Turkey
Turkey Travel Blogs
Welcome to the home of all my Turkey travel blogs
From eating my way around Istanbul, and seeing the incredible mosques, to beach times in Alanya, to hot air ballooning in Cappadocia, and exploring the cave cities in the region, find out the best places to travel to in my Turkey travel blogs.
Happy exploring!
20 Best Cave Hotels In Cappadocia
Wondering where to stay in Cappadocia? Whether you’re looking for historic, unique, luxury or budget-friendly, these are the best cave hotels in Cappadocia.
How To Get From Istanbul To Cappadocia
Want to travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia – one of the most unique places in Turkey? Find out how to travel to the region by car, bus and plane.
If you’re planning a holiday to Turkey, I’d recommend starting in Istanbul, then travelling to Cappadocia for a few days, and finishing with a little bit of beach time in somewhere like Alanya or Antalya.
Stop… Hamam Time! The Full Cultural ‘Experience’ In Alanya
A traditional Hamam in Alanya isn’t necessarily a relaxing spa experience…!
“While you’re here you should definitely try a traditional Turkish bath.”
These were the words of one of my guides when I arrived in Alanya, Turkey a few weeks ago. Over three days I was whisked from beaches to caves to restaurants, and now, just ten minutes after returning from a jeep safari, I found myself in the ladies changing room at Çemberlitas Hamam.
As mentioned in my recent spa review of the luxury hamam at Dolphin Square, the hamam (also known as Turkish bath) isn’t an activity done for pure relaxation. No, it’s a cultural experience with an emphasis on cleansing. It’s also a place where people go to catch up with friends and family. Parents take their children and friends go together. It’s a communal experience, with most of the time spent in the hamam chamber – a beautiful marble room with sinks around the outside and a large heated marble stone in the centre. Men and women have separate facilities, although at this hamam, the sauna and steam room were mixed.
After a sauna and a steam, I entered the hamam chamber in my bikini unsure of what the protocol was. I was swiftly pointed in the direction of the shower then the jacuzzi. One thing to note, when I arrived I wasn’t told what the experience would involve, so I spent the whole time apprehensive about what was going to happen next.
