Straddling the cultural divide between Europe and the Middle East, Turkey manages to embrace both in a tantalising mix of Arabic splendour and Western ideologies.

Conjuring up images of whirling dervishes and the haunting sound of the Muslim call to prayer searching out from a minaret, an adventurer in Turkey can indulge in its spicy history, its breathtaking beaches, its beautifully diverse cities and its fabulous cuisine.

Modern Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal in 1923 out of the remnants of the fallen Ottoman Empire, and the nation's past is a fiery mix of war, wealth and wonder.

The country is the heir to centuries of cultural diversity, with influences from Roman to Persian and Ottoman –each leaving a lasting impression on the nation.

The country's capital, Ankara, is a typically Western affair, with the same skyscrapers, traffic and shopping centres found across Europe. Although, further out in Turkey's countryside, the cultural balance slides to the East, with the Byzantine citadel of Hisar atop the hill east of the old city one of the many tourist attractions of the mesmerising capital city.

Turkey has become a key tourist destination in recent years, with more and more people from around the world visiting the country to enjoy its bars and beaches as well as its history and culture.

The first thing many new visitors to the country notice, and invariably the main thing they take away with them, is the unrivalled hospitality of the Turkish people.

Turkey is such a rewarding place to travel thanks in no small way to its inhabitants, whose reputation for friendliness and hospitality is richly deserved.

All of the main tourist towns of Izmir, Bodrum and Antalya on the west coast (the most popular destination for Western travellers), as well as Istanbul in the north, are peppered with restaurants and eateries bursting with hard-working chefs and smiling waiters - all eager to welcome foreign travellers into their country and supply them with mouth-watering Turkish dishes.

The best months to visit the country are from April to June and September to October, at the tail-ends of the hectic summer tourist season, when temperatures sit at a comfortable 16 to 25 degrees.

In Istanbul, Turkey's best-known city, crowds are less of a problem in these months than in the peak summer season, as intrepid travellers mix with helpful locals in the hunt for bargains in the Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar).

With its skyline dotted with the city's many domes and minarets, Istanbul prides itself on being Turkey's cultural and leisure capital.

The majestic ancient city, its mosques and Islamic architecture and its population of 13 million are a real highlight of any trip to Turkey.

From the Black Sea in the north to the Mediterranean in the south, many flock to Turkey for its gorgeous beaches and resorts along the coast – although moving inland, travellers can unearth the fascinating history of the country in its extensive array of archaeological sites and landscapes.

From the subterranean cities and rock churches of Cappadocia to the castle-topped Alanya, history is yet another thing Turkey does best.

Although Turkey is generally safe, there are sporadic waves of localised violence – often aimed at Western targets such as banks and consulates, and it is advised to check travel advisories when travelling to the east near the borders of Syria, Iraq and Iran.

But for the hundreds millions of tourists who head here year-after-year, Turkey remains one of Europe's most-loved and cheapest holiday destinations.