There is more to Turkey than what meets the eye. Besides the beautiful beaches and bustling markets lies a wealth of interesting history filled with rich cultures, religious and literary figures.
Unlike Italy’s old demographic, Turkey has the largest young population in Europe. The average age in Turkey is 31 years, with only 9% of the country’s population being above 60 years old.
Turkey Facts Trivia Questions and Answers
You may know Turkey for its consumption of quality coffee, but 96% of the population takes at least one cup of tea a day. Turkish tea is robust. Make sure you try all the tea flavors during your visit.
As a majority of Turks practice Islamic religion, the country is home to breathtaking mosques such as the Sultanahmet Mosque.
Explore these Turkey trivia questions and answers to see how well you know about the country.
1. What is the name of the strategic waterway that traverses Turkey’s largest city and separates Europe from Asia?
2. What is the capital city of Turkey?
3. Turkey’s estimated population ranks approximately ______ globally?
4. Turkey’s 2017 gross domestic product, a measure of the total size of the economy, was slightly larger than that of which country?
5. What is Turkey’s currency?
6. Name the sea that Turkey’s northern shore faces?
7. For his leadership in founding the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal became known as “Ataturk,” meaning what?
8. Recep Tayyip Erdogan has served as Turkey’s foremost political leader since what year?
9. What type of Bridge is the Bosphorus Bridge located between Ortakoy and Beylerbeyi?
10. Turkey’s Kurdish minority makes up roughly what proportion of the population?
11. When did Turkey join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?
12. What is Miniaturk?
13. In 1974, Turkey invaded the northern part of ______, leading to a division that remains to this day?
14. What is the name of the mosque opposite the Haggia Sophia?
15. Turkey’s relationship with the European Union?
16. Turkey is situated in Europe, while another part is in Asia. The Asian part, also known as Anatolia, is the larger one, but how much larger than the European part is it?
17. Can Turkeys Fly?
18. It is not only the country that is split between Europe and Asia, but its largest city as well. What is the name of this bi-continental city?
19. How Long Do Turkeys Live?
20. Before we leave the Bosporus, we need a means to cross it. By what constructions are the European and the Asian side of the Bosporus linked?
21. With its unique place on two continents, Turkey also has allegiances to both sides. When it comes to sports, where does Turkey place itself?
22. Turkey has no state religion and, in fact, the state has banned most open religious displays in public buildings and by state officials. However, over 80% of all Turks are of one religion – which one?
23. Turkey is administratively divided into 81 provinces, similar to the Départements of France. Two provincial capitals differ only by one letter in their name. Which is the true, existing pair?
24. Mount Ararat, the legendary final resting place of Noah’s Ark, is located near the eastern border of Turkey. The extreme extent of its eastern flank actually overlaps into Iran. What type of mountain is it?
25. The Turkish province of Antalya is the main tourist destination in the country, accounting for over 30 percent of the total annual hotel nights. What best describes its location?
26. The southeast coast of the Dardanelles strait – the other half of the waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea – is occupied by Canakkale province. On its soil lies one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. Which one is it?
27. What meat is in Tavukgogsu?
28. Its flag is quite well-known, showing a white moon and star on red, but what is the design on its presidential seal?
29. Turkey has a total of 1,632 miles of land borders, split between eight different countries. With which country does it share its longest border?
30. Which ‘mythical’ peak is also the highest point in Turkey?
31. The 16th-Century Selimiye Mosque is considered one of the greatest achievements of Islamic architecture. In which Turkish city is it located?
32. The building popularly known as the Blue Mosque, is one of Istanbul’s best-known landmarks, but what is its proper name?
33. Which Turkish sporting franchise moved from their old home at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium into the state-of-the-art 52,000-seat Türk Telekom Arena in 2011?
34. With a total area of 302,535 square miles, Turkey is the world’s 37th largest country. If it were a U.S. state, where would it rank in terms of size?
35. At 842 miles, which horseshoe-shaped waterway is the longest river to have both its source and its mouth within Turkey?
36. Our first port of call is Istanbul, the centre of the former Ottoman Empire. The historic areas of Istanbul were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Which of these, found in the old part of Istanbul, served as the royal residence for almost four centuries till the mid-19th century?
37. The Galata Tower provides a panoramic view of historic Istanbul. Which of these people built this tower that was the tallest building in the city at the time of its completion in the mid-14th century?
38. Istanbul has several hundred cisterns lying beneath the city. Believed to have been constructed during the rule of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, the Basilica Cistern is the largest of these. Stone heads of which mythical creature are found in this underground location?
39. After spending a few days in Istanbul, it was time to move to Cappadocia – a surreal region of Central Anatolia. The area is famous for a unique geological feature known as fairy chimneys. Which of these places of worship were created after carving out the soft rock and date back to as early as the fourth century?
40. The ruins of an ancient city called Hierapolis are found in the southwestern part of Anatolia. If I told you we were walking through the necropolis, what would you expect to see?
41. Adjacent to the ruins of Hierapolis is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pamukkale. The hot springs of the site are believed to have medicinal properties. The ‘cotton castle’ resembling terraces are made up of travertines which are a form of which sedimentary rock?
42. Which zodiac sign lends its name to a mountain range that divides the Mediterranean coastal part of Turkey from the Anatolian plateau?
43. Which is the home to ancient monuments like Hadrian’s Gate and the Kesik Minare Mosque?
44. What is the name of a group of waterfalls found in Antalya province that have a separate upper and lower section?
45. Which two bodies of water does the Bosphorus connect?
46. Which square, in the European part of Istanbul, is famed for its restaurants and nightlife and is the home of the Monument of the Republic?
47. In what year did the Ottoman Turks take the city?
48. If you look at satellite images, what letter does the Bosphorus look like?
49. On Mount Koressos, near Ephesus in Turkey is (reportedly) the home of which important biblical figure?
50. A theory about the formation of the Bosphorus states that about 7000 years ago the water level in the Mediterrenean rose so high that water started to flow through a valley (the Bosphorus) towards a fresh water lake (The Black Sea). Which is not part of this theory?
51. Sitting third in size behind Alexandria and Pergamum is what type of Roman structure in Anatolia, built to honour Senator Tiberius Celsus Polemaeanus?
52. When was the first bridge over the Bosphorus completed?
53. Sometimes considered one of the world’s first shopping malls, what is the name of Turkey’s famous covered markets?
54. What does the Greek word “Bosporos” mean?
55. The Basilica Cistern lies beneath the city of Istanbul. It is the largest of a network of similar structures dotted throughout the city. What exactly is this cistern?
56. What is the state religion of Turkey?
57. By the Bosphorus, this art museum has a wonderful view of Sarayburnu (the Seraglio Point). It was opened in 2004. Which one is it?
58. What would be considered a must when you go and visit your next door neighbours?
59. What is the national flower of Turkey?
60. The famous Istiklal Avenue stretches from Taksim Square to Tünel in which district?
61. What do the bride, the groom and all their female relations do the night before the wedding?
62. How many of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” were located in Turkey?
63. What would be the appropriate time to leave when you are invited to dinner?
64. Name a country that has a national language that is related to Turkish?
65. What should you definitely do if your Turkish neighbour is ill at home?
66. The origin of Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Turkey. True or False?
67. As long as you don’t show it, any Turkish host would continue to fill in your tea glass (yes, Turkish people drink tea in a glass not a cup!) What should you do to show you do not want any more?
68. What is the largest city (population wise) on the Aegean Sea?
69. What would a traditional Turkish breakfast consist of?
70. What is the part of Turkey in Europe called?
71. What is a traditional Turkish sport originating from Turks from the inlands of Asia?
72. What is the part of eastern Turkey in Asia called?
73. What is the largest lake in Turkey?