Tourists planning a vacation abroad often have many questions about how to behave in a country with a different culture and laws. At the same time, such trips allow us to get acquainted with the peculiarities of the mentality of local residents, new traditions, and for this it is not necessary to go to remote corners of the world, but you can choose Turkey, which is popular among Ukrainians. What you should know about the eastern country before the trip, we will tell you below.

The culture of Turkey has features characteristic of a Muslim state, since more than 97% of the local population professes Islam. Here, namaz is performed five times a day, which is announced throughout the day by muezzins from the minarets. Even in the smallest Turkish village, a mosque has been built. It is open to everyone. However, you should not enter the temple during namaz and on Friday - a holy day for Muslims. If during your vacation you are planning excursions to religious buildings, it is important to know what you cannot do in Turkey. It is not customary to enter the shrine in revealing and bright clothes. Wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulders, and women should cover their heads with a scarf. Before entering a mosque, you must take off your shoes.

The Turks pay great attention to etiquette. They are always polite, friendly and ready to help. You should not worry about the language barrier - in all popular resorts, the service staff of hotels, cafes, restaurants, shops speaks English and even Russian. You can experience the real oriental flavor at local bazaars. If in shopping centers and supermarkets the prices are fixed, then in markets and small souvenir shops it is customary to bargain. Do not be afraid to argue with the seller if you are not satisfied with the price of the goods offered. In most cases, the Turks still make concessions to the tourist. Thus, you can reduce the prices for clothes, food, shoes, souvenirs by 30-50%.

During your vacation in the country, you will certainly notice the emotionality of the locals. They talk loudly, openly show their feelings and love for children. At the same time, the rules of conduct in Turkey provide for a tactful attitude to the historical heritage of the country. In particular, people are very proud of their first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. His portraits can be found everywhere. Jokes about this will offend Turkish citizens.

Family is of paramount importance in the life of any Turk. Close relatives prefer to live close to each other and maintain constant contact. Therefore, there are practically no lonely old people or homeless children in the country.

All Muslim countries have a negative attitude towards alcohol, and Turkey is no exception. It is extremely rare to meet a local in a drunken state. Even at the festive table, strong drinks are usually not offered. Although some regions produce wonderful wines, and tourists often bring home traditional aniseed vodka - raki as a gift.

It is noteworthy that cultural features in Turkey suggest family lunches and dinners. Here, no one eats alone or on the go. Meals during the day are a full breakfast, lunch and dinner. Usually, the whole family is present at the table and acquaintances and friends are often invited. When visiting someone, it is considered impolite to stay up late. As a rule, Turkish houses are divided into two parts - the living room and the private area of ​​the hosts. Therefore, asking to show the house would be inappropriate.