More about Turkey
The country wields significant economic, political and military influence over its neighbours and across the wider region. Its long history of trade and migration has given it a rich cultural heritage which is plain to see on any visit to Turkey.
Around 75 percent of the country’s 70 million inhabitants are ethnic Turks and some 15 percent Kurds, while the remainder are made up of Armenians, Greeks, Abkhazians, Albanians, Georgians, Pomaks (Bulgarians) and others. Many of these ethnic groups travelled to Turkey during the era of the Ottoman Empire, which peaked in the 16th and 17th centuries. The modern Republic of Turkey was established by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923 and the country is now a democratic, secular constitutional republic.
Turkey is a large country with a diverse topography and climate. With an area of 783,562 square kilometres, Turkey is the 37th-largest country in the world. Holidays in Turkey can be quite varied, depending on which region you visit. While Ankara is the capital, on Etihad flights to Turkey you will land in Istanbul, the largest city and the country’s economic, financial and cultural centre.