Top Event in Turkey in 2024

Even though Turkey is visited by millions of tourists annually, most tourists often miss out on amazing festivals and events in the country. If you’re planning to visit Turkey any time soon, you’ll be glad to know that Turkey offers more than just a fascinating culture, tons of history, and stunning landscapes.

Turkish people love to engage in fun and unique activities and the country hosts a variety of festivals ranging from religious festivals to music festivals.

Here, we’re telling you all about the top event in Turkey that you should visit in 2024.

ISTANBUL TULIP FESTIVAL

Brought to Istanbul from quite a few centuries ago, the tulip has earned its spot in the country’s tradition and Turkish culture. In the days of the Ottoman empire, tulips were really valued, and a few types of tulips were sold for large amounts of money.

Since April 2006, the city government of Istanbul has been planting tulips all over Istanbul’s parks, avenues, and major open spaces. The blooming period of tulips starts around the end of March and they continue to bloom for several weeks well until the end of April and beyond. As a result, thousands of tourists come to visit Istanbul for the annual Istanbul Tulip Festival and are left absolutely fascinated by the beautiful arrangements of tulips in every color.

This year, the official dates for the Istanbul Tulip Festival 2022 are from 1st April until the last day of April. It is simply a treat for your eyes and a must visit for someone who loves all things natural.

Remember though, since the city experienced unusually large amounts of snow, the tulips may not be fully in bloom until late April this year.

If you are planning to visit this phenomenal festival and are looking for a hassle-free trip, be sure to check out our Istanbul Tulip Festival 2023 tour as we take care of accommodation, transport, sightseeing and more at extremely affordable prices.

BOSPHORUS CROSS-CONTINENTAL SWIMMING RACE 2024

Ever wondered what it must be like to take a dip in the mighty Bosporus? If you’re an avid swimmer and have been asking “can you swim in the Bosphorus?”, you can participate in the cross-continental Bosporus swimming race to do just that!

This unique open water swimming competition comprises swimming the width of the Bosphorus strait – a mighty 6.5 kilometers – in two hours or less. Now, it might be fascinating to swim from one continent to another, but this is no easy feat.

Approximately two thousand swimmers from dozens of different countries enthusiastically give it their all as crowds cheer on participants to boost their morale in this nail-biting competition.

The competition starts at Kanlica pier in the Asian part of Istanbul and finishes at Kurucesme Cemil Topuzlu Park situated on the European shore. The goal is to cross six and a half kilometers as quickly as possible and the winners of the annual competition cover this distance in less than an hour.

And if you’re wondering “what is the record for the swimming competition?”, you’ll be shocked to hear that the record time for completing this race is 39:07 minutes! Imagine the boost of adrenaline while swimming ahead of your competitors and how sweet last splashes of water feel!

Unlike the recent years, competitors are expected to participate more enthusiastically and spectators are expected to be allowed as well to boost the energy of this fabulous competition.

The lovely competition is expected to take place on . If you are someone who is in for some real challenge or enthusiastic spectatorship, you should definitely visit this festival packed to the brim with adventure.

Check out our tours if you’re interested in visiting Turkey to watch the Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race 2022 and let us take care of everything from accommodation to transfers. If swimming in the Bosporus isn’t your cup of tea, you can also try a Bosphorus cruise instead!

The Bosporus Cross-Continental Swimming Race 2024 will be held on Sunday, August 21 2024 this year.

OLUDENIZ AIR GAMES

The Oludeniz air games is one of the most spectacular events that takes place annually in Turkey. This festival kicks off in the Fethiye region of Mugla province in southern Turkey and is definitely one of those events you don’t want to miss.

Each year thousands of spectators are fascinated by the breathtaking shows from base jumpers, skydivers and outstanding performances from Turkish pilots. What makes this event even more interesting is that Babadag mountain in the Fethiye region is one of the best places in the world for air-based activities such as paragliding due to its perfect geographical location. The Oludeniz air games are loved by both local and international participants and the locals can’t wait to cheer on performers.

When will the Oludeniz Air Games be held in 2022?

The dates for the Oludeniz Air Games are expected to be between 21 October to 25 October 2024. Different activities and performances are generally planned for each day and include hot air balloon shows, paragliding performances, and even air shows.

If you’re planning to visit Fethiye or Oludeniz for this spectacular event, get in touch with us and we’ll take care of all arrangements from transportation to accommodation.

CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL

When talking about the most popular festivals in Turkey, it is impossible to not mention the Cappadocia hot air balloon festival. This festival looks like a dream as the sky is dotted with hot air balloons in all shapes, colors, and sizes, leaving you pointing your camera in all directions. This year, the Cappadocia Balloon Festival is expected to take place from 4-12 August 2024. The dates are decided after much analysis and cerebration to ensure that the wind conditions are favorable for the event to take place as planned.

This year, you can expect to see over 100 hot-air balloons, including more than 20 specially shaped varieties of balloons, and a nightglow show that takes place after dark. You’ll also be able to find a number of food stalls in the area so you can always find something to munch on as you enjoy the festival.

If this sounds like your kind of event, reach out to us and we’ll provide you with the best accommodation and activities in Cappadocia.

MEVLANA FESTIVAL 2024

Few people are unfamiliar with Turkish Whirling Dervishes, a true artistic masterpiece. The sight of ecstatic spinning backed by a performing orchestra and chanting choir is extremely mesmerizing.

The mystic dance performed by the whirling dervishes in Turkey is a special type of worship. The spin represents the cosmos, a Dervish’s right hand points to the heavens to receive God’s blessings, while his left hand points to the earth to pass that blessing on to others.

The rite is part of Islam’s Sema ceremony, which is performed by the Mevlevi Order. It was formed in the 13th century by Jalaluddin or Celaleddin Rumi, a Sufi (mystic) poet. Rumi spent the remaining 45 years of his life in Konya, until Rumi’s so-called wedding night in on 17th December 1273, when he passed from this world and was reunited with his Beloved God.

At the Mevlana Festival, anybody may sense Rumi’s essence and appreciate his unique style of devotion. It takes place in the city of Konya every year and this year the dates of the Mevlana Festival 2023 are from 10-17 December . It doesn’t matter if you’re Muslim or not; these performances bring together individuals of all faiths and backgrounds, and they all experience mutual peace, love, and acceptance. Rumi’s fundamental message was to live in peace with one another – a message that is showcased in this festival.

Individuals who plan to take a peaceful trip to turkey in December should keep this beautiful mystic festival in mind. We will arrange easy transport, accommodation, and access to the event.

VAN ALMOND BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

For the first time this year, the ‘Almond Blossom Festival’ took place in Turkey’s Van, amid flowering trees around Lake Van. The festival gave life to the landscape as attendees amassed to take pictures of the beautiful lake and its surroundings.

The Almond Blossom Festival will now be held every year during the blooming season. Don’t forget to put Van in your bucket list if you’re looking for pure beauty in a rugged landscape.

GAZIANTEP GASTRONOMY FESTIVAL

Gaziantep, Turkey’s gourmet capital is well-known for its culinary legacy and was welcomed into the United Nations Organization for Education, Science, and Culture’s (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network in 2015. The food of the city reflects the city’s rich culture and history. Aside from ingredients native to Gaziantep, the city is also big on meat, vegetables, and baked goods from other parts of Turkey.

The city’s amazing food is also celebrated every year at the GastroAntep festival. Several Michelin-star chefs from throughout the world participate in discussions, harvests, seminars, and sessions.

The event begins with the gathering of pistachios, known as the “green gold of the area,” and the preparation of “sire,” a special Gaziantep delicacy. Every year, the festival strives to be one of the world’s most prominent gastronomic destinations. If you wish to visit this phenomenal festival, feel free to reach out to us for hassle-free accommodation and transportation.

This year, the Gaziantep Gastronomy Festival, GastroAntep, will be held from 12 to 15 September 2023

.

Which of these events are you planning to attend this year? Let us know in the comments!