Often called as the bridge between the East and the West, Turkey is a great honeymoon destination offering an amazing getaway full of history, culture and amazing natural wonders. Having welcomed nearly 50 million visitors in the year 2018, it is one of the 10 most popular tourism destinations in the world.
Table of Contents
- Honeymoon in Turkey at a glance
- Honeymoon destinations in Turkey
- Things to do in Turkey on honeymoon
- Best time to visit Turkey
- Useful information for Turkey
Honeymoon in Turkey at a glance
Turkey is a country that offers everything you may want from a honeymoon destination. If you need a laidback and relaxing honeymoon after your wedding; full of sunshine and sandy beaches, you can head to Southern Turkey where you can get the best value for your money. If you want a culture trip, spend a few days in Istanbul, the city that was once the capital of two of the greatest empires in the history of the world. If you are looking for an adventure, you can discover many natural wonders scattered throughout the country: visit the Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia, hike to green plateaus of the Black Sea Region and swim inside the thermal springs of the Cotton Castle. List of things to do in Turkey is so long that if you want to do all of them, you would need at least a month.
The best thing about Turkey as a honeymoon destination is that it’s incredibly affordable. There are hundreds of 5 star and all-inclusive resorts providing the best value for the money you spent. If you want a bit more than that and can afford extreme luxury though, you can spend your honeymoon in one of the upscale luxury resorts in Southern Turkey which are mostly preferred by the world’s elite and celebrities.
Honeymoon destinations in Turkey
Although Turkey is a relatively small country, there are plenty of beautiful places to visit scattered across different regions. With a 1 hour flight from Istanbul, you can visit pretty much every city in Turkey. Turkey is located on the Eastern Mediterranean region, on a piece of land called “Anatolia”. This strategic land is literally a bridge between the East and the West. It’s a cradle of civilizations and melting pot of different cultures. From Hittites to Greek City States, Byzantines to Ottoman Turks; many civilizations throughout the history have left their mark here. Landmarks of the Ancient World are still standing in Turkey, attracting millions of visitors from around the world.
To get the most out of your honeymoon in Turkey, we suggest you to visit more than one city, not just a beach town located in the Mediterranean Coast.
Istanbul and Cappadocia
Most probably, your trip to Turkey will start from Istanbul which is connected to 116 countries across the world. Istanbul is the most developed city in Turkey. Also, it is one of the biggest metropolises in the world. It’s also among the most connected cities in the world with direct flights to 294 destinations in 116 countries. You can start you honeymoon in Turkey with a small culture trip in Istanbul by visiting the ancient masterpieces. World famous landmarks such as; Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, Galata Tower and many other museums and bazaars are waiting for you to explore.
After spending a few days in Istanbul, you can head to the central Turkey, to the land called as Cappadocia. This area is one of the most popular tourist destinations not just in Turkey but in the world. Fascinating landscape of Cappadocia was formed 60 millions year ago when the volcanic ashes of the nearby mountains were shaped by the force of winds and rains. The area is home to cave hotels which offer incredibly romantic experiences. Watching the breathtaking views during the sunrise and a hot air balloon tour must definitely be in your Turkey bucket list.
The Turkish Riviera
After your cultural Istanbul trip and a little bit adventure in Cappadocia, it’s time to hit the beaches. Turkey has one of the longest shores in the Mediterranean Sea and its home to some of the best beaches in world. With its 463 Blue Flag-certified beaches, Turkey has ranked third among 47 countries in the world. Cities located on the Southern and Western Coastline of Turkey attracts millions of tourists mainly from Europe every year, thanks to their crystal clear waters, pristine coves and golden beaches. There are hundreds of luxurious resorts in cities like Antalya, Muğla, Aydın and İzmir. Most of these resorts offer all-inclusive packages. These coastline cities in Turkey are also home to many archeological sites and ancient cities dating back to BCE times, which will give you an opportunity for a little bit more exploring and adventure.
Things to do in Turkey on honeymoon
- Hot air balloon tour in Cappadocia
- Wathing the sunrise in Cappadocia with a sky full of hot air balloons
- Swimming in the Cotton Castle (Pamukkale) thermal spa terraces
- Shopping at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
- Visiting Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul
- Bosphorus Tour and a day trip to Prince Islands in Istanbul
- Watching Istanbul from the Galata Tower
- Visiting the Celsus Library and remains of Ancient Ephesus city
- Visiting the Kekova Island & The Sunken City in Antalya
- Hiking the Lycian Way; an ancient route and one of the oldest long-distance hiking trails
- Visit coastal towns located across the coastline of the Aegen Sea
- From scuba diving to kayaking, kiteboarding to windsurfing try various water sports
Best time to visit Turkey
Depending on what you want to do, you can visit Turkey almost any time of the year. Turkey experiences all 4 seasons of the year and the country offers touristic activities for every season.
In general, the best periods to visit Turkey are from April to May and September to November because the weather is pleasant across the country and the prices are not at their peak. In autumn, most of the country still has pleasant weather and doesn’t experience anything extreme. During this period, sea temperature is still warm and resorts in the coastline are not as crowded and expensive as they are in summer. Same situation applies to spring months.
Resorts in the southern and western Turkey are almost fully booked in the peak months of summer. Istanbul and Cappadocia are also crowded and expensive in summer, like most of the tourist destinations in Europe.
During the winter, Turkey experiences colder days in all of its regions. Although Istanbul and other coastline cities in the west remains a little bit warmer compared other parts, you can still expect rainfall and chilly winds. Central, Northern and Eastern provinces experiences heavy snowfall and very cold weathers in winter. However, there are plenty of things to do in Turkey in winter. Thanks to the mountainous terrain, there are many ski resorts across the country. Also, keep in mind that you can visit historic sites, amazing landscape and architectural masterpieces even in the winter.
Useful information for Turkey
- Official language of Turkey is Turkish.
- Local currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY). You can find ATM machines in almost everywhere.
- Tipping is usually expected at the hotels and restaurants. At a nice restaurant, 10 to 15% tip is generally acceptable.
- Tap water is not too bad but the quality of water varies from region to region. Therefore we suggest you to always prefer bottled water instead of tap water, which is very cheap and available everywhere.
- When you are buying souvenirs from the bazaars or open markets, always bargain before the purchase, which is a kind of a norm in these kinds of places and part of the shopping experience.
- When visiting the mosques, be quiet and do not pass in front of the prayers. Also, avoid wearing revealing clothes and follow the dress code of the mosque.