Meeting place of the Eastern and Western worlds, Turkey has always been a land of contrasts. Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of historical sites, and on seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean Sea coasts. Turkey has also become a popular destination for culture, spa, and health care. Cosmopolitan Istanbul stood at the head of the Byzantine Empire for a thousand years, while its Islamic successors, the Ottomans, ruled the Mediterranean and beyond for six centuries more. This long Christian and Islamic history has left a legacy of historical sites, while Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline has long been famous for its beaches and wild nightlife. Travel Turkey east into the interior, however, and a more traditional land unfolds where life moves slowly and the legendary Turkish hospitality lives on.

One of the most standout traits in Turkish culture is undoubtedly hospitality. Turks come from a nomadic culture has only imprinted these values from generation to generation to now become the country’s national identity, in which hospitality and familial relations are certainly considered their most important cultural values. Turks will also go out of their way to be hospitable and help people anywhere not only when welcomed in their homes. Being offered a cup of tea is all par for the course in many a shopping, business or even bureaucratic experience. And if you accept that tea, you will undoubtedly form a life-long bond with said person as many a Turk will also never forget a face.