very hospitable and welcome visitors who show an appreciation for their customs. If you are planning a trip, these Do’s and Don’ts will help to make your visit much more enriching.

Visiting mosques
As with any place of worship, visitors should speak quietly and behave respectfully. Mosques are usually closed to visitors during prayer times.

• Do remove shoes or sandals before you go inside any mosque.
• Do wear modest clothing. No shorts for males or females.
• Do cover your head and no bare shoulders if you are female.
• Don’t visit a mosque on a Friday, the Muslim day for worship.
• Don’t talk or laugh loudly in a mosque.
• Don’t obstruct or walk in front of a person who is praying.

Visiting traditional (non-tourist) areas

• Do remember you are a visitor in someone else’s country, so be respectful.
• Do wear more conservative clothing if visiting anywhere outside of cities. Short sleeved shirts are acceptable.
• Do be aware that men and women are expected not to touch. Even shaking hands can be taboo.
• Do avoid public displays of affection.
• Don’t sit beside or talk to single or young Turkish women if you are a lone male traveller.
• Don’t expect Turkish males, such as merchandise sellers, to routinely talk directly to a female traveller with a male companion. Traditionally Turkish men will tend to address the male.

Interacting with Turks
Hospitality is at the heart of Turkish culture. Turks are welcoming, friendly, willing to offer help and have a chat.

• Do be courteous. Turkish culture places heavy emphasis on good manners.
• Do learn some polite phrases or words such as, ‘tesekkür ederim’ which means ‘thank you’ and ‘lütfen’ which means ‘please’.
• Do be aware of differences with some Western mannerisms - a downward head nod indicates ‘yes’, whereas an upward nod with raised eyebrows whilst making a click sound with the tongue means ‘no’.
  Signal ‘no’ by shaking your head from side to side because it means that you didn't understand.
• Do remember ‘evet’ means ‘yes’ and ‘hayir’ means ‘no’ in Turkish.
• Do keep your feet flat on the ground when sitting. Crossing your legs or showing the bottoms of your feet is considered insulting in Turkey.
• Don’t make any derogatory comments about the Turkish Flag, or Kemal Atatürk, the Turkish Republic’s Founding Father or in fact anything else about Turkey. It is obviously impolite and disrespectful!
• Don’t stand with your hands on your hips or in your pockets.
• Don’t point at someone with your finger.
• Don’t make the “OK” sign with your hand. It is a rude gesture in Turkey.
• Don’t put your thumb between your index and middle finger. It is also a vulgar gesture.

In restaurants or cafes

• Do remember that alcohol abstinence is encouraged and common in Muslim countries, including Turkey. Tourists having a moderate drink is tolerated, but drunkenness and excessive drinking is not.
• Do be aware that smoking in public areas like restaurants and bars is prohibited, but it sometimes does happen. You probably shouldn’t request them to stop. You should stick to the rules though and don’t join in.
• Do pay for the whole meal if you initiated a meal invitation. Splitting the bill is not traditionally done and is considered rude in Turkey.
• Do return the gesture if someone else offers to pay the bill, and make sure you invite that person to lunch or dinner before you leave.
• Do be aware that gestures such as burping, picking your teeth and blowing your nose in a restaurant or café is considered impolite in Turkey.
• Do eat everything on your plate. Some Turkish hosts might be offended if you don't.
• Do put your knife and fork side-by-side on your plate to indicate you are done.
• Don’t use your left hand when dining. The left hand is considered unclean.

Tipping in Turkey

• Do leave a modest tip at a restaurant. Tips aren't expected, but they are appreciated. In fancy restaurants, you may leave a 10%-15% tip.
• Do round the fare up instead of tipping a taxi driver. For instance, if the fare is YTL 5.7 (Turkish lira), round it up to YTL 6 (Turkish lira).
• Do tip hotel porters 50 cents to a dollar a bag.

General

• Do respect Ramadan festival and be aware of when is the Ramadan month. This is the Islamic month of fasting when devout Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk. Avoid eating in public during the day, as a sign of respect.
• Do take a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia and witness the breath-taking panoramic view of the scenery. It is an experience not to be missed.
• Do drink Turkish coffee and Turkish apple tea.
• Do visit Turkey’s local bazaars.
• Don’t take pictures of people without asking permission. Turks, especially the elderly, are afraid of the camera and consider it “the evil eye”.
• Don’t board a cab without a taxi logo.
• Don’t haggle in shops.
• Don’t refuse tea or a gift. It is considered rude. Turks are famous for their hospitality and rejecting a gift must be well justified. You do not have to eat or drink it completely.

10 Best Souvenirs to buy from Turkey

Souvenirs are the inevitable shopping items that people buy abroad. It is both a great memory for us to remember the country we visited and a great gift to please our loved ones. Make sure to get the following souvenirs when you are travelling around the country.

Turkish Delight (Lokum)

Turkish delights are a gelatinous sweet confection traditionally made of syrup and cornflower, dusted with icing sugar and added with nuts or fruits. Popular flavours include pistachio, rosewater, cinnamon, orange, and lemon.

Turkish Tea (Cay)

The original Turkish tea is a variant of black tea and consumed straight without milk. It is traditionally prepared in a special kettle, called a çaydanlık. Over the years, variations of herbal tea have become popular in Turkey, especially among tourists.Popular flavours include apple, rose hip, linden flower, pomegranate, and hibiscus.

Turkish Coffee (Turk Kahve)

There is a famous Turkish proverb that says when tasted, Turkish coffee should be “as black as hell, strong as death, and as sweet as love”. It is not only something that you should try in Turkey, but also one of the items you should take home to your friends and family!

Turkish Copper Coffee Pot (Cezve)

If you are a coffee drinker or you are looking for a gift for someone who is, this could be a great choice. Since you are bringing home some Turkish coffee, why not getting the coffee pot as well? The coffee brewed in a Turkish coffee pot tastes better in comparison with using your coffeemaker at home. The traditional copper coffee pot probably ranks top as the favourite souvenir in the country.

Turkish Spices

Turkey is one of the countries that have distinct flavour in its cuisine, thanks to the spices that help enhance the aroma and taste. Either sold separately or in small decorative boxes, it is something that is easy to pack and lasts a long time. Popular Turkish spices include sumac, paprika, and allspice. Even if you do not cook Turkish food, you can still use them for all your home meals, which adds extra new tastes to your food.

Turkish Ceramics

A craft that has its roots dating all the back to the 8th-century, ceramics were originally produced and popularized for Islamic art, being used extensively for walls, tiles and even the ceilings in the decoration of mosques. After admiring the Iznik tiles in Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, you might find yourself wanting to bring home something from this inspired art form. There are different kinds of ceramic products such as bowls, coasters, plates, mugs, ashtrays, vases and many more.

Turkish Carpets and Rugs

Another product that Turkey is widely known for are its exotic handmade carpets and rugs. These beautifully designed carpets and rugs can be hung on the wall or used for its original function. If you have no place in the luggage to carry a Turkish carpet, you can consider buying Turkish pillow cases with traditional patterns.

Blue Evil Eye (Nazar Boncugu)

The Blue Evil Eye, known as the Nazar Boncugu, is used as an amulet to ward off evil or bad luck. The ancient talisman is not just a souvenir but used by many Turks in their cars, homes and offices. Buy it in the form of keyrings, bracelets, badges or trinkets to hang at home. It is one of the most popular souvenir items from Turkey.

Mosaic Lanterns

Another exquisite product you are bound to run into multiple times on your visit to Turkey – The mosaic lanterns, which are made with mosaic glass and come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours. Once you see their beautiful designs, you might find it hard to resist the idea of buying one.

Water Pipes (Nargile)

Nargile, also called Turkish smoking pipe, are sold in many different sizes. The glass bottles are colourful and the attached metal pipe, along with the hose, create an interesting shape. The unique variety of tobacco flavours include apple, raspberry, banana and many more. Most people buy them purely for decorative purposes, but you can also opt for the flavoured fruit smokes as well.