Mehmet Bulgun — travel blogger from Izmir, Turkey

Narlidere, İzmir — Home

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The person behind the stories

About Mehmet Bulgun

I grew up in Narlidere, a quiet hillside neighbourhood on the western edge of İzmir, where the smell of fig trees and the sound of the Aegean wind were the backdrop to every childhood afternoon. That corner of Turkey — sun-bleached white houses, ancient agoras, and the ever-present sea — planted in me an insatiable curiosity about the land I call home.

Over the past fifteen years I have set foot in all 81 provinces of Turkey, from the volcanic plateaus of Cappadocia to the misty Black Sea highlands of Artvin, from the Roman ruins scattered across Ephesus to the Kurdish bazaars of Mardin at dusk. Each journey taught me that Turkey is not one place — it is a layered civilisation, a living archive of Hittites, Byzantines, Seljuks, Ottomans, and the Republic, folded into valleys, coastlines, and mountain passes.

My passion has always sat at the intersection of history, nature, and everyday life. I am not chasing luxury hotels or Instagrammable viewpoints alone. I want to know who built that crumbling caravanserai, which wildflower blooms on that limestone plateau in May, and what the lokanta owner near the bus station has been cooking for forty years.

mehmet-bulgun was born out of a simple frustration: most travel content about Turkey is either superficial tourism copy or expensive paid-content that tells you where to book, not why it matters. I wanted to build something different — a completely free, honest, and personal resource for travellers who are genuinely curious about this country. No sponsored itineraries, no affiliate tricks hidden behind "top tips" headlines. Just real stories, practical advice, and the kind of detail a knowledgeable local friend would share over tea.

Whether you are planning your first visit to İstanbul, or hunting for off-the-beaten-path villages in the Taurus Mountains, I hope something here lights a spark. Turkey has given me a lifetime of wonder — I am glad to pass it on.

İzmir NativeHistory EnthusiastNature TrekkerStreet Food DevoteeFree Resource, Always
What's Inside

Four Reasons to Keep Coming Back

mehmet-bulgun is built around four content pillars — each one shaped by years of travelling, living, and eating my way through Turkey. Whatever brings you here, you'll find something worth reading.

01

Destination Guides

Region-by-region itineraries built from real trips — Cappadocia at dawn, the Aegean coast by ferry, the Black Sea highlands in autumn. Every guide includes day-by-day plans, accommodation picks, and honest notes on what's worth your time.

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02

Practical Travel Tips

How to navigate the otogar, which intercity buses are worth it, what a realistic daily budget looks like across different regions, and how to stay safe as a solo or family traveller. No fluff — just the info I wish I'd had before my first trip.

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03

Food & Culture

From a grandmother's manti recipe in Kayseri to the chaos and joy of a Ramadan evening in Istanbul's backstreets — I explore the flavours, festivals, and living traditions that make Turkey one of the world's most layered cultures.

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04

Hidden Gems

The village of Şirince before the tour buses arrive. A thermal spring in Afyon that only locals know. A Byzantine ruin buried in pine forest outside Bursa. These are the places I return to again and again — and now I'm sharing them with you.

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New articles every week

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Head to the blog and start with any region that calls to you.

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Get in Touch

Whether you have a question about Turkey's hidden corners, a collaboration idea, or simply want to say hello — I'd love to hear from you.

Contact Details

Owner

MEHMET BULGUN

Address

Ozkarakaya Caddesi No:12
35320 Narlidere / Izmir
Türkiye

Narlidere, Izmir — Turkey

Where the Aegean meets the city

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mehmet-bulgun

Real Stories & Practical Tips from the Heart of Turkey

This blog is a personal journey through Turkey's landscapes, cultures, and hidden corners — written by a local who has lived it. No filters, no fluff. Just honest travel writing meant to inspire and guide.

Contact

MEHMET BULGUN
Ozkarakaya Caddesi No:12
35320 Narlidere / Izmir
Türkiye

© 2026 MEHMET BULGUN. All rights reserved.

Written with love from Izmir, Turkey 🇹🇷