Turkey flag

Turkey

History

Ottoman Empire ruled or strongly influenced the territory before the modern state.
The war of independence began, making sovereignty the central national struggle.
Government of the Grand National Assembly appears in Turkey's historical record.
The sultanate was abolished, clearing the way for a republican state.
Treaty of Lausanne set new terms for sovereignty or administration.
A republic was declared, changing Turkey's political system and state identity.
The current constitution came into force, setting the basic framework for today's Turkey.
Europe thumbnailPart ofEuropeMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalAnkara
Population85.7M
Area783,562 km2
CurrencyTurkish lira

Short facts

RegionSoutheast Europe / Western Asia
LanguageTurkish
Time zoneTRT (UTC+3)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus bridge two continents.
  • Cappadocia: Fairy-chimney rock formations, underground cities and hot-air balloon flights at sunrise.
  • Pamukkale: Cotton-white travertine terraces and ancient Roman spa city Hierapolis.

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Planning questions

What is Turkey known for?Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale.
What is the capital?Ankara.
Which language is useful?Turkish.
When is the national day?29 October.

Upcoming events

Republic Day of Turkey thumbnailRepublic Day of Turkey29 Oct 2026 ยท Turkey

No future Turkey-linked events are active in the current dataset.

Known for

IstanbulHagia SophiaGrand BazaarCappadociaunderground citiesPamukkale