You won’t struggle to find delicious fare to tantalise your taste buds when you visit Turkey – flavoursome main dishes, scrumptious desserts and refreshing drinks are easily capable of satisfying the most discerning palate. Turkish cuisine is an exciting fusion of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Armenian, Eastern European, Georgian and Balkan cuisines.

Turkish breakfasts are large and consist of several small dishes including olives, cheese, fresh bread, jams, spread and black tea. Dinners often start with a soup, followed by a meat dish, often boiled in a pot with an array of fresh vegetables, and accompanied by bread, rice, macaroni or bulgur. Minced meat kebabs -doner, shish and adana - are hugely popular and made with beef, lamb or chicken and kofte meatballs are another much-loved offering. Hunkar begendi is a scrumptious lamb stew served on top of roasted aubergine puree, while Kisir is a fabulous classic traditional salad, made with red pepper flakes, bulgur wheat, garlic, tomatoes,mint, parsley and sour pomegranate molasses or lemon juice.

 Baklava is a superb dessert featuring layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and plenty of honey or syrup, while lomka are tasty balls made with flour, yeast, salt and sugar and salt, which are deep-fried and then coated in honey. Turkish tea, which is served in a small ince belli glass, is the country’s most popular drink and raki is a popular aniseed-flavoured spirit made from fermented grape pomace.

The summer months of June to September are very hot in Turkey, so the stifling conditions, often up to 40°C, are great for lazing around on the sands and taking a dip in the sea, but far from ideal for getting out for some sightseeing.
A better time to travel around visiting the country’s cultural and historical landmarks is in April, may, September and October when temperatures are more pleasant, typically between 20°C and 30°C. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are generally warmer than the Black Sea coastline which is wetter and more humid. Between October and April many upland areas in Turkey have snow-capped summits which area ideal for winter sports. Many of the restaurants, bars and shops pull the shutters down in the coastal resorts from November to April but it’s business all year round in the magnificent city of Istanbul.      

Turkey boasts a myriad of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with amazing architectural monuments and ancient ruins to discover including the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrigi, the archaeological site of Troy in Canakkale, City of Safranbolu, Aphrodisias and Ephesus. The city of Istanbul has many enthralling attractions including The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace Museum, Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower. No visit to Turkey would be complete without a visit to a traditional hammam for an intense scrub and massage, while a thrilling hot air balloon trip is a great way to see the country’s magnificent landscapes. Take to the glistening sea waters for a trip on a traditional gulet boat, paraglide off a mountain crag at Olu Deniz, go horse riding in the valleys of Cappadocia, marvel at the winged wonders in Butterfly Valley or send your taste buds wild on an Istanbul food tour. .
 A feast of family fun is assured in a range of attractions across the country including Istanbul Toy Museum, Legoland and Vialand theme parks, Madame Tussauds, Miniaturk and Aquapark Adaland.  Adrenaline junkies can enjoy lively water sports action all along the coast, with jet-skiing, paragliding, scuba diving, paddle boarding and windsurfing among the activities available. It’s hard to beat a great day out on the beach and Turkey’s wonderful sandy expanses include Patara Beach, Cleopatra Beach, Olu Deniz Beach and Iztuzu Beach.