Visitors have been attracted to Turkey since Julius Caesar uttered the immortal words: “I came, I saw, I conquered”. Its unique convergence of three very different worlds, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, makes it a nation rich in history, classical civilisation and art. Traveller Justine Shapiro starts her journey at the Roman ruins of Ephesus. She travels up the coast to the volcanic Cappadocia region, home to one of the first Christian communities. Travelling East, she visits the wonders of Nemrut Dagi, and then heads North to her final destination: the Kachkar Mountains at Artvin near the Black Sea coast.
Along the way...

Sail the turquoise coastline

Hike up Mount Olympus to see its eternal flame

Spend the night in a tree house

Dance with a bride on her wedding day

Experience a Turkish bath complete with massage

Hospitality, history and a hotline to the sun. Check your Midnight Express stereotypes at the door - this is a rapidly modernising country with one foot in Europe and one in the Middle East. It's not all oriental splendour, mystery, intrigue and whirling dervishes but it is a spicy maelstrom of history knocking up against a pacy present. The Turkish people have an unrivalled reputation for hospitality, the cuisine is to die for, the coastline is a dream, and many Turkish cities are dotted with spectacular mosques and castles. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean's bargain-basement destinations.

Spring and autumn are the best times to visit, since the climate will be perfect in İstanbul and on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. It will be cool in central Anatolia, but not unpleasantly so. Visiting before mid-June or after August may also help you avoid mosquitoes. The Black Sea coast is best visited between April and September; there will still be rain but not so much of it. With the exception of İstanbul, Turkey doesn't really have a winter tourism season. Places catering to backpackers usually see Anzac Day as the official start of the season; those catering to package holiday-makers get going in early May. Peak season is from July to mid-September, when most Turks take their holidays. The best time to visit eastern Turkey is from late June to September. Don't plan to venture east before May or after mid-October unless you're prepared for snow. Try to avoid travelling during Kurban Bayramı, Turkey's most popular public holiday.

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