USEFUL INFORMATIONS

Traditions dating back to the Ottoman era still survive in Turkey, mingling with more modern influences in a unique alloy.

Turkish traditions:

One of the favorite activities of Turks is just chatting with friends and neighbors, sitting around a tea, a hookah or a nice plate and a nice drink. A playful mind might say that dedikodu (chatter) is a national sport but in fact the national sport is the haggling that takes place almost everywhere :)

The hammam (steam bath where many body treatments are offered) has long played the role of meeting place and socialization for women and a place of relaxation. (Find out in our `` Excursions '' services) On the other hand, many men, following an old tradition, continue to sit in the streets to play tavla, a local version of the game of backgammon. 

Heir to the Ottoman Empire which once ruled an immense territory covering large swathes of the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa, Turkey stands at the crossroads of civilizations. Culture, language and gastronomy bear the mark of a wide range of influences.

Turkish language:

The Turkish alphabet consists of 29 letters: those of the Latin alphabet minus Q, W and X and more 5 additional characters, ğ, ı, ü, ö and ş meeting the phonetic requirements of the language. Indeed, the writing in Turkish is perfectly phonetic: each letter corresponds to a sound and each word is written exactly as it is pronounced.

Turkish includes many words of Arabic origin (for example, hediye, which means gift) and, good news, some 5000 words of French origin (like plaj, palto, ampul, şezlong .....)

Let's face it: not everyone in Turkey speaks French, especially if you stray from the beaten track and the big cities. Most people are moreover curious, open-minded, and more than willing to try and communicate with strangers in any way imaginable, from body language to translation apps. If you know even a few words of Turkish, the Turks will warmly encourage your efforts without blaming your mistakes.

Turkish beliefs

An overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim, as illustrated by the country's flag which represents the Islamic crescent. However, the country has always known a diversity of cults for example, many churches and synagogues are present in Turkey. A site near Antalya where you find in the same place a church, a synagogue and a mosque. Freedom of worship is a constitutional right.

The superstitions inherited from the pre-Islamic tradition remain very much alive in Turkey. Thus, the Turks protect themselves from bad luck thanks to the representation of a blue eye called Nazar boncuk; nazar for "evil eye" and boncuk for "amulet" in Turkish, is an amulet traditionally made of glass which aims to protect against the "evil eye".

The divinatory art of the fal also remains very popular, especially among young girls wishing to get a glimpse of their future husbands. This tradition is usually accompanied by a cup of Turkish coffee. The “fal” reader makes guesses from the shapes formed by the leftover coffee grounds in the cup.

Turkish calendar

Turkey follows the Gregorian calendar and is in the 3:00 GMT time zone. In addition to secular holidays (such as Republic Day on October 29 or Labor Day on May 1), Turkey also celebrates major holidays on the Muslim calendar. For example, Ramazan Bayrami, which marks the end of the fast in Ramadan, gives rise to a 4-day public holiday and important celebrations. The Kurban Bayrami (or Feast of the Sacrifice), about 2 months later, commemorates the sacrifice of Abraham. These celebrations both have a fixed date in the Islamic lunar calendar, but their correspondence in the Gregorian calendar is shifted by approximately 10 days each year.

Jet lag

• Summer: Turkey has 1 hour more (for example when it is 12h00 in Paris, it is 13h00 in Istanbul)

• Winter: The time difference is 2 hours with European countries. (Turkey does not make the switch to winter time)

Turkish hospitality

We couldn't end without talking about the 'Turkish' hospitality

In Turkish culture, hospitality takes pride of place. Foreign nationals are often surprised by the welcome they receive from Turks who do not hesitate to sacrifice a few hours of their time to help them or share a moment of life with them. For example, a street vendor will offer you a fruit or a flower, other passers-by will come to your aid if you are lost, a resident will invite you to drink tea.

Hospitality and social interactions in Turkey, of course, follow some implicit rules. Among the most common, taking your shoes off before entering a Turkish home is almost always essential, and it is rude to miss a meal or not taste a dish.

Traditions and customs obviously vary from region to region and individual. The best way to integrate is, as always and everywhere, to observe the behavior of the locals and to try to adapt to it.

With all of these factors and more, it is very difficult for many foreigners not to experience the feeling of belonging to Turkey even after their first visit.

This is one of the reasons why many people all over the world started living in Turkey just on the basis of their first experience with the culture and continue to enjoy all aspects of this beautiful eternal tradition.

Expatriate communities in Turkey

A bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey attracts many expatriates from diverse and varied origins. The main metropolises of the country (Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara and Izmir) bring together large American, European, Iranian communities, but also more and more Asian and Arab expatriates. Many of them work in the tertiary sector, often in positions that allow them to benefit from their language skills (in education or the tourist industry, for example). 

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