Turkey, Asia's foothold in Europe, a melting pot of cultures and a bridge between continents, is modernising rapidly - sometimes so fast you'd swear you can actually see it happening in front of your eyes. Turkey is secular and Western-oriented and boasts a vigorous free-enterprise economy. The cuisine is to die for, the coastline a dream and many Turkish cities are dotted with spectacular old mosques and castles. To top it off, Turkey remains the Mediterranean coast's bargain-basement travel destination.

Best time to visit

April to May and September to October.

Essential experiences

Haggling your way to a bargain in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul; floating over the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia in a hot-air balloon; taking in the history of the eerily peaceful Gallipoli Peninsula; exploring Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean; getting scrubbed clean and massaged in a hamam - steam bath; shoe service on the cobbled lanes of the beautiful preserved Ottoman city of Safranbolu; sailing the blue waters of Turkey's southwest coast in a traditional gulet.

In a few words, Turkey is

Turkish delight, where East meets West and commercialism meets tradition, kebabs in a dozen different varieties, carpet sellers, tea offered in a shop immediately prior to a sales pitch and the Midnight Express.

Did you know?

Turkey has its very own, hugely successful pop industry and it gets so cold in some parts of the country that you can ski in winter.