Before You Come
Travel Tips
Time
Turkish standard time is two hours ahead of Greenwich mean time; one hour ahead of the Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. What to wear
Turkey is a warm country for most of the year, and casual wear including shorts, pants, T-shirts and sunglassed are preferred during the Spring and Summer months. A good sturdy pair of walking shoes are essential, incl. a sweater for the occasional chilly evening after a suntan. Winter travelers will definitely need warm waterproof clothing, including hats, gloves and thick sweaters.
The currency
The Turkish currency is the Turkish 'Lira' (TL) and bank notes are available in denominations of 20 TL, 10.000.000 TL, 5 TL, 1 TL, 50 Kr, 25 Kr, 10 Kr and. Although there are Bureau de Change in most major cities, exchanges are best made at banks and hotels who will provide a receipt, which is necessary in case you wish to convert your remaining TL back to your own currency at the end of your holiday.
Motorist Rules
Those who wish to travel with their vans, minibuses, automobiles, caravans, motorcycles or other transport vehicles, will have to provide the following documentation:
1) Passport
2) Driving license
3) Car license (documents where all details related to the car and owner's name are registered). If the car is registered under a third name, a power of attorney authorising the usage should be provided.
4) Internal green card (Insurance card)
Traffic police
Tel: 154
Police Tel: 155
Gendarmerie Tel: 156
Travel documents
Passport required except for holders of;
- "Laissez Passer" issued by United Nations
- Military Identity Card issued by a NATO country
- National Identity Card issued to nationals of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy,
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland Visa required except for; Australia, Canada, Denmark, France,
Germany, Japan, Korea Rep., Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, U.S.A passports.
The following passengers holding a normal passport can obtain a visa on arrival for a single entry;
- Austrian nationals at ATS 150.- (Valid for 3 months)
- British nationals at GBP 5.- (Valid for 3 months)
- Irish nationals at GBP 5.- (Valid for 3 months)
- Nationals of Italy at USD 5.- (Valid for 3 months)
- Nationals of South Africa at TRL 46,600.- (Valid for 1 month)
- Nationals of Taiwan at TRL 46,600.- (Valid for 8 days)
- Nationals of Spain at USD 10.- (Valid for 3 months)
Visitors who need a visa must also hold documents and tickets required for return/ownward travel, except for holders of British passports.
The language
Turkish is the common spoken language, but most shopkeepers can speak rudimentary English, French,German and even Italian. All directions, apart from tourist signs, are written in Turkish.
Tipping
Tipping is customary and 10-15% is considered to be the norm in most hotels and restaurants. There is no need to tip a taxi as your driver will usually round up the total fair to the next one thousand Liras.
Business and shopping hours
Turkey shares with Europe the Saturday and Sunday weekend. Banks are open during the week days from 08:30 am to 5:00 pm. Some are open at weekends as well. Branches in major hotels are available.
Electric current
The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts AC in all parts of the country. The major hotels in the main cities have adaptors and converters available for guest's use.
Health
Some of the international hospitals in Istanbul:
American Hospital, Guzelbahce Sokak 20, Nisantasi (Tel: 231 40 50) French Hospital, Taskısla Caddesi 3, Taksim (Tel: 248 47 56) German Hospital, Sıraselviler Caddesi 119, Taksim (Tel: 243 81 00) International Hospital, Istanbul Cad. 82, Yesilköy (Tel: 663 30 00)
In case of accident
The accident should be reported to the police or gendarmerie. That report has to be certified by the nearest local authority. If the vehicle can be repaired, it is necessary to inform customs authority first and then take the vehicle to a garage. If the vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to leave the country without his/her vehicle, she/he has to deliver it to the nearest customs office and the registration of his/her vehicle on her/his passport will be canceled. Only after the cancellation the owner of the vehicle can leave the country.
Customs
The current restriction on the import of personal goods is 400 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, seven bottles of liquor, five bottles of perfume and one kilogram (2.2lb) of coffee or tea. Customs officials seldom bother to open tourists' luggage on your entry, but they may show more interest on your departure. There is a strict prohibition on the export of antiquities and you may be required to show a proof of purchase slip and currency exchange slip if you have bought a Turkish carpet. Older carpets may also require a document from the shop-keeper or from a local museum certifying that the carpet is not an antiquity.
