18 interesting facts about Tükiye (Turkey) you need to know about

Santa Claus was born in Türkiye

Alican, one of our partners who organizes our tours in Turkey, shared one of his favorite facts about Türkiye, his home country.

“Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus was born in Patara and became the bishop of nearby Myra, on Turkiye’s Mediterranean coast.”

He then got his trusty team to share their favorite picks.

Julius Caesar’s most famous words

Ever heard of Julius Caesar’s famous saying “Veni Vidi Vici”‘? It means ‘I came, I saw, I conquered.’ and he reportedly said the phrase after the battle of Zela, 47 BC in what is now known as Almus (in the Tokat province of northern Türkiye)

Türkiye gave us the world’s first coin

The first ever coin of the world was minted in today’s Türkiye by the Lydians, an Anatolian ancient empire who eventually fell to the Persians.

DISCOVER MORE ON

Wonders of Turkey TOUR

View Tour

Türkiye is predominantly Muslim, but its national drink is an alcohol

Even though most of Türkiye is muslim, their national drink is Raki. Otherwise known as ‘Lion’s Milk’, Raki is a 45% clear brandy made of grapes and raisins, twice-distilled and flavored with aniseed.

Turks prefer tea over coffee

Even though we all know Türkiye for its famous coffee (and if you don’t, you can read more about it here – it’s pretty unique), the most consumed beverage is tea.

Tulips originated in Türkiye

When you think of tulips, we all picture the colorful countryside outside Amsterdam, but did you know that they actually originated in Central Asia, and were first cultivated by the Turks and Persians? They were eventually introduced to Europe in the 16th century.

Türkiye used to have two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Today, you may have been lucky enough to see some of the wonders of the world: Machu Picchu, Rome’s Colosseum, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue… but did you know that there used to be seven wonders of the Ancient World? These sights were given their prestige only after Alexander the Great conquered much of the western world in the 4th century BC, granting Hellenistic travelers unbridled access to the civilizations of ancient Egypt, Persia and Babylon.

Only one of the ancient wonders survives today: the Great Pyramids of Giza. But two used to be in ancient Türkiye. The Temple of Artemis was a great Greek temple dedicated to the goddess of the hunt, and was built by the last king of Lydia (remember them?). It was ultimately destroyed by invading Goths in 262 CE. The second wonder was the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which was a huge tomb built for an ancient king in what is now known as Bodrum. It was adorned with sculptures from four leading Greek artists, and likely was destroyed in subsequent earthquakes.

It’s home to the world’s oldest temple

In southeastern Türkiye you’ll find what many scholars argue is the world’s oldest temple. Göbekli Tepe is a Neolithic site said to date back to 9600 BCE, making it even older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids.

The Gordian Knot came from Turkey

The Gordian Knot was a legendary and complex knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia, which was said to be impossible to untie. According to the legend, Alexander the Great solved the problem by cutting through the knot with his sword, fulfilling the prophecy that whoever unraveled it would rule Asia. Gordion is located near Ankara, Türkiye’s capital city.

It may be the resting place of Noah’s Ark

Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı in Turkish), located in eastern Türkiye, is traditionally considered to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark according to some interpretations of the Bible.

Two cities in Türkiye were the only ones that Alexander the Great couldn’t conquer in Asia Minor

Termessos is an ancient city perched on a hilltop deep in the Taurus mountain range, close to Antalya. It’s one of only two cities in Asia Minor (the other being Sillyon) that even the Macedonian King Alexander the Great couldn’t conquer. The ancient city was first mentioned in Homer’s epic tale the Iliad, which recounts the last few weeks of the ten-year siege of Troy. Its first historical mention though, dates back to 334 BC, when Alexander the Great unsuccessfully attempted to capture it.

Türkiye has the oldest operating underground train in continental Europe

Türkey’s Tünel funicular is the oldest operating underground railway in continental Europe. Opened in 1875, it connects the districts of Karakoy and Beyoglu and is second in age only to the London Underground, which opened in 1863.

Turks have chicken in their dessert

A typical Ottoman dessert is tavuk göğsü, chicken breast pudding. It’s a strange concoction of boiled chicken, milk and sugar, flavoured with cinnamon. And it’s delicious!

Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents

Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, is unique as it straddles both Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus Strait. This geographical distinction makes Istanbul the only city in the world located on two continents.

The ancient city of Troy was in Türkiye

The ancient city of Troy, made famous by Homer’s Iliad and the legendary Trojan War, is located in modern-day Türkiye. The archaeological site is near the Dardanelles, where you can visit the ruins that once inspired one of the greatest stories ever told.

The world’s first international peace treaty was signed in Türkiye

The Treaty of Kadesh, considered the oldest surviving peace treaty in history, was signed in 1259 BCE between the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II and Hittite King Muwatalli II. This historic agreement was concluded near the city of Kadesh in what is now southeastern Türkiye.

The traditional national sport of Türkiye is oil wrestling

Oil wrestling, known as “Yağlı Güreş” in Turkish, is a traditional sport where wrestlers douse themselves in olive oil before competing. The sport dates back to the Ottoman Empire and is still practiced today, particularly during the annual Kirkpinar Festival in Edirne. The objective is to pin your opponent to the ground while grappling in a slippery and oily environment.

Turkish women could leave their husbands for coffee

In Ottoman times, coffee was so central to Turkish culture that a woman could legally leave her husband if he did not provide her with enough coffee. This reflects the historical importance of coffee in Turkish society and its role in daily life and social rituals.

The Turks eat three times their own weight in bread every year

Discover all the sights and insights for yourself on our popular Treasures of Turkey tour.