Top 5 Turkish Customs and Traditions

"Turkish Customs - From haggling to drinking galons of Turkish apple tea and coffee..."


turkish customs image, turkish customs photo, turkihs customs pictureShare Turkish customs and traditions with fellow cruisers

There are many beautiful Turkish traditions: from belly dancing to going to hammams, from smoking nargile to playing backgammon.

But, here’s a few you will come across for sure when you visit Kusadasi adn Ephesus Turkey on one of your daily Ephesus tours:

1. Hospitality and politeness

Politeness in Turkey goes back to Ottoman times when great emphasis was put on using set and polite phrases in verbal communication and body gestures etiquette.

Although it is all much more relaxed today, you will still notice your Turkish hosts are pretty good at sweet talk.

People you will interact most with in Kusadasi Turkey will be the merchants you meet in stores, or standing in front of their stores.

turkish rug demonstration image, turkish rug demonstration picture, turkish rug demonstration photoKusadasi rug demonstration

Listening to all the compliments and flattery they gush out at you can be quite fun… so if you’re in the market for a Turkish rug or a piece of jewellery, accept the game and enjoy the imaginativeness of their language as they woo you to buy something.

Hospitality is something your hosts are very proud of… they will literally unroll the red carpet for you as you enter their store or their home.

First thing when you enter, they will offer you a drink… a cup of Turkish apple tea, Turkish coffee or raki, an anise-flavored spirit.

It’s not unlikely they offer you food too.

No matter where in the world you come from and what religion you’re of, it is one of the Turkish traditions to treat you as “God’s Guest”, and you will sure feel this!

That is why people, who don't even like to take shore excursions, go crazy about their Turkish tour guides. They are more like hosts, making sure you feel comfortable in their country, taking care of you as if you were their relative.

Have you already checked which type of Ephesus shore excursion would suit you best?

2. Turkish Customs: Drinking Turkish Coffee

For the Turkish, having a cup of coffee is more than having some strong caffeine on the go to wake you up in the morning.

The purpose of having a cup of coffee is socializing, catching up on news and gossip, discussing politics…

So, when in Kusadasi, take a few moments to have a cup of hot Turkish coffee and reflect on the impressions you had after your Ephesus tour or your Turkish rug buying experience.

To find out more about the importance of coffee in Turkish culture read our article How to Make Turkish Coffee.

brewing turskish coffee image, brewing turkish coffee photo, brewing turkish coffee pictureBrewing Turkihs coffee

3. Turkish Customs: Drinking Apple Tea

You can’t go through the streets of Kusadasi without noticing the merchants sitting in front of their stores, holding little tulip-shaped cups in their hands, sipping on some Apple tea.

You see them doing it so often it’s almost like their favourite pastime.

With its refreshing and fruity taste, whether hot or cold, having some apple tea is an absolute must-do when in Kusadasi.

To find out more about the importance of apple tea read our article Turkish Apple Tea.

drinking turkish apple tea image, drinking turkish apple tea photo, drinking turkihs apple tea pictureA typical way to serve turkish apple tea

4. Turkish Traditions: Turkish Evil Eye

The moment you step off your Mediterranean cruise ship in Kusadasi harbour you will be bombarded with Evil Eyes everywhere you look.

Turkish people take this good luck charm very seriously! To find out why, read our article Turkish Evil Eye.

5. Turkihs traditions: Haggling

One of the Turkish habits that really drives some Mediterranean cruise guests crazy is – haggling.

For people coming from a Western Culture, not having a price tag on an item and never knowing how much you’re really expected to pay for something can be bewildering.

On how to master the fear of haggling and enjoy the experience, read our article Kusadasi Shopping: Tips and Tricks. Also watch this video to become a haggling pro!

If you still think you won't feel comfortable haggling on your own and are looking for a wonderful host and a tour guide for Ephesus, check our recommendations in the Daily Ephesus Tours article.

If you want to get familiar even more with Turkish culture and Turkish customs, read this blog that will give you an indepth insight.


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