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Turkey
Turkiye is an otherworldly place – a sky full of hot air balloons, a cityscape hatted with minarets, cupolas and bell towers, alpine pastures, thermal hot springs, golden beaches, sunken ruins and mountain gorges. Travelers will discover the most multi-sensorial cuisine - spicy kebabs, lightly flavoured fish dishes,… read more
Turkiey can easily be called the capital country of the world owing to its charismatic beauty, location and cultural mix of Asia and Europe. Although Turkiye is typically a late summer destination given how cold it can get, Turkiye can be visited all through the year depending on your interests. Turkiye is the 37th largest country in the entire world and because of its’ size, the weather is extremely diverse throughout the country. While one part of the country might feel extremely cold at a specific time, another part might be enjoying a glorious summer by the beach.
| Turkiye Tour Packages | No. of Nigts / Days | Price* |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish Extravaganza | 8 Nights/ 9 Days | Rs. 1 79 834 |
| Grand Bargain Turkiye | 8 Nights/ 9 Days | Rs. 1 58 229 |
| Turkiye Duo | 5 Nights/ 6 Days | Rs. 49 515 |
| Trending Turkiye | 7 Nights/ 8 Days | Rs. 66 805 |
|
Travel Seasons |
Min-Max Temperatures |
Season |
|
March - May |
10-26°C |
Pleasant |
|
June - August |
24-48°C |
Warm to scorching |
|
September- November |
12-29°C |
Pleasant |
|
December - February |
3-16°C |
Cool to freezing |
Turkiye experiences extreme climates and can thus be extremely cold during winters and can got excessively hot during peak summers. Thus, end of summer, spring and Autumn have the best climate to visit Turkey that allow you to freely roam without the weather becoming a hurdle.
Temperature – 10°C and 25°C.
Weather – April and May are the major months when spring starts showing around you. Istanbul streets are always a place where one wants to just aimlessly stroll and absorb the beauty in. Weather in spring in Turkiye is truly one of the best times to visit Turkiye and see these ancient sites. Apart from the temperature, April and May are also peak seasons for Tulips. All the gardens around Turkiye are packed with multi coloured flowers and gorgeous spreads of tulips. Being the most excellent time of the year to visit the country, hotels get full quickly and are also expensive. However, if you plan to be in the southern parts, the weather starts to open up and is perfect for hikers and cyclists alike.
Significance – March generally starts with a combination temperature with relatively colder mornings which then melt away giving way to warmer days. Spring brings with its moderate temperatures and a full bloom. The country covers itself with a sheet of flowers and you feel transported to a fairyland.
Why you should visit now – Canakkale Victory and Martyrs’ Day is celebrated on March 18 in Turkiye to commemorate the heroes of Canakkale who fought against all odds to protect their country. It is an extremely important day in the history of Turkiye. Mesir Macunu Festival is an ancient festival celebrated in Aegean province. A special sweet paste used to cure illnesses back then became extremely famous and thus was distributed in the entire kingdom as goodwill. This festival is being celebrated from then on 21st March. Turkiye starts experiencing complete full blooms in April. Hence, one of the biggest Tulip Festivals in the world is held in Istanbul during the month of April and also the entire month of May. The leading international film festival is held in Istanbul in April. This event attracts writers, directors and actors from all over the world. Ephesus Festival of Colour and Art is an annual held during the first week of May. It is a beautiful and vibrant festival with dances and folk shows held for an entire week.
Things to know before the visit – The first week of the month of March can have a little unpredictable weather post which things settle down and the climate becomes pleasant and is great for tourists.
Tips – In Turkiye, ensure that you have your best haggling skills on. The locals might try to over charge you given it being the peak period. Hence ensure that you haggle before you decide to even take a local taxi
Temperature – The air temperature during the season of summer fluctuates between 24°C and 48°C.
Weather – June, July and August are typically hot months in Turkiye. The weather in Summer in Turkiye gets extremely dry and scorching. However, the weather is ideal for enjoying the Mediterranean coastline. The higher temperatures may make exploring the ancient ruins a tad difficult given the heat. The summers are generally considered a down period and hence there are not many tourists.
Significance – May and June are considered auspicious periods owing to Ramadan. Since Turkiye is a Muslim dominated country, it is essential to take this into consideration as during the prayer hours some services might get unavailable
Why you should visit now – Cappadox Festival is held every year in the moneth of June and is the biggest festival in Cappadocia which is truly unmissable. Over 140 events are hosted that focus on food, music and culture. Bozcaada Island hosts an annual wine tasting festival which offer wine tasting, tours of vineyards and live music. Chill-Out Festival is held every summer at Istanbul, Bodrum and Cesme. It showcases lounges, music, workshops and other activities. Bosporus Cross-Continental Swim is a thrilling competition where over 2000 global competitors swim across the continent. It is a very fascinating sight as there are many past Olympic Champions who participate in the same too. August 30 is a public holiday across the country to celebrate the win of 1922 over the invading Greek armies!
Things to know before the visit – Summers in Turkiye are dry and blistering. It is important to know the weather of the part of the country you decide to visit. Hence make sure you book in advance and dress accordingly.
Temperature – The air temperature during the season of autumn fluctuates between 12°C and 29°C.
Weather – Autumn in Turkiye is breath taking to say the least. It starts getting cooler and the days start getting shorter although the sea temperatures still remain warm. Autumn is a great time to explore the city as the crowd thins and prices reduce. Though a lot of people do not prefer visiting during this time, it is ideally a great time to visit the ancient city and turquoise coast.
Significance – Autumn is important as it sees a lot of festivities in the sense of art, music and wine festivals. This period is an enjoyable for the locals as the tourism starts reducing and they have a lot more time to enjoy their culture and ger leisure time.
Why you should visit now –Bozcaada Vintage Festival is a grape festival on the island of Bozcaada. Over four different varieties of grapes are harvested and there is a huge even for picking of grapes and sale of succulent wines. International Istanbul Biennial is one of the most prestigious contemporary art festivals in the world is held in the month of September. The Goreme food festival is held to educated the younger generation about the Cappadocian food culture and organic farming. It is extremely interesting and gives an insight on their heritage. On 29th October, Cumhurivet Bayrami that is the Republic Day is celebrated with great pompous and zeal. It is a public holiday celebrated with speeches, parades and fireworks. Akbank International Jazz Festival is a two-week-long festival celebrating jazz. The festival sees some of the most world-renowned performers who take the stage in some of the most beautiful venues. The only marathon in the world that transcends two continents ends in Turkiye. Starting from the Asian shoreline, it ends in Bosporus on 3rd November
Things to know before the visit – The start of Autumn might see warmer days which turn into colder nights and eventually colder days. Ensure you research well on the places you would like to visit and how the weather is in that particular part of Turkiye.
Tips – Carry clothes according to the part you decide to visit. Overall it experiences moderate temperatures hence it would suffice if you carry light jackets and pullovers
Temperature – between 3°C and 16°C.
Weather – November and December generally experience very low temperatures in this part of the world. Temperatures in most parts of the country are low and snow is a common phenomenon and thus winter in Turkiye is not the most ideal time of the year. Istanbul remains rather quiet and this might be a good time to visit if you are resistant to cold and do not mind occasional showers. Some parts of Turkiye even experience temperatures in negatives making them impossible to visit for tourism. The beaches also lack activities due to this.
Significance – Turkiye receives maximum rainfall during this period making it extremely important for the country. It also turns into a snow heaven in winters which is a different beauty in itself. As tourists, you will even have better access to the public places as it is not very crowded during this time. Moreover, restaurants, stay, hotels and tours can be up to 75 % cheaper.
Why you should visit now – FThe Rumi festival brings with it the opportunities to showcase the dance of whirling devishes which is actually an active form of meditation. These performances are mostly witnessed in the elaborate mosques of Istanbul and also more sporadic ones on the streets of Istanbul. Christmas Eve is not celebrated in Istanbul since most of the population practices Islam however there are Christmas shopping markets held all over the country. New Years eve is celebrated with great fiesta with restaurants hosting special parties with specially designed menus. Most orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar and thus they celebrate Christmas in the month of January. The Istanbul independent film festival is held in February for over ten days. This festival was started in 2002 and sees over 80000 footfall every year. However, it has been cancelled for the year 2019!
Things to know before the visit – Depending on the part of Turkiye you decide to visit, the intensity of cold will vary and sometimes so drastically. It is important to ensure that proper research is done before you decide to visit a place for tourism because a lot of places might actually be shut owing to bad climatic conditions.
Tips – Ensure you are carrying many layers of clothes as the temperatures can be quite low. If you want to attend some special events being held, make sure you are booking well in advance especially for New Years and the various festivals!
Turkiye is a country brimming with food, culture, history and hospitality. The locals are friendly and it is always a great idea to strike up a conversation with them to know more about their life and experiences. Turkiye will blow your mind away in more ways than one and is definitely a country that should be visited.
As is the case with all international destinations, the most obvious way to reach Turkey is via flight. Due to the sheer geographical distance, air travel is the most convenient and expedient means of undertaking this journey. To optimise on time and utility, individuals will have to book a plane to the capital city of Istanbul.
Atatürk Airport is well connected to cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, leveraging a capacity of almost 200 million passengers. It is situated on the European side of Istanbul, by the Black Sea shore and at the junction of Çatalca- Göktürk-Arnavutköy. The aerodrome is equipped with all the necessary amenities and facilities required to keep travellers at ease. In fact, it was honoured with the Global Traveller’s Leisure Lifestyle award for outstanding innovation.
Individuals may select from non-stop and transit flights, depending upon their budget and time constraints. The following carriers can be availed of - Turkish Airlines, Air India, Air Arabia, Ukraine International Airlines, Oman Air, Kuwait Airlines and EgyptAir (not an exhaustive list). In terms of the fastest route, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is the closest air hub. With an aerial distance of 4805 km, it offers daily flights that are approximately 6 hours and 50 minutes in duration. Otherwise it can take up to 10 hours and 40 minutes, as is the case of Kolkata to Istanbul. Upon arrival, one may access taxis, buses, airport transfer shuttles or private vehicles to reach their desired destination.
If you wish to opt for train travel, know that your journey will begin from Europe or East Asia. You have the option of availing of an efficient and well-connected railway line nonetheless. This is a reliable and cost-effective means of making the commute, but significantly longer in time.
Turkey is connected to European countries via the Bosphorus Express which is operated by the Turkish State Railways. Direct sleeper trains ply from nations such as Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. There are also rail services that run from Denmark, Germany, Holland, Italy and Switzerland, that are particularly popular with inter railers. However, these routes will involve changes of connection. If you’re in Paris or England, trains are available from these destinations as well! What’s more, you will also discover weekly trains from the Middle East. When travelling from Asia, one may have to juggle across waterways to get to the rail junction. The Lake Van Express manoeuvres between Asia and Istanbul thrice a week.
Turkey is home to many beautiful ports that serve as a docking point for several Mediterranean cruise ships. Individuals may embark on luxurious journeys, along the glittering waters, that dock in the following places - Istanbul, Bodrum, Izmir or Antalya.
Although it’s not advisable to travel from India to Turkey, there is route that exists all the same. The journey is extremely long and uncomfortable; however, we shall provide you with the facts. It is approximately 8,000 km between the 2 nations, with a driving time of approximately 11-12 days.
If you’re traveling from Europe, there are buses available. Metro operates buses from cities such as Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Germany and Greece. However, the journey may be more expensive than the air fare itself and significantly longer. For instance, Munich to Istanbul will take approximately 32 hours by bus.
My holidays were not good...they were the BEST ! Thanks to the Team of Thomas Cook
