Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?

U.S. citizens must have a visa to enter Turkey. U.S. citizens may obtain a visa upon entry into Turkey or in prior to departure from one of the five Turkish Consulates in the United States. Please find your state in the Turkish Consulates Jurisdiction List. Business visas must be issued prior to departure by Turkish consular offices.
Visas issued upon entry are valid for three months. Visas for longer stays and for study, research or employment must be obtained in advance.
Passengers in transit through Turkey who do not leave their port of transit do not require visas.
Non-U.S citizens must apply for tourist or business visas before traveling to Turkey. Applicants should contact the relevant Turkish Consulate in person, by mail or by a courier service.
Applicants outside the united States should contact the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate to learn their visa requirements and procedures. Turkish missions abroad are listed at www.mfa.gov.tr

Is it safe to travel in Turkey?

Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel, and its crime rate is low in comparison to many Western European countries. Interpol ranked Turkey as the safest holiday destination in Europe for travelers. Naturally, we recommend that travelers to Turkey exercise the same precautions they would elsewhere, and be aware of security concerns that affect all international travelers.
The Turkish Government takes air safety very seriously, and maintains strict oversight, particularly on international flights. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has places Turkey's civil aviation authority in Category 1-in full compliance with international aviation safety standards in overseeing Turkey's air carrier operations. In the days following the September 11 attacks, Turkish Airlines was one of the first international airlines cleared by the FAA to fly into the United States.

When is the best time to travel in Turkey?

The high season for travel in Turkey generally runs between mid-April and late-October. During the off-season, temperatures are much cooler and snow is possible in mountainous areas. Many visitors enjoy the spring and fall, with their mild weather and small crowds.
Coastal regions are particularly popular with tourists during the summer. These include resort areas along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast with beaches and yachting facilities. The coastline, especially between Izmir and Antalya, features numerous coves and bays and many nearby ancient cities and is perfect for yachting. A large number of international-quality marinas provide services for the yachtsman. For active travelers, swimming, fishing, water-skiing, surfing and diving are available.

Turkey also enjoys many spectacular rivers. They are ideal for canoeing, skiing and rafting. Mountaineering is also popular in mountain ranges throughout Turkey in spring and summer.

The high plateaus of the Eastern Black Sea Region are covered by colorful flowers and green pasture during spring and summer. Naturalists will enjoy the diversity of fauna and flora as well as the heart-stopping splendor of the surrounding landscape.
Central and Eastern Turkey can receive large accumulations of snow, and snow skiing is a favorite winter pastime. Turkey has several ski centers, which are generally open from December through April depending on snow conditions.

What are the Average Air and Water Temperatures for Turkey's major cities?
Temperatures are given in oC (degrees Celsius) in Turkey, which can be converted to oF (degrees Fahrenheit) with the formula: oF = (9/5)oC + 32

Average Air and Water Temperatures For Major Cities

What is the best way to travel to Turkey from the U.S.?

Most American visitors arrive in Turkey by flying directly into Istanbul or aboard cruise ships, which dock in ports including Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Izmir. Visitors may arrive in Turkey by land at border crossings from neighboring countries. There are also ferry connections from several Greek islands to ports in mainland Turkey.

By Air: Turkish Airlines operates the fastest non-stop flight from New York to Istanbul and the only non-stop service from Chicago. Thanks to a code sharing agreement with American Airlines you can connect to these flights from 15 major US cities. Passengers can call Turkish Airlines at 1-800-874-8875 or visit their new North American web site at www.flyturkish.com for reservations. Delta Airlines is the only US-based carrier with non-stop service to Turkey. Most European-based airlines fly from North America with stopovers in Europe.

By Sea: Many cruise ships sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean dock in Turkey. Cruise ships arrive at customs entry points where it is easy to obtain a visa and satisfy entry requirements. Major ports are Istanbul, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Marmaris and Antalya. For a complete list of cruise lines which sail to Turkey, contact the Turkish Government Tourism Office in Washington D.C.
Passenger and automobile ferries between Turkey and neighboring countries also provide entry by sea.

How should visitors dress in Turkey?

Casual wear is appropriate for most tour excursions. Women wear pants or skirts, but when visiting mosques it is recommended that they cover their heads with a scarf and both sexes should not wear shorts out of respects for religious customs.

Should I exchange money before I go to Turkey?

The highly favorable exchange rate makes travel to Turkey extremely affordable. Most banks in the U.S. do not have Turkish Lira. However, Turkish currency is easily obtainable upon arrival in Turkey at any exchange office or bank. Daily exchange rates can be obtained from the Turkish Central Bank web site at www.tcmb.gov.tr. This site is in both Turkish and English, and gives links to all Turkish Banks. Turkish daily newspapers also publish daily exchange rates.
There are ATM machines throughout Turkey, particularly in larger cities and tourist centers. Credit cards are accepted by hotels and most merchants.

Are any vaccinations required for tourists entering Turkey?

There are no vaccination requirements for any international traveler.
The World Health Organization web site, www.who.org, provides vaccination certificate requirements by country, geographic distributions of potential health hazards to travelers and information on health risks and their avoidance (click on "Travelers' Health").

Is it safe to drink tap water in Turkey?

Turkey practices safe sanitation standards, and tap water is suitable for bathing and regular tasks such as brushing teeth. However, as is customary in most Mediterranean countries, the majority of locals and visitors drink bottled water. We recommend that visitors follow local custom and drink bottled water, which is routinely served with any meal.

What is a Turkish bath (Hamam)?

Communal baths were used in Roman and Byzantine times, but as the name "Turkish Bath" suggests, they played a significant role in Ottoman culture. At a time when the concept of cleanliness was not yet accepted in Europe, the Turks were very fastidious due to Islam's emphasis on cleanliness. Countless baths were built in the typical Ottoman architectural style throughout the empire. Unfortunately, few have survived to the present. Cagaloglu Hamami and Cemberlitas Hamami, both in Istanbul, are very popular with tourists.
A classic bath usually has three sections: changing rooms, a hot room and a cold room. After entering the hamam and exchanging one's clothes for a "pestamal" or towel, you then proceed to the "gobek tasi", a large heated stone where you perspire and are rubbed down by a bath attendant. If the heat proves too much, you can retire to a cooler room. This method of bathing is the most refreshing.

What to buy in Turkey and where to buy it?

Shopping is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Turkey and the rich variety of Turkish crafts makes it impossible to resist buying something. Fine apparel of silk, cotton, leather and wool; artful jewelry; leather accessories; brilliant faience (colored tiles); vessels of copper, brass, marble, meerschaum and alabaster worked by master artisans; and of course heirloom-quality Turkish carpets and kilims, are among the most popular purchases. Great value and an enjoyable shopping experience can be found everywhere, from small towns to big cities.

The Grand Bazaar, or "Kapalicarsi," in Istanbul is a unique combination of fantastic merchandise and a memorable shopping experience. The Grand Bazaar is a maze of some 4,000 shops, selling treasures of every type. Still the commercial center of the old city, the Grand Bazaar's 80 roads and streets form the original shopping mall. For more information, visit www.grand-bazaar.com, where you can find a map of the Grand Bazaar and a list of shops.

What is the time difference?

Turkey is on GMT + 2 (daylight saving = GMT +3 and operates between late March to late September). This means generally that Turkey is 1 hour ahead of European and 2 hours ahead of the UK standard times. Still it is a good idea to check the local time when you arrive in Turkey and adjust your watch accordingly.

What is the Mains supply voltage – are adaptors needed?

The Turkish mains power supply is 220 Vac 50 Hz. The standard Wall sockets take two round pin plugs, similar to the one used in many European countries. You will need an adapter if you intend to use appliances not fitted with this type of plug; it is a good idea to bring a suitable adaptor with you as this may be difficult to find locally.





Will I be able to use my mobile phone in Turkey?

Yes – providing your phone is international roaming enabled.
The 3 main GSM operators in Turkey are Turkcell, Avea and Telsim and all GSM operators have roaming agreements with international operators, but remember to check with your provider regarding the actual roaming costs.
If you intend to stay for a while and / or expect to be making a significant number of calls whilst in Turkey you may consider purchasing a local prepaid line to use during your stay. These can be purchased form one of the many mobile phone shops and “topped up” as required by purchasing credits (Kontor Kart) from newspaper booths, grocery stores and many other outlets, you could make a significant saving.

Generally speaking, mobile phone coverage throughout Turkey is very good – there may be some problems in some of remote or mountainous areas though. Also remember that even though you are dialing a local number from one of the local GSM Networks the number you dial must be in the full international dialing format.
I.e. the number should be prefixed by 00 90 and you should drop the first 0 from the area code of the number you are dialing.

What is the local currency?

The official currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (YTL – Yeni Turk Lirasi) which is sub divided into New Kurus (Yeni Kurus) 100 YKr = 1 YTL, Images of the Notes and coins can be found here.

http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/ytlkampanya/banknotes/banknotes.htm

The YTL is internationally traded and can be purchased in most countries prior to your visit; although you may need to order this ahead.
Once in Turkey, it's very easy to change all major currencies in Banks, exchange offices, post offices (PTTs) and many Hotels.
Currency can be also obtained from the major debit or cash cards from many ATM machines. (Check the logos on the ATM machines)
However if you do run short of Turkish Lira at any point during your stay all the major foreign currencies, are widely accepted in many shops, hotels and restaurants especially in the tourist areas – be sure you know the exchange rate though.

Can I use my Credit Card?

Credit cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants in the main Cities or Resorts areas. This may not be the case in smaller villages or remote places so it is generally a good idea to try always to have some cash handy.

Can I use Travelers Cheques?

Travelers Cheques can be cashed at banks, exchange bureaus and most of the larger hotels.

Are there insects?

There can be mosquitoes in certain areas so some form of repellant is advisable, especially for those people who are prone to bites, it is also a good idea to take precautions in your bedroom with a mosquito plug, spray etc. Ants are frequent in some rural areas.

What is driving like in Turkey?

As in the most of the Mediterranean, Turkish Drivers may appear to drive somewhat “unpredictably” Turkish Roads and Highways are generally in good repair but some coastal or mountain roads can be a little narrow and winding.
Bear in mind the following then driving in Turkey:
Traffic drives on the right
Traffic approaching from the right always has right of way
Vehicles joining a roundabout have right of way
The wearing of a seat belt is compulsory.
Don’t drink and drive (Taxis are cheap anyhow)
Random breathalyzer tests are common
Police issue on the spot fines (Carry some cash with you)
If a vehicle flashes its lights, this means I am coming through, not I am giving way to you.
Drive defensively at all times
Take care when driving after dark you may encounter inadequately lit vehicles, slow moving Tractors and Lorries or even animals wandering in the road.

What ID do I need to carry with me when in Turkey?

You are required at all times to carry an official ID with photograph whilst in Turkey.
It is a good practice to have a photocopy of your passport, ticket details, travel insurance, hotel address etc. plus a 24-hour emergency contact number and you should carry these with you at all times.
Whenever it is practical though, try to avoid carrying your original travel documents with you, simply in case of loss or theft. If possible leave them in a Hotel Safety Deposit Box or keep them very securely about your person. As previously mentioned, you should carry some form “official Photo ID” with you, as you may be asked to show this. Normally a driver’s license or similar ID (with photo) will suffice and this has the added advantage that if lost or stolen it is reasonably easy to replace when you get back home.
One more “Passport safety tip:” There is a legal requirement for Hotels in Turkey to keep a nightly register of all their guests, often Hotel Receptionist will ask you to leave your passport with them to complete this register. Unfortunately there have been isolated instances of passports being misplaced or worse, stolen whilst in the care of hotel. Logically it is unreasonable to expect a hotel or receptionist to treat your passport with the same respect as you do yourself. (The safest thing here is to leave them with a Photocopy)
The point here is to remember, your passport is your property, your responsibility and nobody takes care of it better than you do.

What are the shop opening times?

During the summer season, and especially in the resort areas, supermarkets, mini-markets and shops are open everyday, often until late night and in many cases all night.
As a general guideline opening days and times are as follows:
Banks: 09.00 - 12.00 and 13.30 - 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Post Offices: (identified by yellow PTT signs) 08.00 - 20.00 Monday to Saturday, and 09.00 - 19.00 on Sundays.
Chemists (Eczane) - 09.00-19.00 Monday to Saturday: 24 Hour Duty chemists are open on a rota basis and their details are posted in all chemists’ window. Look for the “Nobetci Eczani” sign.
Museums - 09.00 - 17.00 Tuesday to Sunday.
Cafes and restaurants tend not to close until the last customer has left and often stay open until very late in the evening or early morning some restaurants, especially the soup kitchens, stay open 24 hours.

What can we eat in Turkey? Are there fast-food restaurants in Turkey? Turkish cuisine is very delicious, although some dishes may surprise visitors because of regional flavors. But they are all worth to taste. In all regions and cities, there are several fast-food restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King and Arbys.

Do women have to cover their hair with a scarf in Turkey? No, They do not have to. In Turkey, especially in holiday resorts it is nearly impossible to see women with scarfs.