Tour Maps of Istanbul

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

There’s nothing like a good map when you’re traveling to improve your travel experience. Many times a traveler can rely on a good guide, but the truth of the matter is even the best informed guide needs a road map from time to time. The map can be a gateway to a new world allowing travelers to independently choose where they want to be and how they want to get there. Without a good concept of the surrounding area one travels half blind to the many riches that any given location may hold. For this reason we’ve decided it’s time to put together a collection of our favorite maps, ancient and modern, to help inform and improve your visit to Turkey.

We’ll be beginning this Turkey Maps series with an article on tour maps of Istanbul, Turkey – by far the most complicated and frequented site for travel in Turkey. With these maps you can safely and quickly navigate the best sites in Istanbul’s Metropolitan Area.

Istanbul may be big but with a good map you can find a lot of special places in Istanbul – including clean bathrooms, so take that Erma Bombeck. We recognize that with the invention of smart phones and amazing map applications like Google Maps one is able to navigate with pinpoint precision via satellite, GPS and even cell tower triangulation, but even the best GPS system can’t tell you how best to navigate the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. So, let us begin with a map of the Grand Bazaar beautifully drawn and color coded for your enjoyment.

Grand Bazaar Map

Turkey Tour Maps - Grand Bazaar

The heaviest traffic into the Grand Bazaar comes through the Beyazit Gate heading North from the tram line that runs along the South side of the Bazaar and on about 1.5 kilometers to Sultanahmet Square and the Hagia Sophia. For a walking tour of the city I usually begin or finish my tours at the Grand Bazaar depending on whether my friends are window shoppers or serious shoppers. The serious shopper is not going to want to carry their items the rest of the day so for them I put off the Grand Bazaar until the end of the day. This map will help you enjoy all the Grand Bazaar has to offer. It will be crowded.

Public Ground Transit Map

Before you get to the shopping you may want to get in from the Airport so here’s a map of the public transport, something that’s cheap and easy to use for the do it yourself traveler. It is also convenient for those who just want to avoid long walks but would still like to have the freedom to amble along the historic streets of the Golden Horn visiting, Sultanahmet, Gulhane Park, the Archaeology Museum, Topkapi Palace, the Galata Bridge, Galata Tower, Taksim and Istiklal Street. Turkey Tour Maps - Public Transport

Coming into Attaturk International Airport you’ll find the entrance to the red line in the basement of the airport. Clear signs show the way down to the entrance of the Istanbul Rail system. For less than 5 Lira you can make it all the way to all the points of interest in Istanbul’s Golden Horn region. When I stay in Istanbul I stay either in the Sultanahmet region or the Beyazit region both on the the Dark Blue light rail line. So, I make a transfer at Mithatpasa from the red to the blue and ride to the Beyazit or Sultanahmet stops.

On the Blue Line

For your tour you’ll find the Grand Bazaar at Beyazit, Sultanahmet Mosque (the ), Hagia Sophia, Yerebatan Saray (underground cistern), Topkapı Palace and the ancient Hippodrome are all located at Sultanahmet. If you’re looking for a nice shaded walk in the park or a pleasant walk through history at the Archaeology museum then go one stop past Sultanahmet to Gulhane and get off just across the gated entrance to the park. The Archaeology museum is just up and inside the walls of the park entrance. The park walk can be a bit hilly but the walk to the is a steep but short walk from the gate entrance.

Ferry’s can be boarded from several places if you’re heading over to Asia or up the you’ll want to get off at Sirkeci and walk to the shore line just to the East of the Galata Bridge and catch a vapur (ferry) towards Uskudar. If you want to take a nice ride up to a fun overlook of the Golden Horn you can et off one stop later at Eminonu and ride the ferry up towards Eyüp where you can walk or ride up the one stop cable car to the serene ancient cemetery and park.

You can get to Taksim Square and Istiklal walking street by way of the yellow and grey one stop cable car lines with connections at Karaköy and Kabataş. These significantly reduce wear and tear on your knees helping you get up the steep roads with ease.

Public Sea Transport of Istanbul

While I have not created these maps I have used many of them for my personal travel around Istanbul with great success. You can find these maps given freely from many different sources and likely your hotels will have even more in depth information regarding departure times. The purpose of this blog post is simply to create an all inclusive tool for you to bookmark and use while you walk around Istanbul.

Turkey Tour Maps - Ferrys

Eyup-Eminonu-Uskudar Time TableEyup-Eminonu-Uskudar return Time TableEminonu - Uskudar Time TableKabatas - Islands Time TableYou’ll notice that you can catch a ferry from Kabatas at the end of the dark blue rail line that will take you out to the Princess Islands some of the quaintest and most picturesque of the islands around Istanbul. The red line on the map above leaving from 7 heads South to the islands on a daily basis. Here’s are time tables for the boats leaving from Eminonu and Kabatas. Hopefully the timetables will not have changed much these timetables were updated in 2012 but may be subject to minor changes. As you see the frequency of these ferry boat departures is frequent enough you should be able to catch a return ride with relative ease.

The Golden Horn Maps

You’ll find that the largest number of maps drawn and illustrated for the Istanbul region are set and centered around the sites located on the Golden Horn. This is partially because of the wealth of sites available to tour on the Golden Horn and partially because of it’s relative age with regards to the rest of the city. Before you get to the Golden Horn you might like to compare the sites from the 1500’s with the sites from today so here’s an ancient map from the web for those of you interested in what the region looked like a mere 500 years ago.

Turkey Tour Maps - Golden Horn 1573

As you can see the city has changed and expanded significantly over the past 500 years. For this reason a map of the city will include more than the palace and the Hagia Sophia but will include tens if not hundreds of giant mosque locations in the city with rich histories tied to many of the Sultans who ruled in Istanbul.

Turkey Tour Maps - Points of Interest Key

This map may look a bit old but it has a great all inclusive listing of everything I’ve had the time to visit in the center of Istanbul. I have made trips out to the Asian side and Şile but those trips were exclusive from a traditional Istanbul tour. To join them one would have to be traveling by land the long way.

What I like most about this map is that it somehow has the ability to include both Dolmabahce – where Ataturk spent his final days and a National Monument to all things Ataturk – while it still fits a bit of the Western wall of old Constantinople and points out the best stops for all these interesting sites. This simple map is one of my favorites.

Hagia Sophia Building Map

This is a floor plan put out by  Planetware.com, if you want to buy a physical copy or a hi-def copy for your trip they provide better quality versions but you’ll find this map sufficient for most travel needs. The “Entrance” is technically where all tourists exit since the Turkish Tourism Authority has everyone buy their tickets to left of the “Entrance” and enter through the Exonarthex. There are two stories to the building the darker walls represent the upper level and main supports. The stairs leading up are to the left as you enter through Narthex and are quite slick. Be careful.

Turkey Tour Maps - Hagia Sophia

Istanbul Archaeology Museum Map

These maps represent the three buildings disconnected but in the same complex. The Ancient Orient will be the first building on the left as you enter the complex and there you will find all the Hittite, Egyptian, Babylonian and Persian pieces including my favorite peace the Kadesh Treaty clay tablet. The next portion is by far the largest housing the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine pieces. The last and smallest building faces the main building and looks like a mosque. Inside you will see some beautiful Ottoman style work and pieces of pottery. The restroom is located outside at the far part of the complex connected to but not directly accessible from the main building.

Turkey Tour Maps - Archaeology Museum IstanbulTurkey Tour Maps - Archaeology Museum Istanbul 02Turkey Tour Maps - Archaeology Museum Istanbul 01

Topkapi Palace Map

The Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman Sultanate and a storehouse of wealth, this is a pleasant place to walk through groomed gardens and see how the royalty of Turkey once lived. The carriages armory and and jewels are impressive. The event reminded me of my visits to the Hermitage or Kremlin in Russia, the Tower of London, and the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Trivandrum India (those just happen to be the places I’ve been recently. If you like walking through palaces with store houses of wealth and power on display then this is the place for you. You’ll enter through the main gates near Sultanahmet square at the bottom of this map (no 1) and walk through either to the left or right enjoying the separate displays. There is a separate entrance fee for the Harem.

Turkey Tour Maps - Topkapi Palace

This map’s key is all in Turkish but words like Harem should be fairly self-explanatory upon entrance to the Museum grounds you can pick up a map in your language of choice. English is available.

Other Maps

There are many other maps out there for your use but these ones should get you through some of the more complicated sites in Istanbul. I did not include a map of the Blue Mosque simply because the site is very self explanatory. The one thing you’ll want to know is that entrance for visitors to the site who are not going for prayer is from the back side of the building. To reach that point you’ll want to walk through the main courtyard and exit through the westernmost gate and essentially enter the building from the back door. You enter the door furthest from the Hagia Sophia and exit through the door leading you back out towards the Hagia Sophia.

I have several map files of the Chora Church that give a clear picture of this fairly simple site that I’m including with this final portion.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I hope these map files are useful for you in your travel. I would just bookmark the page to my phone and use the maps for use around town if I were traveling around Istanbul. Let me know if there are any other maps you’d like to see attached to this article.

Iyi Yolculuklar!

Posted in Istanbul, Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info, What to See | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey, Travel and Terrorism

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

Caution Tourist CrossingTerrorism can be a deterrent to tourism or a catalyst for tourism. The “I heart NY” movement that came into huge popularity after 9/11 driving travelers globally to visit a site shrouded in the sorrow of terrorist acts is just one example of the power of good spin in the wake of the tragedy of terrorism. I imagine that statistics will show Boston another metropolis hit by tragedy and terrorism will still benefit by the sympathetic travelers interested in seeing the effects of trauma from a safe distance.

This is the same reality of travel in Turkey. Turkey, although on the edge of the Middle East, is far enough from most of the turmoil and buffered by the whole Eastern half of the country from most of the violent terrorist related crimes. The most current event, explosions on the Syrian border killing 49 Syrian refugees, might be enough to cause you to cancel your visit to ancient Antioch a mere 50 kilometers from the border and Reyhanli but should have no bearing on your concern with visiting sites in Cappadocia, Istanbul, Izmir, or locations 400-800 kilometers away from the most recent terrorist activity.

Other localized issues in the last year have happened most frequently popping up, not in the tourist areas, but rather in the political capital of the country – Ankara. The travel warnings that are sent out by the State Department for U.S. citizens residing in Turkey always carry the caveat that most displays of violence are happening in the capital, not the tourism centers.

3D Turkey 2012Turkey Syria ConflictThe majority of terrorist activity in this part of the world is also attributed to the Kurdish population and a group know as the PKK who have recently made gestures of peace towards the present established Turkish government. Certain promises have been made to  remove forces causing terror to Northern Iraq. For this reason Western travelers have had little to fear not being potential targets. Even with respect to the issues over the past few years in Egypt, Lebanon and now Syria the West has not been the target of most frustration the perception that Turkey is trying to reclaim the Middle East is in general the more antagonizing idea for terrorism in this region and so the Turks share many of the same struggles nationally that those traveling from the United States face.

This understanding usually makes Turks feel something close to kinship with those visiting Turkey from the West. There are still areas of Turkey not open for Turkish or Western originating travelers. Those regions will not come up in any of our tours of Turkey and are very remote.

Even though I have made some comments about the danger of Ankara politically it is still a place of considerably low disturbance from a terrorism. Statistics continue to show that travel to Turkey is on the rise as the Board of Tourism continues to make improvements in infrastructure and policy protecting the travel gems of Turkey.

We hope you will not let negative news deter you from an amazing travel opportunity in Turkey, where food, hospitality, history and cultural beauty will be only a few of the highlights of your visit.

Iyi Yolculuklar!

Posted in Regions of Turkey, Safety, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Adventure Tour Idea – Paragliding in Kaş, Turkey

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

Paragliding can be a thrilling but comfortably safe experience for those looking to enjoy a new perspective during their holiday in Turkey. I will be regaling you with my exploits paragliding in Kaş, Turkey.

Kas Adventure - Paragliding

I can’t believe it’s been three summers since I last flew over the city of Kas suspended by what Turk’s call a Yamaç paraşut – cliff parachute. I got a call from a seasoned paragliding competitor and friend one weekend and he invited me to join him and some friends for a trip out to Kaş and a couple free tandem parachute jumps.

 Kas Adventure - Paragliding Perspective

I was more than willing and excited to go with a group of five heading out from early to get to Kaş as the sun was rising and the winds were picking up off the Mediterranean sea. We made our way winding up the steep mountain face that forms the Northern barrier for the city of Kaş.

Kas Adventure (3)

That morning we reached the jump off point before any of the commercial jumpers had arrived and did two jumps before anyone else showed up to slow our jumps. Unfortunately, two years ago my camera was not as nice and the quality of my photos are not what they could be if I went on a paragliding trip today.

 Kas Adventure - Paragliding Port

None the less, they give you a good picture of what it’s like to jump from the cliff side in Kaş and make one’s way down to the waters and the small port of the city where it is easiest to land on the narrow strip of flat land allotted to those interested in Paragliding. Landing can be a bit tricky especially since the port is an area used so we stationed a few people at the landing strip to make sure we had a clear path when we landed and we took three up to the top of the mountain two to jump in tandem and one to drive the van back down to pick us up. The system worked perfectly with five but would be difficult with any less.

The companies that run this service charge anywhere from 100-300 Turkish Lira per jump and take care of all the details including meals if requested. If you’re feeling adventurous your paragliding pilot can do spirals and flips while you’re in the air for added adrenaline rush. If the winds are good a standard flight time is about 10 – 15 minutes. In the last year jump off points from Tahtali a nearby mountain with higher altitude have been known to provide 30-45 minutes of flight time, but Tahtali doesn’t have the picturesque beauty of flights over Kaş in my opinion.

Kas Amphitheater

On this particular outing we did a total of 8 flights over a period of 8 hours and when we finished had time to enjoy dinner down by the port before loading up in the van and heading back to Antalya.

Posted in Adventure, Antalya, Mediterranean, Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel Information, Turkey, What to See | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey Tours: Kayaking Mediterranean

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

 

There’s no better way to visit the many caves and secluded coves along the beautiful Mediterranean coast of Turkey than by kayak or boat.

Kayaking the Mediterranean

Each summer I get the chance to go out with a group to watch the sunrise over the waters of the Mediterranean something most easily accomplished just off the shores of , , Beldibi, Goynuk or Kemer. These seaside cities and villages are on the longest portion of Turkish shoreline looking to the East. There is something both invigorating and a little bit frightening about watching the sun come over the water as you float out in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea bobbing with the waves and catching glimpses of sea turtles as they come up for air and splash around you in the warm summer waters.

Turkey Kayaking

As the day gets warmer you can make your way Westward from Olympos and stop at caves and secluded beaches, make sure to have a good pair of snorkeling goggles. You can see all kinds of sea life along the coast. Turtles, swordfish and the occasional sea snake (it was just the one time and it only bit five of the ten kayakers). Actually, it was seen at quite a distance and quickly moved up river from the mouth of the Olympos river as my crazy friends scrambled for their goggles and chased after it into the freezing river waters that make Olympos’ beach so refreshing in the scorching heat of summer.

Underwater Photography

Other sea life sea slugs, eels, rays and many varieties of coral and grouper fish. If you’re looking for pictures and interactive media on what a snorkeling trip might be like you could visit Bougainville’s adventure tourism site and explore their photos. Or you might enjoy visiting the Aquarium opened last year (2012), before heading out to explore the waters from which many of the fish at the aquarium come from.

Sea Turtles

Many of the beaches are accented by rock and pebble covering giving them clearer visibility and a more pleasant swimming experience for those who are uncomfortable with sand swimsuits. This also means that while kayaking you can see much deeper into the waters of the Mediterranean that you could on the US shores of the Atlantic or the Pacific where waves and sand are constantly making the waters murky and green.

Clear Water in Turkey

Here’s a link to one young man’s capture of a Mediterranean Caretas Caretas Sea Turtle.

Posted in Adventure, family travel, Mediterranean, Regions of Turkey, Travel, Travel Information, What to See | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hiking in Turkey

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

While some people go on vacation to relax physically others tend to look for a reprieve by escaping the big city through physically strenuous but mentally calming travel. Consider for a moment the backpacker, mountain climber and camper if you will. While there is nothing relaxing about carrying oneself or a twenty pound ruck sack up a steep incline there are still millions of people who seek the relaxing experience of hard labor.

I love the mountains, the views and the fresh air. I love the way it feels to sit in the shade and drink water from a canteen while pausing to take a picture of a wildflower or a turtle on the road, and while I enjoy a relaxing day at the beach or a stroll down a crowded boulevard I find my family enjoys getting out into the mountains more and my kids sleep better when I’ve taken them hiking.

For this reason I want to promote hiking in Turkey. There is no shortage of hiking adventures you can go on. If your knees are not what they used to be you can do the short distance level wilderness trek through the pine forests, or the slight incline of a walk in Gülhane Park in Istanbul. You might consider taking a trip out to the Princess Islands and Heybeliada. Or you could head towards Izmit where you could visit Yuvacik and hike some of it’s beautiful trails accented by a beautiful lake and mountain streams.


My family lives in so we can depart in any direction by land and come upon excellent hiking opportunities from the Lycian trails in and to the Roman roads on the road to Isparta or Burdur. Many of the hiking roads around Antalya are filled with historical artifacts as well as interesting wildlife and beautiful foliage. My only advice is hike from the late Fall to the early Spring  as the temps get nigh unbearable in the middle of the summer.

My son’s favorite hiking experience is the burning flames of Yanartaş where one hikes and roasts marshmallows for some gooey s’mores – almost the hiking trifecta.

For those of you looking for a more rigorous hike there are dangerous and exciting mountains like those surrounding the villages of Giden Gelmez or the historical and altitudinal giant of Ararat in far Eastern Turkey. There are so many mountains in Turkey for climbing and hiking that I’ve just scratched the surface of the adventures one can have while traveling in Turkey. Tours of Turkey are almost always highlighted by at least one mountain top experience. If you don’t like climbing them you can ride new cable cars to the snowy peaks of Mt. Tahtali or to Alexander’s Castle in Izmir.

Posted in Adventure, family travel, Regions of Turkey, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey Tours: Kaleici

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

Overview of the Ancient City of , Turkey Tour known as Kaleiçi – inside the walls.

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya Romantic Walk 01This week I took a couple around with a camera and took photos of them for their engagement photos. The ancient city as well as the neighboring park, Karalioglu Park, was full of tour groups, romance tourists, backpackers and children. This week is children’s feastival week and children were not in school, but this didn’t detract from the joy of walking through the old city and taking some beautiful pictures of the city and the narrow streets hemmed in on all sides by Ottoman styled houses with closed in balconies and cobblestone walkways.

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya TramOpportunities for good photographs are abundant in the cities old town quarters. The shaded walkways and brightly painted houses as well as antique architecture leave much to be discovered and explored as one wanders through the maze of a walled city. Below you will see some of the highlights of a Kaleici Walking Tour.

Kaleici Walking Tour, Antalya

Clock Tower 01If you are staying on the West side of Antalya you will begin your walking tour at the tram stop in front of the Clock Tower one of the old bastions of the city and now a common meeting place and jumping off point for romps through the old city. You would want to enter the old city to the right of the clock tower and make your way slowly down to the port.

If you’re coming from the East, possibly from one of the five star resorts out in Lara then you’ll begin your tour in the Karalioglu Park, just to the East of the Old City. My favorite way to visit Kaleici from here is to walk from the bus stop into the park and then move West along the cliff side coastal walk in Antalya’s central park. The walk in the shade is Karaalioglu Park (9)wonderful in the summer and the park benches are a wonderful place to warm yourself in the sun in the winter months. Either way you’ll want to stop for a moment in the park along the coast and take some photos take in the view across the bay towards the Toros Mountains – this is one of the best views during any .

As you make your way westward through the park you’ll come upon a round cliff side citadel. Parts of this fortification date back to the 1st century AD and the time when Antalya was visited by Emperor Hadrian. Venturing into the city from that point if you do your best to stay as close to the sea as possible on through streets you’ll quickly find yourself at an overlook of the ancient port. We paused Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya Harbor 01and took myriad photographs overlooking the ancient port with the turquoise waters shimmering in the background and the mountains coming up at a drastic rate from the sea it makes for a nice backdrop for any group photos you may want to take.

Tour the Ancient Port

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya Pirate Tour 01The port has more than forty different captains offering a variety of boat tours spanning in time ranges from 1-6 hours and focusing on everything from swimming, piracy and waterfalls to eating, sightseeing and scuba diving. You can charter your own private ship or join a group tour depending on your budget and desired destination. With the great success of the Pirates of the Caribbean Films by Disney the Turkish market exploded with yachts decked out like pirate ships. Even as early as 2005 there were ships calling themselves the Black Pearl offering piratesque boat tours. Since that time the ships have become more and more colorfully decorated with life size statues and pirates and make shift canons. These tours can be seen daily making their way Eastward towards the largest seaside Waterfall in Turkey – .

Shopping for Souvenirs

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya Road 01Kaleiçi is one of the most popular places to go to get authentic looking souvenirs. If you’re wanting a hand made and painted ceramic dish you can get it just around the corner from the citadel on your way to the port. If you’re looking for some authentic kilims or Turkish carpets you can find them just down the way from the Ancient clock tower. If you’re looking for a t-shirt with Antalya or Istanbul, or Turkey in general represented or your favorite European footballer’s jersey you can find that and much more in the shops including all kinds of jewelry meerschaum pipes and much more.

Cafés and Restaurants

In the evening the city converges in the old city for food and entertainment. Pubs and cafés offer live entertainment and fresh seafood with opportunities to dance meet up with new and old friends or simply enjoy the ambience during your Turkey tour. Some of the local’s favorite spots include Simurg, The Bar and Koyum. Although there are many other wonderful places like Dogan, or Alp Pasa for dining. Usually a quality fish choice while in the old city would be Sea Bream locally known as “Chipoura” or “Deniz Chipourasi.” Other common fish to be had are Levrek and Merjan.

Historical Points of Interest

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya Romantic WalkOther than the cliff side citadel there are two other points of historical interest in the city that have relevance from antiquity. The truncated minaret or “kesik minaret” and Hadrian’s Archway or “uch kapilar” are along a single road that runs through the middle of Kaleici. You’ll find this walk to be a pleasant place to walk up and down and the road which enters through the arches stops at the truncated minaret and then continues on directly to the citadel so it is easy to visit these three historical sites without getting lost in the old city. Other historical points for consideration are the Fish Market Hamam an ancient bath house and the aforementioned clock tower from which you can also see the fluted minaret – one of several symbols of Antalya. You can see below the single walk through the heart of Kaleici that leads from Hadrian’s Gate to the cliff side citadel.

View Larger Map

Romance while Traveling in Turkey

Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya ArchitectureThere are lots of things that happen on vacation one of them is romance. We would like to mention that the Turkish men are notorious Casanovas with a heart for foreign women. This may or may not appeal to you as you travel through the country.

Not all of these young men are gentlemen but for the most part the major cities in Turkey are good at presenting a clean, safe environment in which to travel. As always we suggest you utilize a guide when visiting the country and that you do not travel late around deserted streets and in dark alleys. Kaleici is no exception to the rule my mother laid forth upon my coming of age, “98% of all crime happens after 11 PM if you want to be safe be home on time.” Turkey Tour - Kaleici Antalya RoadI’m not sure her statistics were spot on but I also have never had any travel problems in Turkey.

Sticking together with your significant other is one of the surest ways to have an excellent travel experience during your time in Turkey. Hopefully we’ll bump into each other walking the streets of Kaleici.

Posted in Antalya, History, Mediterranean, Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info, What to See | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey Tours – From Greece

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Dania Demirci

I’ve Been Travelling in Greece – How Do I Get to Turkey?

I wish I could tell how many times I get this question. There are several ways to get to Turkey to start your tour depending on where you are travelling from in Greece. Some of them easy and some of them can take time because of different connections you need to make. I hope this helps gives you some wisdom and insight on the best ways to travel to Turkey from Greece.

BY AIR

Turkish Tours - Turkish AirlinesThis is going to the easiest and timely way to get to Turkey. You can catch a direct flight from Athens to Istanbul or Izmir. A few of the airlines that offer that flight are Aegean Air, Olympic Airlines or Turkish Airlines and Pegasus. You can book the flights directly with on sites such as Expedia or Orbitz. This is definitely how I would recommend coming to Turkey from Greece

BY FERRY

Greek Island to Turkey ToursTravelling to Turkey from Greece by ferry can be a taxing experience for many. If you are spending time on the Greek Islands and are thinking of taking a ferry to Kuşadası, Turkey its possible but not recommended. Depending on which Greek Island you are on, you will have multiple connections between different isalnds to finally get to an Island that will get you to Turkey. Sometimes this can take days to accomplish, so unless you are planning this ahead and making the multiple connections between islands part of your Greece Tour, I would highly recommend going back to Greece to catch the direct flight from Athens to Istanbul or Izmir.

Have you made the trip from Greece to Turkey before? Leave us a comment below and we’ll stay in touch.

Posted in cruise, Ephesus, Istanbul, Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel, Travel Information | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey Tours–Eight Hour Layover

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Dania Demirci

What to do in Istanbul when you have an 8 hour layover

Many times, travelers will fly through Istanbul, Turkey on their way to another destination and end up having 8 hours or more waiting for their next flight. Please don’t sit in the airport – get out an experience this beautiful city, regardless if its your 1st or 5th time to see it.

Many of you have asked questions about what to do or see or how to get around if you have a quick stop over. Below are a few suggestions to make things a little easier and how to use your time wisely when you want to see a lot with a little time.

WHAT TO SEE

If you are wanting to see the classic sites of Turkey – definitely head down to the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul. In this area, you can easily spend an afternoon or a day seeing the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and many other sites depending on your interests.

HOW TO GET THERE

From the airport there are many different ways you can get to Sultanahmet, but a sure fire way to get there the quickest and to get back to the airport in a timely manner is to hire a private car and driver. Your driver will be waiting for you as you exit baggage claim and take you straight to your destination. Once you get to the Sultanahmet area, you can walk to all the major sites. If you do want to go to another destination – you can coordinate with your driver to go see other areas of Istanbul if time allows.

The advantage of a private car is the driver, a set price and time management.

WHAT TO EAT

While you are visiting the Sultanahmet area, take break and have some Turkish tea and börek at a local café or stop in a local restaurant and try a kebab or döner.

WHERE TO STAY

Yes, I know you don’t need a hotel if you just have a layover – but for those of you have a little extra time and desperately need some sleep, there is a nice comfortable hotel in the airport that you can use hourly. Its a great if you are passing through.

Posted in Istanbul, Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info, What to See | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

SCUBA and Snorkeling–Antalya, Turkey

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Andrew Brinley

While Turkey and the Mediterranean are not the best known places for Scuba diving there are still some special locations for those who love the underwater world.

Cirali (5)Most tours of Turkey may lead you to the waterside but unless you ask specifically to be involved in a Scuba diving adventure it is unlikely that they will get you to drink of the riches of the underwater world off the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. I must admit that my underwater experience is limited to snorkeling and skin diving as I am not a licensed Scuba diver. I have had the opportunity though to witness divers trained in the use of SCUBA in the , , and Bodrum regions of Turkey.

Cirali Kayaking 01While I floated along on the surface of the sea enjoying sea turtles, sea slugs and sword fish from a distance my decked out companions on our yacht cruise were able to immerse themselves in the world below the waters. Every summer I spend two weeks in the Olympos region enjoying the water world and ancient ruins, kayaking, sailing and yachting on the turquoise blue waters.

The beauties to be seen are not only natural but also architectural and archaeological. In Kekova you can both take Scuba lessons and explore the sunken Lycian village of Aperlai near the ancient city of Dolichiste. The region is remarkably beautiful with it’s virtually inaccessible shores from the major roads, the best way to access these diving locations is by a charter yacht that one can board in Kekova, Demre, or Olympos. One can also take a canoe out towards the sunken city and enjoy a leisurely snorkel in the warm waters of the Mediterranean.

Bodrum Castle View 01Aside from Turkey tours in the region there is much to be said for the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology museum. I  visited this site two years ago in the fall and had a great time exploring all the treasures excavated and preserved by underwater archaeologists. The treasures of ancient ship wrecks and the armor of medieval soldiers and crusaders who once traversed the waters of the Mediterranean seeking glory and religious enlightenment can be explored in the museum housed in the St. Peter’s Castle in Bodrum.

At Dos Plumas Travel we work exclusively with reputed travel partners providing local services with skilled teachers and guides that is why we cooperate with companies like Bougainville Travel to bring you the best in SCUBA and adventure travel in the greater Antalya region. We’re reposting one of their youtube promo videos here for your enjoyment. They’re a great resource for those looking for a positive experience in adventure travel in Turkey. June is a good time of year to come see the migrating sea turtles as they move along the coast laying their eggs in wildlife preserve regions.

Posted in Adventure, Antalya, archaeology, Mediterranean, museums, Regions of Turkey, Sports, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Tour Turkey: How many days do I need to travel in Turkey?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Dania Demirci

Turkey Tours Calendar 01As tourists are preparing their trips to Turkey each year, one of the questions I often get is “How many days do I need to see all the important sites in Turkey?”

There are several different ways to answer this question – it depends on the amount of time you have to take off from work, which locations you would like to visit are and lastly your budget.

Generally, most people have anywhere from 8 – 12 days to travel. In this post, I’ll address this question by taking a look at our most travelled to destinations in Turkey within that time frame.

Turkey Tours - Sultanahmet - Blue MosqueThe minimum number of days I would recommend for Istanbul is 2 -3 days to be able to see all the classic sites such as the Hagia Sophia, the and doing the Bosphorus Cruise. Touring at this pace will be steady and they will be full days, so be sure to plan accordingly if you would like some downtime built in to your tours. Istanbul is an amazing city and there are many other things to see if you have more time you can spend there.

Turkey Tours - Cappadocia Balloon(3)The minimum number of days I would recommend of Cappadocia is 3 days. This amount of time will allow you to tour at a leisurely pace and to see all the classic sites and have a little time to explore on your own…and believe, there are many fairy chimneys, cave churches, underground cities and other places to explore in this region. Again, if you have more days – you could enjoy a wine tasting or culinary experience of the region’s cuisine, or a hiking day. I can’t stress this enough – don’t miss the ! Its an awe inspiring experience to watch the sunrise from a hot air balloon and get some breathtaking view of the area.

Turkey-Tours-EphesusTo see the classic sites of Ephesus, St. John’s Basilica, Pammukkale and Hieropolis, I would recommend 2 full days in the area. If you are looking to see the all the or enjoy time in the Greek Village of Sirince, I would recommend additional tour days. There are many flights in and out of this area so it makes it easy to do the recommended 2 days and then fly to your next destination to start your tour in the next location the next morning.

Turkey Tours - AntalyaThe number of people travelling to Antalya is growing every year – the secret of the Turkish Riveria is out! If you come down to this region, I would recommend a minimum of 2 – 3 days. Not only can you spend time relaxing on the beach or taking a gullet cruise, there are many historical sites to see in the area. You can see the city of – a nice hike up to the site on top of a mountain, or see & Aspendos or explore the old city in Antalya. If you have additional days – there are several day trips that can be taking from Antalya – I can recommend other locations based on your interests.

Of course if you like to travel slower or faster, you can adjust the days based on the amount of time you have, but to enjoy your Turkey trip at a leisurely pace and seeing all the classic sites in Turkey the recommended minimum days will make sure you cover the most important sites.

Posted in Regions of Turkey, Tips, Travel, Travel Information, Turkey Tour Info, What to See | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment