Turkey

A transcontinental country covering mainly the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia and a smaller portion on the Balkan Peninsula in South-eastern Europe. A country which poses a rich history, as reflected by its majestic mosques and luxurious palaces, as well as incredible natural wonders and lovely beaches facing the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea. There is something in Turkey to impress every traveller, no matter what you are looking for.

Highlights

Ancient churches

Mosques

Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Beaches

“akbuk sitesi /Bodrum/Turkey” by yilmaz ovunc is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Historical sites

“Nemrut” by MrHicks46 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Natural wonders

Bazaars

“Istanbul – Grand Bazaar” by justinschier is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Istanbul

Turkish mountains

“Akhtamar Island on Lake Van with the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross.jpg” by gozturk is licensed under CC BY 3.0

When to go

The best time to visit Turkey is during spring, typically between April and mid-June. The temperatures are pleasant and the days are long. Most tourist attractions such as the historic sights, are less crowded and peaceful at this time of the year. During the summer (June to mid-September), people of Turkey take their holidays making coastal areas of the Aegean and the Mediterranean crowded. Temperatures are also hot in the major part of the country, making sightseeing less pleasant. During autumn (September to mid-November) weather is usually cooler and skies are clear, so this is also an optimal time for visiting. In addition, rural areas have grape or wine festivals and many villages celebrate the harvest of wheat, apricots, cotton or other crops. In coastal regions the sea is still warm and along the south coast, warmish weather can last until November. During the winter season (December to mid-March) cities can be damp and cold and the coastal regions see more rain.

Istanbul area: The best time of the year to visit the areas of Turkey around the Bosphorus is mid-April until mid-June and mid-September to end of October. Temperatures range between 12° and 25° and there are few brief showers occasionally. During these months you will also avoid most of the crowds.

Central and eastern Turkey: In these areas the temperatures can vary drastically, with hot days during spring and autumn typically followed by chilly nights. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year, typically November to April. The hottest months are June, July and August (average 33°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 19° at night in central Anatolia. The best time to visit this area is early May to mid-July, with warm day temperatues and pleasant nights. September and October are also good months to visit, with cooler temperatures. For Eastern Anatolia, however, it is best to make the most of the summer months, since nights are chilly even during this time and it is common for temperatures to go down as low as 12° in late evenings, even in the hottest months.

The Aegean and the Mediterranean coats: The best time to visit Turkey´s beaches is from mid-April or May to September or mid-October. Avoiding the months of July and August you can also escape the peak of the summer heat and humidity to visit the ancient ruins with more pleasant temperatures and less crowds. Beaches are also less crowded and flights and hotels are inexpensive.

The Black Sea: This region sees considerable rain compared to the rest of Turkey, moderate temperatures and mists and fog even in summer. Suitable to visit all year around, but the best time to go is in spring, when the mountain valleys are carpeted with wild flowers and beaches are nice and quiet. This area is never crowded because clouds are common and the sea water is chilly.

Hiking: Turkey has a vast and varied landscapes are best in spring or fall, avoiding the hot summer. However, some high-elevation hikes around the Kaçkar Mountains and Mt. Araratare only possible during the summer months.

Winter sports: Many of them are in the northern part and have quite an extended season from December to March, and some operate well into late April.

Practical information

Currency

The Turkish Lira is the official currency. Typically, 3 to 10 Lira per Euro and 3 to 8 Lira per US Dollar.

Language

Turkish. Turks will appreciate any intention to speak their difficult language, so try to learn some important words. English is spoken in restaurants, bars or shops, but in rural areas or less touristic zones is not common. Almost every language is spoken at the country main bazaars.

Visa

Visitors must have a full passport with at least six months validity. From 2013 an electronic visa is available, just fill in the necessary information concerning identity, passport deatils and travel dates, and pay visa fee online. The e-visa is only valid when the purpose of travel is tourism or commerce. For other purposes, such as work and study, visas are given by Turkish embassies or consulates. The e-visa is for a duration of 90 days.

ATM & credit card

ATMs accept most debit cards and credit cards, such as Mastercard and Visa. English is available on screen on almost every machine. Remember that using a debit or credit card in an ATM usually involves a fee in Turkey. Credit card payments are widely accepted in hotels and tour operators, specially in cities and in spots frequented by tourists. Not so common in restaurants or in shops, specially if visiting rural or remote areas. Always carry some cash in Turkish Lira.

Opening times

In large cities, shops are usually open from 9am to 7 or 8pm. But hours can be extended in tourist and coastal areas, where many shops will stay open until midnight. In rural areas, opening hours are flexible. If you find a shop closed, you can ask where the owner is and it will not take long before someone tells him/her that there is a potential consumer. Restaurants normally open for lunch and dinner, typically from noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm, respectively. Restaurants tend to be open until late in cities and in the coast.

Time: GMT + 3 hours

Main airports

Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökcen International Airport are Istanbul’s main airports and the main entry point for most tourists. Other airports include: Antalya International Airport, Ankara Esenboga Airport, Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, Adana Sakirpasa Airport, Dalaman International Airport (located in the south-west of Turkey), Milas-Bodrum Airport( located in the southwest between the cities of Milas and Bodrum), Trabzon International Airport (located in the north-east by the Black Sea).

Public transport

The easiest way to get to Turkey is by air. Turkish Airlines offers regular direct flights from many airports in Europe, North America and Asia. Other airlines such as Pegasus also operate cheaper fares from Europe and other neighbouring countries. Domestic flights are also frequent and cheap, so they can be useful to cover long distances.

For travelling to a great number of different destinations inside Turkey, buses are comfortable and often luxurious. In addition, bus travel is both cheaper and greener than air travel. When travelling by bus, it is advisable to book your tickets well in advance, particular on weekends and during any school or religious holidays. A common mean of transport in Turkey are dolmuş, shared taxi/mini-bus that follows a fixed route. Shared taxis departs when they are full while mini-buses follow a schedule and are generally packed with passengers anyway. In most cities, dolmuş, stops are indicated by a rectangular blue sign bearing a large D on a white or red panel. Destinations are shown on the front side of the vehicle. Minibuses serve smaller towns and villages, usually departing from, and returning to larger cities. Unfortunely, many minibuses serving small towns in rural areas tend to cater to the needs of the villages, departing the town/village early in the morning and returning in the late afternoon, which may not be convenient to visitors plans.

Train travel is another option to explore this large country, but apart from the high-speed train between Istanbul and Ankara, most routes are rather slow. If you have time, fares are very reasonable. Blue trains are faster than the standard Express ones. If you planning a longer trip to Turkey, consider a TCDD pass, which allows 30 days of unlimited rail travel.

To rent a car, you need to have an international driving licence and your passport. However, driving in Turkey is not generally recommended since distances can be vast and public transport works well for a very reasonable price.

In order to get around Istanbul, the central areas of the city are well served by railway, metro and tram lines. Buses and dolmuşes provide transport to the wider areas of the city, but roads and vehicles are very crowded at rush hours and, therefore, it is recommended to choose other means of transport during these times to avoid big delays. Ferries and water taxis ply the Bosphorus, and to a lesser extent, the Golden Horn.

Things to avoid

Wearing your shoes or being noisy inside worship places

Wearing provocative cloths unless you are in the coast

Showing signs of affection in public

Riding a taxi without logo or without discussing the fare of your trip

Agreeing on the first price offered at a bazaar

Discussing openly about politics with strangers

Food

Mostly known for kebab, which actually refers to many grilled meat dishes, Turkey actually has quite a lot to offer to quench any traveller’s appetite. With a great mix of Mediterranean and Muslim influences, there are plenty of dishes to discover in Turksh cuisine, such as: “Midye dolmasi” (mussels are stuffed with spiced rice mixture, steamed and served with lemon juice), “Imam bayildi” (aubergines stuffed with tomatoes, garlic and onions, baked in the oven), “Levrek pilakisi” (sea bass fillets with potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, onions and garlic), ” Kisir” (a salad made from fine bulgur wheat, tomatoes, garlic, parsley and mint), “Mercimek kofte” (made from red lentils, fine bulgur, salt, finely chopped onion, scallions, tomato, hot red pepper paste and crushed cilantro), Yaprak dolma (rice is cooked with tomatoes, a bunch of parsley, onion, garlic, tomato paste, olive oil and black pepper), “Gozleme” (pastry cooked filled with salty white cheese, spinach or minced beef).

Electricity and plug types

Turkey´s electrical current is suplied at 220 volts and 50Hz. Power sockets typically take Type C and Type F plugs (two-round pins, which fit most European plugs).

Health and insurance

The Turkish health system has both public and private services. Most non-prescriptions medications are available at reasonable prices from pharmacy and many types of antibiotics are available. A travel and medical insurance policy is not needed but recommended if travelling for extended periods or of visiting rural areas. No vaccination is required, but it is advisable that before travelling you make sure that your basic vaccinations such as diphtheria, polio, typhoid and tetanus are up to date. Check with your doctor about hepatitis A and hepatitis B too. Note as well that Turkey offers medical tourism packages for some treatments that are typically expensive in western countries.

Other

Tipping is customary between 5% and 10%, depending on service. Tips must be in cash, preferably in Turkish lira, and be given directly to the waiter. If you dine in a luxury place, you should tip between 10% and 15%. In big cities such as Istanbul, a service charge of between 10% and 15% may already be added to your bill.

Be aware of Ramadan and the associated opening time restrictions. If approached by beggars, respectfully decline and continue your way, children can be insisting.