samejia

I've also posted this in the Russia forum. My daughter will be studying abroad next semester in Copenhagen. She has the option of taking a 1 week study tour. She's narrowed it down to either Russia or Turkey. Has anyone been to both? She's having a difficult time deciding what to do. Going on a study tour will give her a very indepth view of the country she will be visiting. She'll have to take a 1 credit course to go along with this trip.,

Seamus

Having been to both, I would choose Turkey.
BTW there is no Russia forum - just one for Europe - so you have duplicate posts. You can contact the editors and ask that the other one be deleted so you have only one place to check for responses. Just open the other post, click on the little triangle icon and send a message requesting the delete.

P_M

I've been to both and I would also choose Turkey. There is so much to see in Turkey and I found the Turks to be much more warm and friendly people. I think she will enjoy her time in Turkey.

Michael

It depends on her interests. If Europe (social, political, cultural) since the Renaissance is her interest, I would choose Russia. BTW, how long is the tour to be <b>in depth</b>?

nytraveler

Agree if you mean 1 week in either Russia or Turkey. Neither is in-depth, just a tiny taste.

It depends on a couple of things:

What are her areas of interest and which country wold bet support that
Is this solo, a small group or a lead package? (Traveling alone in Turkey is much easier than in Russia)

samejia

Thank you for your responses. I sais this would be an "in depth" tour because of the course that she will be taking while she's in Copenhagen before her trip and the lectures/discussions she'll engage in while there. The tour will be a small group; all the students in her class.

Here's the description for the Turkey tour:

The tour introduces you to all this: from the Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the Hagia Sophia to the bustling modern metropolis. Highlights include a visit to the lively Tunel neighborhood; a ferry boat trip up the Bosphorus strait to the Black Sea; lectures at the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT); workshops with Turkish students to discuss gender and migration; and EU relations and Turkey’s dual personality at Istanbul Universities.

Description on Russia tour:

This study tour lets you experience first-hand the complex processes of change that Russia has been undergoing since the breakdown of Communism in 1991, as well as evidence of the country’s historical past. You will visit the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square, spend time in the homes of Russian students, walk the Nevsky Prospect and have a tour of St. Petersburg ‘behind the facades’, visit famous art museums, such as the Tretiakov Gallery in Moscow and the Hermitage – located in the tsars’ Winter Palace – in St. Petersburg, enjoy an overnight train ride between the two cities with a stop-over in ancient Novgorod. You will return to Copenhagen with a much better understanding of the enigma that is, and always has been, Russia.

alihutch

I don't think that one is better than the other....both are very interesting countries. It will depend on what your daughter finds most interesting...there is no 'right' answer...I have been to both, BTW

samejia

Alihutch, that's exactly the problem. My daughter is torn between both. She's leaning toward Turkey because her class discussion will include a presentation on women in their society and the use of their head wear. Of course, that's what a 20 year old would focus on! So, I thought it might be worthwhile to get impressions from people who have visited both.

Luisah

I'd go for Russia since it includes Moscow and St Petersburg and Turkey is just Istanbul.

Michael

I would choose Russia because it covers two major cities and their sights. Istanbul is hardly reflective of Turkey as a whole.

katrinab

I've been to both and prefer Turkey (Istanbul is amazing and I can't wait to go back!), however doing Moscow and St. Petersburg as part of a study tour like this might be a unique opportunity too good to pass up. Especially since Russia is a comparatively hard country in which to travel--just the visas alone, but also we found Moscow to be fairly unfriendly--and Turkey would be very easy to do on her own another time. Information and pictures from our trips to all these destinations can be found at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

Good luck and I'm sure whatever she chooses she will have an amazing time!

Kristinelaine

I have been to both also. Due to Russia's position in the world (and our past relationships with them: Cold War, etc.) I think Russia is a more important place to visit. JMHO

samejia

Everyone, thank you for taking the time to comment on this. I, too, think this is an amazing opportunity for my daughter. I will forward her this information to help in making her decison. Katrinab, thanks for the link to your pictures. Susan