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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Greece

Turkey and Greece , once foes, now friends and always bordering each other…two countries which have similar cuisines and cultures. In some parts of Turkey you can swear you are actually in Greece…and the opposite is exactly the same. Thanks to being so close to each other, many travelers plan to visit both countries during their vacations. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to travel between Istanbul and Greece. Choosing the right one for you depends on your budget and how much time you plan to spend traveling.

Quick summary

Should you plan to get between the capitals, the simplest choices are : flights and buses. Bus fares are slightly cheaper but the travel time is 16 hours. Flights take under 1 ½ h. Should you plan to get anywhere else in Greece, there are always the ferries available. Or a combination of flights and ferries.

Flights from Istanbul to Greece

Turkey has several international airports but only some of them offer direct flights to Greece’s airports .

Direct fights between Istanbul and Athens are operated by Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines. The flight time is 1h 20 min and the cheapest ticket is provided by Olympic Air (single fare: €71 during the shoulder and high tourists seasons 2012).

Direct flights from Istanbul to Thessaloniki are operated only by Turkish Airlines. The flight time is 1h 25 and fares are more expensive than the fares to Athens (single fare: €133 during the shoulder and high tourist seasons 2012).

There aren’t any direct flights between Antalya and Athens or Thessaloniki. Neither there are from Izmir or Bodrum to Athens or Thessaloniki. And if you want to fly from Turkey to one of the Greek islands, you’ll most likely go via Athens. So, your best bet is to plan your flight from Istanbul to Athens and then continue by ferry or domestic flight to your destination in Greece.

Read more about:
>>Flights to Greece
>>Flights to Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Greece

Unfortunately, as of February 2011, due to the economic state of Greece, all international trains to/from the country have been canceled, the Istanbul –Thessaloniki-Athens train including.

Ferries from Istanbul to Greece

There are no direct ferries between Turkey and mainland Greece , but you can take the ferry from Turkey to some Greek islands and continue the journey via domestic Greek ferry or by plane. Of course, in Turkey, you can travel from Istanbul to the ports by bus (or train and bus).

Here are the possible routes:

  • Marmaris to Rhodes : runs year round . During the winter, ferries run on Fridays and Tuesdays. They depart Marmaris at 9 a.m. and arrive in Rhodes 2h 15 min later. On the way back, ferries sail on the same days of the week and the departure is at 2:30 p.m. from Rhodes. Please note that it may not be possible to book some routes via the ferry booking website .

    >>read more about Getting from Rhodes to Athens

  • Kusadasi to Samos : the ferry route is open between April and October. It sails two times daily, from Kusadasi, at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. On the way back, catch the ferry from Samos (either port of Vathy or Pythagorion) at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The trip takes about 1h 15 min. The single fare is €35.
  • Ayvalik (close to Izmir) and Lesvos : it sails Monday to Saturday and the single fare is €30. The travel time is 1h 10 min.

    >>read more about getting from Lesvos to Athens

  • Bodrum to Kos : it departs Bodrum at 9:30 a.m. On the way back catch it from Kos at 3:30 p.m. The single fare is €38.
    >>read more about Getting from Kos to Athens and Getting from Istanbul to Bodrum

You might also want to read about Getting from Turkey to Santorini , just in case you plan to do some island hopping on the way to Greece.

Buses from Istanbul to Greece

Once upon a time there were many companies operating between Turkey and Greece, but not anymore. Still, there are departures and you can get a bus from Istanbul and get off in Athens.

Metro Turizm is one of the companies operating on the Istanbul – Athens route. They run a bus per day, which departs Istanbul at 6 p.m. and gets to Athens 16 hours later. The single fare is either 140 Turkish Lira / €59 or 150 Turkish Lira / €64.

>>read more about Getting from Istanbul to Athens

Driving from Istanbul to Greece

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive to Greece, but make sure to ask whether you are allowed to take the car across the borders.

According to Google Maps, the shortest route between Istanbul and Thessaloniki is on E9. The total distance is about 600 km, which can be covered in about 7 hours.

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The shortest route between Istanbul and Athens is by sea and land (with 3 ferry crossings). However, you can also choose the 1100 km route via A2/E90 and E75, which is by land only and takes about 12 hours. Of course, plan some stops along the way (in Thessaloniki , for example).

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Photo credits: Athens airport , Ferry Rhodes

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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Bursa

Bursa is located in the northwestern part of Turkey, near the Sea of Marmara, about 20 km inland. It was the first major city that the Ottomans had control of and served as the capital of the Empire between 1326 and 1365. The city is filled with historical sights dating back from the early Ottoman period.

Today, it is Turkey’s fourth largest city. It is the gateway to one of Turkey’s highest mountains, Uludağ , and the hear of the winter sports in the country.

Getting from Istanbul to Bursa is not hard and you’ve got plenty choices. It’s all up to you (and the travel budget, of course). Although Bursa is served by an airport , the short distance between Istanbul and Bursa do not require a flight. So, when flying from abroad, you’ll land on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport (IST) before continuing to Bursa.

Quick summary

The fastest way between Istanbul and Bursa is to travel by ferry to Güzelyalı, followed by a bus to Bursa. Or you can take the bus directly from Istanbul to Bursa but spend about 4 h traveling. Prices are about the same though.

Buses from Istanbul to Bursa

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Bursa’s bus terminal. There are buses departing every ½ h to 1h from Istanbul, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The travel time is 4 h and the single fare is either 22 Turkish Liras / €9.30 or 24 Turkish Liras / €10, depending on the type of ticket.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Bursa

Bursa is not served by a railway station, but you can travel by train and bus from Istanbul to Bursa.

1) Istanbul to Eskişehir by train: there are four trains departing from Istanbul each day (07:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m, 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.) The travel time is 4 h.

2) Eskişehir to Bursa by bus: buses leave right from the train station. Metro Turzim operates 8 buses per day (first one at 3:00 a.m. and the last at 7:30 p.m.) and the travel time is 2 ½ h. The single fare is either 13 Turkish Liras / €5.50 or 15 Turkish Liras / €6.30, depending on the type of ticket.

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Ferries from Istanbul to Bursa

The fastest option to travel between Istanbul and Bursa is the ferry. Ferries depart Istanbul Yenikapı terminal , on the European side of the city and they arrive at Güzelyalı, about 20 km from Bursa. From Güzelyalı you can catch one of the buses which await passengers at the ferry terminal.

The ferry crossing takes 80 minutes and costs 20 Turkish Liras / €8.40 one way ; the bus to the Organize Sanayi metro station in Bursa takes 30 minutes and costs 2 Turkish Liras / €0.85 one way.

Another option is to get from Istanbul to Yalova and from there catch a minibus (dolmus) to Bursa.

All ferries are operated by IDO and the tickets can be booked online.

>>read more about Ferries in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Bursa

You can rent a car and drive the 240 km between Istanbul and Bursa on E-80 and E881. The travel time is about 3h 40 min.

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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Ankara

Although Ankara is the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is the major travel hub in the country and chances are you’ll get a better fare for flights into Istanbul rather than the capital. So, you’ll need to figure another way to get from Istanbul to Ankara. Thankfully, there are plenty of options. You just need to choose the best for you (and your budget).

Quick summary

It costs about the same and takes almost the same amount of time to travel by bus or train between Istanbul and Ankara. That’s until the new high speed line will connect the two cities directly. If you are in a hurry, though, you can consider flying. It’s not too expensive compared to the bus or train fares.

Flights from Istanbul to Ankara

Ankara is served by Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), located about 28 km from the city center. Compared to Istanbul’s airports it receives fewer flights.

Istanbul is served by two airports, both handling flights to/from Ankara:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST): this is the main airport serving Istanbul , located on the European side of the city, about 20 km from the city center. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and the main gateway into the country. It is hub for: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Ankara are operated by Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) : this is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side. It is the airport preferred by the low cost carriers. Flights to/from Ankara are operated by Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines and AnadoluJet.

The cheapest flights to Ankara are from SAW. The flight time is 55 min. In mid April 2012, single fares start at €22 on Pegasus. Prices stay the same even during the peak travel season (July 2012).

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Ankara

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Ankara’s bus terminal (AŞTİ). Buses depart Istanbul every hour, every day between 5:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. The travel time is 5 h 15 min. The single fare is 38 Turkish Lira / €16 to 47 Turkish Lira / €20, depending on the hour of departure and type of ticket.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Ankara

There will be a direct high speed railway between Istanbul and Ankara but right now the high speed trains only work from Eskişehir to Ankara. Even so , the total travel time between Istanbul and the capital is 5 h 45 min. There is still one old fashioned (slow) train between Istanbul and Ankara which leaves Istanbul at 1 p.m and arrives in Ankara 9 ½ h later. The new high speed trains leave Istanbul at 7 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The fare is 40 Turkish Lira / €17 during the day , one way.

There’s also a sleeper departing Istanbul at 10:30 p.m. and arriving in Ankara 10 ½ h later. The single fare is 60 Turkish Lira / €25.30 in a shared 2-bed room.

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Ankara

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive the 452 km to Ankara on E-80. The drive time is about 5 h 15 min.

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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Ephesus

Ephesus (Turkish: Efes) is one of Turkey’s major tourist attractions. It was a Greek town, later conquered by the Romans and which gained its popularity thanks to being home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is one of the best preserved Roman Mediterranean cities in Turkey.

Ephesus is located near present-day Selcuk in the Izmir Province. The closest airport to Ephesus is İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB). The closest railway station and bus terminal are also in Izmir.

Quick summary

The hassle-free and affordable way to get from Istanbul to Ephesus is by bus to Selcuk and then on foot to the ruins. But the travel time is long (11h) and in case you are in a hurry there’s always the plane. The flight time is 1h and from Izmir airport there’s a train service all the way to Selcuk. And it’s not that expensive to fly, either.

Flights from Istanbul (airport code: IST) to Ephesus

The closest airport to Ephesus is İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB), located about 18 km from the city center of Izmir and 60 km from the archeological site of Ephesus. The airport is hub for IZair, SunExpress and Onur Air.

Istanbul is served by two airports, both handling flights to/from Izmir:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST): it is the main airport serving Istanbul and is located 20 km from the city center on the European side of the city. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and a hub for: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Izmir are operated by AtlasJet, Onur Air, IZAir and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) : it is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side, much further from the city center. It is the airport preferred by the low cost carriers. Flights to/from Izmir are operated by Pegasus Airlines, IZAir, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines (AnadoluJet).

It is slightly cheaper to fly to Izmir from SAW (€22 one way on Pegasus) than from Ataturk (€25 one way on Onur Air) in mid-April 2012. The flight time is about the same , though (1h to 1h 5 min). By mid-June 2012, the prices are about the same (€28 one way on AtlasJet from IST; €30 one way on AnadoluJet from SAW).

Once in Izmir, you can either rent a car and drive to Ephesus or take the train to Selçuk. There are six trains per day, departing from Izmir train station and from the Airport train station. The travel time to Selçuk is 1 h (from the airport).

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Ephesus

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Selcuk’s bus terminal, the closest bus terminal to Ephesus. There are two buses per day departing Istanbul at 9:30 p.m and 11:30 p.m. The travel time is 11 h. The fare is either 58 Turkish Lira / €24.50 or 65 Turkish Lira / €27.40, depending on the type of ticket.

Once in Selcuk you can walk the 4 km to the ruins.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Ephesus

The train station for Ephesus is Selcuk. The ruins are within walking distance of Selcuk (about 4 km). But there isn’t a direct link from Istanbul to Selcuk and you need to change trains in Izmir.

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train, with a stop in Eskisehir: the express trains depart Istanbul at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the total travel time is 19 hours. From Istanbul to Eskisehir the fare is 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40) and from Eskisehir to Izmir it’s another 21 Turkish Lira (€9).

2) Izmir to Selcuk by train: there are six trains departing Izmir each day (first at 8:09 a.m. and the last at 7:10 p.m.). The travel time is about 1h 20 min. You can check the timetable and fares here (requires a username/password).

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Ephesus

You can rent a car and drive from Istanbul to Selcuk, but plan to walk from the city to the ruins. The driving distance is 629 km on D565 and can be covered in about 8 ½ h. But make sure to plan some stops along the way.

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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Antalya

Antalya is the largest city on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and the main gateway into the Turkish Riviera. From April to October it is crowded with tourists looking to soak up the sun. Although the city’s airport gets plenty of low cost flights from various cities in Europe, many travelers arrive in Antalya by way of Istanbul , Turkey’s largest travel hub and where most of the international flights land.

Quick summary

The cheapest option to get from Istanbul to Antalya is the bus. But the travel time is about 12 hours. If you want to travel faster, the flights are not that expensive (but you need to consider the time and money spent for the transfer to/from the airports).

Flights from Istanbul (airport code: SAW) to Antalya

Antalya Airport (AYT) is located about 13 km from the city center and is one of the three major airports serving the Turkish Riviera. It is hub for Freebird Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines. The airport handles both domestic and international flights.

Istanbul is served by two airports:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST), located 20 km from the city center on the European side, is the main gateway into Turkey. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and a hub for the following airlines: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Antalya are operated by AtlasJet, Onur Air, Sky Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side, much further from the city center. It’s, however, where the low cost carriers usually fly. Flights to/from Antalya are operated by Pegasus Airlines, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines (AnadoluJet).

Flying from SAW into Antalya is slightly cheaper than flying from Ataturk. In mid April 2012, expect to pay from €22 one way on Pegasus from SAW and from €29 one way on Onur Air from Ataturk. The flight time is the same, though, regardless of which airport you fly out of.

By mid June 2012, the prices do increase and flying out of SAW remains cheaper (€30 one way on AnadoluJet vs €40 one way from Ataturk on AtlasJet).

You have to remember that flying on low cost airlines requires you to be quite attentive to the fares and how they fluctuate. Still, generally speaking, booking 4 to 8 weeks in advance means you get the best fares.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Cheap flights to Antalya
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Antalya

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Antalya’s bus terminal. There are seven departures per day, with the first being at 10 a.m. and the last at 11 p.m. The travel time is 12 h and the fare 55 Turkish Lira / €23.20 or 60 Turkish Lira / €25.30, depending on the type of ticket.

Has Turzim Bus also operates on this route but their website seems to be full of problems and it’s impossible to view the routes or prices*.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Antalya

While there isn’t a direct train link from Istanbul to Antalya, there are two options to consider.

Option 1:

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train, with a stop in Eskisehir: Express trains depart Istanbul at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the total travel time is 19 hours. From Istanbul to Eskisehir the fare is 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40) and from Eskisehir to Izmir it’s another 21 Turkish Lira (€9).

2) Izmir to Antalya by bus: just show at the otogar and tell your destination. There are plenty of companies operating on this route but do remember that the fares depend on the company.

Option 2:

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train (see details above)

2) Izmir to Denizil by train: there are 3 departures per day from Izmir, the first being at 8:09 a.m. and the last at 3:30 p.m. The travel time is about 4 h 15min. You can check the timetable and fares here (requires a username/password).

3) Denizil to Antalya by bus: just show up at the otogar and tell your destination. You can choose among regular buses and mini buses (dolmus)

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Antalya

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive the 727 km to Antalya (via D650) in about 12 hours. Make sure to plan some stops along the way.

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Note:*at the time the article was written

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travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Bodrum

Bodrum is located on the south Aegean coast of Turkey and is now a very popular travel destination. In ancient time , it was the site of Halikarnassus, home to the famous Mausoleum of Halikarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ancient monument was destroyed by an earthquake in the Middle Ages, but remains of it can still be seen in London’s British Museum.

Currently, Bodrum is one of the centers of the Turkish tourism industry. The east half of the town is where the beaches, bars , restaurants and everything else relative to a resort town are located. The other half caters for the richer crowds, typically those arriving here by yachts.

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey and also its transportation hub. Unless you manage to find a very good deal into the airports serving the Turkish Riviera, you are most likely going to land on one of the Istanbul’s airports. And from here, plan the rest of the journey in Turkey.

Quick summary

If you don’t mind paying for the transfer to/from the airports and spending some time getting from the hotel to/from the airports, then flying is an option to consider when traveling from Istanbul to Bodrum. Another cheap option, which takes you from city center to city center, is the bus. But it takes a lot longer.

Flights from Istanbul (airport code: IST) to Bodrum

Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV) is located 35 km from the city of Bodrum and handles both domestic and international flights.

Istanbul is served by two airports:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) is located 20 km from the city center, on the European side, and is the main gateway into Turkey. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and a hub for: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Bodrum are operated by Atlasjet, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side and it’s where the low cost carriers usually fly. Flights to/from Bodrum are operated by Borajet and Pegasus Airlines.

In terms of finding the cheaper option, whether you fly from Istanbul Ataturk or SAW, the flight fare is about the same (€22 one way on Pegagus from SAW and €23 one way on AtlasJet from Ataturk, in early February 2012). The flight time is also similar (1h 5 min to 1h 10 min). However, you need to take into account the transfer to/from both airports you’ll be flying into/from.

The same fares are available for flights in early March 2012, but by early April the prices increase and it gets slightly more expensive to fly from Ataturk (€36 one way) than from SAW (€27 one way). But even during the high tourist season, the prices stay around €30-€40 one way regardless of which airport you fly from.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Bodrum

The otogar (bus terminal) in Bodrum is located right in the city center next to the municipal market. In Istanbul the buses stop at Istanbul Buyuk Otogar. Many companies operate on this route but your best bet is to grab a seat in a luxury bus. Different companies have different fares.

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating on this route. The fare is 70 Turkish Lira / €29.50 or 75 Turkish Lira / €31.65, depending on the type of ticket. Buses depart Istanbul at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The travel time is 14 h.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Bodrum

There isn’t a direct connection between Istanbul and Bodrum but you can catch a train from Istanbul to Izmir and then a bus to Bodrum. There is also the option to take the ferry train but going only by train is faster.

Express trains depart Istanbul at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. You’ll stay about 4 hours in Eskisehir. In total, the travel time is 19 hours. From Istanbul to Eskisehir the fare is 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40) and from Eskisehir to Izmir it’s another 21 Turkish Lira (€9).

From Izmir, catch a bus for another 4 h to Bodrum. The bus to Bodrum costs another 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40).

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Bodrum

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive the 790 km to Bodrum. The total travel time is about 11 h but make sure to plan some stops along the way. Bursa and Izmir are on the way (if you take D565), so you can stop there for some hours or even stay overnight.

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Turkey Beyond Istanbul

Turkey, I think, falls into the same trap that the Netherlands, England, France, and a few others countries do. When it comes to tourism, people think of one city and don’t really consider visiting any other places within that country. So while many people are perfectly content to spend a week in Amsterdam or London, only venturing out for a few days trips and neglecting the rest of the country, so too do far too many people seem to accept that it makes sense to visit Turkey and only visit Istanbul.

While Istanbul is a treasure-trove of a city worth spending significant time in, it’s not the only place in Turkey that holds appeal for tourists. The highlights of Turkey stretch across the country, from the Mediterranean coast to the valleys and mountains of the Asian side, from big cities and small towns to rural and deserted settlements.  Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, Mount Nemrut, the ghost town of Kayaköy, and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and you’ll see just how far from Istanbul – both literally and figuratively – you can get withing Turkey.

Istanbul certainly deserves a large portion of your trip (especially as most cheap flights to Turkey arrive there), but it will also eat up more of your budget. Cheap Istanbul hotels are available, but dining, drinking, transport and sightseeing will cost you more in a major city, where the cost of living is simply higher than in more rural areas. By expanding your travels to the lesser-known regions of Turkey, you’ll gain a richer experience, without being much poorer for it.

Photo by deepgoswami

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Visiting a Hammam in Turkey

For many people, much of the joy of traveling can be found in discovering new things – new foods, new cultural customs, and new experiences that just can’t be had at home. Most times, those experiences turn out just as you’d hoped: your eyes are opened to something new, and you walk away with a lovely memory or having gained a great understanding of a local culture.

But sometimes, in order to get to that place, you have to be a little nervous, a little uncomfortable, maybe even a little embarrassed. You might need to need to step out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to feel a little awkward, you may need to eat something you normally wouldn’t….or you may need to get naked in front of strangers.

Wait what? Well, imagine the scenario. You’ve found cheap flights to Turkey and have looked at some cheap Istanbul hotels. You’ve researched the many things you want to do, sites you want to see, and delicious local delicacies you want to eat. Then you arrive and find out that one thing you shouldn’t miss out on is a visit to a hammam. So you find one recommended by other travelers and arrive to find out that engaging in this local practice means showing off some of your private parts in a not so private setting….

In countries like Turkey and Morocco, visiting a hammam, or Turkish bath, is a part of everyday life. Hammams are bathhouses that contain three chambers: a hot room to steam, a warm room to scrub, and a cooler room to relax. Not all hammams have the same layout, but they all involve a hot marble steam room where patrons can soak in the sweltering heat, and an area where you can get scrubbed down by a professional (or do it yourself). Most larger hammams are divided by gender, with separate sides for men and women, but within each side, partial nakedness (you’ll wear underpants, but going topless) is the norm.

A little skeeved out? Don’t be. Just check out our guide to Turkish baths to learn how to blend in and minimize your own embarrassment – and really that’s the key. While you may feel completely exposed and as though you’re living your worst nightmare (you know..the one where you’re in a crowded room with no clothes on), no one else cares. They’re there to relax, and (if their an uncomfortable foreigner too) chances are they are more worried about their own comfort level than they are checking out the bodies of other people. It may seem awkward at first, but rest assured the experience is worth a few moments of blushing. So trip down, lather up, and enjoy.

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Explore the Culture of Istanbul, a 2010 European Capital of Culture

hagiaEvery year, one or more “European capitals of culture” are chosen to highlight some of the amazing culture and history that can be found throughout Europe. In 2010, one of those European Capitals of Culture is Istanbul.

Straddling two continents (Asia and Europe) Istanbul is a mish-mash of cultures, religions, and cuisines. The city was the seat of three successive empires – Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman – and traces of each stage in its development are still evident everywhere you look – from the sparkling cerulean tiles of the Blue Mosque to the lavish rooms of the Topkapi Palace.

You can literally walk through different stages of history here, take a boat ride from one continent to another, and examine the juxtaposition of old versus new.

There are dozens of activities lined of to celebrate the city’s inclusion as a Capital of Culture; the events take place all year round so the ideal time to go depends more on your budget. Your best chance to find cheap flights to Istanbul is during the spring and fall. More cheap hotels in Istanbul are available during this time as well.

As elsewhere in Europe, the most popular times (and therefore the most expensive) to visit Istanbul tend to be during the summer months and over the holidays. Shoulder season (late spring and early fall) are a good compromise. Prices may be lower, tourist crowds will be fewer, and you’ll still be able to enjoy all the sights and culture of Istanbul, but without the sweltering heat that accompanies the height of summer.

Photo by David Spender