Turkey

You step off the aircraft into the warm Aegean air of İzmir or land right amidst the sprawling expanse of Istanbul Airport, where the call to prayer echoes across the water from minarets split between two continents. Turkey spans a massive geographical canvas, bridging southeastern Europe and Western Asia, defined by dramatic coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, and high arid plateaus. Walking through the stone alleys of Mardin in the southeast or winding down Istanbul's steep lanes in Karaköy reveals layers of history built by Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman empires.

Food here forms a core part of daily life, extending far beyond simple sustenance. You'll quickly find yourself ordering a steaming plate of İskender kebap in Bursa, dripping with hot tomato sauce and browned butter over pieces of pita bread, or stopping at a street cart for a crisp, sesame-crusted simit. Mornings start with dark, strong Turkish coffee brewed in a copper cezve, or a tulip-shaped glass of black tea poured hot from a double-stacked caydanlik.

A first-time journey moves quickly from bustling urban transit hubs to ethereal landscapes like Cappadocia, where early morning hot air balloons drift over the eroded rock formations and underground cities of Kaymaklı. Whether you're exploring the ancient marble library ruins of Ephesus in Aegean Turkey or watching fishermen line the Galata Bridge at sunset, the country operates at a high energy that pulls you right into its rhythm.