New Year in Turkey can be a very vivid impression. First of all, this trip will allow you to change the picture and get a new experience of celebrating the winter holidays. Those who do not represent the transition to the next time stage without Olivier and the President’s speech should try such an unusual way. Comfort and warm weather, which gives this country will not leave anyone indifferent.
Winter holidays in hot Turkey
The winter trip to the Turkish coast has a lot of advantages. This is quite a budget option that even people with incomes below average can afford. Winter is a low season for the Turks, so the prices for accommodation and food here are quite reasonable.
The sea at this time is not suitable for everyone for swimming, it has cooled to + 16 ... + 19 degrees. Alternatively, many hotels offer heated pools, in some places even with salt water. In addition, it is worth getting pleasure from numerous spa procedures, hammams, saunas, massage and other services.Fresh sea air will not only relax but also improve your health.
Those who still want to meet the New Year in the snowdrifts, it is recommended to evaluate the quality of services at local ski resorts. These are the only ski resorts in the world where the system is "all inclusive". Therefore, such trips are beneficial for tourists. The trails here are simple, quite suitable for training beginners, children and relaxed skiing experienced skiers.
Turkey offers its guests numerous excursions of both cultural and historical nature, and shopping tours. In the summer this is less attractive due to the sweltering heat. But the Turkish winter is quite suitable for long walks. In Pammukkala, Kangale and Yalove, thermal springs and thalasso await tourists.
How Turkey celebrates New Year
Since 1935, Turkey began to celebrate the beginning of the New Year on the night of December 31 to January 1. Prior to this, it occurred on the first Saturday after January 1. Only in 1981 these days became official holidays.
Since the majority of the country's population are Muslims, it is not recommended for the clergy to put trees in their homes. But there are people who still want to have this symbol of the New Year and do not listen to the general opinion. In hotels, where most tourists are accustomed to the smell of natural Christmas trees and tangerines, this attribute becomes an integral part of the celebration.
The most striking celebration becomes in Istanbul and resorts. There are many Eastern Christians in Istanbul. Also, the celebration in Ankara is made more ambitious. The remaining cities do not attach special importance to the event and mark it more modestly. Traditional for Turkey is the meeting of the New Year on the lunar calendar with a floating date.
The local owner of the holiday is Noel Baba - Saint Nicholas. This character is reminiscent of Santa Claus. Often on the holiday table of the Turks you can meet a stuffed turkey.
The program of festive entertainment usually includes concerts in the most crowded places of cities, fireworks, decoration of streets and houses with garlands and toys, and festive illuminations. To be in the center of mass festivities in Istanbul, you need to visit the Kadikoy district, the Pera quarter, Taksim Square or Sultanahmet Square.
The staff of local hotels will do everything to make the holiday go on the highest level. The higher the level of the hotel, the more chic the celebration will be. December 31 at the hotel will certainly be organized a gala dinner, which will be accompanied by a show program.
Some hotels give their customers minor small gifts. Sometimes you can even find in your room a ticket for a local state lottery. According to Turkish traditions, it is not customary to give presents on New Year's Eve, but in hotels they follow European traditions to please the guests.
Strolling through the festive city, you should try the local warming drink, an analogue of European mulled wine. It is called salep and in taste and texture it resembles liquid sweet semolina. It consists of a powder from the tubers of orchids, milk, cloves, ginger and cinnamon.
Here, no one explodes firecrackers on the streets and does not organize independent fireworks. To buy pyrotechnics, you need to have a special permit. Therefore, everyone wants to enjoy the salute that rattles over the city on New Year's Eve. The Turks decided to hang up the decorations late, and to remove them early. Therefore, as early as January 5, there may be no reminders around the recent festivities.
If you have to choose a tour, then among the most popular is a trip to imperial Istanbul. It usually takes 2 to 7 days. The program includes a festive dinner in the restaurant or on the boat, which sails along the Bosphorus. From the embankment the New Year's salute is perfectly visible. In the first days of the new year, the guide will conduct entertaining excursions through the old streets of the city. It is worth the tour for 6 nights in a three-star hotel with full board about 50,000 rubles for two. If you want to poshikovat and book 5 stars, then you will have to lay out about 65,000 rubles.
Reviews, advantages and disadvantages
Among the disadvantages of rest for the winter holidays in Turkey is the abundance of precipitation. It rains in winter often. Also, sometimes, it is not possible to settle in the selected hotel, as many of them close immediately after the end of the beach season.
The advantages of the trip are much more: a short flight (only 3 or 3.5 hours). No need to open a visa. A wide variety of entertainment in the form of swimming pools, excursions, boat trips, mountain skiing, shopping.
Tourists say that it is not necessary to buy ready-made excursions in groups. You can easily go by local transport to the sights and explore them yourself. It should be remembered that December 31 is a working day. But everyone is trying to finish it early and get home faster. Because of this, kilometer traffic jams form on the roads. You should also be prepared for the cold wind and rain. Need to stock up on waterproof clothing and shoes.
In addition, among the recommendations of experienced travelers buying ready-made tour of the system "all inclusive". This will give real tangible savings. Families with children should choose accommodation in hotels with indoor water parks and attractions. This will make it easy for the youngest family members to find an occupation.
If we take into account all these nuances, then a new year spent in Turkey can be the most striking event of the year or even in a lifetime!
