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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)
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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

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Cities
Lokanta Food, Istanbul
@moonhoneytravelers
  • Who’s ready for summer?
📍Mogren Beach, Budva, Montenegro. 
#montenegro #montenegro🇲🇪 #montenegrotravel #montenegrotrip #balkanstravel #europetraveldestinations #europetravel #europetrip #budvariviera #adriaticsea #budva #beachholiday #visitmontenegro #mogrenbeach #budvabeach #europesummer #summer #summerineurope
  • We love Kotor, but for swimming, there’s no better place than the Budva Riviera. 
This is a photo of Fort Castello (Kastio Castle), an old fortress built on a rocky promontory by the Venetians in the 16th century.
📍Petrovac 
#montenegro #montenegro🇲🇪 #montenegrotravel #montenegrotrip #balkanstravel #europetraveldestinations #europetravel #europetrip #petrovac #budvariviera #fortcastello #adriaticsea #montenegrocoast #montenegrolifestyle #budvamontenegro
  • What a trip to Kotor, Montenegro, looks like. 🇲🇪😄📷
👉Follow @moonhoneytravelers for more travel tips.
#montenegro #montenegro🇲🇪 #montenegrotravel #montenegrotrip #visitkotor #oldtownofkotor #kotormontenegro #bayofkotor #bokabay #kotorbay #kotoroldtown #kotortravel #balkans #balkanstravel #europetraveldestinations #europetravel #europetrip
  • Our favorite places eat and drink in Kotor, Montenegro:
1. Boutique Hotel Hippocampus for a slow and delicious Montenegrin breakfast @hippocampushotel
2. Restaurant Galion for fish @galion_restaurant
3. Platanus Kotor for their “Montenegro platter” with Njeguški pršut (dry-cured ham) and Njeguški sir (cheese from Njeguši) @platanus_kotor
4. Moritz Eis for their gelato @moritzeis
5. The Nitrox Pub & Eatery for craft beer @nitroxpub
6. BBQ Tanjga in Kotor for kebab skewers, grilled meats and vegetables @bbq_tanjga
7. Little Bay for their salads @little_bay_restaurant
8.Pekaras AS near the River Gate for their Börek
9. “Ladovina" Kitchen & Wine Bar for their wines @kotorskaladovina
🇲🇪 Save this post for future reference. 
#kotor #kotormontenegro #bayofkotor #kotortravel #kotortravelguide #kotorrestaurants #kotoreatanddrink #kotorfoodandwine #bokabay #kotorvisit #kotoroldtown #visitkotor #visitmontenegro #montenegrotravel
  • Best hikes in Kotor, Montenegro 🇲🇪 
1. Vrmac Ridge Trail
2. Ladder of Kotor
3. Pestingrad Peak
4. Kotor Fortress (Kotor City Walls)
👉Follow @moonhoneytravelers for more hiking tips.
#montenegro #kotor #kotorbay #bokabay #bayofkotor #dinaricalps #montenegrohiking #montenegrotravel #kotorhiking #kotorhikingtrail #kotorfortress #travel #hiking #europetravel #europedestinations #hikingmontenegro #adriaticsea
  • The most popular thing to do in Kotor is hike up to the Kotor Fortress.
The Kotor Fortress stands on the San Giovanni Hill (St. John Hill) at 260 meters above sea level, overlooking the Old Town of Kotor and the Bay of Kotor.
The Kotor Fortress is part of a medieval fortification system that encircles the Old Town as well as the adjacent hillside. These fortifications consist of gates, bastions, towers, and defensive walls (ramparts). 
It takes 45 minutes - 1 hour to hike up the 1350 steps to the fortress (aka St. John’s Fortress / San Giovanni Fortress).
There are two entry points within the Old Town of Kotor. The easiest one to find is close to the River Gate/North Gate. 
Entrance Fee: 8 EUR
#kotor #kotormontenegro #montenegro🇲🇪 #bayofkotor #bokabay #montenegrotravel #montenegrotrip #kotortravel #visitkotor #kotorfortress #kotorcitywalls #afarmag #tlpicks