About Turkey

 

Turkey is a fantastic country in which to buy a holiday home either as the ultimate getaway or as an investment (or both). At Whirling Dervish we believe in practising what we preach and we bought into this market in 1999! The irresistible combination of unrivalled beaches, great scenery and warm people make Turkey a place that instantly wins your heart.

Turkey has applied to join the the European Community and a future entry now looks likely. This will elevate Turkish property prices significantly and early buyers will be able to capitalise from a return on their investment which, in some areas, is delivering between 20% - 30% growth per annum. Some of our exceptional 'off-plan' performers have more than doubled in value in just twelve months! Investment opportunities and bargains still abound and our local knowledge places us ideally to act as your gateway into the fabulous world of modern Turkey .

Turkey is a vast country touching borders with Central Asia, the Middle East , as well as European destinations. The Turkish authorities have taken steps to put agreements in place with 39 countries related to investment potential in property with a view to minimizing any tax implications.

Mainstream Turkey is a thoroughly westernised place with all the conveniences and pragmatic outlook of any major destination. Strike a little further out and you find yourself in unspoilt surroundings away from stress and hustle and ready to take in the scenic beauty of the magnificent Turkish countryside or absorb the warmth of the Turkish sun by the seaside.

 

 

A map of Turkey illustrating the locations in which Whirling Dervish Property sources properties is shown below (click to zoom):

 

Bodrum

Bodrum is the playground of Turkey 's elite, visited and loved by many European visitors.

Bodrum is a much loved resort by both Turkish people and international visitors alike. The cosmopolitan town, centred on a magnificent port, provides a beautiful place to visit and settle.

Beaches
As Bodrum is primarily a port town there is only a small beach area in the town itself. However, there are numerous beaches within easy access ready to be discovered. Each one will take your breath away and every possible need can be met from the family-friendly fun packed shallow sandy beach of Gumbet to the peaceful cove of Turbuku located roughly 15km from Bodrum. If you need a break from the heat of the Turkish sun there are also north-facing coves to be explored, such as Golkoy, which offer stunning surroundings and refreshing sea breezes.

 

Eating Out
Bodrum offers an abundance of quality restaurants allowing you to eat at a different venue every night. Restaurants provide cuisine from all over the globe and give you the option to cater to every taste. One of the "must-dos" whilst in Bodrum is to sample the local Turkish fayre. This is a way to really gain a true essence of Turkish culture and develop an understanding of the passion invested in food by the Turkish people. The cool, shaded streets of the Town are scattered with high quality cafes, restaurants and patisseries or, if you prefer a seaview there are numerous outdoor cafes and bistros along the port front.

Nightlife
If you thought Bodrum was lively during the day then you will be amazed at the vibrancy of Bodrum by night. After dark, the Town buzzes with excitement yet still maintains its charm and authentic qualities for which it is famous. Set to the backdrop of the illuminated Castle you are faced with a vast range of venues in which to choose to while away the evening hours. From pop to jazz, Bodrum is rapidly growing as an area offering high quality live music. A great form of entertainment which will suit family groups, romantic couples and group parties. As well as live music, Bodrum also offers a mass of clubs and bars for the visitor wishing to dance into the small hours of the morning. Most famous of Bodrum's many clubs is Halikarnas; a large outdoor club on the peninsula of Bodrum which hosts Europe's largest outside laser display and is always guaranteed to be bustling with locals and tourists alike.

Shopping
The heart of Bodrum's shopping area is a maze of hidden gems and a challenge for even the most hardened shopper! There are so many shops and boutiques that you can be kept entertained for many days. The high quality products available and relatively low cost make the shopping only more enjoyable for everyone. The temptation of each shop you pass and the friendliness of the shop keepers means you are often invited to share a drink with them and avoid the mid-afternoon heat. One of the most exciting aspects of Bodrum's shopping scene is the market, or more accurately the Bazaar, which is located above Bodrum's Otogar (bus-station). Head down there on a Tuesday for the textile and clothing market where you can make your selection from quality clothing and delicate lace and fabrics that have been hand made in the Region. Whether or not you make your home in Bodrum the food markets on a Thursday and Friday are a spectacle not to be missed. Piles of spices, olives, fresh farm cheese and every variety of fruit and vegetable you can imagine are on offer at prices that will make your mouth water.

Local Attractions and Activities
Bodrum is a historic settlement and as a result is plentiful in ancient attractions. The castle of Saint Peter (Petrum) dominates the peninsula of the Town and hosts the Underwater Archaeological Museum . To the west of the town is the ancient Amphitheatre which dates back to around 330-30 BC. Also worth a visit is the Myndos gate which was on of the two ancient entrances to the town. Currently under way is the restoration of the city walls which when completed will further enhance the Town's historic past. As with most resorts on the Aegean coast there is easy access to many of Turkey 's spectacular attractions, such as the Dalyan mud baths and the "cotton castle" of Pammukale.

Airport
The new Bodrum-milas airport has recently opened meaning that the old transfer times of three hours have been eradicated and it now takes just 30minutes to get from the airport to Bodrum town centre. The journey can be easily made via Taxi for roughly £19 (approx. 48,000,000 Turkish Lira) but there are also coaches that can be arranged via the airport.

 

Kusadasi

A cosmopolitan port town with surrounding beaches

Kusadasi, pronounced Koo-shah-dah-suh, is one of the Aegean Coast 's major resort towns. Its natural beauty and cruise port facility have made it one of the hottest destinations of recent years.

Beaches
There is a main beach in the Centre of the Town, on the main waterfront boulevard. Obviously this can be busy in the tourist seasons. If you want some peace and quite there are plenty of beaches both north and south of the Town, which can offer an idyllic escape. Pamucak Beach is only a 15 minute drive away and offers a wide, long and un-crowded alternative to the central beaches of the area. More isolated than the rest it offers a the chance to bask for a while in a truly unspoilt paradise.

Eating Out
You will be amazed at how spoilt for choice you are when you come to choosing a restaurant. Kusadasi has a wealth of restaurants making it possible to eat at a different restaurant every night! The cuisine offered is of a high quality, especially the seafood, which is freshly caught every day. Alongside traditional Turkish delicacies you can find food from all over the world such as Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Italian and even French. Many of the restaurants also provide live entertainment, which is a great way to finish your meal. As Kusadasi is a port town many of the restaurants offer spectacular sea-views, which are especially stunning at sunset. The cafés located all around the Town and along the waterfront also offer great value, good quality food during the day with shaded eating areas for you to escape the midday heat and enjoy the surroundings in peace.

Nightlife
Kusadasi boasts a wide range of evening entertainment from jazz clubs to lively nightclubs. The Town really comes to life at night with a lively entertainment schedule throughout the peak tourist season. The Town offers a plenitude of live music and entertainment acts, which the audience can often be involved with themselves. So get practicing and belly dance amongst the best!

Shopping
Kusadasi has a wide selection of quality shops for you to explore at you own leisure. The norm is to barter for the price you want to pay. This can be intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it you can purchase some great bargains. Kusadasi also holds a weekly Friday market, which is well worth a visit with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and textiles available.

Local Attractions and Activities
The Aquafantasy Aqua Park is a very popular water park located near to Kusadasi Town and is a great day out for the family. There are also PADI qualified scuba diving instructors available to take you diving for the day, beginners and advanced courses are usually offered depending on your level of experience. Kusadasi is also near 'National Park', which is well worth a visit with facilities available for swimming and picnics. It is a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Among some of the recommended sights to see are Ephesus , Priene, Miletus and Didyma, Pamukkale and Aphrodisias.

Guided tours are available to all of the surrounding areas of interest or you can reach most of them by car. One of the Seven Wonders of the World - Artemision - is just 18km away and is also close to Ephesus and the Basicia of Saint John. You can easily reach Artemision by dolmus (minibus) from Kusadasi.

Airport
The nearest airport is Adnan Menderes Airport , which is in Izmir . The transfer from the airport takes roughly one hour and is via a highway.

 

 

Ayvalik

Simple beauty and tranquility in an unspoilt destination

Ayvalik is a North Aegean seaside resort roughly 120km north of Izmir . Ayvalik translates into English as 'Quince Orchard" and its surrounding areas are covered in Olive groves that produce the best olive oil in Turkey .

The area has remained unspoilt by mass development and tourism and instead provides beautiful scenery, a wealth of historical and archaeological sites, magnificent Aegean architecture and narrow cobbled streets.

Beaches
Ayvalik is known for its attractive beaches. Just 8km away is the beautiful beach of Sarimsakli , which is a kilometre of long white sandy beach. You can also catch a ferry from the harbor over to the Greek island of Lesvos to sample the beaches of the isle.

Eating Out
Ayvalik is known in Turkey as the best place to dine on fresh sea-food and fish that is caught daily and brought in by the local fishermen. The waterside open-air restaurants are a magnet for people wanting exquisite food with stunning sunsets over the harbor. There are also many high quality restaurants in the Town Centre specializing in Turkish fare, alongside several restaurants that offer a more international menu. An alternative option for dining-out is to catch the ferry over to Alibey Island , which has fantastic restaurants and welcoming tavernas.

 

Nightlife
If you're looking for wild bars and discos until the early hours then Ayvalik isn't the resort for you. Ayvalik offers spectacular dining and moonlit strolls along the harbor. If you are looking for a dance and a drink you can find a selection of bars and small discos in the Centre.

Shopping
The popular souvenirs purchased in the Region are carpets, gold and leather. The main market is held every Thursday with two smaller ones held on Sundays and Tuesdays. The main market is brilliant for clothing and the cotton is of the highest quality yet still at amazingly low prices.

Local Attractions and Activities
The Town has an interesting history having been occupied since 330 BC by mainly Greek inhabitants until an estimated half-a-million Greek descendants were sent back to Greece following the Greek Independence War. Sadly at this time a majority of the village was destroyed however the Greek influence is still extremely evident. The remaining Orthodox churches have been converted into Mosques and are extremely beautiful both inside and out. There are also numerous ruined monasteries in the Region. One excellent way to see these is on a boat trip to Ailbey or Cunda Island where you can have a relaxing walk visiting the monasteries and enjoying the sunset at one of the restaurants.

Seyton Sofrasi (Devils table) is well worth a visit. From the top of this hill you can marvel at the stunning view across the Ayvalik bay and the surrounding islands dotted along the horizon. A popular boat trip is the ferry across to the Greek Island of Lesvos . However, this can be expensive so many people prefer to travel to nearby Cesme or Kusadasi to catch the ferry from there. If you explore the backstreets of the Town you will see beautiful examples of Ottoman Greek houses. There are also plentiful buildings with typical Ayvalik architecture of colourful doors and red Samarisk stone.

Travel
Ayvalik is further away from the main airports, which is why it has managed to remain relatively unspoilt. As a result of this the transfer time is a little longer with roughly two hours journey from Izmir 's Adnan Menderes Airport . The main activities in Ayvalik are dining, swimming, boating and above all relaxation. With an abundance of olive oil, fresh fruit and fresh fish complemented by spectacular surroundings Ayvalik is a popular getaway for Turkish people wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the larger towns and cities.

 

 

 

Cesme

A perfect holidaymakers retreat on the Turkish coast within reach of the City of Izmir

Cesme, pronounced Chesh-meh, is located 53 miles west of Izmir (about 30-40 minutes drive) on the Aegean Coast . Cesme has a port which offers ferries over to the Greek island of Chios and car and passenger ferries over to Italy . Cesme is a pleasant coastal town. Cesme translates in English to 'fountain', which reflects the area's numerous sources of natural water.

Beaches
The Resort offers clean, sandy beaches with bright blue sea and the biggest beach along the Aegean Coast . There are also plenty of surrounding beaches two of the best are found just south of the Town these being Pirlanta Plaj and Altinkum. There are also many unspoilt bays around the Region that are perfect for the intrepid holidaymaker to Turkey looking to explore the area.

Eating Out
As in many resorts around Turkey , Cesme offers a wide range of International cuisines alongside the traditional Turkish fares. Food from all the continents can be found so even the fussiest eater can be catered for. The speciality of the area is their fresh sea-food. A visit to Dalyan is highly recommended if you're a seafood fan as it's said to be the place to eat fresh fish.

 

Nightlife
Cesme houses many discos, bars and cafes that offer entertainment all night long. Often there is an abundance of live entertainment to enjoy and if you want get involved in. The seafront offers a beautiful location to enjoy long relaxing evenings in the warm Turkish climate. If you feel up to it, it is highly recommended to visit Ildiri and climb up to the Acropolis at dusk for some fantastic views. Ildiri is located just 20km North East of Cesme Town.

Local Attractions and Activities
Cesme's location places it in a prime location for access to some of Turkey 's premier attractions and historical sights. Cesme is surrounded by small islands that can be visited and explored on various boat trips on offer in the Town. Cesme also hosts an annual International Song Contest, which is held every July in the Town's Castle. This is well worth attending if you are there as it is regarded as one of Turkey 's major music contests. Another annual event is the Ilica International Yacht Race, which is held every July in Ilica bay. Yachts are available to hire from the port and give the able sailor the chance to explore the stunning coastline, secluded bays and deserted islands of the Region. The waters surrounding Cesme are the perfect location for you to try a variety of water sports that are available for people of all abilities.

In the Centre of the town the old Castle now houses a museum highlighting the history of the Region. There is also an art gallery in the Town perfect for those wanting indoor activities for a break from the midday heat. One aspect of the Turkeys spectacular attractions that must be sampled is the natural Thermal Baths. Balcova, located on the road from Izmir to Cesme, is one of Turkey 's largest thermal baths. This natural phenomenon is renowned for its healing properties and is the ultimate way to relax.

Airport
The nearest airport to Cesme is roughly an hour's journey to Izmir 's Adnan Menderes Airport .