Time & Weather
in Istanbul
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SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
FOR TURKEY TRAVEL
Travel to Turkey
If you are travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, here are some suggestions for itineraries depending on the time you have available. Of course, anything can be arranged to suit your specific itenerary or your travel desires, but these are some of the highlights if you are looking for a good place to start.
If you have any questions or would like to plan your own Magical Journey to Turkey you can contact our friend and travel guide in Istanbul, Oguz Kosebalaban.
Discover Istanbul - the Byzantine Constantinople (up to 4 days)
The must-see sights for time limited visitors
Istanbul was the capital city of three empires: Ottoman, Byzantine, and the Roman Empire. The magical city has been ruled by over 120 kings, emperors and sultans. Visitors can enjoy a 2 hour cruise of the impressive Bosphorus Strait, borderd by palaces and mansions. This is also the site of the 'Clashing Rocks' from Mythology, through which 'Jason & The Argounats' were trying to pass. Many visitors come back to Istanbul in the winter for a weeks' stay to enjoy the city in much more depth.
Active churches, and Synagogues as well as the mosques attract visitors at religiously significant days, like feasts, or Christmas.
Special Istanbul visits include: Topkapi & Dolmabahce Palace, The Blue Mosque, The Grand Ottoman Military Band of the Ottomans, Hagia Sophia & Basilica Cistern of the Byzantines, An unforgettable Bosphorus Straits Cruise, Shopping at the Grand
or the Egyptian Bazaar.
TOPKAPI PALACE IN ISTANBUL, AND ANCIENT THEATRE AT EPHESUS
Central Turkey from Istanbul
(If you have a week or more)
Biblical Galatia is the environs of Turkey's capital, Ankara (name' s origin is Angora . Angora cats and goats come from this city.)
The Archaelogical Museum houses the most impressive artefacts from the ancient civilisations of Anatolia, including the earliest landscape painting in history dating back to Neolithic times (6200 BC) from a wall of a Catalhoyuk house .
From here you can take excursions to the 2 neighbouring ancient capitals;
Gordion was the capital city of the Phrigians - famous with their king Midas of the golden touch . Walk into the famous king's hill shaped tomb - the Grand Tumulus.
Hattusash was the capital city of the famous Hittites, one of the most important Anatolian civilisations of the 2nd Millenium B.C.
Visit Cappadocia with its wonders of nature. This can be referred to as the real life version of "The Flintstones" and was featured as other-worldly by George Lucas in Star Wars. Giant stone mushrooms, called the Fairy Chimneys (locals thought these looked like their chimneys - since their chimneys also had a cap above them to avoid leaking). Because this is volcanic soft rock it is easy to chisel and you'll find underground cities, rock-cut homes (with a satellite dish on top), Byzantine churches with frescoes, hotels, bars, restaurants, and night clubs.
The area has canyons for soft Trekking, or skiing can be combined to your vacation in winter trips.
A minimum 2 overnights are required, ideally 3.
4 hour driving (includes 2 comfort stops ) south of Ankara, or fly from Istanbul Directly.
Aegean Coast Line & Environs (2 to 4 days minimum)
Visit the Ancient City of Troy from Homer's Iliad. Born in Turkey, Homer is from Izmir - Symirna.
Three of the famous 7 churches of the Bible happen to be impressive sites to visit not only for the religious significance :
Pergamon is the capital of the kingdom under the same name, famous for its Acropolis, and Asclepion (the ancient hospital where they also practised psychotherapy ). This is where parchment is invented (called Pergamenie). Famous Physician Galen comes from Pergamon.
Ephesus, as well as one of the seven wonders of the world, Artemis temple, has got the only theatre in the world that is mentioned in the Bible. This is truly one most the most impressive ancient ruins of the world.
Sardis is the capital city of the Lydians, who invented coinage. Wealthy Croisos was their king. This is probably the famous ancient Jewish city Sfard - There is a very early synagogue surviving here.
Inland Towards Cappadocia from Ephesus (3 hours driving) is the Ancient city Aphrodisias, dedicated to Love Goddess Aphrodite. This city was a great sculpture center in early Roman times. It has an exeptionaly well preserved ancient stadium with a capacity to seat 30,000 people.
Booking and Information for Private Turkey Tours with Oguz
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