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04_518823-ch01.qxp 9/24/08 8:11 PM Page 1 1 Family Highlights of Turkey COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 04_518823-ch01.qxp 9/24/08 8:11 PM Page 2 TURKEY 0 100 mi R U S S I A 0 100 km BLACKB L A C K SEAS E A BULGARIAB U L G A R I A G E O R G I A EdirneEdirnEdirne SinopSinop 16 AmasraAmasra 4 ZonguldakZonguldak BartinBartin Bafra Family Highlights of Turkey KastamonuKastamonu Artvin SafranboluSafranbolu Ardahan TerkirdaTerkirdağ IstanbulIstanbul EregliEregli 27 KeKeşanan 1 30 20 Samsun Trabzon Rize KarabukKarabuk Ünye Ordu SeaSea ofof MMarmaraarmara GebzeGebze KocaelKKocaeliocaeli SakaryaSakarya DüzceDüzceüzce Kars GallipoliGallipoli 28 BoluBolu Giresun A R M E N I A AegeanAegean YalovYYalovaalova 32 ÇankiriÇankiri SeaSea IIznikznik ÇorumÇorum Amasya Gümüşhane Yerevan IznikIznik22 9 12 BandirmaBandirma GölüGölü Tokat Bayburt 11 ÇanakkaleÇanakkale Turhal BursaBursa InegolInegol Erzurum SincanSincan Karakose BalıkesirBalıkesir ş AnkaraAnkara Doğubayazıt BozüyükBozBozüyüküyük EskiEski ehirehir 5 YozgatYozgat 7 KirikkaleKirikkale Sivas Erzincan PolatliPolatli LesboLLesbosesbos KütahyaKütahya TURKEYT U R K E Y Kemaliye Erçis AkhisarAkhisar Tunceli I R A N KirKirşehirehir Bingol ManisaManisa Mus Uşakak AfyonAfyon Van Gölü ş IzmirIzmir TurgutluTurgutlu KayseriKayseri Van ÇeÇe meme 21 TuzTuz GGölüölü Bitlis SalihliSalihli ÜrgüpÜrgüp Elazığ 14 13 3 AkAkşehirehir 17 OOdOdemisdemismis AksarayAksaray Malatya AegeanAegean ş DinarDinar KuKu adasiadasi 19 HoyranHoyran Siirt SeaSea 24 AydinAydin Diyarbakır SamosSamos 26 GölüGölü NiNiğdede Göksun Batman KonyaKonya Hakkari BeyBeyşehirehir Adiyaman Siverek DenizlDDenizlienizli Sirnak BurdurBurdurIspartaIsparta GölüGölü EreEreğlili Cizre SeydiSeydişehirehir Mardin MMuuğlala Zakho BodruBBodrumodrum Viranşehir 10 KaramanKaraman Şanlıurfa Gaziantep KosKos MMarmarisarmaris AntalyaAntalya AdanaAdana Osmaniye Al Qämishli Dahük 25 6 TarsusTarsus 1 15 FethiyeFethiye 8 SideSide I R A Q 23 29 ManavgaMManavgatanavgat IçelIçel 18 Kilis GREEKG R E E K KemerKemer Al Hasakah Mosul Gulf of 2 AlanyaAlanya Iskenderun ISLANDSI S L A N D S Antalya RhodesRhodes KasKas SilifkeSilifke Hatay Aleppo AnamurAnamur Al Raqqah Idib MEDITERRANEANM E D I T E R R A N E A N SEAS E A LaLatakia S Y R I A Poland Germany Ukraine Kazaks. France Russia Romania BLACKB L A C K Georgia CYPRUSC Y P R U S SEAS E A Armenia Italy Bulgaria TURKEY Iran Greece Syria L E B A N O N Cyprus Iraq Tunisia MEDITERRANEANM E D I T E R R A N E A N SEAS E A Israel Jordan Saudi Libya Egypt Arabia 2 04_518823-ch01.qxp 9/24/08 8:11 PM Page 3 Family Highlights of Turkey RUSSIAR U S S I A B L A C K S E A B U L G A R I A GEORGIAG E O R G I A Edirne Sinop Amasra Zonguldak Bartin BafrBafraBafra Safranbolu Kastamonu AArtviArtvinrtvin ğ Eregli ArdahaAArdahanrdahan ş Terkirda Istanbul Ke an SamsunSSamsuamsun TrabzoTTrabzonrabzon RizRRizeize 31 Karabuk ÜnyeÜnye OrduOrdu Sea of Marmara Gebze Kocaeli Sakarya Düzce KarKKarsars Gallipoli Bolu GiresunGiresuGiresun ARMENIAA R M E N I A Aegean Yalova Çankiri Iznik Çorum AmasyaAmasya ş YerevanYerevan Sea Iznik GümüGümü hanehane Bandirma Gölü TokatTokat BBayburBayburtayburt Çanakkale TurhalTurhal Bursa Inegol EErzuruErzurumrzurum Sincan KarakoseKarakose Balıkesir ş Ankara DDooğubayazıtubayazıt Bozüyük Eski ehir Yozgat Kirikkale SivasSivas ErzincaEErzincanrzincan Polatli Lesbos Kütahya T U R K E Y KemaliyKKemaliyeemaliye ErçisErçis Akhisar TTuncelTunceliunceli IRANI R A N Kirşehir BingolBingol Manisa MMusus Uşak Afyon VanVan GGölüölü ş Izmir Turgutlu Kayserieri VaVVanan Çe me Tuz Gölü BitliBBitlisitlis Salihli Ürgüp ElazıElazığ Akşehir Odemis Aksaray MalatyMMalatyaalatya Aegean ş Dinar Ku adasi Hoyran SiirtSiirt Sea Aydin DiyarbakırDiyarbakır Samos Gölü Niğde GöksunGöksun BatmanBatman Konya HakkariHakkari Beyşehir AAdiyamaAdiyamandiyaman SiverekSiverek Denizli SSirnakirnak BurdurIsparta Gölü Ereğli CizrCCizreizre Seydişehir MardinMardin Muğla ZakhoZakho Bodrum ViranViranşehirehir Karaman Şaanlıurfanlıurfa GaziantepGaziantep Kos Marmaris Antalya Adanaana OsmaniyOOsmaniyesmaniye AlAl QQämishliämishliämishli DahDDahükahükük Tarsus Fethiye Side IRAQI R A Q Manavgat Içel KilisKiliKilis G R E E K Kemer AlAl HasakahHasakah MosulMosul I S L A N D S Alanya IskenderunIskenderun Rhodes Kas Silifke HataHHatayatay AAleppAleppoleppo Attractions Anamur AlAl RaqqahRaqqah Adana Ephesus IdibIdib 1 17 M E D I T E R R A N E A N S E A Alanya 2 Fethiye 18 Altinkum 3 Hierapolis 19 LatakiLLatakiaatakia SYRIAS Y R I A Amasra 4 Istanbul 20 Ankara 5 Izmir 21 Antalya 6 Iznik 22 C Y P R U S Balikesir 7 Kemer 23 B L A C K Belek 8 Kuşadasi 24 S E A Bilecik 9 Marmaris 25 Bodrum 10 Pamukkale 26 Bursa 11 Safranbolu 27 Çanakkale Sakarya LEBANONL E B A N O N 12 28 Cappadocia 13 Side 29 M E D I T E R R A N E A N Çeşme Tekirdağ S E A 14 30 Dalyan and Dalaman 15 Trabzon 31 Edirne 16 Yalova 32 3 04_518823-ch01.qxp 9/24/08 8:11 PM Page 4 urkey has long been a popular holiday destination, but in recent Tyears it has emerged as a favourite for family fun too. Children are especially welcomed in Turkey, even admired. A walk through a bazaar or around an historic site will almost inevitably prompt passers-by to talk to, pick up or maybe stroke the hair of the youngsters in the fam- ily. For many of us, this can be more than a tad alarming in these safety-conscious times, but providing the usual precautions are observed and the practice of admiring children acknowledged as being part of the local culture, such over-zealousness by complete strangers shouldn’t spoil a trip. However, with this in mind, there aren’t as many dedicated attrac- tions for children as you would expect, although more and more Family Highlights of Turkey theme parks, children’s zoos and playgrounds are starting to emerge, 1 especially along the coastlines of the Aegean and the Mediterranean. One of the top theme parks is Miniaturk in Istanbul, where many of Turkey’s most historic sights can be seen in miniature. There are also several aquaparks, such as the sprawling Atlantis Waterpark in Marmaris in the Aegean region, and sealife parks like Dolphinarium at Kemer in the Mediterranean region, where children can swim with dolphins. Many hotels and accommodation complexes have their own theme parks and playgrounds tucked away within their grounds, too, along with a full programme of supervised events. Turkey is a diverse country with high mountains and valleys, coastal regions and inland forests, traditional villages and cosmopoli- tan cities, such as Ankara and Istanbul. Along the Mediterranean coast holiday hotspots include Antalya, Side, Dalyan and Adana, all bustling resorts, along with the sophisticated Bodrum on the Aegean, which has its own airport and is especially popular with families that like to sail. To the north of the country, the Black Sea has the resorts of Amasra, Trabzon and Sinop, among many others. All have their own characters, and offer much for adults and children of all ages to see and do. Inland, there is the lively city of Ankara and the extraordi- nary ‘Fairy Chimney’ landscape of Cappadocia. Other family favourites are visiting some of the outstanding his- toric buildings that Turkey is especially proud of, such as the great Topkapi Palace or the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, and ancient sites like those at Çanakkale, Ephesus, Pergamum, Hierapolis, Safranbolu and Trabzon, or heading off to the coast and spending time on the country’s fine beaches. The beaches on the Mediterranean and Aegean are ideal for young children. There are seemingly endless opportunities to sail and follow nature trails, dinghy sail, ski, whitewater raft, play golf, horse-ride and even dive. In fact, Turkey has some of the best diving waters in the eastern Mediterranean. Families can also enjoy the lively street theatre found in some of 4 the larger towns, along with music and dance festivals often held 04_518823-ch01.qxp 9/24/08 8:11 PM Page 5 around the country. Traditional music and dance are an important Family Highlights Turkey part of the Turkish culture. Turkey is a fascinating country and wherever you stay on a family holiday it should be a truly memorable experience for you and your children. TURKEY FAMILY Visiting the Topkapi Sarayi HIGHLIGHTS (Topkapi Palace), the Yerebatan Sarayi (the Basilica Cistern) and Istanbul the site of the ancient Hippo- drome stadium, all of which lie Attending some of the events around the Sultanahmet Square that take place in Istanbul on area. See p. 72. 23rd April to mark International Taking part in the weekly Children’s Day, a celebration that workshops at the Istanbul Toy is recognised by UNICEF. The Museum. Subjects such as emphasis is on the fact that chil- archaeology are covered in a fun, dren are the future of the nation playful way, with workshops and, as such, they replace the tailored to different age groups, parliamentarians, including the from young tots through to President and Prime Minister, in teenagers. See p. 62. the Grand National Assembly for the day to discuss issues that con- Getting into the rhythm at the cern youngsters. When the seri- International Istanbul Music and ous business is over, festivals and Dance Festival. Held at venues street events are held, to which throughout the city, there’s a everyone is invited. Towns and programme of events to suit all cities throughout Turkey hold age groups, and music and dance similar events to those in tastes. See p. 62. Istanbul. See p. 61. Catching an open-top bus sight- Looking for unusual souvenirs seeing tour from Taksim Square and haggling in the Grand and seeing the sights like the Bazaar, and then stopping in the Dolmabahçe Palace, the mosques, lively courtyard between the city walls and the waters of the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofia Bosphorus and the Golden Horn for a refreshing drink and ice in style. See p. 96. cream. See p. 64. Dancing to the Spirit of Enjoying the Children’s Summer Anatolia, a show by the Istanbul Festival held in the Feshane Dance Ensemble held at the Children’s Entertainment Park, Turkish Cultural Dance Theatre just off the Golden Horn at Eyüp.