Turkey Travel Guide A Vagabond Life
Turkey Travel Guide
Turkey sits mainly in the region of West Asia, with a small section in Southeastern Europe. Turkey offers a wealth of destination varieties to travellers the bustling city of Istanbul to Roman ruins on the west coast to incredible scenery and coastlines.
Climate: The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea have a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Black Sea have a temperate climate with warm, wet summers and cool to cold, wet winters.
Turkey Travel Guides
Turkey Travel Guide Map
Tips For Travelling In Turkey
1. Visas are dependant on the country you are from. 78 countries enjoy visa free privileges and another 40 can apply for visas on line in a quick and easy process. See the Visa tab for more information
2. Download Google Translate – Turkey to your phone. Outside the main cities very little English is spoken and this app will be invaluable.
3. Download Maps.Me the off line navigation app. This little app will help you get to your accommodation and around cities and towns without internet connection. Make sure you download the area you are going to when you have WIFI so you’re set to go when you get there.
4. Turkey has excellent public transport with all towns and cities having a bus network with buses seemingly departing for every destination imaginable. We found google maps to be excellent in finding out which bus to catch and what the timetable was.
5. The Turkish Rail app is handy as is the website although be aware that many tickets are not released on line until 3 dasy before the travel day and popular routes have often sold out by then. We had to use a travel agent to book tickets from Ankara to Istanbul and we used Amber Travel who are excellent.
6. Drinking Water – Its is advisable to drink bottled water while travelling in Turkey. Bottled water is inexpensive and readily available.
7..Carry some cash – it is always a good idea to carry some cash with you as not all cafes, bars and restaurants accept cards especially in the more remote areas of the country.
8. Summers can be HOT so pack accordingly.
Turkey is a large country and has very diverse weather. The coastal areas have a mediterrean climate with warm summers and cool winters, inland the summers are hot and winters being cold. In eastern Turkey the summers are cooler due to the elevation and the winters are very cold with snow and sub zero temperatures.
Turkish currency is the Turkish Lira.
ATMS are widely available across the country.
Visa to Turkey are quite straight forward and a simple process with most countries being either visa free or via e-visa.
Map Of Visa Requirements
What to pack when travelling in Turkey
- 2 pants (or if it is hot during the day 1 pants and 2 shorts)
** I threw the second pair of pants in at the last minute and was glad I did as my original pair got wet and it was good to have a second pair.
- 1 pair track pants (or leggings) – can be slept in on the train.
- 1 shorts ** see pants
- 1 x singlets – good for layering and sleeping in
- 4 short sleeve tee shirts or shirts.
- 1 x long sleeve sloppy joe or similar
- 1 x zip-up shell jacket
- 1 x lightweight windproof raincoat
- 3 x socks
- 5 x underpants
- 1 x bra
- 1 x Northface Dipsea (or similar) – an absolute essential as it can be used as a head wrap, scarf, face cover etc.
- I x warm hat
- 1 x sun hat
- 1 x warm gloves
Shoes
- 1 x pair walking or hiking shoes.
- 1 x pair flip flops (great for showers)
Toiletries
- Wet Wipes – for on the train
- Hand Sanitiser – on the train
- Toilet Paper – on the train
- Travel Towel
- Lush Bar Shampoo
- Bar of Soap
- Deodorant
- Brush / Comb
- Hair Ties
Electronics
1 x Earbud headphones. Light and small,
1 x 6S iPhone loaded with music and podcasts
1 x power bank
Photography
- 1 x GoPro Hero 5
- 2 x Spare GoPro Batteries
- 1 x LUMIX TZ80
- Spare micro SD Card
Other Stuff
- 1 x headlight or torch **essential
- 1 x Swiss knife
- 1 x medical kit
- Refillable water bottle
Turkey shares borders with 9 countries.
Ferrys arrive to muliple ports along the western Turkish coast from Geece.
Land borders are listed below.
Note: Conflicts in countries that border Turkey are on gong and change daily. Always check with relevant embassies and your country or origin as to the current travel warnings and border closures.
The Armenia – Turkey Border is closed and is expected to reamin closed for the forseeable future.
| Turkey Land Crossings | |||
| Crossing To | Provence | Crossing Point Turkey | Crossing Point |
| Armenia | Iğdır | Alican | Margara |
| Kars | Akyaka | Gyumri | |
| Kars | Akyaka | Gyumri | |
| Azerbaijan -Nakhchivan | Iğdır | Dilucu | Sederek |
| Bulgaria | Edirne | Kapıkule | Kapitan Andreevo |
| Edirne | Hamzabeyli | Lesovo | |
| Kırklareli | Dereköy | Malko Tarnovo | |
| Kırklareli | Dereköy | Malko Tarnovo | |
| Georgia | Ardahan | Posof-Türkgözü | Vale |
| Ardahan | Çıldır-Aktaş | Kartsakhi | |
| Artvin | Sarp | Sarpi | |
| Greece | Edirne | Pazarkule | Kastanies |
| Edirne | İpsala | Kipoi | |
| Iran | Ağrı | Gürbulak | Bazargan |
| Hakkâri | Esendere | Serow | |
| Iğdır | Borualan | ||
| Van | Kapıköy | Razi | |
| Van | Kapıköy | Razi | |
| Iraq | Hakkari | Şemdinli-Derecik | * |
| Hakkari | Çukurca-Üzümlü | * | |
| Şırnak | Habur | Zakho | |
| Şırnak | Gülyazı | * | |
| Şırnak | Habur | Zakho | |
| Şırnak | Gülyazı | * | |
| Syria | Gaziantep | Karkamış | Jarabulus |
| Hatay | Yayladağı | Kesab | |
| Hatay | Cilvegözü | Bab al-Hawa | |
| Kilis | Öncüpınar | Azaz | |
| Kilis | Al-Rai | * | |
| Kilis | Öncüpınar | Azaz | |
| Kilis | Al-Rai | * | |
| Mardin | Nusaybin | Qamishli | |
| Mardin | Şenyurt | Al-Darbasiyah | |
| Mardin | Nusaybin | Qamishli | |
| Mardin | Şenyurt | Al-Darbasiyah | |
| Şanlıurfa | Akçakale | Tell Abyad | |
| Şanlıurfa | Ceylanpınar | Ras al-Ayn | |
| Şanlıurfa | Mürşitpınar | Ayn al-Arab | |
| Şanlıurfa | Akçakale | Tell Abyad | |
| Şanlıurfa | Ceylanpınar | Ras al-Ayn | |
| Şanlıurfa | Mürşitpınar | Ayn al-Arab | |
Travelling On The Dogu Express (Kars – Ankara)
The Dogu Express, or Eastern Express travels between Ankara and Kars and in my opinion it is one of this worlds great train trips travelling 1310km across Turkey.
The Dogu Express first journey was in 1936 and originated in Istanbul now it starts and finishes in Ankara with a fast train connecting Ankara and Kars.
Since May 2019 Turkish Rail have run 2 different types of Dogu Express.
The Dogu Express
Designed more for the commuter.
Faster – 24 hours
Pullman seats, 4 berth cabins
More stops
The Touristic Dogu Express
Designed for travellers
Slower 30 hours+
Stops at significant points of interest
Has longer stops allowing people to get off and visits sites.
2 berth sleeping compartments.
If you’re a traveller I would recommend the Touristic Dogu Express as it gives a fantastic experience and we were able to get off and see some sights that really are in the middle of nowhere.
Read More On How To Travel On The Dogu Express HERE
World Destination Guide
There are 195 countries in the world stretching across seven continents – so there is an awful lot to see.Where to begin? Many people are inspired by a movie they have seen or a story they have heard, or a desire to see the land of their ancestors.
Use the drop-down on the right to explore the world.