Hotels in Turkey (Europe)

Sights

The jaw-dropping vistas of Istanbul, with minarets as far as the eye can see, the iconic golden horn, Ayasofya, and the Blue Mosque, sitting regally atop a hill; the weaving ferries and massive cargo ships that populate the Bosporus Strait; their colourful, maize-like bazaars, with all sorts of souvenirs you will want to take home with you. Venture outside of Istanbul and you will encounter sparkling blue seas, golden beaches, emerald green valleys and snowy mountains. Turkey is a visual feast, from the vivid natural wonders to the slightly faded ancient wonders, and the bright red flags, which decorate every single corner.

Sounds

Street musicians abound on Turkish streets, during the day and when the ‘Izmir Marsi’ is sung in honor of the country’s hero and founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, almost everyone joins in, at night they migrate into the Raki restaurants, to serenade customers with soulful Turkish classics. Turkish pop is also huge in Turkey, with Tarkan being the most famous artist. This along with waves lapping on beaches, the calls of street sellers usually offering ‘Simit’, a sesame encrusted bagel, which is very popular, the sound of the Turkish ice-cream men smashing their bells and putting on a huge show during summer, along with the call to prayer, which booms out from Mosques five times a day.

Smells

A key point of the Silk Road where traders brought exotic goods from the East, Turkey still gives major importance to spices, that are being generously added to every dish. For this reason, one cannot help but associate this land with the fresh smell of oregano, mint, red pepper flakes or cumin. Different regions have their particular fragrance, for example the North smells like freshly caught fish, but a common aroma that unifies the whole country is the smell of meaty doner kebab turned slowly on the rotisserie. Also, seasons have their specific flavour: if travelling in spring, you will love the sweet scent of almond blossoms, while wild flowers lining the road impregnate the air with their subtle perfume during summertime. But above all, floating in the air is the strong and delicious aroma of Turkish coffee coming from an "ibrik", spreading like fluffy clouds through every open window.

Tastes

Turkish cuisine is truly magical and much underrated: juicy kebabs (kebaps in Turkish); mincemeat smeared, wafer thin, Lahmacun, Turkey’s version of pizza; ‘Balik Ekmek’ (bread and fish), huge hunks of baguette filled with small white-bait like fish; the vast array of colourful mezes (Turkey’s version of Tapas) that come with the national drink, a cloudy spirit, known as Raki; the opulent breakfasts, which feature a massive range of tiny delicacies and is a national institution, which wouldn’t be complete without ‘Menemen’, a spicy tomato induced version of scrambled eggs or ‘Gozleme’ cheese and spinach stuffed pancakes, and many, many more. Turkey’s food culture is incredible and will delight your taste buds in ways that you can't imagine.

Feels

The friendliness and hospitality of the Turkish people will touch your heart. In ancient times Istanbul was the capital of the world and the civilisation that controlled it usually dominated Europe and Asia. This means that it has a unique blend of cultures and influences unlike anywhere else: from the hills of Rome to the borders of India and China, and everywhere in between, Turkey connects them all. From fashion to food, culture to history, Turkey is the place where East and West meet, making it the greatest cultural exchange on the planet.

Turkey

Sensorial Experience

Cities & Regions

Istanbul

HIP Hotels in Turkey

Turkey

Cities & Regions

Istanbul

HIP Hotels in Turkey

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