11 Cultural Fun Facts about Turkey Explained

With its vast geography and cultural diversity, Turkey is rich in fascinating traditions and other cultural aspects that arouse curiosity among travellers. Whether you are planning a trip or just want to learn more, I’ve gathered 11 fun and interesting facts about Turkey for you.

Turkish culture is a mosaic created by people with different traditions. It is a country where people from various backgrounds have lived together for thousands of years. Settlers from Central Asia, immigrants from Balkans, Russia and Middle East, as well as people of Turkish origin from Europe, have come together to build a unique culture.

In such a diverse society, lifestyles have blended over time. However, we still have regional differences in our traditions. The cultural facts about Turkey below are what I learned from my grandparents and reflect my experiences since childhood. I hope they will be a valuable addition to the Bodrum Blog and help you gain a better understanding of Turkey and its Mediterranean coast.

1. The Only City in the World That Extends on Two Continents is in Turkey

Istanbul is a well-known city with its cosmopolitan lifestyle, impressive history, large population, and natural beauty. It is one of the top tourist destinations in the world with more than 17 million visitors in 2023. You probably know a lot about this city of hidden gems, but did you know that it is the only city in the world built on two continents?

Istanbul is located on two continents, divided by the beautiful Bosporus Strait. The part on Europe is called the “European Side”, and the part on Asia is called “Anatolian Side” by locals. According to official numbers from 2022, more than 10 million people live on the European side, while nearly 6 million people live on the Anatolian side.

2. The Colour Turquoise Comes from the Turkish Mediterranean Coast

If you have ever visited Turkey’s southern and western coasts, you should have already been mesmerized by the stunning blue-green waters. This unique colour is known as “turquoise”, named after the vibrant waters along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

However, I recently came across a new theory about the origin of the name “turquoise” on internet. When I extended my search, I saw that even Wikipedia updated its relevant article. Since no reference is provided, it’s difficult to determine which theory is accurate. I believe it’s best to mention both so you can choose the one you prefer. The second theory we have is also one of the interesting historical facts about Turkey.

In addition to being a colour, turquoise is also a blue-to-green mineral, mainly mined in Iran and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. In the 17th century, most of Iran and Egypt were part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire introduced turquoise to Europe for the first time, and since then, the colour of the mineral has been known as “turquoise”.

Regardless of its origin, the turquoise-covered coasts of Turkey create stunning views that attract millions of tourists each year.

3. Evil Eye to Fight Bad Luck

The evil eye, known as “nazar boncugu” in Turkish, is one of the most powerful and recognizable symbols in Turkish culture. You’ll find it everywhere, from homes to cars and even on jewellery, as protection from envious eyes and bad luck.

Although it may seem superstitious to foreigners, that’s not the whole story in practice. While many still believes in its power to protect them from unfortunate events, for most of us, it’s simply a cultural motif that we enjoy.

Interestingly, the origins of the evil eye come from Shamanism, brought by the Turks from Central Asia to Anatolia. When our ancestors arrived in Asia Minor (another name for Anatolia) during the pre-Islamic period, they carried this belief with them. Centuries later, we embraced Islam, but we never abandoned the use of the evil eye, even though it dates back to the time of polytheistic religions, which Islam strongly denies.

4. Man Kissing Other Man on the Cheek

When I was working at an American tech corporation, the CEO decided to visit Turkey. My manager, a Brit who knew Turkey very well, gave me a warning that I found quite confusing at the time: “Don’t try to kiss him, don’t kiss the CEO!” Until that moment, I wasn’t aware that men kissing each other on the cheek seemed strange to most foreigners.

It’s one of the cultural facts about Turkey that surprises many. We do it often. If you meet a local and spend time together, you can expect a kiss on the cheek when meeting and saying goodbye. Men kissing and hugging men, just like women kissing women, is a socially acceptable greeting gesture in Turkey, as long as the kiss is on the cheek. However, kisses between the opposite sexes can be a bit tricky. A gentle kiss on the cheek between friends is perfectly normal regardless of gender but kissing someone you’ve just met may be considered strange or even offensive to more conservative people if the person is of the opposite sex.

5. Kissing Hands Out of Respect

Another “kiss-related” Turkish custom is kissing a hand and then placing it on the forehand, which I’ve seen mentioned in various facts about Turkey articles online. However, I believe that most of the internet and social media content on this topic misses a few key points, so I decided to include it in my list as well.

Kissing a hand and placing it on the forehead is a sign of respect for elders. Unlike some articles suggest, this custom is not limited to special occasions like religious holidays. For most traditional people, it’s customary to do it whenever greeting an elder. The age difference isn’t the only factor in kissing a hand, either. Even if you’re over 50, you would still kiss the hand of your friend’s mother, for example, and place it on your forehead.

Children are the ones who benefit most from this custom. During Bairams (Islamic holidays), children ring the doorbells of their neighbours and kiss their hands to receive candy in return, similar to Halloween! If the person you’re visiting is a relative or close family friend, there’s a good chance you’ll receive some pocket money too. Unfortunately, in big cities, this custom is fading fast. For children, it’s exciting to wait for your reward after kissing a hand during Bairam, hoping for money instead of candy. I know because I was one of them decades ago!

6. Shoes Off in a Home!

Taking off shoes when entering a house is one of the most common customs in Turkey. It’s considered a sign of cleanliness to keep the dirt from the streets outside the home. Most of us have our own slippers, called “terlik” in Turkish, to wear inside. We also have guest slippers for friends and family members who visit. This is one of the cultural facts about Turkey that might surprise visitors.

If you’re invited to a local’s home, they may tell you there’s no need to take your shoes off. Keep in mind that they probably don’t mean it; they’re just trying to be polite. To be sure, take a look at their feet. If they’re wearing slippers, you can assume they’re just trying to make you comfortable. If you choose to keep your shoes on, I’m 99 percent sure they’ll be thinking about cleaning the house as soon as you leave!

Sometimes, you’ll find homes where the owners don’t mind if you wear shoes indoors. That’s okay too. But it’s common to hear something like, “You can keep your shoes on, the cleaning lady is coming tomorrow.” Although this is often a little white lie (since they’ve probably already cleaned the house before your arrival), it’s an easy way to make you feel all right about keeping your shoes on.

7. Extra Time at the Doorway

Your local friends invited you over for dinner, and you had a wonderful time together. You enjoyed delicious, authentic Turkish home-cooked dishes and managed to navigate the customs about Turkish meals. Then you realized it was late, and you decided to end the night.

However, leaving a Turkish home usually isn’t as simple as just saying goodbye. You should expect to spend some extra time at the doorway chatting, even after you’ve put on your shoes! The conversation can be on any topic, but it will probably be about your next meeting or a bit gossip about mutual acquaintances.

Think of this as an informal ceremony, and it doesn’t apply only to home visits. It includes any kind of gathering with friends, like having a dinner at a restaurant. The conversation will likely continue after you leave the restaurant, whether while waiting for a taxi or for the valet to bring your car.

8. Pouring Water Behind Somebody Leaving

Since we are talking about leaving ceremonies, one of my favourite cultural facts about Turkey comes to mind: splashing water behind a guest leaving for a long journey.

Imagine you’ve spent a wonderful time with a family and pay a visit to their home one last time to say goodbye before leaving the country. After chatting for a while and expressing your good intentions, they will walk you to the street and wave as the car takes you to the airport. If your host is a middle-aged or older Turkish person, they will probably pour some water behind you.

You likely won’t hear it, but as they splash the water, your host will probably say “su gibi git, su gibi gel”. This saying, which means “go like water, come back like water”, wishes the traveller a smooth and easy journey, just like the flow of water. I really like this custom! It’s simple and sincere. What do you think?

9. Communication in the Mists

In Turkey, conversations are often relaxed and imprecise, reflecting the easy-going Mediterranean attitude.

Take a look at this food recipe I found on a popular website: “add one pinch of salt and enough water.” I can live with a “pinch” of salt, but what does “enough water” mean? That’s why I have a hard time finding recipes I can try with confidence.

Asking a favour from a friend often has similar challenges. If you have an urgent request and ask a friend to handle something, they won’t refuse. The response is usually, “Sure, I’ll make it happen soon”. This kind of answer leaves you confused, wondering what “soon” actually means. It could be today or next week. You’ll need to clarify by asking follow-up questions and push if “soon” isn’t specific enough for you.

I live in Ankara, and I sometimes meet my friends at a shopping mall for lunch. Last week, when we were planning to meet, my friend said, “See you at Ankamall around 1 o’clock,” and hung up. Well, it’s a mall where I can pass the time browsing the shops while I wait. But it’s a 278,000 m² mall—how were we supposed to find each other? As usual, I had to make a few extra calls to figure out my friend’s exact location.

I honestly don’t remember how we managed to socialize before the invention of cell phones, but I know this laid-back approach is one of the cultural facts about Turkey that can drive anyone crazy.

10. Lemon Cologne for You, Whether You Like It or Not

Offering lemon cologne, limon kolonyasi in Turkish, is a very common and distinctly Turkish custom that you will experience sooner or later in Turkey. It’s essentially a perfume with refreshing, relaxing, and antiseptic properties. A typical limon cologne contains about 80% alcohol and has a distinct odour. Recently, due to religious concerns, non-alcoholic versions of cologne have appeared on market shelves. However, traditional alcohol-based lemon colognes remain the most popular.

As you explore Turkish culture, you will be offered lemon cologne many times, on various occasions. If you visit a local’s home or office, they will offer a cologne even before bringing you a cup of tea. Whether you’re requesting the bill at a restaurant or travelling on a bus, you’ll likely be offered lemon cologne as well.

Beyond its refreshing features, we use lemon cologne in our daily lives too. It’s handy for disinfecting surfaces or removing liquid stains from wooden furniture. However, I strongly advise you not to consume it, even out of curiosity. The ingredient is methyl alcohol, which is highly dangerous to your liver if ingested. I also wouldn’t recommend using it to clean culinary items, as its strong and long-lasting odour can make your food smell like lemon cologne.

11. Words that Extend to Infinity

One of the most popular and well-known fun facts about Turkey is the unique structure of the Turkish language. It allows us to create long compound words, such as “muvaffakiyetsizlestiricilestiriveremeyebileceklerimizdenmissinizcesine” which I came across on an internet blog about Turkey.

Although this word was obviously created to puzzle outsiders like you, it is actually a real word. But do we use these kinds of words in our daily conversations? Rarely, unless we want to create rhymes for fun.

These words are not easy to build or understand without taking the time to think about them. I wouldn’t dare to translate this one into English either! I’m not sure I could even explain its meaning in Turkish with proper sentences.

Using comparatively shorter compound words, on the other hand, is more common. For example, let’s say you requested a business appointment, and the secretary said they might not be available at that time. When your boss asks if you are going to meet them, you simply say, “It seems that we may not be able to see him/her.” In Turkish, we would say: “gorusemeyebilirmisiz“. This is the kind of word we use in daily routines, but still, you won’t find it in any dictionary.