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Turkey

Turkey Travel Guide

A family reunion brought us to Istanbul, Turkey. Before arriving, we had plans to travel throughout the country. However, our plans quickly changed, because we didn’t want to leave Istanbul. We compiled 2-month’s worth of travel tips and favorite experiences into this Istanbul Travel Guide.

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Turkey Travel Guide

Turkey Travel Guide Overview

  • Turkey Travel Basics
  • Where to Go in Turkey (Map)
Planning a trip to Turkey? Read these helpful guides next:
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Şakirin Mosque, Istanbul

Turkey Travel Basics

Official Name: Republic of Turkey

Capital: Ankara

Government: Presidential governmental system

Regions: Marmara Region, Black Sea Region, the Aegean Region, the Mediterranean Region, the Central Anatolia Region, the Eastern Anatolia Region, and the Southeastern Anatolia Region. 

Population: 79.5 million

Language: Turkish (official), Kurdish

Currency: Turkish Lira

Payment Culture: Cash and credit cards. When buying food and goods from street vendors, markets, and bakeries, you’ll typically pay in cash. If you’re at a restaurant or bar, you can usually pay with a credit card.

Tipping Etiquette: Only tip in cash. In restaurants and cafés, you can tip 5-10%. In Taxis, you don’t have to tip; simply round up the bill. In hotels, you can tip porters and room service 5 TL. Read more about tipping in Turkey here.

Water Quality: Drink filtered water only.

 
Buying Kestane in Istanbul

Where to Go in Turkey

Click the dots to explore specific destinations
Cities
Lokanta Food, Istanbul
@moonhoneytravelers
  • The village center of Appenzell in northeastern Switzerland 🇨🇭 
Here are a few things you shouldn’t miss: 
🍰 Drei Könige bakery and cafè - order the Käse-Zwiebelfladen. 
🍜 When you’ve had your fill of Rösti, grab a bite to eat at Chanh, a delicious Vietnamese restaurant near the Landsgemeindeplatz.
🍺 Pop into Brauerei Locher to sample the Appenzeller beers and Locher craft beers. You can also join an open tasting on Thursdays at 10:15 am (CHF 12). 
#switzerland #appenzell #appenzellerbier #appenzellerland🇨🇭 #appenzellinnerrhoden #swissalps #visitappenzell #switzerlandtrip #switzerlandtravel #visitswitzerland #appenzelltown #appenzellvillage #travelswitzerland #europetravel
  • Gramai Alm - Pertisau Almabtrieb in Achensee, Tirol, Austria 🇦🇹 
#gramaialm #achensee #almabtrieb #alpabzug #alpabtrieb #cattledrive #cowscominghome #austrianalps #austria #visitachensee #visitaustria #visittirol #tyrol #alps #travelaustria #austriatrip #cows #cattle #alpinetraditions #austrianmountains
  • Photo dump from last weekend’s hike above Lake Achensee in Tyrol.
Trail: Seekarspitze - Seebergspitze Ridge Trail 
Starting Point: Achenkirch (Bus Stop: Achenkirch Abzw Achensee)
Ending Point: Pertisau (Bus Stop: Pertisau Bootshaus)
Distance: 12.4 km point-to point
Time Needed: 6:30 hours
Elevation Gain/ Loss: 1300 meters
Difficulty: Difficult
📍Tyrol, Austria 🇦🇹 
#achensee #tirol #tyrol #austrianalps #karwendel #visitaustria #austriatrip #austriatravel #austriahiking #lakeachensee #seekarspitze #seebergspitze #hikingblog
  • The unmistakable Kreuzberg pinnacles towering above Saxer Lücke pass. 
The complete trail description is on the blog. 
📍Alpstein, Appenzell Alps, Switzerland 
#alpstein #appenzell #appenzellerland🇨🇭 #appenzellinnerrhoden #appenzellalps #visitappenzell #inlovewithswitzerland #swissalps #hikingtrails #swisstravel #swissmountains @myswitzerland #feelthealps #alpsmountains #swisshiking #kreuzberg #saxerlücke #saxerluecke
  • Berggasthaus Aescher Wildkirchli is a wooden guesthouse built into the rock wall of Ebenalp in the Alpstein.
It has existed in its current form since 1884, making it one of the oldest mountain guesthouses in Switzerland. 
The fastest and easiest way to get to Berggasthaus Aescher is from the Ebenalp plateau, accessible by cable car from Wasserauen. From Ebenalp, it only takes 25 minutes to hike down to Aescher via the Wildkirchli caves.
Alternatively, you can skip the cable car ascent and hike from Wasserauen to Aescher via the stunning Lake Seealpsee.
📍Alpstein, Appenzell Alps
#alpstein #appenzell #appenzellerland🇨🇭 #appenzellinnerrhoden #appenzellalps #visitappenzell #marwees #inlovewithswitzerland #swissalps #hikingtrails #swisstravel #swissmountains @myswitzerland #feelthealps #alpsmountains #swisshiking #berggasthausaescher #berggasthausaescherwildkirchli #aescher #äscher #ebenalp
  • Secret hike in the Alpstein massif in Appenzell, Switzerland 👇
Marwees Ridge Trail
Trailhead: Wasserauen
Distance: 14.5 km circuit
Time Needed: 6:45 hours
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1225 meters
Trail guide on the blog.
📍@appenzellerland 
#alpstein #appenzell #appenzellerland🇨🇭 #appenzellinnerrhoden #appenzellalps #visitappenzell #marwees #inlovewithswitzerland #swissalps #hikingtrails #swisstravel #swissmountains @myswitzerland #feelthealps #alpsmountains #swisshiking