Turkey splits into two kinds of trip that have little in common. Istanbul is a year-round city of Byzantine and Ottoman monuments spread across two continents, while the Mediterranean and Aegean resorts — Antalya, Alanya, Side, Marmaris — run on a summer season built around beaches and ruins within driving distance.
The guides here cover Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Alanya, Side, Marmaris and other destinations. Resort season effectively runs May through October, with July and August the hottest and most crowded; Istanbul is more comfortable in spring and autumn. Many coastal itineraries pair a beach base with day trips to ancient sites such as Ephesus or Pamukkale, which are inland and considerably hotter than the shore in midsummer.