Asia or Europe?

[claire]

Hmmmm, well I feel a bit stupid asking this,       but...

Is Turkey in Asia or Europe?  I had thought it was Europe, but when we went on a trip to the Green Lake our tour guide said "You're now entering Asia".  I've been looking online and I'm getting mixed messages...   

Anyone help?

Ta, Claire. 

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=3943.0

[Blue Lizard]

Not officially Europe...but they do say the Bosphoros separating Istanbul from Bulgaria marks the end of Europe and the start of Asia....(however Turkey play footy in the Euros?)

[claire]

... So you don't know either Blue Lizard?! 

[felicity]

It is a real in-between country - officially I guess most of turkey is Asia and the European side of Istanbul is Europe..!!  BUT - depending on what you are doing/whose services you are purchasing - it is one or the other.  For instance Vodafone new roaming - turkey is NOT Europe - well they dont want to give away anything that they dont need to!  But for SOME travel insurance - Turkey is classed as Europe, also as BL says they are included in lots of 'European' events.  Nationwide Flex account - free withdrawals from European countries - whose list includes Turkey...so no wonder you are confused..  Along with the rest of the world..!! 

It seems to be a label that can be applied when it suits!! 

[claire]

Ha!  Well I'm glad I asked, because at least now I don't feel like such a doofus!! 

[kim21]

It's in both europe and Asia

[MartynE]

The same question applies to Russia, surely? 

[Pete]

Geographically Turkey is in both Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus which sepeartes east and west Istanbul also seperates Europe from Asia. The part of Turkey that lies within Asia is known as Asia Minor.
Politically, modern Turkey has for the past one hundred years or so, viewed itself as more European than middle eastern/asian. This is since the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the modernisation of Turkey by Kemal Attaturk
Martyn is right, the same does apply to Russia. Again, there is a dividing line which i believe is the Ural Mountains. West of the Urals is European Russia, East of the Urals is Asian Russia. In the past the European part of Russia was also known as White Russia.

[misty]

Ha!  Well I'm glad I asked, because at least now I don't feel like such a doofus!! 

Your not....its a question that lots of people have asked for many years.....East meets West has always been the stock answer......Istanbul for many years was the conduit for all trading.