perched on cliffs to the First World War battlefields of Gallipoli. Turkey’s terrain is varied too: there’s over 8,000km of coastline, split between the turquoise Mediterranean and the Black Sea, plus multiple mountain ranges (snow-topped Ararat is over 5,000m), undulating steppes and placid lakes. A diverse land, and the perfect introduction to the East. Capital: Ankara Language: Turkish (Hello - Merhaba) Currency: Turkish lira Weather: In İstanbul, the summers are warm, humid, dry, and clear and the winters are long, cold, windy, and partly cloudy. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 38°F to 85°F and is rarely below 30°F or above 90°F. Places to Visit:

• Topkapi Palace
• Aya Sofya
• Kariye Museum (Chora Church)
• Hierapolis
• Bergama Acropolis
• Suleymaniye Mosque
• Basilica Cistern
• Hatay Archaeology Museum
• Blue Mosque
• Caves of Heaven and Hell

How to Reach By Air : Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport is the city's and also Turkey's primary and busiest airport. It is extremely well connected to major cities all over the globe. The national carrier Turkish Airlines connects Istanbul to most of these destinations, along with several other international airlines. By Train : Istanbul is fairly well connected to cities in the country via the rail network. A high speed train line also connects Istanbul to the capital city of Ankara. Trains to Istanbul are also available from European destinations. However, these take a lot of time and are now not a popular mode of transport. By Water : Istanbul is fairly well connected to cities in the country via the rail network. A high speed train line also connects Istanbul to the capital city of Ankara. Trains to Istanbul are also available from European destinations. However, these take a lot of time and are now not a popular mode of transport.