Winter in Turkey: Where to go?

Abant: Surrounded by dense pine forests, the lake - less than a two-hour drive from Ankara or at a four-hour drive from Istanbul -- is 1,448 meters above sea level. Long walks around the lake make for a perfect day. In the winter the landscape is covered with a pure white blanket of snow; sometimes you can even walk across the frozen lake.

Assos: The mystery behind the stones spreads out from the narrow streets and houses and castle of Behramkale down to the meadows below and the vast sea beyond Cappadocia: Situated in the heart of Turkey, amidst a unique landscape of volcanic tufa rock sculpted by the continuous erosion of the elements. It is a biblical land, the land of St. Paul, where the first Christians carved churches and dwellings out of fairy chimneys and dug subterranean cities to evade the Uralo-Altaic invaders.

Iznik: On the edge of Lake Iznik, Turkey's fifth largest and a three-hour drive from Istanbul, the town of Iznik offers a full weekend of beautiful landscapes and fascinating historical monuments.

Kartalkaya: With five ski lifts, Kartalkaya offers a good selection of runs for all levels of skill, from beginner to advanced; skis can be rented and lessons are available.

Uludag: This mountain is a favorite with amateur climbers, hikers, campers and skiers, and has been declared a national park. Campsites within the national park boundaries are open to the public. Mount Uludag is Turkey's premier ski resort.

Mount Ilgaz: About 165 kilometers north of Ankara and 400 kilometers east of Istanbul, not far to discover nature at its most perfect and untouched, where those escaping the stresses of city life can ski, walk and just admire the scenery.

As the Christmas and New Year's Eve holidays approach, many people bored with their daily routine are preparing themselves for a short holiday. Some are planning to go abroad and greet the new year in a big party in one of the major cities of the world, and some are staying in their home cities. But for those who need a break from the cities they live in, Turkey has some nice winter resorts.

Until some 15-20 years ago, winter wasn't the ideal season of travel for the people of Turkey. The limited amount of holiday time was generally spent on the southern or western coasts of Turkey. But all this has changed with the holiday becoming more and more dispersed throughout the year, and winter holiday resorts have become as popular as summer resorts. Here is the Turkish Daily News' brief guide to Turkey's popular winter places where you can enjoy a short holiday.

Where blue meets green
Bolu province is one of Turkey's greenest districts, and in the areas around the city there are many spots for day excursions and holidays. Lake Abant is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful.

Surrounded by dense pine forests, the lake -- a four-hour drive from Istanbul -- is 1,448 meters above sea level. Long walks around the lake make for a perfect day. In the winter the landscape is covered with a pure white blanket of snow; sometimes you can even walk across the frozen lake. If you are interested, in Mudurnu, 20 kilometers away, you can see authentic houses and knife workshops.

On the lakeshore there are several hotels. Both the Turban Abant Hotel and the Abant Palace Hotel have indoor swimming pools and bowling alleys. After a brisk afternoon outdoors, it is comforting to relax and sip hot wine by the fireplace.

Assos: An Aegean pearl
Although Assos is a long seven-hour drive from Istanbul through Thrace and across the Dardanelles, this enchanting seaside village provides a restful and an intellectual retreat. Also known as Behramkale, the tiny village is divided into two halves stretching along the quays of the old harbor and climbing up the rocky hill above.

The temple of Athena, a majestic Doric ruin of grey stone, is one of the most important antique sites in the region. It stands atop the highest rocky outcrop of a cliff above the Aegean Sea and looks across to the Greek island of Lesbos. The agora and gymnasium are visible from the steep road that descends to the sea.

The mystery behind the stones spreads out from the narrow streets, houses and castle of Behramkale down to the meadows below and the vast sea beyond. Historians recall that the city of Assos was founded by Aeolians from the city of Methymna on the island of Lesbos (Mytilene) and that it was under Lydian rule from 560-547 B.C. and Persian rule from 547-479 B.C., later gaining its independence and becoming a member of the Athenian Naval League.

Assos is ideal for days of pleasure and romance. In a successful attempt at architecturally sensitive tourist development, many of the hotels in Assos are built from local stone and blend in wonderfully with the village's older buildings.

Cappadocia: Anatolian jewel
The combination of nature, history and culture in Cappadocia make it one of Turkey's favorite tourist destinations -- just a three-hour drive from Ankara. Generally thought of as a springtime destination, the eerie landscape takes on a new dimension in the snow.
Cappadocia is situated in the heart of Turkey amidst a unique landscape of volcanic tufa rock sculpted by the continuous erosion of the elements. It is a biblical land, the land of St. Paul, where the first Christians carved churches and dwellings out of fairy chimneys and dug subterranean cities to evade the Uralo-Altaic invaders. In this extraordinary place, witness to thousands of years of culture and architecture, lies the unspoiled village of Uchisar.
From its altitude of 1,300 meters, the village dominates a breathtaking landscape furrowed by fertile valleys where almond, apricot and mulberry trees flourish and vegetables abound.
If you visit in the winter, don't forget to bring warm clothing with you, for the cold weather penetrates. There is a good selection of hotels open year round. For those who want to extend the weekend break, there is the possibility of skiing on Mt. Erciyes in nearby Kayseri.

Iznik: Combining history and nature
On the edge of Lake Iznik, Turkey's fifth largest and a three-hour drive from Istanbul, the town of Iznik offers a full weekend of beautiful landscapes and fascinating historical monuments.

Founded in 316 B.C. and known as Nicaea under the Romans, the town became famous in Church history as the meeting place of the first Ecumenical Council. During the 15th and 16th centuries under Ottoman rule the town became the production center of ceramic floral motifs, the beauty of which still enchants. Today the Roman walls and gates still stand, as do the remains of a Byzantine aqueduct and the sixth-century basilica of Saint Sophia. In the religious complex adjoining the turquoise-tiled Green Mosque, a museum displays a good collection of ceramics and archaeological artifacts.

Of course a holiday break in Iznik is not restricted to history. The natural beauty of the freshwater lake and the surrounding olive and fruit tree orchards are compelling sights. Along the lakeshore, several hotels and motels remain open during the winter months. Just out of town is the holiday resort of Darka, an exclusive community of privately owned houses with an excellent restaurant and bar. Here, bungalows and small houses are often available for rent.

Kartalkaya: Swimming after skiing
A 42-kilometer drive from Bolu on a good road takes you to Kartalkaya. In normal weather conditions, the drive from Istanbul takes five hours, from Ankara only three.

With five lifts, Kartalkaya offers a good selection of runs for all levels of skill from beginner to advanced; skis can be rented and lessons are available. Like Uludag, the season lasts from December to April. Currently there are two hotels in Kartalkaya, both with indoor swimming pools.

Uludag: Favorite and still the best
Located in Uludag National Park in Bursa is Turkey's best-known ski resort. Its proximity to Istanbul makes it the favorite destination for skiers, and it can get quite crowded on weekends. Equal importance is given to entertainment, so those who savor an active nightlife will love Uludag.

Uludag is the most magnificent of the six sacred mountains known as Olympus in Anatolia -- from antiquity a mountain sheltering people in its dense forests and vastness. The gods were justified in cherishing Uludag. The mountain extends northwest to southeast and descends steeply to the plain of Bursa in the north and the Nilufer River in the south. There are many legends connected with this mysterious mountain, whose dense forests were used as a place of refuge. Uludag National Park begins at Karabelen, 32 kilometers from Bursa.

The ski runs pass through beautiful pine forests, and if the weather is clear the views are amazing. Uludag has six chairlifts, six t-bars and 25 runs; skiing begins in mid-December and lasts until April. Conveniently the hotels in Uludag lie at the bottom of the slopes. If you plan to go during the midyear semester break in late January, you should make your reservations well in advance.

This mountain is a favorite with amateur climbers, hikers, campers and skiers and is one of Turkey's national parks. Campsites within the park boundaries are open to the public. Mount Uludag is Turkey's premier ski resort, with runs of various length and difficulty at 2,100 meters, and a number of resort hotels. There is cross-country skiing in the winter, and long hikes in summer.

Uludag has facilities so that visitors of every age will have a comfortable and enjoyable break. Hiking, swimming in heated indoor pools, skiing, sleighing, or riding the lift to have a drink high atop the mountain are among the many pleasures of Uludag.

Mount Ilgaz
"Ilgaz, a great mountain in Anatolia. Your mystery peak reaches the sky..." It was in that popular children's song that we first heard of Ilgaz and would try to envisage a towering, snowcapped mountain. Ilgaz is an unspoiled delight in every season. You can get your first taste of winter walking across its unblemished snowy slopes, smell the first flower of spring, find shade from the blazing sun beneath its pine trees, and savor the brilliant colors of autumn.

Mount Ilgaz is 165 kilometers north of Ankara and 400 kilometers east of Istanbul, not far to discover nature at its most perfect and untouched, where those escaping the stresses of city life can ski, walk or just admire the scenery. Mount Ilgaz is now a national park and subject to strict conservation regulations.