Turkey

Turkey straddles two continents. The small north-western corner known as Thrace, including the European half of Istanbul, sits in Europe, while the large peninsula of Anatolia to the east is in Asia. The Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles form the dividing line, which is why Istanbul is the only major city in the world spread across two continents.

April to early June and September to October are the most comfortable months almost everywhere: warm days, cool evenings and thinner crowds. July and August suit a beach holiday on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts but are very hot inland. Central Anatolia and the east have cold, snowy winters, while Istanbul stays mild and often rainy.

It depends on your nationality. Many passport holders enter visa-free for short stays, others apply online in a few minutes through the official e-Visa system, and some must apply at a Turkish consulate. Check the official e-Visa website against your own passport before booking, and make sure your passport is valid well beyond your travel dates.

A first trip of seven to ten days usually covers Istanbul plus one other region, most often Cappadocia or the Aegean coast. Two weeks lets you add Ephesus and Pamukkale, or the Turquoise Coast. Turkey is large, so domestic flights between regions save far more time than long bus journeys.

Turkish is the official language. English is common in hotels, tour offices and restaurants in Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coastal resorts, but much less so in small towns and the countryside. A few basic Turkish phrases go a long way and are always well received.