Everything you need to know about Turkey
Travel map of Turkey by the tour operator OVERCROSS
- General Information
- Climate
- Example
- Flora and Fauna
- National Parks and Nature Conservation
- Medical Notes
- Population
- Language
- Politics and Economy
- Transport Network
- Cities and Regions
- Culture, Sights
- Holidays
- Travel Advice
- Foreign Representatives
- Sources and Link
1. General Information
Continent: Asia
Geographical location: Turkey geographically spans two continents, Asia and Europe.
Highest elevation: Mount Ararat at 5,137m above sea level
Longest river: Kizilirmak with a length of 1,353km
Form of government: Parliamentary republic
System of government: Parliamentary democracy
Languages: Turkish
Neighboring countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Iraq, Iran, Syria
Capital: Ankara
Area: 783,562 km²
Population: 85,342,000
Population density: 109 inhabitants per km²
Religions: Muslims
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
Climate: Several climate zones traverse Turkey
Time zone: UTC+3
Country code: +90
Country abbreviation: TR
Electricity: 220 V, 50 Hz power system
Opening hours: Banks Mon-Sat 8:30-12:30, 13:30-17 (currency exchange only after 11 am); post offices daily 8-21, often until 23; shops partly until 22.
2. Climate
| Istanbul | Temp. °C min/max | Sunshine hours / day | Rainy days | |
| Jan | 2 | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| Feb | 3 | 8 | 4 | 12 |
| Mar | 4 | 11 | 5 | 11 |
| Apr | 7 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| May | 12 | 20 | 8 | 8 |
| Jun | 14 | 25 | 11 | 5 |
| Jul | 18 | 28 | 12 | 5 |
| Aug | 20 | 29 | 11 | 6 |
| Sep | 18 | 28 | 8 | 8 |
| Oct | 13 | 20 | 6 | 11 |
| Nov | 10 | 16 | 5 | 12 |
| Dec | 3 | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Antalya | Temp. °C min/max | Hours of sunshine / day | Rainy days | |
| Jan | 6 | 15 | 4 | 14 |
| Feb | 7 | 16 | 6 | 11 |
| Mar | 8 | 19 | 7 | 8 |
| Apr | 10 | 21 | 8 | 6 |
| May | 15 | 25 | 10 | 4 |
| Jun | 19 | 30 | 11 | 2 |
| Jul | 22 | 34 | 12 | 0 |
| Aug | 23 | 34 | 12 | 0 |
| Sep | 19 | 31 | 10 | 1 |
| Oct | 15 | 26 | 8 | 6 |
| Nov | 10 | 20 | 6 | 9 |
| Dec | 8 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
Hardly any Mediterranean coast with high water temperatures and so much sunshine in summer has such consistently growing visitor numbers as the varied south and southwest coast of Turkey.
The longing for picturesque harbor towns, unclouded sunshine on fine sandy beaches, state-of-the-art resorts, imposing rocky backdrops, and culturally magical travel destinations like Pergamon, Troy, or Ephesus can be quickly fulfilled.
While the weather on the Black Sea can be unpredictable in summer, you can rely on the most popular vacation destinations in southern Turkey. More than 10 hours of glorious sunshine and few or no days with precipitation speak for Turkey's climate.
The best time to travel to Antalya and the nearby cities on the Turkish Riviera is in spring from May to June and in autumn from September to November. During the summer months of July and August, it is very hot by Central European standards, but good for motorcycling.
3. Flora and Fauna
Image: View of part of the Taurus Mountains in Turkey
The total area of Turkey is used 36.3% for agriculture, and 26.2% is covered by forest.
In the Near East, Turkey’s flora is considered the most diverse and varied. On the plateaus, many wildflowers and ground covers are native, the steppes are dominated by shrubs, coniferous forests and black pines, while the dry areas are also home to thistles and cactus plants. In the north, especially along the Black Sea coast, there are extensive hazelnut, corn and tea plantations, in the south more fruit and cotton plantations and especially plants that have adapted to the dry summers, such as evergreen hedges, shrubs, oak trees, olive trees and carob trees.
The main livestock found are cattle, horses, buffalo, sheep and goats. The camel population has steadily declined in recent decades; their original use as pack animals has been largely replaced today by sporting competitions. Also, many small game species and wild boar are native, although their populations are constantly reduced by hunting.
The largest predators still living in Turkey today include brown bears, wolves, jackals and some lynx species.
4. National Parks and Nature Conservation
In total, 33 national parks in Turkey offer untouched landscapes, wonders of nature and beaches.
The 3 most popular national parks are:
Kaz-Dagi National Park
Dilek National Park
Olympos National Park
5. Medical Information
When traveling, remember to bring a well-stocked travel pharmacy, as there may be shortages in medical care. In addition, it is advisable to take out inexpensive travel health insurance.
Give your body the necessary time to adjust to the changed climate. In warmer regions you will need more fluids, which can mean up to 4 liters more per day depending on physical exertion and outside temperature.
It is best to visit your family doctor before your trip; they always have the latest information.
6. Population
Image: The typical Turkish village of Kayayköy
The ethnic composition of the population in Turkey cannot be precisely determined. In official censuses, ethnic affiliation is not recorded. Instead, native and secondary language are collected, but the numbers among many minorities have sharply decreased due to Turkish assimilation policies. In addition, various ethnic groups have been mixing for centuries, making it often difficult to assign individuals to a specific group.
The information regarding ethnic groups varies greatly depending on which sources are used. Accordingly, the following ethnic groups live in Turkey: 70 to 77% Turks, 14 to 18% Kurds, 4% Zaza, 2% Circassians, 2% Bosniaks, 1.5% Arabs, 1% Albanians, 0.5% Laz, 0.1% Georgians as well as various other ethnic groups and nationalities such as Armenians/Hemşinli, Bulgarians/Pomaks, Arameans, Chechens, Greeks/Pontians, Jews, and Roma.
In 1914, there were about 1.3 million Armenians with Armenian as their native language in the Ottoman Empire. Due to the genocide from 1915 to 1917 and expulsions, their number has decreased to about 40,000. On top of this, there are about 70,000 illegal Armenian immigrants.
7. Language
The national and official language of Turkey is the Turkic language Turkish, spoken by over 80% of the population as a mother tongue and by another 10–15% as a second language. Thus, Turkish is by far the most important language in present-day Turkey. Turkish Sign Language was legally recognized in July 2005.
In addition, there are about twenty languages from a total of five different language families spoken today by non-Turkish ethnic groups and minorities living in Turkey.
Kurdish, Zazaki, Arabic, Azerbaijani, and Bulgarian
8. Politics and Economy
Politics:
According to Article Two of the Constitution, Turkey is a democratic, secular, and social constitutional state. The Republic of Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk after the end of the First World War, who is still revered by many citizens today.
According to the Constitution, the president is to supervise the harmonious functioning of state organs as head of state. He is elected for five years at a time, with one re-election possible. His duties include nominating the prime minister and, on his proposal, appointing the ministers as well.
Economy:
In recent years, Turkey has recorded consistently strong economic growth. Despite the global economic crisis, the country's economy shone in the second quarter of 2021, for example, with a growth rate of 8.8%. As a result, the country is increasingly becoming a destination for foreign investors. Moreover, the government has managed for years to reduce inflation. In 2023 it was only 43.0%, a rapid decrease compared to 2002 (44.4%). However, it should be noted that a large gap still exists between the highly industrialized west and the agrarian, poorer east of the country.
In recent years, Turkey has recorded consistently strong economic growth. Despite the global economic crisis, the country's economy shone in the second quarter of 2021, for example, with a growth rate of 8.8%. As a result, the country is increasingly becoming a destination for foreign investors. Moreover, the government has managed for years to reduce inflation. In 2023 it was only 43.0%, a rapid decrease compared to 2002 (44.4%). However, it should be noted that a large gap still exists between the highly industrialized west and the agrarian, poorer east of the country.
9. Transportation Network
Image: Motorcyclist on one of the many coastal roads of Turkey
10. Cities and Regions
The largest cities in Turkey
City
Pop.
Istanbul
13,720,000
Ankara
4,865,000
Izmir
3,550,000
Bursa
1,622,000
Adana
2,300,000
11. Culture, Sights
Image: Turkey villages like from another time
12. Holidays
| Holiday | Date |
| New Year | 1 January |
| National Sovereignty and Children's Day | 23 April |
| Labour and Solidarity Day | 1 May |
| Atatürk Memorial Day | 19 May |
| Victory Day | 30 August |
| Veterans Day | 19 September |
| Republic Day | 29 October |
12. Travel Advice
14. Diplomatic Missions
German Embassy in Ankara: 114 Atatürk Bulvari, Kavaklidere, 06540 Ankara. Telephone +90 312 455 51 00, Fax +90 312 455 53 37
More information about this is here
Embassy of Turkey in Germany, Address: 10785 Berlin, Tiergartenstraße 19-21. Telephone +49 30 27 58 50, Fax +49 30 275 909 15
More information about it here
