Welcome to Turkey from the Inside, the website that aims to help you make the most of your time in the country by telling you about the lesser known places that may be near where you plan to stay. Come here to find out not just about popular places to visit such as Istanbul, Ephesus and Cappadocia but also about the off-the-beaten-track destinations that you may have to yourself.
Here’s why you can trust me to help you.
• I co-wrote the award-winning Lonely Planet Turkey guidebook for 10 years which gave me the opportunity to travel all over the country from Edirne to Rize and from Datça to Hakkari.
• Between 2007 and 2013 I wrote a travel column for a local newspaper which gave me the chance to fill in the gaps such as Arykanda and Taraklı.
• From 2005 to 2010 I also wrote a travel page for Time Out Istanbul in English that focused on destinations within easy reach of Istanbul such as Enez and Trilye.
• I was the co-author of the award-winning Istanbul The Ultimate Guide which describes many of the less well-known corners of the city as well as the highlights.
• I worked on several editions of the Little Hotel Book which let me visit most of Turkey’s boutique hotels, and for Northstar Media, inspecting most of the country’s four and five-star chain hotels.
• I lived in a restored cave-house in Cappadocia for 18 years and was the author of A Handbook for Living in Turkey, the first guide to expat life in the country.
Here’s how this website works.
For information about a place to visit or a hotel, simply click on the Places to Go links. At the bottom of the page there will be links to other places in the vicinity that might interest you.
My blog posts provide thoughts reverent and irreverent from on the road in Turkey.
Here’s what turkeyfromtheinside covers and what it doesn’t.
I’m a history lover who appreciates old buildings and beautiful landscapes. I love visiting ancient ruins, old mosques and castles, and enjoy poking about in markets and down back streets. I always prefer hotels created out of lovely old or interesting buildings and displaying an awareness of their surroundings rather than those in standard high-rises. Likewise, I enjoy eating in interesting buildings wherever possible. If that sounds like your sort of take on things, then hopefully I can help you.
I’m not really a beach bunny or a great lover of nightclubs. If that’s what you’re after, Turkey can more than fulfil your expectations but this is probably not the website for you.
I’m working as fast as I can but Turkey is a huge country and there’s only one of me, so if you don’t find what you want the first time, please do try again later. If you find mistakes or things that have changed or need updating please let me know. I may not be able to reply to all comments but I will certainly read them gratefully.
