TÜRKİYE

Destination Touristic Services
in TÜRKİYE

Türkiye, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a transcontinental country, located mostly in Anatolia in Western Asia, but also in East Thrace in south-eastern Europe. Türkiye is bordered by eight countries: Bulgaria to the north-west; Greece to the west; Georgia to the north-east; Armenia, Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan to the east; and Iraq and Syria to the south-east.

The Mediterranean Sea is to the south; the Aegean Sea is to the west; and the Black Sea is to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles (which together form the Turkish Straits) mark the boundary between Thrace and Anatolia; they also separate Europe and Asia. Türkiye’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a country of geostrategic importance.
Packed with ancient monuments left over from a parade of conquerors, and endowed with showcase scenery that never fails to impress, Türkiye is a dazzling destination that straddles Asia and Europe. Its vibrant culture, famed cuisine and vast history wow all who venture here, while its glorious landscapes – from the sun soaked Mediterranean to the mighty mountains and arid steppe – are a highlight in themselves. Whether you want to lap up the Byzantine and Ottoman glories of Istanbul on a city break, laze on the beach, delve into history wandering through ruins such as Ephesus, or see some of the world’s most surreal panoramas in Pamukkale and Cappadocia, this country has attractions galore.

ALANYA

Alanya is a beach resort city and a component district of Antalya Province on the southern coast of Türkiye, in the country’s Mediterranean region, 138 kilometres east of the city of Antalya. At Türkiye’s 2010 census, the city had a population of 98,627, while the district that includes the city and its built-up region had an area of 1,596 square kilometres and 248,286 inhabitants.

The Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for tourism.
Alanya’s two main tourist beaches are Kleopatra Beach and Porakal Beach, which have both been awarded Blue Flag (blueflag.org) status for cleanliness and safety. Alanya’s 13th century fortress is one of the main tourist attractions, with an impressive citadel and a three-mile stretch of fortified walls. Another striking landmark is the Red Tower, near the harbour.
A tall, octagonal brick structure, the tower offers spectacular views from the top. The town’s caves include Damlatas Cave, renowned for its peculiar rock formations, and Korsanlar Cave, a sea cave below the castle that you can swim into, or view from a boat trip. The 600-year-old dockyard is free to enter and can be reached on foot, but the best view of its imposing arches is from the sea.

ANTALYA

Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of south-western Türkiye. It is Türkiye’s biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera.

Antalya has something for everyone. If you want to feast on sightseeing, the labyrinthine old town is full of historic sites, while the atmospheric old harbour makes a tranquil spot to relax. The city is also perfectly placed to act as your base for sightseeing in the outlying area, where grand Roman ruins at Aspendos and caves inhabited in prehistoric times await.
It’s not all history though. This city is a great spot from which to access the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Beach-bums and history-lovers will both be satisfied.
Antalya has a Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and mild rainy winters. The sea temperature ranges from 16 °C in winter to 27 °C in summer.

SIDE

Side is an ancient Greek city on the southern Mediterranean coast of Türkiye, a resort town and one of the best-known classical sites in the country. It lies near Manavgat and the village of Selimiye, 78 kilometres from Antalya in the province of Antalya.

It is located on the eastern part of the Pamphylian coast, which lies about 20 kilometres east of the mouth of the Eurymedon River. Today, as in antiquity, the ancient city is situated on a small north-south peninsula about 1 kilometre long and 400 metres wide.
The great ruins of Side are among the most notable in Asia Minor. They cover a large promontory where a wall and a moat separate it from the mainland. During medieval times, the wall and moat were repaired and the promontory houses were built.
There are colossal ruins of a theatre complex, the largest of Pamphylia, built much like a Roman amphitheatre that relies on arches to support the sheer verticals. The Roman style was adopted because Side lacked a convenient hillside that could be hollowed out in the Greek fashion more typical of Asia Minor. The theatre is less well preserved than the theatre at Aspendos, but it is almost as large, seating 15,000–20,000 people.