- Flight from Amsterdam
- Istanbul about 3.5 hours
- Time difference
- 2 hours ahead, summer 1
- Currency
- Turkish lira
- Language
- Turkish
- Entry for Dutch citizens
- Valid 150 days, no visa
Overview
Turkey is the country we know best: its history, culture, food and landscape. It has 22 places on the World Heritage List, from the old quarters of Istanbul to Ephesus and the rock valleys of Cappadocia.
You can travel here in many ways: through a city on two continents, past Roman cities on the Aegean coast, on foot along part of the Lycian Way, or to Istanbul with your company. How long you stay and how active you want to be is something we settle with your group.
- Many layers in one country A world city, Roman sites, coastal paths and rock valleys share one country, so each group can put together its own mix.
- Long walking seasons On the south coast you can walk from March to May and again in October and November, well clear of the summer heat.
- Work and culture in Istanbul The city has large congress centres and a historic centre, so a business group can meet and still see the city.
Regions
Istanbul
Istanbul lies on two continents, on the Bosphorus, a strait of about 30 kilometres with three suspension bridges. The historic quarters have been on the World Heritage List since 1985. Beside Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome there is the city of today: Karaköy and Galataport show how an old harbour district finds a new life. That makes Istanbul a fit for cultural trips and for business groups.
Aegean coast
Ephesus, near Selçuk, became capital of the Roman province of Asia under Augustus. You walk past the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre and the Terrace Houses, six Roman homes with mosaics and frescoes under a protective roof. Silting has left the coast 3 to 4 kilometres away. Inland you find olive groves, the village of Şirince and the vineyards around Urla.
Lycian coast
The Lycian Way runs 760 kilometres from Ölüdeniz to Geyikbayırı near Antalya. Walking all of it takes about 35 days, but part of it fits well into a week, with vehicle support. You pass pine forests, bays and villages, the rock tombs above Fethiye and the World Heritage site of Xanthos-Letoon. Kaş and Kalkan are small places by the water for a slower day.
Cappadocia
The rock landscape around Göreme has been on the World Heritage List since 1985. You walk through valleys such as the Rose Valley and Red Valley, and through the Ihlara Valley, which ends at Selime. Many travellers sleep in a cave hotel. A balloon flight at dawn is possible, but it does not go ahead in strong wind. Winter nights here drop below freezing.
What a day can look like
An illustrative example. We shape your own day with you.
From Çatalhöyük to the republic
- c. 7400 BC People at Çatalhöyük live in houses built back to back.
- c. 1650 BC Hattusa becomes the capital of the Hittites in central Anatolia.
- 330 Constantine makes Constantinople the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire.
- 1071 The Seljuqs defeat the Byzantines at Manzikert, north of Lake Van.
- 1453 The Ottomans take Constantinople and make it their capital.
- 1923 Turkey becomes a republic on 29 October, with Ankara as capital.
At the table in Turkey
Kahvaltı
Breakfast, literally 'before coffee': white cheese, olives, honey, jam and kaymak on one table.
Meze
Small dishes to share, often based on yoghurt or olive oil, such as haydari with garlic and mint.
Pide and börek
Pide is a topped flatbread from a wood-fired oven. Börek is filo pastry with cheese or minced meat.
Turkish coffee
Finely ground and brewed slowly with cold water and sugar. Listed as intangible heritage by UNESCO since 2013.
On the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts you find pansiyons, usually family businesses with a few rooms around a garden or terrace. In towns such as Safranbolu, Şirince and Birgi you sleep in restored mansions, and in Cappadocia in rooms cut into the soft rock.
When to go
For walking and culture, April to mid-June and mid-September to early November are the most comfortable. On the Aegean and south coasts July averages 33 to 34 degrees by day, too hot for long walks, and recent summers can run hotter. Winter nights in Cappadocia drop below freezing. Istanbul is mostly wet and grey at that time.
| Region | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | less suitable | less suitable | possible | good period | good period | good period | possible | possible | good period | good period | possible | less suitable |
| Aegean coast | less suitable | less suitable | possible | good period | good period | possible | less suitable | less suitable | possible | good period | possible | less suitable |
| Lycian coast | less suitable | possible | good period | good period | good period | possible | less suitable | less suitable | possible | good period | good period | less suitable |
| Cappadocia | less suitable | less suitable | possible | good period | good period | good period | possible | possible | good period | good period | possible | less suitable |
good period possible less suitable
Start planning it yourself
Slide through the year
Istanbul
- Daytime
- 22 °C
- Night
- 14 °C
- Rain
- 33 mm
- Sea
- 15 °C
Antalya
- Daytime
- 26 °C
- Night
- 15 °C
- Rain
- 33 mm
- Sea
- 22 °C
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Periods and the way rain days are counted differ between weather services. Sea temperature: rounded average for 2023 to 2025, for open water off the coast. Bays can be warmer or colder.
Flying from Amsterdam
- Istanbul± 3.5 hours
- Antalya± 4 hours
Turkey keeps the same time all year. It is 1 hour ahead of the Netherlands in summer and 2 hours ahead in winter.
Flight times are approximate and apply to a direct flight. Timetables change by season.
How far is it really?
From Istanbul along the Aegean to Cappadocia. About 20 hours of driving in all.
Istanbul
- Çanakkale3.5 hrs
- Selçuk5 hrs
- Pamukkale2 hrs
- Antalya3 hrs
- Göreme6.5 hrs
Drive times are approximate, without stops or traffic. A coach takes longer.
World Heritage on the map
Historic Areas of Istanbul 1985
Show as a list
- Historic Areas of Istanbul 1985
- Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia 1985
- Hierapolis-Pamukkale 1988
- Xanthos-Letoon 1988
- Archaeological Site of Troy 1998
- Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape 2014
- Ephesus 2015
- Aphrodisias 2017
Say it yourself
The pronunciation is a guide, not an exact rendering.
Good to know
- Money
- Turkish lira (TRY)
- Plug
- C/F, 230 V. Dutch plugs fit, so you do not need an adapter.
- Entry
- Passport or ID card, valid for at least 150 days on arrival, with one blank page. No visa for up to 90 days. Current travel advice
Rules for Dutch citizens with a Dutch passport. Always check the current travel advice just before you leave.
Practical
Checked on 5 November 2026. Before you leave, always check NederlandWereldwijd.nl for current travel advice and entry rules.
- Travel advice Dutch travel advice is yellow for most of Turkey, orange for Şırnak, Hakkari and the Habur crossing, and red for the border areas with Syria and Iraq. Check NederlandWereldwijd before you book.
- Entry Dutch citizens travel on a passport or ID card valid for at least 150 days on arrival, with at least one blank page. No visa is needed for stays of up to 90 days. If you also hold Turkish nationality, read the travel advice carefully. Check NederlandWereldwijd before you book.
- Health Turkey is not on the list of countries where the European health card applies, so good travel insurance matters. Care outside the large cities is limited. Keep away from stray dogs and cats because of rabies, and buy alcohol only from licensed outlets. Ask the GGD about vaccinations.
- Time difference Turkey is 2 hours ahead of the Netherlands in Dutch winter and 1 hour ahead in Dutch summer.
- Money You pay in Turkish lira. Cash is simplest for tips and taxis. Tipping is up to you. In restaurants, check first whether a servis ücreti is already on the bill.
- Language and plugs The language is Turkish. Plugs are types C and F, 230 volts, so Dutch appliances fit.
- Drinking water Sources disagree. Ask at your hotel, or use bottled water.
- Mosques Men wear long trousers and a shirt with sleeves. Women wear clothing below the knee, elbow-length sleeves and a headscarf. Shoes come off. Avoid prayer times and Fridays around midday, and do not photograph people at prayer.
Frequently asked
What should we watch for with the group's travel documents?
Ask everyone to check their document well ahead. For Dutch citizens it must be valid for 150 days on arrival, with one blank page. Children need their own document. Anyone who also holds Turkish nationality, or another passport, should check their own situation separately.
What insurance does the group need?
The travel advice recommends insurance that covers hospital stays and repatriation, because basic health cover does not always pay in full. Turkey is not on the EU list for the European health card. Care outside the big cities is limited, and a transfer is sometimes needed.
Does the visa exemption also apply to a business group?
Turkey's 2020 exemption refers to touristic travel. We found no official text on conferences or incentives. So ask the Turkish consulate to confirm before you commit to a business programme.
Can a balloon flight be a fixed part of the programme?
List it as an option. Flights in Cappadocia do not go in strong wind, and winter cancellations are more common. Plan it early in the stay, so another morning remains, and keep an alternative ready.
Can our own tour leader explain things everywhere?
Do not count on it. Guides in Turkey work under their own professional law, in the languages on their card. We could not confirm the rules for foreign tour leaders. So state in your request who is travelling, and check this for each trip.
What we can offer
- On request: a tailor-made trip for a group, family or company
- On request: a themed programme, such as an architecture walk in Istanbul
- On request: a walking trip along the Aegean or Lycian coast
- On request: an incentive or business meeting in Istanbul
- On request: a guide or tour leader for your own organisation's programme
