We received the following information from Dimitri and Thalia Cocconi, and urge you to review it before our trip. Enjoy!
TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR TURKEY
Security
Turkey is generally a safe country for foreigners. While tourists enjoy an extra tolerance from the locals in the countryside, it would be ideal to remain cautious in the big cities and in the major tourist areas, especially pickpockets might be a headache some times.
Female travelers are advised to keep in mind that the many traditions of Turkey might be different from than home and cultural differences might lead to some unexpected misunderstandings. Your respect to local traditions regarding proper clothing in the sacred places and in the countryside will be highly appreciated and welcomed by the people.
ID Cards and Passports
Turks have compulsory ID cards, which they must carry with them at all times. Foreigners are also expected to carry such ID with them, which means that you should keep your passport with you at all times. In case you lose your passport, you should immediately contact your country's embassy or consulate in Turkey.
Police
There are two types of police in Turkey - civil police and military police, gendarme. In many areas you will see that there is the one or the other, and that both fulfill the same function. In some places, there are also special tourist police. If you need to report a crime you should go to the nearest police station to where the crime occurred. In touristy areas there will usually be someone available, who speaks English or you can always request a translator. You will usually be asked to submit and sign a statement. It is advisable to request a copy of any relative document in case you need it at a later stage.
Drugs
Please note that bringing into or out of the country, together with consumption of, marijuana and other narcotics is strictly forbidden and is subject to heavy punishment. If you have prescribed medication, which you need to take on holiday with you, you will need a doctor's note and/ or a copy of your prescription.
Medical Treatment
You will need to pay for any medical treatment that you receive in Turkey. For this reason it is advisable to take out medical insurance before traveling. It is not difficult to find English-speaking doctors in all but the most remote areas. There are some very good private hospitals with high international standards in Istanbul and major tourist routes. There also foreign run hospitals in many of the larger towns and resorts. There are pharmacies in most places with trained pharmacists who are able to offer advice on minor illnesses. Many more medicines are available over the counter.
Emergency Numbers
Emergency 112 International Operator 115 Directory Assistance 11811
Reversed Charge Calls 131 Police 155 Gendarme 156 Fire Department 110
On Entry / Visa
While planning your trip to Turkey do not forget to check your passport if it is valid for at least 90 days. Depending on your nationality, most probably your stay as a tourist is limited up to 3 months (for one entrance). For tourist visas, there is no need to apply in advance or to fill in any forms. If you are flying to Turkey, you will buy your visa at the Turkish airport on arrival. You will see the visa desk, situated just before passport control. You must buy your visa, which will be stamped on your passport by the official, before you join the queue for passport control. The visa for US passport holders currently costs US$20 and must be paid for with a US$ note (or 15Euro). The visa for UK passport holders currently costs £10 and must be paid for with a Sterling note. The visa for other EU state-passport holders currently costs € 15 and must be paid for with a Euro note. No credit cards or Turkish Liras are accepted for visa purchase. Visas are multiple entries and are valid for three months. Each passport-holder, including infants, must purchase a visa. With tourist visas you will not have the right to take up paid or unpaid employment or to reside, or to study (including student exchange program) or to establish yourself in business in Turkey.
For a list of visa procedures for citizens of other nationalities and for more detailed information on visas please click
http://turkey.usembassy.gov/visa_requirements.html
Shopping
Turkey is a real shopper’s paradise. From traditional bazaars to trendy shopping districts or modern malls would satisfy everyone. Major foreign currencies (US $ or Euros) are widely accepted in tourist areas, while use of credit cards are common almost everywhere. Following are the major goods you can benefit buying from Turkey.
Alabaster, Antiques, Apparel ,Books & Maps, Brass, Carpets, Ceramics,Copper, Evil Eye Beads,Jewelry
Kilims, Leather Apparel ,Meerschaum, Old Maps & Books, Nazar Bonjuks (Evil Eye), Prints, Silk, Wood, Inlaid
Currency & Foreign Exchange
Turkish Lira is available in the following denominations: Banknotes: 1, 5,10,20,50 &100 TL Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25 & 50 kuruş and 1 TL. Usually, cash can be exchanged without charging commission in exchange offices, banks or hotels. (Travelers from UK should remember that Scottish notes are not accepted in Turkey)
Cash point machines (ATM) are available in most areas, which accept major European credit cards and give instructions in English. It may be a good idea to inform your bank in advance that you are traveling to Turkey as some will automatically put a stop on cards after the first usage in an attempt to combat fraud.
Exchange rates are published daily in Turkish newspapers. If you are planning to exchange currency back from TL before leaving the country, or are making a major purchase, which may need to be declared to customs, you will need to keep your transaction receipts in order to show that the currency has been legally exchanged.
Duty Free
It is permitted to bring the following items into Turkey as duty free goods: Wines, Tobacco & Other Luxury Items. The following allowances apply to the import of both domestic and foreign goods: 200 cigarettes (1 Box) and 50 cigars. Plus: 200 grams tobacco and 200 cigarette papers or 200 grams pipe tobacco or 200 grams chewing tobacco or 200 grams tobacco for argyle or 50 grams snuff. In addition to the above allowances, it is also possible to purchase 200 cigarettes, 100 cigars and 500 grams pipe tobacco in the Turkish Duty Free Shops when entering the country. The following may also be imported: 1.5 kg coffee; 1.5 kg instant coffee; 500 go teas; 1 kg Chocolate; 1 kg Confectionery; 1 (100 cl) or 2 (75cl or 70 cl) bottles of wine and/or spirits; cologne, lavender water, perfume, essence and lotion (120 ml maximum of each).
Valuables
In order to avoid any problems when leaving the country it is recommended that you register valuable items at the customs office on entry to Turkey. All personal belongings and articles made of precious stones or metals (with no commercial purposes) worth under USDS 15,000 may be brought into and taken out of the country. Jewellery worth more than this amount may only be taken out of the country providing it has been registered on entry or that you can prove that it was purchased in Turkey with legally exchanged currency.
Tax Refund
You Can Receive a Tax Refund for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey! Refunds will be made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey. All goods (including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered.
Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be authorized for refund. These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office. The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. If you prefer the refund to be made by check, a Tax-Free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt. For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and/or check.
There are four ways to receive your refund
- If the retailer gives you a check it can he cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport
- If it is not possible to cash the check upon departure or if you do not wish to cash it then, the customer must, within one month, send a copy of the receipt showing that the goods have left the country to the retailer who will, within ten days upon receiving the receipt, send a bank transfer to the purchaser's hank or address
- If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit within one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be made directly to the purchaser
- Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase. The refund may be made by the organization of those companies that are authorized to make tax refunds.
Language
The official language is Turkish. English and German are widely spoken in major cities and tourist resorts, and you will find that most Turks welcome the opportunity to practice their language skills and will go out of their way to be helpful. Foreign visitors who attempt to speak even a few words of Turkish, however, will definitely be rewarded with even warmer smiles.
Some useful words and phrases
Hello••• Merhaba (mare-hah-bah)
Good Morning••• Günaydin (goon-eye-din) (said on meeting)
Good Day••• iyi günler (ee-yee goo -n-ler) (said on meeting or parting)
Good evening••• iyi akşamlar (ee-yee ak-sham-lar) (said on meeting or parting)
Good night•• iyi geceler (ee-yee gedge -e-ler) (said on meeting or parting)
Please••• Lutfen (lute-fen)
Thanks•• Tesekkürler (tesh-e-kiir- ler)
Yes•• Evet (e-vet)
No••• Hayir (higher)
I want••• istiyorum (ist-ee-your-um)
When?••• Ne zaman? (nay za-man)
Today•• Bugün (boo-goon)
Tomorrow•• Yarın (yah-run)
Where?•• Nerede (ne're-de)
My name is.......•• ismim......(is-mim)
Water•• su (sue)
Milk•• süt (suit)
Beer••• bira (beer-a)
Wine••• Şarap (shar-ap)
Tea•• cay (ch-eye)
Coffee•• kahve (car-vay)
Food••• yemek (ye-meck)
Be careful!•• Dikkat!
Numbers
1• birr (beer)
2• iki (ecky)
3• üç (ouch)
4• dört (dirt)
5• beş(besh)
6• altı (al-ter)
7• yedi(yea-dee)
8• sekiz (seck-is)
9• dokuz (dock-uz)
10• on (on)
Days of the Week
Monday•• Pazartesi
Tuesday••• Salı
Wednesday•• Carşamba
Thursday•• Perşembe
Friday•• Cuma
Saturday•• Cumartesi
Sunday•• Pazar.
Official Holidays/Working Hours
Working Hours: Offices and banks are generally open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Monday to Friday, with a break between 12:00 to 1:30 PM
National / Official Holidays in Turkey
Apr 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day (anniversary of the establishment of Turkish Grand National Assembly)
May 19 Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day (the arrival of Atatürk in Samsun, and the beginning of the War of Independence)
Aug 30 Victory Day (victory over invading forces in 1922)
Oct 29 Republic Day (anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic)
Ramazan Bayramı / Sugar Feast :Three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end of the fast of Ramazan. (A Moslem moveable feast) (The dates of these religious festivals change according to the Muslim lunar calendar and thus occur 12 days earlier each year.)
Kurban Bayramı / Sacrifices Feast: (A Moslem moveable feast) Four-day festival when sacrificial sheep are slaughtered and their meat distributed amongst the poor, neighbors and within the family
Tipping
At various establishments like hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 5% - 15% of the total is common. Taxi drivers on the other hand, are contented with rounded fares.
Visiting a mosque:
Five times a day, the 'müezzin' calls the faithful to prayer in this mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would have to any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time. Women should cover their heads and arms, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)
Water:
Although tap water is chlorinated and, therefore, safe to drink, it is recommended that you consume bottled water, which is readily and cheaply available.
Telephone calls
To dial abroad from Turkey, dial the international code 00 followed by the country code, and then the number including the local area code, but removing the first 0. For example, a London number with an area code of 0207 would be dialed from Turkey as 00 44 207 followed by the number. To dial Turkey from abroad dial the international code 00 followed by the country code, 90 and then the number including the local area code, but removing the first 0. For example, a Fethiye number with an area code of 0252 would be dialed from abroad as 00 90 252 followed by the number.
There are public phone booths that accept cards or tokens (jeton), which can be bought from post offices (PTT) or local shops. Network coverage is extremely good and it is very rare to be in an area where your mobile does not work.
Mobile Phone
A mobile (cell) phone is very useful in Turkey. Several years ago, the Turkish government passed a law requiring all mobile phones used in Turkey to be registered with the government. Not just the SIM card, but the handset itself. Registration helps prevent terrorist acts. Turkish and foreign visitors are entitled to bring one mobile phone into Turkey each calendar year for use during their stay in Turkey. A personal mobile phone brought into Turkey in this manner is exempt from tax and duty. However, it is necessary to register the mobile phone in order to use it with a SIM card bought from a Turkish network operator. Unregistered phones will be blocked and unable to receive or make calls. There is no charge levied for this registration, and no customs documents are required. Take your mobile phone and your passport to a shop of a Turkish Network Operator (Avea, Turkcell or Telsim). Buy a SIM card, and the clerk will register the SIM card's mobile phone number with your handset's IMEI number, and with your personal information.
Most of the information in this section is borrowed from the official web pages of the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture. For further information you can go to: www.goturkey.com