Türkiye

Shoulder season (April–May or September–October) is the real answer almost everywhere — summer heat is intense inland (Cappadocia, Ephesus) and the coast is overrun in August. Istanbul is genuinely good most of the year, including a shoulder-season winter city break.

• Ramadan (dates shift yearly)Varies

  Not a festival to avoid, but worth knowing about — some restaurants have reduced daytime hours; evenings (iftar) have a great, festive food energy.

Cash (lira) is still important outside major hotels and restaurants, especially in bazaars and smaller towns — cards are common in cities but not universal. ATMs are widely available; avoid the ones offering 'dynamic currency conversion'.

No special vaccinations required. Emergency number: 112. Tap water isn't recommended for drinking — bottled water is cheap and everywhere.

A local SIM (Turkcell, Vodafone TR) is cheap and easy at the airport; foreign SIMs need registration after 120 days but that's irrelevant for most trips.

Modest dress for mosque visits (shoulders/knees covered, headscarf for women) — carry a scarf even on a beach-focused itinerary if a mosque visit is possible.

High-speed rail connects Istanbul–Ankara well, but most tourist routes (to Cappadocia, the coast) are faster by domestic flight.

Good for the Turquoise Coast (Fethiye–Antalya) if you want flexibility; unnecessary and stressful in Istanbul itself.

Hospitality is taken seriously — accepting offered tea is a genuine social norm, not just politeness. Remove shoes when entering a mosque or a local's home.

• Merhaba (hello)
• Lütfen (please)
• Hesap, lütfen (the check, please)
• Teşekkür ederim (thank you)