Turkey is one of the most family friendly destinations in the world; with its many family holiday resorts and luxury hotels, those travelling with young children will feel safe and looked after at all times. There’s plenty to see and do and Turkey’s most popular areas offer a choice of attractions that are suitable for children of all ages. The food, whilst seemingly exotic, can cater for all palates and you’ll be sure to find tasty dishes or mild dishes for even the fussiest of eaters. The Turkish are known for their warm hospitality too and they love kids, so families travelling with children will always be made to feel welcome.

Turkish cuisine takes on many influences from the countries on all sides, borrowing flavours and style elements from Greek cuisine, Central Asian cuisine, Jewish cooking, Middle Eastern cooking and food from the Balkans. But the main basis of Turkish cuisine is very much a continuation of cooking processes and the use of ingredients from the Ottoman Empire, making food here a seriously cultural experience for all. The Ottomans were known to fuse different culinary traditions and used yoghurt and Manti dumplings in a lot of their dishes – and this is still very much apparent today. Some of the must try national dishes include Kofte meatballs, Menemen scrambled eggs, Kuzu Tandir slow roasted lamb, Börek savoury pastry and of course Pide, which is a Turkish version of pizza (the perfect choice for fussy kids). If you love desserts, don’t forget to try the famous Baklava pastries or the colourful Güllaç. Meze is also a very popular way to eat – this is a great way of finding a selection of foods to suit large groups.

Turkey is a diverse place and whilst 87.5% of the population is Turkish, it’s also home to small ethnic minorities such as the Kurdish, the Zazaki people, the Greek, Circassians, Ladinos and the Armenians. The country is a place of tradition and you’ll find that most destinations have not lost their old world charm. Ancient ruins and traditional architecture dominate the landscapes and visitors will have many chances to learn more about local culture from the traditional dancing and Turkish ‘turning’ ceremonies to the rural villages and the country’s love of meze.