50 Fun Facts About Turkey

1. Istanbul Straddles Two Continents

Turkey has two continents for the price of one. Istanbul straddles both Europe and Asia, with the Bosphorus Strait dividing the city. You can literally have breakfast in Europe and lunch in Asia, all before your coffee kicks in.

2. Turquoise Is Named After Turkey

The word "turquoise" comes from "Turquois", meaning "Turkish" in French. This is because the mineral was first brought to Europe through Turkish trade routes. So next time someone says your turquoise necklace is stunning, you can tell them its colour is named after a country.

Adobe Free Stock / jonnysek

3. Father Christmas Is Actually Turkish

Santa Claus is technically Turkish. Saint Nicholas - the real-life figure behind the legend - was born in Patara, a Roman town that sits on the Turkish coast. So if you want to visit Santa's hometown, forget Lapland and book flights to Antalya instead.

4. They Read Your Fortune Using Coffee Grounds

Fancy a glimpse into your future? In Turkey, fortune telling using coffee grounds is serious business. After drinking Turkish coffee, turn your cup upside down, wait, then have someone read the patterns.

Adobe Free Stock / Mete Caner Arican

5. Tulips Originated in Turkey, Not Holland

Contrary to popular belief, tulips aren't originally Dutch, they're Turkish. The Ottoman Empire introduced them to Europe in the 16th century. During this "Tulip Era," the flowers were so valuable that sultans wore them on their turbans.

6. Istanbul Is the World's (Unofficial) Cat Capital

Istanbul could genuinely be rebranded as "Catstanbul." The city is famous for its thousands of street cats, which are treated like royalty by locals. Think of it as Britain's love for dogs, but with a few more whiskers and a lot less barking.

Sadrettin - Yükleyenin kendi çalışması, CC BY-SA 4.0, Bağlantı

7. Turkish TV Shows Are Global Sensations

Turkey's TV shows, known as dizis, a kind of dramatic, romantic soap opera, are the third-most exported television content in the world, after that produced by the US and the UK. Move over Hollywood - Türkwood is giving you a run for your money.

8. Turkey Has An Ancient Underground City For 20,000 People

Derinkuyu in Cappadocia is the world's largest underground city, with eight floors descending 85 metres below ground. It once housed 20,000 people, making London's Tube seem like amateur hour in the underground department.

Adobe Free Stock / Parilov

9. Turkey Has More Than 80,000 Mosques

Turkey is home to over 80,000 mosques, with new ones still being built. The famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul is one of the few mosques in the world with six minarets. When it was built, it caused controversy, as only the sacred mosque in Mecca had six at the time.

10. Turkey Is Home To Two Of The Seven Wonders Of The Ancient World

Turkey housed two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum). While only foundations remain today, these sites still attract history buffs from around the globe seeking to walk in the footsteps of ancient civilisations.

11. Turkish Breakfast Involves Dozens Of Dishes

Turkish breakfast isn't just a meal, it's an experience that can for last hours. Called "kahvaltı", meaning "before coffee", it features dozens of small dishes. It makes your bowl of Weetabix look like a culinary crime.

Adobe Free Stock / oktay

12. The Legendary Gordian Knot Hails From Turkey

The Gordian Knot, that impossibly tangled puzzle supposedly cut by Alexander the Great, was located in ancient Gordium, in modern-day Turkey. Basically, Turkey was hosting brain teasers way before escape rooms were cool.

13. One of the World's First Shopping Malls Is in Istanbul

The famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops. It's like Westfield Shopping Centre but with 560 years more history and significantly better kebabs.

14. Lord Byron Swam The Bosphorus… Naked

The English Channel might have attracted swimmers, but Lord Byron famously swam across the Bosphorus in 1810, reportedly in the nude.

Adobe Free Stock / Givaga

15. Turkey Is the Hair Transplant Capital of the World

The modern hair transplant industry was pioneered in Turkey. Thousands of blokes fly there annually to sort their thinning manes. Wayne Rooney may have started the trend, but Turkey perfected the art.

16. Their National Sport Involves Oily Wrestling

Turkey's national sport is oil wrestling, where burly men cover themselves in olive oil and try to pin each other down. It's been going since the 14th century.

17. Turkish Coffee Is a UNESCO Cultural Heritage

Turkish coffee is so important culturally that UNESCO listed it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Sorry, pumpkin spice latte, you're just not heritage material.

Adobe Free Stock / toa555

18. Some Turkish Villages Communicate by Whistling

In northern Turkey, some villagers in Kuşköy communicate using a whistled "bird language" that can travel over mountainous terrain. And you thought your WhatsApp group chat was impressive.

19. Noah's Ark Supposedly Landed in Turkey

Many believe Noah's Ark landed on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. Archaeologists haven't found conclusive evidence, but locals will happily show you "authentic" ark souvenirs. Entrepreneurship at its finest.

20. Turkish Airlines Once Required Moustaches

Turkish Airlines once required male flight attendants to have moustaches. Times have changed, but if you see a particularly impressive lip warmer on your next flight, tip your hat to tradition.

21. The World's First Coins Were Minted in Turkey

The world's first coins were minted in Lydia (western Turkey) around 600 BC. So when you're scraping together pennies for a meal deal, you're participating in a Turkish tradition - kind of.

Adobe Free Stock / bellakadife

22. The Real City of Troy Is in Turkey

Homer's legendary city of Troy wasn't a myth - it was a real place in northwestern Turkey. Located in present-day Hisarlık, it was first settled all the way back in 3000 BC.

23. Ancient Turks Pioneered Earthquake-Proof Buildings

Ancient Turks were earthquake-proofing buildings back when Brits were still figuring out Stonehenge. The Byzantine cistern in Istanbul has columns sitting on lead plates that act as shock absorbers. They work, too, having endured approximately 22 significant earthquakes since their construction.

24. Not Providing Coffee Was Grounds for Divorce

In Ottoman times, women could divorce their husbands if they failed to provide a daily coffee quota. So, you could say that not providing coffee was grounds for divorce. Ouch!

25. Turkey Has One Of The World's Oldest And Largest Spice Markets

Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar, known as the Spice Bazaar, dates back to the 1660s and remains one of the world's oldest and most famous spice markets. Walking through its aromatic labyrinth is sensory overload. With mountains of colourful spices, Turkish delight and exotic teas, it's the ultimate treasure trove for those who love their food and drink. 

Adobe Free Stock / Towfiqu Barbhuiya

26. The Real Dracula Was Imprisoned in Turkey

Vlad the Impaler, a prominent inspiration for Dracula, was held hostage in Turkey. More than this, he was thought to have picked up some of his famous torture techniques during his stay. Talk about bringing back unpleasant holiday souvenirs.

27. Turkey's Beaches Are Crucial for Endangered Turtles

Iztuzu Beach is one of the main breeding grounds for endangered loggerhead turtles. Every year, these prehistoric-looking creatures return to lay eggs. David Attenborough would have a field day.

Adobe Free Stock / NaturePicsFilms

28. Their National Drink Turns White When Mixed

Raki, Turkey's national alcoholic drink, turns cloudy white when water is added - hence its nickname 'lion's milk'. It's like Pernod but with enough kick to make your average stag do look like a church picnic.

Adobe Free Stock /  utkudemirsoy

29. The World's Oldest Known Shipwreck is Off Turkey's Coast

Discovered in 1982 near Uluburun, Turkey, the world's oldest known shipwreck dates back to the 14th century BC. The Bronze Age vessel carried an incredible cargo, including copper ingots, Egyptian artefacts and the oldest writing tablets ever found at sea, providing rare insights into ancient Mediterranean trade.

30. Cappadocia's Fairy Chimneys Are Natural Formations

Cappadocia's famous fairy chimneys aren't the result of creative architects, but thousands of years of erosion. They're thought to be around 14 million years old, give or take a few, of course.

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31. Whirling Dervishes Perform a 13th Century Ritual

The Whirling Dervishes aren't just doing dizzy-making dance moves - they're performing a spiritual ritual that's been practised since the 13th century.

Adobe Free Stock / Esin Deniz

32. The First Beauty Contest Happened in Turkey

The mythical Judgment of Paris, the world's first beauty contest, supposedly took place at Mount Ida in Turkey. And we thought Britain's Got Talent was pioneering competition formats.

33. Turkish Carpets Can Take Years to Complete

Turkish carpets are renowned worldwide and often take months or years to complete. Each region has distinctive patterns and techniques. Some take a couple of months, while others have been known to take over a decade.

Adobe Free Stock / jokerpro

34. Cappadocia Launches 100+ Hot Air Balloons Daily

Cappadocia launches over 100 hot air balloons every morning in peak season, creating the world's most photogenic sky. The ultimate sunrise experience that makes your Instagram dawn filter look less than impressive.

Adobe Free Stock / Michelle Silke

35. Turkey Has One of the World's Saltiest Lakes

Lake Tuz is one of the world's saltiest lakes with a salt content of around 32%. It's also the second-largest lake in Turkey, after Lake Van.

Adobe Free Stock / Funtay

36. Turkish Is One of the World's Most Gender-Equal Languages

The Turkish language has no grammatical gender. No 'he' or 'she', just a single gender-neutral pronoun, 'o'. This makes it one of the world's most gender-equal languages.

37. A Turkish Cat Has a Statue in Japan

Turkey once gifted Japan a cat named "Tama" in 1880 to thank them for returning shipwrecked sailors. The cat became so beloved that the Japanese built a statue in its honour - a perfect diplomatic move.

38. Turkish Lace Was Used for Secret Messages

Oya, Turkish needle lace, was traditionally used by women to communicate secret messages. Different flowers and patterns conveyed different emotions.

39. Turkey Has an Underwater Ancient City

The ancient city of Kekova partially sank after an earthquake, creating an underwater archaeological site. Imagine if Cardiff just decided to take a dip one day, that's essentially what happened here.

40. Blue Evil Eye Amulets Are Everywhere in Turkey

The Nazar amulet - or that blue eye you see everywhere in Turkey, is believed to ward off the evil eye. A typical Nazar is usually a circle or tear-drop shape, often made from glass in blue, white and black.

Adobe Free Stock / Quality Stock Arts

41. Çatalhöyük Is Said to Be the World's Oldest City

Settled between 7500 BC and 5700 BC, Çatalhöyük is the oldest known city in the world. The name is Turkish, meaning "forked hill".

42. Homer May Have Been Turkish

Several Turkish cities claim to be the birthplace of Homer. No, not Bart Simpson's dad, but the author of 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey'. While locations like Chios, Ithaca and Ios all claim to be his birthplace, Smyrna is generally considered the most likely.

43. Julius Caesar's Famous Quote Was Uttered In Turkey

Julius Caesar's famous phrase "Veni, vidi, vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered) was uttered in Turkey after a quick victory battle. Talk about delivering a knockout line for the history books.

Adobe Free Stock / Paolo Gallo

44. Göbekli Tepe in Turkey Is Older Than Stonehenge

Göbekli Tepe, located in southeastern Turkey, is the world's oldest known megalithic structure, dating back to 9500 BC, predating Stonehenge by about 7,000 years. This revolutionary archaeological discovery has fundamentally changed our understanding of prehistoric human civilisation and early religious practices.

45. Mount Nemrut Has Massive Stone Heads Watching Sunrises

Mount Nemrut features giant stone heads of Greek and Persian gods arranged to watch both the sunrise and sunset. Like having eyes in the back of your head, but on a divine scale.

46. Turkey Made the World's (second) Largest Baklava

In 2018, Turkish chefs created the world's largest baklava, weighing 518 kg. However, this was beaten in almighty fashion the following year when a Swedish baklava weighed in at 724 kg.

Adobe Free Stock / resul

47. St. Paul Was Born in Turkey

Tarsus in southern Turkey is the birthplace of St. Paul the Apostle. His journeys across the ancient world spread the early Christian faith and his letters make up a significant portion of the New Testament.

48. Early Christians Lived in Turkish Cliff Dwellings

The cliff dwellings in Cappadocia were home to early Christians hiding from Roman persecution. These remarkable cave churches and underground cities were carved into the soft volcanic rock and feature well-preserved Byzantine frescoes dating back to the 9th century.

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49. Star Wars Scenes Were Filmed in Turkey

Several Star Wars scenes were filmed in Turkey, with Cappadocia's landscape, inspiring planet Tatooine. The distinctive lunar-like terrain and ancient cave dwellings provided the perfect otherworldly backdrop for George Lucas's vision of a galaxy far, far away. The Force is clearly strong with this country.

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50. Turkey Is Home to the World's Oldest Known Love Poem

The Istanbul Archaeological Museum houses what is considered the world's oldest known love poem. Written on a clay tablet by the ancient Sumerians around 2000 BC and discovered in Nippur, modern-day Iraq, 'Istanbul #2461' was brought to Turkey during the Ottoman Empire.

1. Is Turkey a good destination for first-time visitors?

Absolutely - it offers a blend of history, food, scenery, and city breaks. English is spoken in many tourist areas, and Turkish hospitality is legendary.

2. What is the best way to stay connected in Turkey?

Use a travel eSIM from providers like Airalo to get instant data without hunting for SIM cards at the airport.

3. When is the best time to visit Turkey?

April to June and September to November offer the best mix of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

4. Do I need a visa to travel to Turkey?

UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. Check the latest entry requirements before travel.

5. What regions of Turkey are most popular with tourists?

Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Turquoise Coast, and the ruins of Ephesus are especially popular. But lesser-known spots like Safranbolu or Mardin are also worth a visit.