Turkey: The Intersection of Europe, Asia and the Middle East

Turkey is strategically located between Asia and Europe. This makes it easy for people to travel to many countries in a short time. They can fly to their destination in just a couple of hours.

Other than its geographic context, Turkey also has extensive connections in terms of global transportation. The advanced airline network makes Turkey a top-notch destination for worldwide traveling.

Anatolia is surrounded by the seas on three sides. It has been the homeland of the greatest civilizations throughout history. The history of these lands traces back to the prehistoric ages. The reason for this preference is mainly because of its strategic position between the two continents.

Today, the country of Turkey perfectly sits on the remarkable lands of Asia Minor. The long stretch of shores in the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara, and the Black Sea creates a favorable advantage.

Thanks to its strategic position as an intersection of the world, Turkey rode the crest of trade routes. Since ancient times, these lands acted as a bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Even today, in Turkey geopolitical location bears significance in different markets. These are mostly tourism, trade, business, and global travel.

Along with it, the most appealing side of living in Turkey is mobility. The country’s enhanced transportation system allows traveling easily between Europe and Asia.

Turkey’s industrial importance in traveling is undeniable. It especially stands out in aviation and maritime. In recent years, the Turkish government focused on up-to-date developments to support their share of the global transportation network. Thus, in 2019 Istanbul Airport, and in 2021 Galataport opened its doors to all passengers in Istanbul.

Turkey’s International Connections

Turkey is a major transportation hub. It offers easy access and short flight distance to various countries. Especially when it comes to traveling via airways, it is possible to reach many destinations in a short time.

The flight time to Turkey from abroad depends on the arrival and departure locations. However, it mostly takes less than 4 hours to fly to Turkey.

As for people who look for a long-term journey, cruises are great options for traveling to Turkey. The country enjoys its geographic significance being surrounded by seas on the three sides in terms of sea voyages.

Cruise trips to Turkey from Europe are also another transportation options that are at peak. The country hosts the most luxurious cruises with comprehensive ports including cutting-edge facilities.

Cruises

Turkey’s strategic location, surrounded by 4 seas makes it an attractive destination for cruise trips. Embarking on an extraordinary journey through the Aegean is a boasting trend among foreigners. From the bustling Galataport to the southern cruise piers, a cruise trip in Turkey promises a unique adventure.

Galataport, Istanbul

Galataport is the world’s first underground cruise ship terminal. The complex is designed to offer more than just shouldering sea transportation services to Istanbul. It is a comprehensive communal facility that includes socializing opportunities. There are shopping areas and culture centers, such as the famous Istanbul Modern Museum.

Galataport is nestled on the European shores of the Bosphorus. The facility offers a captivating mix of history, culture, and modern attractions. The newly built port stands out with its state-of-the-art design and an endless number of services. Plus, it has four times larger capacity than the previous structure.

Galataport’s entire passenger and luggage traffic has been carried underground. The main purpose behind the idea was to enable the use of the coastal promenade properly.

Aegean and Mediterranean Ports

The port of Antalya is the main gateway to the lively Turkish Riviera. It operates with 2 piers and a 1,830 sqm passenger terminal. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, Antalya’s port has significance on cruise trips from abroad.

The Aegean region shares the highest occupation rate of sea voyages. Aegean cities are the main attraction centers of European travelers. A great part of the cruises that anchor on the Aegean shores set off from Europe. The Aegean ports in İzmir, Kusadasi, and Bodrum undertake a great part of the cruise demand of Turkey.

Worldwide Travel via Airways from Turkey

In Turkey flights are the most common way of traveling abroad. Airways bear big importance in global transportation in Turkey. The country hosts millions of foreign travelers every year. There are 35 international airports with connections to over 300 destinations.

Turkey has a well-planned aviation network with advanced facilities. This makes it possible to reach anywhere in the world within a 4-hour period, or even less. The busiest airports in Turkey are situated in the most attractive cities of the country. Airports in Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, and Mugla stand out the most in global travel.

With airway, it takes less than 4-hour flights to Turkey’s most exquisite destinations. Turkey offers dynamic mobility in terms of worldwide travel because of its prime position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

It takes 3 - 3,5 hours to fly to European countries like Germany, France, or Spain. Countries like Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Sweden are also around the same flight distance away.

Balkan countries such as Bulgaria or Greece are easily accessible via land routes. But a flight to the Balkans only takes about 1 or 1,5 hours. For example, from Ankara to Belgrade, you can arrive in 1,5 hours. It’s the same way to Skopje, Cyprus, or Georgia.

On the other hand, Turkey is well-connected with the Middle Eastern countries. Dozens of global airlines operate directly to the Middle East. You can reach within a 2-4 hour period to countries like Iraq, Iran, Dubai, or Qatar.

People often wonder “What countries fly directly from Turkey?”. Local and global airlines in Turkey have direct flights to over 100 destinations, from Europe to the Middle East. In general, direct flights from Turkey to the world depart from Istanbul, Turkey’s business hub. The main operators of global flights in Istanbul are Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.

However, it is possible to encounter direct flights to Europe from southern cities of Turkey like Antalya, İzmir, or Bodrum. These cities are perfect places for digital nomads who would like to travel a lot. They are also convenient options for businesspeople. It is essential to have strong international connections while running a business abroad.

Istanbul Airport

This strategic location of the city positions it as a crucial transit point. It allows passengers to seamlessly connect to destinations worldwide within a short period of time.

Istanbul Airport can be considered as the forefront of global aviation. It is one of Europe’s busiest airports. The airport opened its doors in 2019 with a main terminal on a 1.400.000 sqm area.

Additional stages will be completed by 2027. The airport will serve at full capacity with approximately yearly 200 million passengers. The state-of-the-art infrastructure ensures a comfortable travel experience for passengers. It is setting new standards of excellence in the aviation industry.

Istanbul Airport has the busiest and most comprehensive terminals in Turkey. You can easily find cheap flights for any travel date at any time of the year. Today in Turkey airport of Istanbul operates more than 260 destinations in over 100 countries.

Ankara Esenboga Airport

The capital city Ankara in the center of Turkey stands out as a prime transit point for foreign travelers. Ankara Esenboga Airport serves as the primary air gateway to the Turkish capital. The bustling airport of Esenboga holds a strategic position for both domestic and international destinations.

The Esenboga Airport has a growing aviation network. It operates dozens of destinations in Europe, the Balkans, Asia, Caucasia, and the Middle East. The airport's modern facilities reflect the airport's commitment to providing top-notch services and a comfortable traveling experience.

Antalya Airport

Welcome to Antalya Airport, the gateway that opens to the heart of the Eastern Mediterranean. Antalya Airport operates with 2 international terminals. It hosts a wide range of global airlines and millions of passengers each year.

Antalya Airport is the 3rd busiest airport in the country since the city enjoys a strategic position in the heart of the Turkish Riviera. It shoulders a remarkable share of the country’s touristic transportation demand, especially during the summertime.

Antalya Airport bears remarkable significance in terms of the number of direct flights. Most of the direct flights are focused mostly in Europe and Russia. It acts as a meeting point for millions of passengers from all over the world. It is possible to find a wide range of flights from Turkey to France, or Germany each day.

Plus, there are dozens of flights to Turkey from London, the capital of the United Kingdom. It is possible to find the cheapest flights to Turkey from Manchester or Edinburgh from Antalya.

Bodrum - Milas Airport

Bodrum - Milas Airport is the primary destination in the Aegean for European travelers. The passenger profile of Bodrum - Milas Airport is mostly travelers from the United Kingdom.

Bodrum has become a major vacation destination for Europeans in recent years. In addition, it is also highly preferred for permanent residence. With the high demand, the number of direct flights that take less than 4 hours has increased severely.

Each day Bodrum - Milas Airport hosts dozens of direct flights to over 50 destinations, including flights from the UK to Turkey. Its extensive global connections make Bodrum - Milas Airport a leading transportation hub of the Aegean.

Turkey is the Best Fit for Mobility!

Turkey is highly demanded by foreign holidaymakers, digital nomads, and investors. The number of foreigners in Turkey has increased severely. The country’s extensive transportation network to abroad makes Turkey an amazing destination if you seek flexible mobility. Check out our blog page to discover Turkey travel tips and more exclusive details of colorful life in Turkey.

Merve Tuncer

AUTHORMerve TuncerAssistant Brand Manager

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