Turkish culture
Türkiye is much more than monuments: it's flavours, rituals, music and age-old hospitality. Explore Turkish culture with a local guide who lives it every day.
The flavours of Türkiye
Turkish cuisine is often counted among the three great cuisines of the world, alongside French and Chinese. From kebabs to baklava, every dish tells a story.
Turkish cooking is heir to Ottoman, Persian, Arab and Mediterranean traditions. Turkish breakfast (kahvaltı) is an institution: dozens of little plates of cheese, olives, honey, jams, menemen (eggs scrambled with tomatoes and peppers), simit (sesame bread rings) and endless glasses of black tea. Meze (starters to share) are the soul of any Turkish dinner: hummus, babaganoush, stuffed vine leaves, ezme and fresh salads.
Don't miss the pistachio baklava of Gaziantep (regarded as the country's food capital and recognised by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy), lahmacun, pide (filled Turkish flatbread), freshly carved döner and Turkish coffee, inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Every region has its specialities: fresh fish on the Bosphorus, mantı (Turkish dumplings) in Kayseri and künefe (a warm dessert of cheese and shredded pastry) in Hatay.
Hatay (Antioch): Mosaics, St Peter's Church and Türkiye's Best Food
Antioch was the third city of the Roman Empire and the place where the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.
Gaziantep: The Zeugma Mosaics and the Baklava Capital of Türkiye
Gaziantep has one of the largest mosaic museums in the world, a bazaar of copper and pistachios that smells of spice, an
Arsuz: The Fishing Village Where Hatay Goes Out to Eat
A little over an hour from Antakya, Arsuz is a quiet fishing bay with restaurants right on the water, and on the mountai
Turkish Food: 20 Dishes You Have to Try
Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s great food traditions. Here are the dishes you shouldn’t leave without trying: keb
Turkish Breakfast: A Guide to Serpme Kahvaltı and Where to Try It
Turkish breakfast (serpme kahvaltı) is much more than a meal: it is a ritual. The dishes that make up the spread, where
Istanbul Street Food: 10 Must-Try Snacks from Simit to Balık Ekmek
Istanbul has some of the best street food in the world. From balık ekmek by the Galata Bridge to simit, döner and kokore
Turkish Sweets: A Guide to Baklava, Turkish Delight and Künefe
Turkish sweets are legendary, from pistachio baklava to hot, cheesy künefe and Turkish delight (lokum). Here are the des
What to Eat in Istanbul: Classic Dishes and Where to Try Them
An Istanbul food guide: the dishes to try, the best street food, the neighbourhoods and restaurants locals love, and how
Traditions and rituals
From the Turkish bath to the ceremony of the whirling dervishes, Turkish traditions are a window onto centuries of history and spirituality.
The Turkish bath (hamam) is a tradition that goes back to the Roman Empire and was perfected by the Ottomans. It's much more than a bath: it's a ritual of cleansing, relaxation and socialising that is still alive in hundreds of historic baths all over Türkiye. The most famous is Istanbul's Çemberlitaş Hamamı, built in 1584 by the architect Mimar Sinan.
The whirling dervish ceremony (sema) is a mystical meditation in motion, created by the followers of Mevlana Rumi in Konya in the 13th century. The dervishes turn slowly with their arms outstretched — one hand towards the sky and the other towards the earth — symbolising the bond between the divine and the earthly. Tea (çay) is Türkiye's true social glue: people drink it everywhere, at any time of day, from small tulip-shaped glasses.
Turkish Food: 20 Dishes You Have to Try
Turkish cuisine is one of the world’s great food traditions. Here are the dishes you shouldn’t leave without trying: keb
Turkish Culture: Traditions, Customs and Everyday Life
Hospitality, tea, religion, bargaining, the hammam, crafts and everyday life: what you need to know about Turkish cultur
Turkish Breakfast: A Guide to Serpme Kahvaltı and Where to Try It
Turkish breakfast (serpme kahvaltı) is much more than a meal: it is a ritual. The dishes that make up the spread, where
The Turkish Hammam: A Complete Guide to the Turkish Bath
Everything about the Turkish hammam: what to expect, how it works, the best historic hammams in Istanbul, prices and eti
Karaköy, Istanbul: Top 5 Places to Visit
The five places not to miss in Karaköy, Istanbul's old harbour district: the Galata Tower, the Kamondo Stairs, the Galat
Unique experiences in Türkiye
Some experiences in Türkiye are truly once-in-a-lifetime: a balloon flight over Cappadocia, a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus or a night of music in Istanbul.
A hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia is probably the most iconic experience of any trip to Türkiye. At dawn, dozens of balloons rise over the Göreme valley, with views of the “fairy chimneys”, valleys sculpted by erosion and cave villages. It is a sight like no other in the world.
Other must-dos: a private cruise on the Bosphorus, watching Europe and Asia face each other across the water; a night of live music in the meyhanes (traditional taverns) of Beyoğlu; dinner with a view of the illuminated Ortaköy Mosque; or a descent into Derinkuyu, the deepest underground city in Cappadocia, with 8 levels below ground where thousands of people lived centuries ago.
Bazaars, crafts and souvenirs
From the Grand Bazaar to the Spice Bazaar: haggling, ceramic workshops and Turkish rugs are an essential part of the experience.
Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world: 61 covered streets, more than 4,000 shops and over 500 years of history. Here you'll find handmade rugs (kilims and knotted carpets, halı), Iznik ceramics with Ottoman floral motifs, coloured-glass mosaic lamps, silver jewellery, handcrafted leather and silk textiles.
In Cappadocia, the pottery workshops of Avanos have been working the red clay of the Kızılırmak river for 4,000 years. You can visit a workshop and make your own piece. The evil eye bead (nazar boncuğu) is the most typical souvenir: a blue-and-white glass amulet that is said to protect against the “evil eye”. You'll see them everywhere, from inexpensive trinkets to genuine works of craftsmanship.
Cultural day tours
Experience Turkish culture first-hand with an English-speaking guide: