Old empires, Ruins, Coffee, Tea, and Mediterranean beaches are a few things we instantly associate with Turkey, but besides these, what is Turkey famous for?
Located between Europe and Asia, Turkey is a crossroads of empires and history. It shares borders with Greece and Bulgaria in Europe, with Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan as other transcontinental countries, and Iran, Iraq, and Syria in Asia.
With so many landmarks and points of interest, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular and well-known destination. If you plan to visit Turkey, we suggest visiting our famous landmarks post.
But for now, let’s analyze what is Turkey famous for!
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15 Things Turkey is famous for
Istambul
We don’t usually talk about cities in this series, but Istanbul is unique as it’s central to a few other things Turkey is famous for. Istambul lies between Europe and Asia, making it a historically significant trade center, particularly on the Silk Road. It’s the country’s economic, cultural, and historic center, though the capital is Ankara and one of the most famous cities in history.
Istambul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Initially, it was called Byzantium and later Constantinople, after the Byzantine emperor Constantine. Whatever the name and the empire that ruled it, Istambul was always one of the centers of human civilization.
Istanbul was instrumental to the advance of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times. When the Ottomans conquered it, it became an Islamic stronghold.
During a few centuries, it was the biggest city in the world, and few cities, if any, can rival Istambul’s historical relevance. Those who control Istambul were bound to be instrumental in world politics and economics.
Today, it holds many ruins, landmarks, and monuments. Naturally, it’s home to numerous UNESCO heritage sites.
Byzantine Empire
What is Turkey famous for? World-shaping empires! The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was a Greek-speaking and Christian Empire that grew as a continuation of the old Roman Empire. In fact, the Byzantine Empire, or Byzantium, is a modern name (16th century); the people called themselves Romans and saw themselves as part of the ancient Roman Empire.
The Byzantine Empire existed from 330 to 1453, meaning from the foundation of Constantinople by Constantine I to the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans.
During this period, the empire varied hugely in size, possessing territories in Italy, Greece, the Balkans, northern Africa, the Levant, and Asia Minor. However, Constantinople was always the capital and heart of the empire.
The Byzantine Empire is often considered the longest-lasting medieval power, and its influences still reach today. More than 500 years after its end, it is still easy to see its influence in many European states’ religion, art, architecture, and law.
In fact, many scholars consider the end of the Byzantine empire “the event that marked the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance.”
The Ottomans
In the 15th and 16th, the Ottoman Empire grew to be one of the most powerful states in the world. It was at the center of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries, making it pivotal in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. At its peak, in the 17th century, it controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmed the Conqueror is the most important date of the Ottoman Empire. It is considered one of the most turning points in history as it marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the Roman Empire, a state that dates back to 27 BC and lasted nearly 1,500 years.
Despite being seen mainly as a threat by the European powers (not without reason), the Ottoman Empire was also an essential source of advances and achievements in art (painting, poetry, textiles and carpet weaving, ceramics), architecture, science (mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, physics, geography, and chemistry) and medicine.
Famous landmarks and historical places
If there’s one thing Turkey is famous for, it’s the landmarks, monuments, ruins, and other historical places. The location and the past empires made Turkey one of the most attractive destinations in the world. There are ruins of ancient cities, two ancient world wonders, sacred mountains, mosques, and so much more.
The variety and diversity of Turkish are so extensive that we are bound to miss some of them. In our Famous Landmarks in Turkey article, we tried to put together a thorough list with all the information you’ll need to check the mandatory destinations, which include:
- All of Istanbul’s main sights: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, etc.
- Ephesus
- Pamukkale
- Mount Ararat
- Aspendus
- Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
- and many others;
You can see our list of famous landmarks in Turkey here.
Turkish coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. It has almost endless ways to be prepared and drank. Turkish coffee is one of the most prominent styles of coffee. It is prepared in a cezve using very finely ground coffee beans without filtering. The cezve is the copper pot used to brew the coffee.
The process of preparing and serving the coffee is what makes Turkish coffee unique, as any coffee bean may be used. However, arabica varieties are considered better. One peculiarity of Turkish coffee is that the amount of sugar is indicated when ordering because it’s the cook who adds the sugar to the water and coffee when brewing.
Though the most famous trait is the lack of filtering, which means that the coffee grounds are left in the coffee when served. The coffee is supposed to be ground so finely that it seems like flour and becomes part of the drink. They are transferred from the “cezve” to the cup, where some settle on the bottom, but some are consumed with the coffee.
Turkish coffee has an intense flavor and smell, resembling a thick espresso. It’s usually served with a glass of water and something sweet, typically a Turkish delight (more on that below), or chocolate as a more Western alternative.
Tea
Coffee is a very popular drink in Turkey, and Turkish coffee is naturally one of the most famous things in Turkey. However, it’s not even the most popular drink in the country! That’s tea. In fact, turkey is the highest tea consumer in the world (per capita).
Studies have shown that, on average, a person drinks almost four glasses a day or 3.5kg of tea per year per capita. The UK is the second, with only about 2kg per person…
Turkey is also a huge producer, with 767 million m² of land used to grow tea, mainly in Rize Province on the eastern Black Sea coast. In total, it produces more than 205,000 tonnes of tea, meaning 6.4% of the world’s total production. However, less than half is exported. The oldest and most famous Turkish tea brand is Çaykur, though the younger Doğuş is fairly good too.
Hazelnuts
What can we say about hazelnuts if tea is a famous Turkish product and export? With a 70 to 80% market share, Turkey is the absolute champion in producing and exporting hazelnuts to more than 100 countries.
There is historical evidence that Turkey has been the home of Hazelnuts for more than 3000 years, particularly in the Black Sea region. Today’s plantations are mainly located in this area, particularly between Trabzon and Kocaeli, where the weather and soil are perfect for Hazelnuts.
So, you may not be aware, but it’s almost certain that you have eaten some( a lot) Turkish Hazelnuts. From the ones in your Ferrero Rocher, Nutella, and chocolate bars to the more healthy versions in mueslis…
Turkish delights
We have talked about them before, and they are clearly one of the most famous things in Turkey. Popular in and outside Turkey, these are a group of sweets based on a gel of starch and sugar. The Turkish delights have a massive variety of flavors and additional ingredients.
Rosewater, mastic gum, bergamot, orange, and lemon are some of the most popular and traditional flavors. Premium versions may also include chopped dates, pistachios, walnuts, and obviously hazelnuts.
Turkish delights are usually served as small cubes and dusted with icing sugar, copra, cinnamon, or mint. Besides producing even more flavor, these powdery ingredients prevent them from clinging.
Also known in Turkey as Lokum, their precise origin isn’t known, but they have been produced in Turkey (and Iran) as early as the 18th century. Either way, the Turkish delights are the perfect souvenir or gift as they don’t spoil easily and are easy to transport.
Evil eye amulets
One other popular tradition and souvenir in Turkey are the evil eye amulets. You’ll see them everywhere in Turkey, from tourist souvenir shops to homes and bracelets, necklaces, and other forms of jewelry. However, we should note that the amulets are still popular but are losing traction among the younger generation, becoming more touristy and less of a cultural trait.
The evil eye curse is the belief that a cast by a spiteful glare is given to a person when they are unaware, causing misfortune or injury. The amulets, called Nazar in Turkey, were created o repel evil spirits and keep you safe from harm. It is not supposed to bring good luck but to protect.
A Nazar is an eye-shaped amulet made out of beautiful blue glass, with specific colors in the standard order of blue, white, yellow, and black. You’ll see them everywhere in Turkey and recognize them immediately.
Turkish baths
Turkish Baths, or Hammam in Turkish, are one of the most famous things in Turkey. They are very popular within old Ottoman rule (Hungary, Greece, Syria, Israel, etc.) and are a prominent characteristic of the Muslim world culture.
Mostly inherited from the Roman and Greek thermae, they evolved to a complex sequence of rooms: an undressing room, a cold room, a warm room, and a hot room, where you should go from the colder to the hotter rooms.
In Turkey (and Islamic cultures in general), the hammam was significant in three primary ways. Religiously, it provided for the needs of ritual ablutions; it provided general hygiene as most houses didn’t have baths; and finally, it served essential social functions in the community, as it was a gendered meeting place for men and women.
One major characteristic of Turkish baths is that they are public bathing facilities with rooms for relaxing, washing, and socializing.
They are usually beautiful buildings featuring domed ceilings, marble interiors adorned with colorful tiles, and beautiful small windows that allow fascinating natural light, creating a dreamy atmosphere. Going to a hammam is a cultural experience and a fun one, if we may add.
Turkish baths have become popular in Spa worldwide, but they are a different experience. In those facilities, the Turkish bath is more about relaxing and purifying the body with the typical hot, humid air than the cultural and social event that’s a Hammam in Turkey.
Carpets and Rugs
Turkish carpets and rugs are some of the most famous products from Turkey. They are regarded as some of the best in the world, and each rug and carpet represents an integral part of Turkish history, culture, and heritage.
They are one of the most meaningful souvenirs in Turkey but also tend to be expensive. Some of the most expensive Turkish carpets have been passed from generation to generation and can go up to 5 figures. Some even have royal roots.
If you only want to see and enjoy them but aren’t really interested in buying them, we suggest a visit to Dolmabahce Palace, as that’s where you can find the most iconic rugs in Turkey.
Carpet prices range from several hundred to hundreds of thousands of dollars; this difference depends upon many factors. Recently there have been some fake versions and factory versions, which are much cheaper. They won’t have the same quality, value, or history, but they still are usually colorful and beautiful.
Baklava
What is Turkey famous for? Baklavas obviously! Everyone knows what baklava is, right? If you are somewhat of a foodie, you surely know this delightful sweet from Ottoman cuisine.
For those who haven’t tried it yet, baklava is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts (pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds), and sweetened with syrup or honey. Yes, It’s as good and sweet as it sounds.
The origins of this dish aren’t really known, but it’s believed that it comes from the imperial kitchens of the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul (Constantinople at the time).
Besides Turkey, baklava is a traditional dessert of Iran and Arab cuisines, but it is also from the Balkans, South Caucasus, Central Asia, Levant, and the Maghreb. Though, it’s so good that today, it’s prevalent everywhere, really.
Kebab
Another famous Turkish food is the Kebab, one of the most typical dishes in Turkey and the Middle East. A Kebab (or Kebap in Turkish) generally refers to any dish (usually meat, but also fish or vegetables) where the food is grilled on a skewer or roasted on a rotisserie. Though, it can also include dishes cooked over or next to a flame in Turkey. They can be served on a plate, in sandwiches, or even in wraps (known as dürüm).
Thus, there are many varieties of Kebabs in Turkey, such as Adana kebap (spicy kebab made with ground mince formed over a wide skewer and grilled over charcoals), Shish kebab (the more traditional and familiar Turkish kebab of meat and vegetables, generally cubed and threaded onto a skewer), Iskender Kebab (essentially döner kebab, served with a slathering of melted butter over a bed of bread, with yogurt on the side), and the Döner Kebap.
The Doner Kebap became famous and popular worldwide, thus the reason why Kebab became so famous worldwide. Doner Kebap means literally rotating kebap in Turkish. It is made with sliced lamb, beef, or chicken, slowly roasted on a vertical rotating spit. It is considered the original dish to other very popular similar ones, such as Middle Eastern shawarma, Mexican tacos al pastor, and Greek gyros.
The German-style döner kebab sandwich was invented by Turkish immigrants in Berlin in the 1970s and ultimately became one of the most popular dishes in the world.
Soap operas
I’ll be honest here when we were first researching what is Turkey famous for we were surprised to find that Turkish soap operas were so famous and popular.
We had never heard of them before, though they seem very popular in some countries, particularly other Muslim countries, but also parts of Europe, China, and India.
As we do enjoy watching TV from different countries, we will have to give it a try to Turkish Soap Operas! If they are as entertaining as K-dramas, it will be a blast!
Hair Transplants and Dental Work
Hair transplants and dental work? Yes, that’s one somewhat surprising thing Turkey is famous for, but Turkey is investing in its health tourism industry. Hair transplants and dental work are very popular, but other cosmetic surgeries are also available.
The main reason for this popularity is the competitive price. Dental work in Turkey may cost 3, 5, or 10 times less than in the UK or US.
The reason is the professionalism of medical staff and top-notch health centers. Note that we aren’t advocating for (or against) this kind of tourism, but it is popular and possible for anyone.
Hair transplants and dental work may not be the first tourist attraction in Turkey, but they are essential for the tourism industry as a whole. Turkey expects to have about 1.5M million medical tourists by 2023 and is estimated to earn about 10 billion USD from it. So, it’s a big business.
On the other hand, if you happen to notice a few people with a band on their heads while exploring Ankara or Istanbul, now you know why…
Türkiye
The Republic of Türkiye is the official name of Turkey in Turkish. Why are we mentioning this? Because in May 2022, Turkey submitted a request to the UN in NYC to change the English name from Turkey to Türkiye.
Erdoğan, the president of Türkiye, had already ordered using Türkiye to represent better “Turkish culture and values.” This included ordering using “Made in Türkiye” labels instead of “Made in Turkey” on exported products.
So, if this catches on, we will probably need to get used to calling the country Türkiye and possibly renaming the article What is Türkiye famous for, instead of What is Turkey famous for?
