9 Interesting Facts About Turkey

9 Interesting Facts About Turkey You Need to Know Before Your Trip 2023

From breathtaking nature scapes to remarkable heritage sites and exhilarating adventures, Turkey is the one destination that truly serves travelers of all kinds. Learn some of the most interesting facts about Turkey before you head out on your next Turkish adventure.

1. Turkey’s Large List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Turkey has a total of 18 UNESCO world heritage sites and more sites are added regularly making Turkey one of the best travel destinations for history buffs. The popular UNESCO site of the ancient city of Ephesus, famous for the library of Celsus, Hadrian’s Temple, Trajan’s Fountain, and the Theater is a must-visit if you are near Izmir. Another must-see UNESCO site is the Goreme Open Air Museum in Cappadocia. The site contains amazing rock formations and cave churches you won’t be able to forget for the rest of your trip.

2. Oldest Covered Market in the World

Located in the Old City of Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Know as Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’, by the locals, the Grand Bazaar is home to 4,000 shops. One of the most interesting facts about Turkey’s Grand Bazaar is that it attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

3. Tulips Originated from Turkey

Tulips, the icon of Holland, actually originated in Turkey and were introduced to the Netherlands as a gift. Every year during spring you can see millions of Tulips bloom in Istanbul across all the major parks of the city.

4. Birthplace of Santa Claus

Patara in present-day Antalya is believed to be the birthplace of St Nicholas AKA Santa Claus.

5. The Evil Eye Souvenir

The evil eye amulet, locally know as the nazar boncuğu, is the most bought souvenir of Turkey

6. Mevlana Rumi’s Burial Site

The Mevlana Museum in Konya is the burial site of 13th-century world-famous Persian poet, Sufi, and scholar Rumi. Rumi is often referred to as the top selling author in the United States and every year on December 17th thousands of pilgrims come to attend a religious celebration held at the site of Rumi’s tomb.

7. Coffee Culture

Turkey is famous for its “Kahve” AKA coffee and also introduced it to Europe back in the 16th century. Turkish coffee is made by combining finely ground coffee beans with water and sugar which is brought to a boil in a traditional pot known as the Cezve. Be sure to take home your own blend of Turkish coffee from one of the many vendors selling coffee in both the Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar.

8. City of Mosques

Turkey has over 82,000 mosques, with over 3000 located in Istanbul alone. You can visit some of the most famous mosques of Istanbul such as Blue Mosque or locally known as Sultanahmet Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, which was recently converted into a mosque on the the Istanbul Old City Tour.

9. Underground Cave Churches

One of the most interesting facts about Turkey is related to the cave churches and underground cities of Turkey. Cappadocia became a refuge for early Christians fleeing persecution from the Byzantines. The underground churches and houses built by them can be visited today on the Cappadocia City Tour.