The city of Tekirdag is located in the northwestern part of Turkey, on the European coast of the Sea of Marmara. The city has a rich history. It began 6,000 years ago, and during this time the Greeks, Byzantines, and Romans ruled the city. From the 14th century, it became Ottoman first, and then Turkish. Tekirdag is the birthplace of the Turkish national alcoholic drink Raki. In addition to strong alcohol, the city produces sunflower oil, so there are many fields with sunflower in its vicinity.
In Tekirdag, you will find peace after the noise of big cities. And the fact that at one time the city was part of the ancient state of Thrace, says that the local museums are full of beautiful exhibits.
Tekirdag How to get there?
Tekirdag is located about 140 km from Istanbul. Therefore, it is logical to get to the city through Ataturk Airport. You need to get to the main bus station in the European part of the city. It is located near the Otogar metro station. Buses to Tekirdag depart every hour, travel time is just over 2 hours.
About 2 km from Tekirdag, there is Corlu Airport. But it serves only local flights and only from Ankara.
Sights in Tekirdag
Despite the fact that Tekirdag is a relatively small city, there are many places that you can visit. Interesting places are located not only in the city center, but also in its surroundings. The highest tourist season is in the summer months. Visiting Tekirdag, you can see both historical and natural beauty at the same time. You can make your trip unforgettable by tasting the unique dishes of Turkish cuisine.
Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Tekirdag
If you want to get acquainted with the history of Tekirdag, then visit the Museum of Archeology and Ethnography. The museum was opened in 1992. The museum exposition consists almost entirely of finds from the Thracian period. Among the main exhibits is the mummified and reconstructed body of the king of Thrace, Kerseplepes. On the second floor, dedicated to ethnography, the restored room of the 19th century Tekirdag family is of the greatest interest. In the courtyard of the museum are sarcophagi and tombstones of peoples who once inhabited the region: the Greeks, Byzantines and Armenians. The entrance to the museum costs 2 Turkish lira (this is less than 1 US dollar). The museum can be visited from 9:00 to 17:00, on any day except Monday.
House-Museum Rakoczi
This is another museum that is definitely worth a visit while visiting Tekirdag. At the beginning of the 17th century, this house belonged to the Hungarian exile prince Ferenc Rakoczi. Rakoczi led the uprising against the Austrians, but he had to flee to the Ottoman Empire when the uprising failed completely. In the house-museum you can see Rakoczi personal belongings, paintings and documents from that period. You can visit the museum any day except Monday. The entrance ticket to the museum costs 3 Turkish liras, photography inside the museum is strictly prohibited.
60 km to the south-west of the city is the resort town of Sarkoy, with beautiful sandy beaches and annual harvest holidays, which take place in September. In the east, 40 kilometers from the city, is the resort of Marmara Ereglisi. Here, in addition to standard beach entertainment, you can find the ruins of the ancient city Nelintos, if you are not too lazy and take a short walk.
