Camping in Turkey

In addition to metropolises such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, there is a lot to discover in Turkey. Near the Bosphorus, you can explore the many cultural assets and picturesque beaches on the Marmara Sea. The Aegean Sea boasts beautiful bays and lively harbour towns such as Bodrum, Kusadasi and Marmaris. Families usually opt for a camping holiday in the south of Turkey. The Riviera here will delight you with its white sand and deep blue water.

Special features of camping in Turkey

A camping trip in Turkey takes holidaymakers far to the south-east of Europe. In Istanbul, you cross the Bosphorus, the cultural and historical border between Asia and Europe. Formerly known as Constantinople, the city fascinates visitors with its many sights, ranging from sultan's palaces to Byzantine churches and ancient cisterns.

On the coast of the Aegean Sea and the Turkish Riviera, holidaymakers can enjoy numerous sporting activities. A holiday can be varied with surfing, sailing and diving. Ancient cultural sites such as the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, the ancient Pergamon and the amphitheatre in Side are well worth a visit.

If you are looking for a challenge and seclusion, head further east along the limestone terraces of Pamukkale and be mesmerised by the cave and rock formations of Cappadocia.

Getting there

Travelling to Turkey by motorhome is usually a multi-day road trip across the Balkans. The distance between the two metropolises of Berlin and Istanbul alone is almost 2,200 km. If you want to go further south to the Mediterranean, you should plan on travelling around 3,000 km. It is about the same distance to Cappadocia and the Göreme National Park.

In view of the great distance, stopovers are a good idea on the way south. For example, travellers from southern Germany can choose the route via Austria, Slovenia and Croatia and stop in Vienna, Ljubljana and on the Adriatic coast. From Zagreb at the latest, the journey continues eastwards. From here, the route leads to Serbia and on to Bulgaria. Those travelling from Berlin and eastern Germany can take a shortcut via the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

The Turkish town of Edirne on the border with south-eastern Bulgaria is the most important border crossing into European Turkey. From here, it is only 240 kilometres to the Bosporus. Tolls are charged in many countries along the way - the highest being in Austria.

Destinations in Turkey

Travellers can find campsites in Turkey on the beautiful beaches of the Aegean coast and the Turkish Riviera. Travellers can also travel far into the hinterland by motorhome and admire bizarre rock formations.

Aegean

The Aegean coast stretches along the west of Turkey and can be reached quickly after a stopover in Istanbul. Izmir in particular is an important hub for tours through the region. The smaller, more remote villages are particularly recommended for camping in western Turkey. Cesme, Kusadasi and Dikili are ideal for overnight stays. In addition to pure bathing fun, ancient cultural assets such as the ruins of Pergamo and the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus are the highlights of the Aegean.

Turkish Riviera

The Turkish Riviera is the spa region of the Eastern Mediterranean. Antalya, Alanya and Side in particular, with their famous cultural sites from Roman antiquity, are top addresses for beach holidaymakers and water sports enthusiasts. You can also go on tours into the hinterland, where waterfalls and spectacular viewpoints in the Taurus Mountains await visitors. South-west of Antalya, the Lycian coast is one of the most beautiful sailing areas in Turkey.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia in the heart of Turkey is an insider tip and a wildly romantic destination for all adventurers. It is above all the bizarre, partly cone-shaped rocks, almost all of which are interspersed with caves. Underground dwellings and monasteries have been built in many places in the Göreme National Park.

Best time to visit

The best time for a beach holiday with camping in Turkey is from around May to September. In the Aegean and Turkish Riviera, the temperatures in midsummer are over 30 degrees Celsius. The Mediterranean warms up to over 25 degrees Celsius during this period. You can even go swimming in October.

It is somewhat cooler in the north of the country. The Black Sea reaches a maximum of 24 degrees Celsius during the holiday season. The outside temperatures are just above this. From October to May, the area is ideal for city tours and sporting activities on land. The months from May to September are ideal for sightseeing in Istanbul. The rainfall rate is very low then and you can expect top temperatures of between 20 and 29 degrees Celsius.