Turkey Holidays

Turkey catches a lot of first-time visitors a bit off guard. You arrive expecting sun, maybe some ruins, possibly a dodgy carpet salesman or two, but what you don't expect is the sheer range of experiences on offer. 

One day you're floating in a turquoise lagoon, the next you're wandering a Roman city that could swallow your hometown in a single bite.  

For families, the big resorts in Antalya, Dalaman, and Marmaris know exactly what they're doing - putting smiles on people's face. Most of them offer impressive grounds that never feel crowded, waterslides, evening entertainment, kid's clubs, great food and a whole lot more. While these are great and really well-run establishments, the trick is to get outside and experience the real Turkey and everything it has to offer.  

Bodrum and Ku?adas? offer a different kind of Turkish holiday experience. Bodrum is all whitewash and bougainvillea, a sleek place but without trying too hard it seems. Harbour front cafes, boutique hotels constructed with old stone walls, and a bazaar where haggling is an expected part of the whole transaction.  

Ku?adas? caters for a younger and more nightlife-oriented crowd, but don't forget, it's also your gateway to Ephesus, an ancient Greek and Roman port city that was once the trade capital of the known world. Forty minutes inland and you're walking the same marble streets as Antony and Cleopatra. Think of it a super pretty and fun place wrapped in a blanket of history. 

If you want to visit the beautiful resorts of Antalya, Dalaman, or Marmaris the best time to go is in late spring or early autumn, high summer can get punishingly hot. And, if you decide to get out and about to explore further you'll need a car - just book it before you leave home. And, if you want a real local food experience, wander the streets of wherever you are and find a grill with a man fanning the hot coals. Don't worry, you'll be brought there by the smell of delicious food hanging in the air.  

Istanbul is the buzzing heart of Turkey - no, it's not the capital, but it feels like it. With one foot in Europe and one foot in Asia, the city embraces the ancient and the modern along with the cultures of the east and the west.  

The city can feel futuristic one moment but by turning a corner you can step a couple of hundred centuries back in time. It can feel crowded and overwhelming at times, but that's part of the city's attraction. The only advice is to embrace it and become part of that activity, talk to the locals, accept invitations into small family-run tea houses, and experience the welcoming nature of the locals. 

And remember, tea always comes first, bargaining takes time, and that famous welcome is not a script, wherever you go in Turkey, the people really mean it. 

There's so much to experience and so many things to do on a holiday in Turkey it would be impossible to go through them all - thousands of years of history will do that to a place. So, let's stick to the main tourist destinations for Irish holidaymakers. 

Many people already know that Kusadasi is the gateway to the historical centre of Ephesus (less than 30 minutes away). Once there, the Terrace Houses are where the place actually breathes - Roman family life, frescoes, mosaics, under-floor heating. Don't attempt to go there at midday, especially in summer, the heat reflects off the marble like an oven. The best advice is to go early or late, then sit somewhere with a cup of cold tea and take the whole experience in.  

If you choose Bodrum as your base, here's some good advice - if you're not comfortable with the yacht set - walk up to Pedasa (an uphill walk through a pine forest), an ancient Carian settlement on the hillside, and watch the sunset hit the peninsula in perfect silence. Down in Gümü?lük, Rabbit Island has a half-submerged Byzantine city you can wade to. And before you leave, find the famous Mirzao?lu where locals queue from dawn for baklava that sells out by afternoon.  

Antalya's old town, Kaleiçi, has Ottoman mansions leaning over cobblestones worn smooth from centuries of use, there's also a Roman harbour where fishing boats still tie up. Twenty minutes out of town, take the boardwalk through a fresh pine forest to the Kursunlu Waterfalls, you'll hear the roar of the water before you see it.  

Termessos, high in the mountains, is a forty-minute hike - with no shade and a rough path, so bring good walking shoes, a hat, a tube of sunscreen, and plenty of water. The theatre at the top has no railings, no turnstiles (it's free), just a two-thousand-foot drop and eagles nesting below.  

Dalaman is a hugely popular choice for holidaymakers, with pristine white beaches and crystal clear azure waters, perfect for swimming and water sports. However, if you prefer your holiday with a hint of adventure, or a lot, paragliding may just be for you. 2,000 metres above the town (on Babada?), you run at a cliff edge until there's no ground left, and then you're flying. There are certified operators, soft landings, and a silence you won't find anywhere else. For quieter adventures, try Iztuzu Beach where you can swim with the resident loggerhead turtles.  

If you choose Marmaris there are a few things you need to know. There's a midnight curfew on amplified music - trust us, this is very real and always enforced. However, resort hotels have adapted to this. Club Atrium runs Turkish nights and glow parties for guests where you can enjoy a late night. Daytime in Marmaris offers great castle views, boat trips, and a quaint old town smelling of leather and spices.  

In Istanbul the Basilica Cistern is genuinely magical: 336 columns rising from dark water, Medusa heads installed upside-down because someone sixteen centuries ago thought it looked cool.  

Topkapi's Harem holds the finest tile work you'll ever see, but the quieter treasure is the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, a newly renovated complex with the famed Alexander Sarcophagus. Across the Golden Horn, the Galata Tower rewards the climb with a 360° panorama that stretches from the old city's minarets to the Asian hills .  

When the monuments feel overwhelming, follow the water. A Bosphorus river cruise isn't just sightseeing, it's like experiencing the city from a totally different viewpoint. Stay on the boat until you get to the Ortaköy Mosque perched delicately on the waterfront. Further upstream, visit Dolmabahçe Palace with its 4.5 tons of crystal chandelier, a stairwell of Baccarat, and Atatürk's deathbed preserved from the day he took his last breath.  

For an even bigger experience, buy a ferry token and point yourself toward Kad?köy. The Asian side is where locals go when they're not performing for tourists: fish laid on ice, spice barrels priced at a quarter of the Grand Bazaar's rates, and the simple bliss of a bal?k ekmek (fish bread) eaten on a park bench. If you have some extra time, travel further to the Princes' Islands, where motor vehicles are banned and the only traffic is horse-drawn carriages and bicycles .  

And while you're in Turkey, eat everything, seriously, try it all. Köfte, pide, lahmacun, and especially Hünkar Be?endi - smoked eggplant purée with slow-cooked lamb. Turkish delight from shops outside the Grand Bazaar tastes identical to the stuff inside, but your wallet will thank you. And baklava from a backstreet bakery that's been there since 1972, warm from the tray, pistachios still settling, the taste will stay with you for years to come.

Naming the best beaches along Turkey's coast is almost impossible - there are hundreds of  beaches, coves, and swimming spots, each with its own devoted following. But after enough time spent hopping between Bodrum and Antalya, patterns begin to emerge. Some beaches are postcard-famous for good reason. Others are quieter, known mainly to locals and the odd traveller who took a wrong turn - a good idea is to ask a local where they go. 

• Mermerli Beach, Antalya – Tucked beneath Kaleiçi's ancient walls, this tiny cove feels like a secret. Wooden sun decks, ladders into turquoise water, and the old city humming above you 
• Lara Beach, Antalya – Antalya's sandy answer to Konyaalt?. Broad, golden, shallow - ideal for families. Locals picnic here at sunset.  
• Örnekköy Beach, Antalya – Lara's quieter neighbour with soft sand and a neighbourhood feel. Mostly Turkish families, fewer tourists, and a relaxed vibe.  
• Phaselis Beach, Kemer – Three bays inside an ancient city where you swim with Roman ruins for company, then wander the ancient streets between dips.  
• Olympos Beach, Kemer – This is a backpacker's legend. A simple pebble beach flanked by ruins and treehouses. No big resorts, just cool spring water running into the sea.  
• Ç?ral? Beach, Kemer – Protected nesting ground for loggerhead turtles. In the same bay as Olympos, but quieter and greener, with pensions tucked under the cliffs.  
• Adrasan Bay, Kumluca – Horseshoe bay with gentle waves and a sandy-pebble mix beach. Calm enough for paddleboards, it's family-friendly and feels like a world away.  
• Pirate Cove, Kumluca – A tiny inlet near Karaöz with unbelievable turquoise water. No services, just a pine forest and silence. Bring your own everything.  
• Kleopatra Beach, Alanya – Two kilometres of golden sand where queen Cleopatra herself supposedly swam. Clear water and famous sunsets make it deservedly popular.  
• Damlata? Beach, Alanya – Kleopatra's quieter sibling, right by a sea cave - same water, same sand, but with a slightly calmer vibe.  
• ?ncekum Beach, Alanya – It's name means "fine sand" in Turkish, and that's exactly what you get. Shallow waters and golden sands, backed by a forest - perfect for small children.  
• Konakl? Beach, Alanya – Ten kilometres west of ?ncekum, you'll find boutique hotels and eco-friendly beach clubs, yoga by the water, organic menus, and live jazz at sunset.  
• Evrenseki Beach, Side – Fine sand, shallow water, and endless amenities, exactly what family beach holidays should look like with no surprises.  
• Ölüdeniz Blue Lagoon, Dalaman – Crystal clear turquoise waters, protected from wind, with paragliders floating down from Babada?. Yes, it's touristy, but it's also perfect.  
• Iztuzu Beach, Dalaman – Long gold sand beach, a turtle conservation centre, and water clear enough to count your toes. It's accessible by boat from Dalyan.  
• Torba Bay, Bodrum – Six kilometres from town the town, with a pebble seabed, glassy waters, and upmarket boutique hotels. It's known locally as Bodrum's quiet heart.  
• Orak Island, Bodrum – Known as the 'Turkish Maldives', this is actually worth the hype. its white sands and electric blue water are accessible only by boat. Simply marvellous.  
• German Bay, Bodrum – Often paired with Orak on boat tours, its lush greenery meets crystal clear Aegean water. Jump off the deck, swim, and repeat.  
• Kumlubük Beach, Marmaris – A secret pebble cove beyond Turunç with ancient Amos watching from the hill. The water is clear enough to see the fish and crustaceans below.  
• ?çmeler Bay, Marmaris – A tranquil neighbour to Marmaris that feels calmer, and greener, and is close enough for romantic evening strolls and magical sunsets. 
• Solar Beach, Istanbul – Yes, Istanbul has beaches. This Black Sea spot at Kilyos offers golden sand, beach clubs, house music, and is only forty minutes from Taksim. 

Turkish food, culture, and experience is regional, seasonal, and deeply attached to memory. It doesn't need a celebrity chef or a glitzy marketing campaign, it just needs the time it takes to appreciate it.  

Breakfast is the meal Turks take most seriously. A proper kahvalt? isn't a single plate; it's a spread of white cheese, aged ka?ar, honey in the comb, kaymak, tomatoes, cucumbers, menemen (scrambled egg with tomatoes), and enough bread to feed a small village. You don't order this for yourself, it's for sharing and for taking your time. Once you start, you can cancel whatever you had planned for the next hour or so.  

Lunch is often fast but never careless. Lahmacun - crisp flatbread topped with minced lamb and spices - is rolled and eaten with parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Pide is served with its edges blackened from the stone oven. But remember, while Döner kebabs do exist in Turkey, it is not the juicy stacked version you know from home; that's a German invention. Look for köfte instead, charcoal-grilled and served with sumac onions and grilled peppers.  

Dinner moves at its own slow pace, the meze arrives first: haydari (yoghurt with garlic and mint), ?ak?uka (fried eggplant and peppers in tomato sauce), fava (yellow split pea purée). You eat them with bread and rak? - be sure to sip it slowly, it has quite a kick. The main course - maybe grilled sea bass, maybe lamb skewers - will arrive when it arrives. Just remember to relax and savour the whole experience. 

In Turkey, tea is everywhere. It presented unsolicited in shops, after meals, during conversations, and is always served in tulip-shaped glasses, always hot, and always with two sugar cubes on the saucer. Refusing tea can be a bit of an insult, but accepting it means you are openly accepting the hosts hospitality. That's something that's very important to Turkish people. 

Turkish coffee is different. Slower, finer, and more like a centuries old ritual that might go something like this. You drink the top, leave the silt, and someone may offer to read your fortune from the patterns of the grinds left behind. Whether you believe in it or not, it's a good excuse to sit together just a little longer and absorb the whole experience.  

When it comes to Bazaars - wherever you find them - remember, they are not museums. You should touch the fabrics, smell the spices, and taste the cheese before you buy; and remember, haggling is expected. If you're offered tea while shopping, just sit down and enjoy the moment - it doesn't matter if you buy or not (although the seller would prefer if you did).  

The call to prayer drifts across the city of Istanbul five times daily, not as an interruption but as a reminder to the faithful. Even non-Muslims find themselves pausing, looking up at the minarets, and feeling the weight of fifteen centuries of history.  

Unlike many other European holiday destinations, what Turkey - its food, its culture, and its people - offers, is the real deal, not some made-up ritual designed for tourists. 

First, the big one Irish holidaymakers always ask about is visas. The good news is that you don't need one. Irish passport holders can enter Turkey visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. But, make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your arrival date. No forms, no fees, no queuing at e-visa kiosks, you walk off the plane, join the queue, get your stamp, and your holiday begins.  

The currency in use is the Turkish Lira (1 Euro = 51 Turkish Lira), and while cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants, and chain shops, you'll want cash for markets, small cafes, taxis, and tipping. The best approach is to withdraw lira from an ATM as soon as you arrive - bank-owned machines (not the independent exchange kiosks) give the fairest rates. Avoid exchanging money at airports or tourist-heavy spots if you can help it. Also, a heads-up: ATMs in Turkey sometimes eject your card before your cash - wait for the notes and don't walk off cardless. 

Turkey's transport network is genuinely impressive. For short hops, dolmu? minibuses are your friend - they run fixed routes, you flag them down, and you pass your cash forward to the driver. To get off, just say "?necek var" (someone getting off). Taxis are everywhere but come with a warning: some drivers take longer routes, claim meters are broken, or try to negotiate fixed fares that don't match the meter. Use Uber or the local BiTaksi app to avoid the hassle, and if you have to use a taxi, always check the meter is reset and running when you get in. 

When it comes to plugs and charging your devices, Turkey uses Type C and F sockets (the round two-pin kind) at 230V and 50Hz. You'll need a simple two-pin converter if you're bring the normal three-pin Irish or UK variety.  

Turks are famously hospitable, but a few gestures go a long way. When visiting mosques, women should carry a scarf to cover their hair, and everyone needs their shoulders and knees covered before entering the mosque, and don't forget to take your shoes off.  

In homes, removing your shoes is also the standard procedure, and accepting tea when offered is polite - refusing tea can seem cold and impolite. Addressing people as "Ahmet Bey" (Mr.) or "Aylin Han?m" (Ms.) also shows a sense of respect which the locals love. Also, try to remember, whatever the occasion, the Turkish approach to time is pretty loose; dinner at eight often means eight-fifteen, however, official appointments, are always strict.  

In case of an emergency the number to dial is 112 - this works for ambulance, police, and fire service. Private hospitals are expensive and prices vary wildly, so having a comprehensive travel insurance policy is absolutely essential. Public hospitals might be cheaper, but they are much slower - if you have to use one, make sure to keep your policy details handy.  

One final thought; Turkey is easy to experience fully once you know the rhythms. Carry some lira, learn te?ekkür ederim (thank you), and accept the tea whenever it's offered.