Turkey

At a Glance

Turkey is a country that genuinely bridges continents and civilisations, where the Byzantine grandeur of Istanbul, the carved valleys of Cappadocia, the ancient ruins of Ephesus and Troy, and the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts all form part of a single, complex cultural inheritance. Turkish hospitality is legendary, the food is outstanding, and the country rewards weeks of exploration across its very different regions. Those who engage beyond the famous sights will find layers of culture and landscape that go very deep.

• Only country straddling two continents — Europe and Asia.
• Istanbul is the largest city in Europe by population — more than London or Paris.
• Coffee was first drunk here, not in Ethiopia — Turks refined and spread it westward.