8 Quick Reasons You Should Buy A Ticket To Turkey…Now

Turkey tends to be a little off the beaten travel path, but it’s popularity is quickly growing. If you’re anything like me, you probably know little more than it’s home to one of the most famous Instagram spots in the world.

However, there is so much more to Turkey than pretty views.

But what are the other reasons, Ari?? Well let me give you, not one, not two, but 8 different reasons the next ticket you buy should be to Turkey!

1. the people

One of my favorite things about going to a new place is getting to talk to the locals. There were so many conversations were I lost track of time listening to the stories that people had to tell.

Since most Turkish people could speak decent conversational English, all I needed to do was show my willingness to listen and stories kept coming. I learned about the origin of carpets and how the Hittites came and basically created what we now know as Cappadocia. I learned how to make a pide and learned about John the Baptists’ visits to Ephesus and the surrounding areas.

Most the time, the people were so kind and willing to listen and help. Without their hospitality, this solo trip would have been completely different.

2. the food

Y’all the food in Turkey is simply DIVINE. It’s a mix of delicious bread, cheese, and meat. Ya girl also couldn’t help but devour all the fruits like cherries, peaches and apricots readily available at most stalls.

Bread is also a common staple of the country. Each bite is so flavorful, it’s a complete journey of the senses.

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3. ease of travel

Busses were my main mode of transportation on the trip. I was a little nervous about traveling on the bus for so many hours, but I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the long trips were. Even though my destinations were far, it was fairly easy to get to and from the bus stations in each city and book a direct bus when I got there.

There are also a number of flights between the most popular cities which makes travel a little less cumbersome if you don’t like busses. The only downside, of course, is cost.

4. landscape diversity

Because of it’s location on the globe, Turkey is a landscape goldmine! From the bright blue water of the mediterranean, to the mountains in the East, there is certainly a little something for everyone.

Most of the landscape was shaped by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes which is why each area of Turkey seemed so different from the last.

It’s also the home to one of the best and safest places to paraglide in the world!

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5. history

Upon arriving at the boarder, I was really unaware of how much history lie waiting for me. Turkey played a huge roll in the Christian church and the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

I had a ball learning about things I had read in history books, but had never seemed to make sense of in real life. Connections weren’t made until I was literally touching (with permission of course) the first churches in the world.

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6. affordability

Turkey is surprisingly affordable. I was little nervous about prices until I started looking at hotels and Airbnb’s in the cities I was planning on visiting.

While it’s not SE Asia cheap (is anything??) it seemed to pale in comparison to the spots I was looking at anywhere in Europe.

All of my meals were kept well under $10 unless I wanted to splurge, and with the exception of Cappadocia, hostels and hotels were all between $17 and $60 dollars a night!

When it comes to excursions, those were a little less affordable for the budget backpackers, but still reasonably priced.

7. accessibility

I walked…everywhere. In each city, I became more and more impressed with how easy it was to walk wherever I wanted to go. Maybe I’m a bit jaded because it’s only partly that easy in SE Asia.

I’m sure that the nomadic culture had a lot to do with how walkable the streets and sights were, but I was impressed none the less.

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8. photography

alright alright. I feel like this should be an easy one. Photography in Turkey is like every person’s dream right?? I mean, you only need to click on one travel account to find at least 3 pictures of different places around the country.

It was one of the big draws that led me to my visit. Each city was so gorgeous, my eyes really just couldn’t get enough. Maybe it was the stark contrast of everything I’m used to now, but I couldn’t get enough.

Want to see what I’m talking about? Get inspired by some of my favorite photos of the trip.

If you do go, I hope you fall in love with Turkey as much as I did!

xo
-Ari

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