There's an enormous variety of things to see and do ranging from water sports to mountain trekking, archaeology to night-clubbing and river rafting to raki drinking. Whether you leave Turkey with magnificent carpets, amulets to ward off evil, belly-dancing tips, an appreciation of its history, or just a tan, you're likely to want to go back for more.
Warning
Turkey is generally safe, but domestic and regional tensions result in occasional waves of low-level violence, particularly bombings. Such bomb attacks are often aimed at targets that represents Western interests, such as banks and consulates.So far, travellers have not been specifically targeted by terrorists and suicide bombers. However, there is always the danger that travellers will find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. The best defence is to maintain a modest profile and be aware of current events.
Full country name: Republic of Turkey
Area: 779,452 sq km
Population: 68.1 million
Capital City: Ankara
People: Turks (85%), Kurds (12%), 3% other Islamic peoples, Armenians, Jews
Language: Turkish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Kurdish
Religion: Muslim (Sunni)
Government: republican parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
Head of Government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
GDP: US$183.7 billion
GDP per capita: US$2,490
Annual Growth: -5%
Inflation: 26%
Major Industries: Textiles, food processing, tourism, motor vehicles, mining, lumber, petroleum, construction
Major Trading Partners: Germany, USA, Italy, UK, France, Russia
Member of EU: No
