Türkiye offers vibrant destinations and a perfect travel experience. Its various amenities enhance the allure of its diverse tourist attractions, but some “travel hacks” make this experience even better. Here are Türkiye’s offerings and the essential travel hacks you should know before visiting the country to make your trip a joyous adventure without any hassle.
Get Museum Passes
The best way to explore Türkiye’s historical and cultural richness heritage is to visit its excellent museums. With Museum Pass, a cost-effective card granting access to over 350 museums and archaeological sites across the country, it is much easier to delve into the nation’s past without purchasing individual tickets at each location and waiting in line. Available in various types according to their regional area, price and validity period, each Museum Pass is activated with your first entrance to a museum or historical site. The passes can be purchased online or from the ticket booths on the museum premises and used once at each museum.
Travel by Train
Many global and local car rental services are available in Türkiye, offering flexibility for those looking to explore at their own pace. However, exploring the country by train is the most unique and enjoyable experience. Türkiye’s railway network, spanning all regions with high-speed trains and nostalgic routes, promises journeys rich in natural landscapes, history and culture. Especially nostalgic rail tours, such as the iconic Eastern Express, the newest Mesopotamian Express and scenic Diyarbakır Express, recognised by Time magazine as one of the “World’s Greatest Places of 2024,” transform your travels into a captivating adventure, where the journey itself is as impactful as the destination.
Shop smart
You can experience a traditional shopping experience by visiting historic bazaars, like İstanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, or explore a more modern shopping atmosphere in malls across the country. Moreover, your purchases can be tax-free in Türkiye. You can get tax refunds for purchases of more than 108 TL for products with an 8% tax rate and purchases of more than 118 TL for products with an 18% tax rate. For more information about tax refunds, visit the GoTürkiye website.
Utilise Public Transportation
Modern transportation services are among the first conveniences Türkiye provides. It is easy to reach the country’s airports through direct flights worldwide. Following your arrival, taxis or shuttle bus services, available at all airports in the country, enable smooth access to Turkish cities. Public transportation is another highlight in Türkiye, offering various options to suit any traveller’s needs. The extensive metro (subway) systems at metropolises, alongside reliable bus, tram, ferry, and train networks, make navigating urban areas straightforward. You only need to purchase a travel pass valid on almost all vehicles to use public transportation. Then, with map apps on your phone, you can learn which stops to get off from the bus, tram or metro depending on where you want to go.
Eat Like a Local
No matter where you go in Türkiye, Turkish cuisine has much to offer you in every region, from local dishes to street food. In addition to the classical dishes, like world-famous kebab and döner, you should explore regional cuisines. While you’ll taste one-of-a-kind dishes in every region, this will indeed allow you to experience Turkish culinary traditions. Firstly, you should have a typical Turkish breakfast, unlike any other. Turkish breakfast is a delightful spread that often includes fresh bread, cheeses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, honey, and jam, accompanied by the quintessential Turkish tea. Then, you can try the best local food at an “esnaf lokantası” (local diners), where you can choose from a buffet menu and pay a fixed price per plate. The “lokantas” and other restaurants are usually open until late across the country.
Enjoy Warm Hospitality
One of the most standout traits in Turkish culture is warm hospitality. Turks will greet you in a friendly manner. If you need any help, feel free to ask them. It’s not uncommon for locals to go out of their way to help tourists, whether providing directions or assisting with transportation options. While having a sincere chitchat with you, they will even offer a cup of tea. And you can find many English-speaking people, especially in tourist spots, as it is the most spoken foreign language in the country.
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