Travel information

Currency is the lira. Time is 3hrs ahead of GMT and flights take 5 hours. The cost to carbon-offset is £7.08. Visit climatecare.org.

Getting there

Pegasus Airlines operates regular flights from London Stansted to Ankara Esenbog˘ a International via Istanbul. flypgs.com

Turkish Airlines has daily flights from London Heathrow to Ankara with a short stopover in Istanbul. turkishairlines.com Resources

Go to Turkey is the national tourist board’s online resource and is bursting with information and inspiration. gototurkey.co.uk

Further reading

Seven Houses by Alev Lytle Croutier (Simon & Schuster, £16.99) tells the story of Turkey’s transformation over the last century through the medium of a family saga.