Search Results for: Festival

Muğla Festival Guide (2025 Edition)

Nestled along Turkey’s southwestern coast, Muğla is a province famous for its breathtaking beaches, ancient ruins, and vibrant cultural heritage. Beyond its natural beauty, Muğla boasts a lively festival calendar throughout the year that showcases its rich traditions, culinary delights, music, and arts. From Bodrum’s glamorous events to Fethiye’s folk celebrations, here’s your comprehensive guide to Muğla festivals. Spring – …

Antalya Annual Festival Guide (2025 Edition)

Antalya, Turkey’s stunning Mediterranean jewel, is not only famous for its turquoise coast and ancient ruins but also for a dynamic festival calendar that celebrates culture in many forms. Throughout the year, Antalya hosts diverse events; from internationally acclaimed film festivals to vibrant folk celebrations and gourmet food fairs. Here’s your comprehensive guide to Antalya festivals by season. Spring: Awakening …

Izmir Annual Festival Guide (2025 Edition)

Izmir, the pearl of the Aegean, is not only famous for its turquoise coastline and rich history but also for its vibrant calendar of festivals that celebrate art, music, food, and local traditions. From spring to winter, the city and its surrounding districts host a variety of events, some grand and international, others intimate and deeply rooted in local culture. …

Istanbul Annual Festival Guide (2025 Edition)

This guide combines Istanbul’s major annual festivals with district-specific cultural events. Each entry includes name, location, topic, organizer, and website (if available). Major Annual Festivals in Istanbul 1. Istanbul Film Festival Date: April (annually) Location: Across major cinemas in Istanbul Topic: International and domestic feature & short films Organizer: Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) Website: https://film.iksv.org/en 2. Istanbul …

Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival: Edirne’s 660-Year Tradition of Strength and Culture

The Edirne Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival, which is held every July, attracts the whole world. In recent years, tourists from many countries have flocked to Turkey to watch this festival. Kırkpınar Wrestling, which is described as oily wrestling, is both a sporting and cultural activity that takes place on a meadow by lubricated wrestlers who show very intense effort. Historical …

Manisa Mesir Paste Festival: A Sweet Ottoman Tradition Celebrated Today

Different activities and festivals have been going on for a long time on all sides of Anatolia. The Mesir Paste Festival, which has been held for almost 500 years, is one of the longest-running traditions among these festivals. The Manisa Mesir Paste Festival was included on UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage in 2012 and is celebrated with great enthusiasm annually …

Local Festivals in Turkey: From Oil‑Wrestling to Cherry, Wine & Orange Blossom Celebrations

Many different activities are held in our country, in both the East and West, reflecting each area’s geography, culture, and lifestyle. Festivals are organized periodically in important cities and towns that hold significance from a historical perspective and in contemporary times. We have compiled a list of Turkey’s local festivals, which contribute to the country’s most active periods of tourism. …

The Colorful Neighborhood of the Golden Horn: Balat

Every district in Istanbul is like a living history book, containing unique stories and authentic textures. Walking through this cosmopolitan metropolis, you can touch traces of many cultures that have lived here for centuries. Especially the shores of the Golden Horn stand out as a significant route that reveals the city’s most enchanting and colorful history. The jewel of this …

Symbol of Antalya: Aspendos Ancient City

Located in the Serik district of Antalya, Aspendos is a magnificent ancient city that has survived to the present day. Famous for its ancient theater, the city was established by the Achaeans. Positioned on two hills, one large and one small, Aspendos is visited by thousands of tourists every year. It is believed that the city was one of the …

Tracing the Footsteps of Great Civilizations: The Ancient City of Pergamon

Located in the Bakırçay Basin in the northern part of İzmir, the ancient city of Bergama, historically known as Pergamon, is a unique site where multiple layers of civilization intersect. With roots in the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, Bergama stands today as a rich cultural and historical destination. In 2014, it was officially recognized as a UNESCO World …