Turkey is a huge peninsula, nearly surrounded by seas on three sides. The Black Sea, to the north, separates Turkey from direct contact with Russia. The Aegean Sea is to the west and the Mediterranean is to the south. The Marmara Sea lies to the east of the Aegean Sea, with the strait of Bosporus connecting it to the Black Sea around Istanbul. Turkey’s neighbors include Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest, Armenia and Georgia to the northeast, Iran and Iraq to the southeast, and Syria to the south. The interior of Turkey presents several mountains; the highest is Mount Ararat where Noah is believed to have landed his ark. High plateaus, plains and volcanoes also dot the interior, as well as the origination of the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. Turkey’s culture is rich with traditional dances, arts, music, and the rich scents of Turkish coffee and spiced meats. Camel wrestling and Turkish oil wrestling (in which participants cover themselves with olive oil) date back hundreds of years. Along the Aegean borders, yachters, sailors and watersports enthusiasts are lured by the warm waters, excellent beaches, and steady winds.
Several scheduled and charter carriers serve passengers flying into Turkey through international airports at Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and some of the resorts on the Mediterranean. From Istanbul, Turkish Airlines has direct flights to 24 European cities, New York, and throughout the world.
Departure Tax
There is a US $50 tax applicable only to nationals of Turkey departing the country.
Ankara, Turkey’s capital, has temperatures varying between 25F (-4C) and 86F (30C). A classic Mediterranean climate graces the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts with rather hot summers and milder winters.
Telephone
Country code: 90. The outgoing code is 00. Often an interpreter will be necessary for remote areas. Telephone cards and tokens are used when calling from a PTT phone booth (commonly found).
Cell phone
GSM 900 and 1800 band networks are used. Coverage is available in most metropolitan areas.
Other
Internet cafes are prevalent in main cities. Faxing facilities are available in hotels and PTT offices; also, telegrams may be sent from any post office.
Currency
New Turkish Lira
Meals
- Low-end: ?2-5
- Middle: ?5-12
- High: ?12-20
- Gourmet: ?20+
Lodging
- Low-end: ?5-15
- Middle: ?15-40
- High: ?40-65
- Deluxe: ?65+
Traveling in Turkey is a bit cheaper than other places Americans may be used to. All credit cards are accepted throughout the country, and ATM machines are available in the bigger cities.
Passport & Visa
- Travelers require a passport with at least 3 months validity left on it in order to enter Turkey.
- All U.S. citizens also require a visa that may be obtained upon entry at any point in Turkey (valid only for three months) or before arrival from a Turkish Consulate in the U.S.
- Tourist visas are valid for one year.
- Single entry visas allow travelers to enter Turkey once and stay up to three months.
- Multiple entry visas allow travelers to enter and exit the country as many times as desired within one year period, for up to 3 months at a time.
- Passengers who do not leave the international airports (for example, those who are catching a connecting flight in Turkey) do not need a visa.
Turkey operates on a 220 volts AC, 50Hz cycle electric current.
The majority of locals and visitors consume bottled water although tap water is safe for bathing and other tasks such as brushing teeth. Even though Turkey has high sanitation standards, it is advised to drink only bottled beverages.
Vaccination requirements: none
Official language: Turkish. A minority in the southeast also speaks Kurdish. French, German, and English are commonly spoken in urban and tourist areas.
Even compared to many Western European countries, Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world for traveling. As usual, visitors are cautioned to use common sense at all times.
Standard time zone: GMT +2
Tipping is a normal custom in expensive restaurants (it?s expected to give about a 5% tip directly to the waiter even if a 10-15% charge is added to your bill) but merely appreciated in cheaper ones. Hotel porters expect a small tip; a dollar is acceptable. Round up the bill for taxi drivers. Sometimes tips may be refused out of politeness, but you should insist at least two or three times.
