Weather

Generally, the temperature warms the further south one goes; but Istanbul in the north is hot in the summer, as is much of the country, and very cold and wet in winter. The weather along the west coast is mild, with warm, sunny summers. To the east, towards Cappadocia, hot, dry summers give way to harsh cold in the winter months; come here in the springtime.

Visa, Immigration, Customs

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry. If it is not apparent to a border official that you are only visiting Turkey (by presenting your itinerary and/or return ticket) you might be asked to provide the address of your accommodations and your planned departure date. Regulations change periodically. Please contact the consulate office closest to you.

Visa/Permit/Tourist Card:A visa is not required for a stay of up to 90 days
Single parents or other adults vacationing alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Transportation

The national airline is Turkish Airlines; Lufthansa, Swiss Air and Austrian Airlines also fly in to the country. Main international airports are Istanbul, Ankara, Ismir, and Sabiha Gökçen. Taxis take visitors into the cities. Within the country, fly or take the bus.

Airports in Turkey:There are 119 airports in Turkey.

Travel by Rail:Trains enter from various points in Europe, including London and Moscow. InterRail tickets will get you to Istanbul, but not further south. Trains run within the country.

Travel by Water:Ferries come in to the major ports of Antalya, Bandirma, Istanbul, Izmir, Marmaris and Mersin from Italy, Greece, and Cyprus. Note that all ships, including yachts, must check in at specified ports of entry-check with your embassy before you cast off. Ferry services are extensive in Turkish waters.

Travel by Road:Road conditions are very good and drivers are terrible beyond imagination. Turkey has the highest accident rate in the world. You must have an International Driving Permit for visits of over three months, as well as Insurance which you purchase at the border. In cities, get around by taxi (a word the Turks claim-but note that Have a good trip in Greek is kalo taxidi; the two countries agree to disagree about many things). The dolmus, or small bus, is cheap and always crowded.

Coach and chartered bus travel are very good ways to get into and around Turkey.

What Side of the Road?:Driving is on the right side of the road.

Speed Limits:Town - 50 kph; open road - 90 kph; motorway - 130 kph

Culture & Food

Languages Spoken: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek.
Tour guides and service professionals in tourist-oriented facilities are very likely to speak English.

Religions:Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

People and Culture:If you ask directions of Turkish people, they will explain how to get there and then accompany you to your destination-that's how friendly! Women will find it comfortable to move about in pairs or groups. Turkey's Byzantine heritage is preserved everywhere. Very much worth seeing are archaeological sites, such as those of the Hittites and Sumerians, two important ancient peoples in the Tigris-Euphrates region, and such architectural treasures as the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul-a mosque-church-museum of major world importance; this is also a great place to observe the old ways of doing things like textiles-making and fabric-dyeing. You will enjoy the hammam, or public bathhouses, a central facet of Turkish life and a boon to travellers. Men and women each have their own facility. Most Turkish people are Sunni Muslim
A resident or national of Turkey is called Turk. The Term used to describe things from here is Turkish. For example, Turkish food.

Tipping and Bargaining: Tipping is practiced, though taxi drivers don't expect it. A 10-15% service charge is included at most Istanbul restaurants. Staff at a Turkish bath (hamam) usually expect a 30 percent tip, which is shared.

Restaurants:	Round Up or add 10 -15% if in Istanbul.
*Porters:	1,000,000 Turkish Lira per bag
Taxi:	Round Up

* Try to use local currency. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged and will be useless to the person receiving them. Foreign paper money requires a trip to the bank for exchange. However paper US dollars are accepted almost universally.

Food:You can easily find European and American food, but since Turkish cuisine is delicious-why? Roasted vegetables such as eggplant and peppers are stuffed with lamb meat and rice or bulgur wheat. Chicken or lamb sis kebap has penetrated Western cuisine-but is best in the original. You won't easily find pork-this is a Muslim country; on the other hand, it's Western enough to permit alcohol. The local drink is raki (the Greek version is ouzo). Food stalls are worth exploring for their pastries, baklava, sweets such as loukoum - Turkish delight-and ice cream. Turkish coffee is thick, served sweet and black, and often carried by vendors to neighbouring shops, much as Westerners have take-out pizza. Other popular beverages are apple tea and a refreshing yoghurt drink, Ayran

Islamic practices and beliefs are closely adhered to in this country's customs, laws, and regulations. Common sense and discretion should be exercised. Visitors should dress conservatively when and where appropriate (e.g. women should not wear tight or revealing clothing or short skirts, and both men and women should refrain from wearing shorts). Respect religious and social traditions to avoid offending local sensitivities especially when visiting holy places and mosques. During the lunar month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Muslim calendar), Muslims refrain from drinking, eating, and smoking between sunrise and sunset. This may affect the availability of food services. Non- Muslims may wish to refrain from these activities in public. Ramadan is expected to begin on or about: September 24, 2006 September 13, 2007 September 02, 2008 August 22, 2009 September 24, 2010 August 01, 2011 July 20, 2012 July 09, 2013 June 29, 2014 June 18, 2015 June 07, 2016 May 27, 2017 May 16, 2018 May 06, 2019 April 24, 2020

Money Conversion

Turkey's currency is called the Turkish Lira (new) (TRY)

Currency Converter :use the following currency converter tool to help you with your vacation. Currency Convertor Tool

Currency Cheat Sheet: use the following currency cheat sheet as a quick conversion reference on your vacation.Currency Cheat Sheet

Attractions

Destination Cities: Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia in culture as well as in geography and politics. There is a wealth of tourist destinations here, including the marvellous Grand Bazaar Topkapi Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, a wonder of the ancient world. The Galata Bridge joins Asian to European Istanbul. Go nightclubbing in Bodrum, and sailing during the day. Byzantine Ephesus has unparalleled ancient beauty, with its mosaic-tiled streets, excellently preserved theatre and towering columns dating back to 300 BC. In the volcanic landscape of Cappadocia are many underground cities. Kaymakli and Derinkuyu are especially famous. Ankara, the capital, is a modern city near the centre of the country. Ismir is an attractive port.

Points of Interest: Geologists and photographers will especially appreciate the rock formations and astonishing landscapes of Cappadocia and Pumakkale. Many places along the long coastline are great for swimming. Take a cruise along the Bosphorus and see the Hellespont, which Lord Byron swam in 1810 in honour of Leander's swims to his love, Hero. Take the ferry to Prince's Island, with its Victorian houses and horse-drawn carriages.