Foreign visitors and residents have a multitude of leisure and entertainment options available to them while in Turkey, including excellent restaurants, extraordinary sightseeing opportunities, water sports, gorgeous beaches, belly dancing, fascinating museums and, of course, visiting the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.

Turkish food is superb, and dining out is extremely popular. Prices are reasonable, and there is an almost unlimited selection of quality restaurants to choose from, ranging from local cuisine to international gourmet fare.

International films, plays and cultural events are available all year long, and internationally renowned performers routinely include Turkey on their tours.

Swimming, sport fishing, water skiing and diving are well represented almost anywhere on the Southern and Western coasts. Snow skiing is increasingly popular and several quality ski resorts operate during the winter months.

Turkish culture and the rich history of the area lend themselves to unparalleled sightseeing and exploration, from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul to the ancient Christian churches of Cappadoccia in central Anatolia.

There are sophisticated nightclubs, live music venues and traditional Turkish entertainment available in every city, depending on your tastes.

Shopping choices run the gamut from kelims and carpets, handcrafted leather goods and antiques to the latest fashions from Milan and Paris. There are many bargains to be found for the discerning shopper.