tiful natural vistas.

Thousands of years of invasions, wars, rebellion and immigration have forged a country which has a vibrant, easy-going outlook, and a history that few countries can rival.

Although its capital Ankara is a modest choice for a holiday, and worthy of a few quiet days of exploration, the heart of the nation lies in its most famous city – Istanbul.

The Istanbul skyline is famous for its number of Ottoman mosques, ancient palaces, Byzantine churches and Roman architecture. This bustling city never sleeps and visitors flock to its bazaars, beaches and crowded nightclubs – it makes for an excellent city or extended break. For the cultural tourist, it has several well-regarded museums including Tokapi, the Hagia Sophia Museum, and the three Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

Away from Istanbul, Turkey has popular resorts in Bodrum, Marmaris, and the increasingly popular Cappadocia region – famed for its rugged landscape and hot-air balloon-filled skies. All of these whilst crowded are good alternatives to Istanbul as your base of exploration.

Turkey is a comfortable holiday destination; prices are reasonable, crime is low, and the resorts and transport links are plentiful. It is these factors, combined with its lustrous history that ensures its place as one of the most visited countries in the world, with almost 46m visits in 2018.

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