Turkey Short breaks

Sometimes life is tough. What you need is a short break to Turkey to get away from it all. So whether you fancy city breaks or just need a short weekend getaway, we have the perfect Turkey break for you.

So, book your Turkey break today with lastminute.com. Short breaks, city breaks and weekend getaways from lastminute.com.

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Knocking at Europes door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noahs Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach. Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans.

In Turkey, you can also cruise along more than 1000km (620 miles) of Mediterranean coastline, past secluded coves, rocky headlands and pretty fishing villages, or explore a hinterland rich in the wonderfully preserved remains of Graeco-Roman cities such as Ephesus. For the adventurous, the austere beauty of the Anatolian plateau, the surreal rock-chimney landscape of Cappadocia and the atmospheric ruins of the enigmatic Hittites await discovery. Here, too, is the unique experience of watching the dervishes whirl in pious Konya.

With a code of hospitality nurtured by their Islamic beliefs yet with a remarkable tolerance of other customs, the Turks offer a warm welcome wherever you travel be it sipping sweet black tea or thick coffee with friendly villagers or sharing a bottle of raki over mezes (hors doeuvres) with cosmopolitan Istanbul city slickers.

Turkish Tourist Board in the UK

Address: First Floor, 170-173 Piccadilly, London W1V 9DD, England

Email: tto@turkishtourism.demon.co.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7629 7771

  • Cappadocia
    Taking the concept of "underground culture" to new levels, the entire population of the region of Cappadocia in Turkey moved into gigantic underground warren-cities long before the birth of Christ. Each housed up to 20,000 people and was excavated to a depth of up to 50 metres.
  • Spice Bazaar
    Istanbul's 17th-century Spice Bazaar, otherwise known as Misir Carsisi, was built to provide rent for the upkeep of the nearby mosque, the Yeni Camii. The market was often referred to as the Egyptian Bazaar due to the fact that the spices came from India and South-East Asia via Egypt.
  • Dolmabahçe Palace
    The ornate, luxurious Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul was built as a summer retreat by the Ottoman Sultan during the 19th century.
  • Roxy Bar
    The Roxy Bar on Taksim Meydani (Taksim Square) has live bands and a raw, lively atmosphere. The bar is situated in the heart of the Taksim area, where there are a number of other bars and good kebab joints.
  • Cemberlitas Hammam
    The Cemberlitas Hammam in Istanbul was built in 1584 from a design by the legendary Turkish architect Sinan. This amazing man, born a Greek slave, was also responsible for the Suleymaniye Mosque and countless other architectural wonders across Turkey.
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