Hidden Turkey

The Journal

Long answers to the questions UK travellers ask us most.

No press releases. No SEO filler. Just the kind of advice we would give a close friend planning a Turkey trip — written by the people who actually run the holidays.

View over Kalkan harbour and the Mediterranean from a clifftop villa terrace

Destinations · 7 min read

Why we send couples to Kalkan, not Bodrum, in summer

Bodrum has the brand. Kalkan has the bath-warm sea, the cliffside villas, and the absence of nightclubs.

22 April 2026

Hot air balloon flight over the Cappadocia fairy chimneys at sunrise

Experiences · 9 min read

Cappadocia balloon safety: what we ask before we book

After the 2022 incident, we changed the way we book balloons. Here is the safety brief we use, and the questions you should ask.

14 March 2026

Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque viewed across the rooftops of Sultanahmet Istanbul

Itineraries · 8 min read

How to plan a three-day Istanbul trip that does not exhaust you

Half the city's must-sees are too close together. The other half are too far apart. Here is the order we use.

28 February 2026

Turkish mezze spread with hummus olives bread and salad

Food · 7 min read

Turkish food: the seven dishes a UK traveller cannot leave without trying

Beyond the doner. The mantı, the kunefe, the slow-cooked lamb, and the fish that you will dream about.

30 January 2026

Stack of Turkish lira banknotes and a leather wallet on a wooden table

Practical · 6 min read

Turkey for UK travellers: currency, tipping and prices in 2026

Pay in lira, tip in cash, exchange at the post office. The lira's slide is partly your friend, partly a trap.

8 April 2026

Cobbled street in a Turkish coastal town with restaurants and warm evening light

Practical · 7 min read

Is Turkey safe? An honest answer for UK travellers

The FCDO map is more conservative than reality, and the reality is more nuanced than headlines.

5 March 2026

Sultanahmet Mosque silhouetted against a violet Istanbul sunset

Practical · 5 min read

Turkey visa for UK citizens in 2026: e-visa, validity, and the gotchas

The e-visa is straightforward but easy to mess up. Use the official site only. Print it.

11 April 2026

Hot air balloons drifting over the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia at sunrise

Practical · 8 min read

The best time to visit Turkey: a month-by-month UK traveller guide

May and October are the unicorns. June and September are nearly as good and half the price.

15 January 2026

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