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Turkey

Property Turkey - Introduction 

Turkey is a beautiful and extremely diverse country that exhibits a definite flair and passion for life throughout its four unique corners. Straddling the southeast of Europe and the western fringes of the Middle East, Turkey has historically been a place where cultures and peoples have met and influenced one another’s way of life. Today, Turkey remains a perennial favourite for meets between people from all over the world, only now the whole spectacle is likely to be played out while sipping cocktails on a beautiful beach somewhere in the country’s developed southwest.  

Turkey is a massively popular tourist destination for a number of Europeans, many of whom have enjoyed their time there so much they have returned to invest in a second home in one of the country’s stunning beach resorts, such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Alanya and Izmir. This part of the country – that curves from the sparkling Aegean Sea around to the azure Mediterranean – is thoroughly beautiful, boasting a wonderful year-round climate, stunning beaches, numerous places of historical interest and a welcoming, laid back way of life. Little wonder, then, that it has proven so popular with property investors over recent years.  

Turkey is an extremely large country, bordering Iraq in the east and Greece in the west, providing a buffer zone between the two cultures of Europe and the Middle East, while drawing influences from each. A moderate Muslim country, Turkey is liberal and welcoming throughout, although the extreme eastern fringes do feel a little ‘wilder’ and are rarely visited by westerners, aside from those in search of Noah’s lost Ark, said to have ran aground on Mount Ararat, near the border with Iran. The capital city is Ankara, situated in the country’s midwest, yet it is Istanbul that is Turkey’s largest and most famous conurbation.  

Property Turkey - Geography & Climate

Due to Turkey’s vast size, its climate is as varied as its geography, with all manner of landscapes and terrain evident throughout the land. The southwest of the country has a typical Mediterranean climate of hot and dry summers and mild and damp winters, with temperatures ranging from as low as 10°C in winter to 30°C in the height of summer. Istanbul is relatively milder all year round, while Ankara has extremely hot summers and cold, dry winters. The Black Sea coast to the north has a continental climate, with relatively hot summers and cold winters, while the internal plains of the country suffer severe weather extremes, with temperatures regularly topping 45°C in summer and falling as low as -30°C in winter.

Turkey is a Eurasian country, with 97% of its landmass situated, officially, in Asia, separated from Europe by the Bosphorous. Turkey is extremely mountainous throughout, more so in the east, where the terrain is, at times, highly difficult to traverse. Mountains close to the coast ensure the Mediterranean’s warm climate cannot infiltrate too far inland, hence the extreme weather found in the country’s interior.

Property Turkey - Accessibility 

There are a number of tour operators who see Turkey as one of their ‘Big Four’ for package holidays, along with Spain, Portugal and Greece. As a result, flights to and from Turkey are easy to come by, with every major UK airport offering at least one direct flight to Turkey each week. The busiest Turkish airports are Istanbul, Dalaman, Bodrum and Antalya – the latter three servicing most of the coastal holiday resorts.  

Airlines that fly to Turkey include British Airways, Aegean Airways, Cyprus Airways, KLM, Jet2.com, easyJet, Monarch, Ryanair, Thomsonfly, flythomascook.com and Lufthansa. With a growing overseas property market and increasing tourism figures each year, more and more low-fare airlines are opening up routes to Turkey, which is encouraging news for the property investor.   

Property Turkey - Culture 

The culture in Turkey is massively attractive, making the most of the country’s geography, climate, scenery and natural resources. Although a Muslim country, alcohol is widely available and consumed by locals and tourists alike. For centuries, Turkey has learnt how to enjoy life, as evidenced by this charming excerpt from one Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu, a British Ambassador’s wife based in Constantinople in the 17th century:  

“Thus you see, sir, these people are not so unpolished as we represent them. 'Tis true their magnificence is of a different taste from ours, and perhaps of a better. I am almost of opinion they have a right notion of life; they consume it in music, gardens, wine and delicate eating, while we are tormenting our brains with some scheme of politics or studying some science..." 

Glowing praise indeed. Turkey’s history is as rich as its cuisine, boasting a great number of luminaries and world figures. St. George – patron saint of England – was actually Turkish, as was the legend behind Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas.  

Property Turkey - Activities 

The Turkey of today is a modern and inviting place which has managed to retain its love of the finer things in life; a love most evidently expressed in their consumption of strong coffees, fresh kebabs and healthy salads, and their enjoyment of lazy afternoons spent chatting, dining and playing backgammon with friends and family.  

Turkey boasts some of the finest beaches in Europe, none more so than the Blue Lagoon in Olu Deniz, said to be the most photographed beach in the world. Along the entire coastline, visitors to Turkey can marvel at its array of hidden coves, beautiful bays backdropped by pine-clad hills and amazingly inviting waters. Watersports, hang gliding, horse riding, hiking and cycling are some of the most popular pursuits for tourists to try when visiting Turkey.