Frequently Asked Questions
About Visiting Turkey
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.
Is it better to travel
independently or go to Turkey as a part of a group tour?
The best
way to see and experience Turkey depends on one's
knowledge, experience, and personal preferences. Touring
is a safe way to experience new cultures and to see new
places with peace of mind. However, some travelers may
prefer to visit sites independently without the confines
of schedules and timetables.
Group
tours are organized through tour operators. There are many
tour operators in the U.S. that specialize in trips to
Turkey. These can be found in Turkey: The Travel
Directory, which is produced and published by the Ministry
of Tourism. Most group tours are all-inclusive. This means
that transportation (air and ground), hotels, some meals,
and a guide are usually provided for a flat-fee. Guided
tours are highly recommended for those with an interest in
history and culture, since tour guides can enhance the
traveler's experience by sharing their in-depth knowledge
of the places visited.
Those who
wish to travel independently can make travel arrangements
in advance through a tour operator. Many tour operators
will design customized individual itineraries in which air
transportation, hotel and car rental reservations and
other services are privately arranged to match the
specifications of the client. Some tour operators offer
fly/drive packages as well, in which airfare and rental
car services are provided as a package.
Travelers
can also make their own hotel and rental car reservations.
The hotel guide web site
www.hotelsinturkey.net comprehensively lists
accommodation facilities throughout Turkey. Visitors may
also choose to use the services of local travel agencies
in Turkey. These agencies can arrange car and driver
mini-tours, which are very popular in many areas,
including Istanbul, Ephesus, Antalya and Cappadocia.
Turkey is
a country of diverse scenery, climate and historical
monuments, so travelers are sometimes overwhelmed by the
number of places to visit. Some 15-day itineraries are
suggested in Turkey: The Travel Directory, published by
the Ministry of Tourism. For assistance in planning your
trip or any inquiries relating to your trip consult
Turkish Tourism Information Offices throughout Turkey.
Their addresses are listed in alphabetical order on the
Turkish Ministry of Tourism's web site at
www.turizm.gov.tr
What types of tours do tour
operators in the United States offer?
Tour
operators listed in our guide, Turkey: The Travel
Directory, are Turkey specialists -- they have extensive
knowledge and experience in Turkish tourism. Some
exclusively offer trips to Turkey. Others offer trips to
Turkey in combination with other countries, such as Greece
and Italy. The companies listed in the Travel Directory
can provide a wide range of services including package
tours, air ticketing, rental car reservations, hotel
reservations, day tours, customized itineraries, guides,
and more. Many companies specialize in different areas of
Turkish travel and tourism. Almost all tours include
western Turkey and focus on historical and archeological
sites. However, some tour operators also offer tours of
the Black Sea region and eastern and southeastern Turkey.
There are also special-interest tours such as golf tours,
photography tours, culinary tours, trekking tours and
more.
For a
free copy of Turkey: The Travel Directory please contact
the Turkish Tourism Office in Washington D.C. or New York.
Tour operators are also listed on our web site at
www.tourismturkey.org in alphabetical and state order.
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 in oF |
| |
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Antalya |
Air |
50 |
52 |
55 |
61 |
68 |
77 |
83 |
83 |
77 |
68 |
59 |
54 |
|
Water |
63 |
63 |
63 |
64 |
70 |
75 |
81 |
83 |
81 |
77 |
72 |
66 |
|
Izmir |
Air |
48 |
50 |
52 |
61 |
68 |
77 |
83 |
81 |
73 |
64 |
59 |
50 |
|
Water |
52 |
52 |
54 |
59 |
68 |
75 |
79 |
79 |
75 |
70 |
63 |
55 |
|
Istanbul |
Air |
41 |
43 |
45 |
54 |
61 |
70 |
73 |
73 |
68 |
61 |
54 |
46 |
|
Water |
48 |
45 |
46 |
52 |
59 |
68 |
73 |
73 |
70 |
63 |
57 |
52 |
|
Trabzon |
Air |
43 |
43 |
45 |
52 |
59 |
68 |
75 |
77 |
75 |
68 |
61 |
55 |
|
Water |
50 |
48 |
48 |
50 |
57 |
68 |
75 |
77 |
75 |
68 |
61 |
55 |
|
Ankara |
Air |
32 |
34 |
41 |
52 |
61 |
68 |
73 |
73 |
65 |
55 |
46 |
36 |
|
Erzurum |
Air |
16 |
19 |
27 |
41 |
52 |
59 |
66 |
68 |
59 |
48 |
36 |
23 |
|
Diyarbakir |
Air |
36 |
36 |
46 |
57 |
66 |
79 |
88 |
88 |
77 |
63 |
50 |
50 |
| |
The web
site of the General Directorate of the Turkish State
Meteorological Service,
www.meteor.gov.tr, gives current sea and air
temperatures, humidity and 3-day weather forecasts for all
cities in Turkey and for the holiday resorts of Alanya,
Anamur, Bodrum, Dalaman, Finike and Marmaris.
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.
Ferry
Lines between Turkey and the Greek Islands run between
Marmaris - Rhodes, Bodrum - Cos, Kusadasi - Samos, Cesme -
Chios and Ayvalik - Lesbos. These ferries run regularly
from April through October, and operate on a reduced
schedule in winter. Ferry schedules can be found at
www.tourismturkey.org in the facts for visitors
section.
Turkish
Maritime lines operates passenger ferries between Turkey
and Italy (Cesme-Brindisi) and between Turkey and the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Mersin-Magosa). Ferry
schedules can be found on their web site at
www.tdi.com.tr.
There are
also ferry services from Trabzon on Turkey's Eastern Black
Sea Coast to Sochi and from Istanbul to Novosibirsk, both
on Russia's Black Sea Coast. Ferry services also operate
between Istanbul and various Ukrainian ports including
Odessa, Yalta, Sevastopol and Yevpatorya. Contact
information for the companies operating these services may
be obtained from the Turkish Government Tourism Office in
Washington, D.C.
By Land:
Turkey has many border crossings with its neighbors. Varan
Bus Company operates regular bus services between
Istanbul-Athens and Istanbul-Vienna. Schedules and fares
can be found on their web site at
www.varan.com.tr. In addition, Istanbul can be reached
by train directly from and via some of Europe's major
cities.
What are the most popular
travel destinations in Turkey?
From the
perfect beaches and ancient ruins of its coast to the
pulse of its cosmopolitan cities, Turkey is a study in
contrasts. Visitors can lose themselves in the magic of a
historic palace before enjoying a world-class meal, or
swim amidst Roman ruins before continuing their journey in
the comfort of a state-of-the-art yacht.
Whatever
your fancy, there are countless things to see and do in
Turkey. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, serves as
the gateway for most travelers. Istanbul is the only city
in the world that sits on two continents and it offers an
abundance of fascinating attractions for visitors. Some of
Istanbul's most popular sites include the Bosphorus
Strait, the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace,
Dolmabahce Palace, the Kariye Museum, the Underground
Cistern, Galata Tower, the Tower of Leander, the Princes'
Islands and the Grand Bazaar.
From
Canakkale Bogazi, also known as the Dardanelles, to the
fairytale Crusader castle and sunny beaches of Bodrum, the
Aegean shores of Turkey are among the loveliest landscapes
in Turkey. The highlights of an Aegean tour are Troy, the
site of the legendary Trojan War and its wooden horse;
ancient Pergamon, once a great center of culture and now
one of Turkey's finest archeological sites; Ephesus, the
capital of Roman Asia Minor, dedicated to the goddess
Artemis whose temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World; Aphrodisias, the center of the greatest
school of sculpture in antiquity; Pamukkale, a unique
fairyland of dazzlingly white calcified castles; and
Bodrum, a charming coastal town with a long, palm-lined
waterfront and beautiful beaches.
Antalya
province on the Mediterranean coast is Turkey's principal
holiday region. It is a paradise for sunbathing, swimming
and sports. Best of all, Antalya serves as a convenient
hub for nearby archeological attractions. Ancient theatres
can be found in a remarkable state of preservation at
Aspendos and Perge and visitors can tour the sunken city
of Simena in Kekova. Remains of ancient Lycian cities such
as Patara, Letoon, Xanthos, Myra and Apollonia are also
within easy traveling distance. These are among the most
fascinating sites on the Anatolian Peninsula.
Cappadocia in Central Anatolia is one of the most
fantastic landscapes in the world and one of the most
popular tourist destinations in Turkey. The area's early
Christian inhabitants utilized its remarkable rock
formations to create more than 220 churches and numerous
underground cities in which they took refuge from their
persecutors.
Other
popular destinations include Safranbolu in the Black Sea
Region, an open-air museum of traditional Turkish houses;
Mount Nemrut in southeastern Turkey, where enormous stone
statues of deities commemorate the first century BC
Commagene Kingdom. Konya in Central Anatolia was home to
the great Islamic philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi who
in the 13th century founded the Mevlevi Order known as the
Whirling Dervishes. Each year in early December, the
white-robed Mevlevi commemorate the death of Mevlana with
their trance-like turning dance or sema - an amazing sight
to behold.
What attractions does Turkey
offer related to religious history and issues of faith?
History
has been incredibly generous to Turkey, which has been
vital in the history of the three major Western religions
-- Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Turkey is one of a
few countries where all three religions have co-existed
peacefully for centuries. There are a many important sites
in Turkey of interest to people of all faiths.
Christianity
More and more people are discovering the important
role Turkey played in the history of Christianity.
Travelers can discover many magnificent churches, some
nearly as old as Christianity itself, and can retrace the
footsteps of Saints Peter and Paul from the Biblical city
of Antioch to the underground churches of Cappadocia. Many
of the most important events in Christian history occurred
in Turkey.
Born in
Tarsus, the Apostle Paul spread the word of Jesus Christ
across Anatolia, expanding Christianity's reach from a
predominantly Jewish base to Gentile communities.
Not far
from Tarsus on Turkey's Eastern Mediterranean coast is
Antakya, known in biblical times as Antioch. This ancient
city was founded around 300 B.C. and was home to the first
important Christian community, founded in 42 AD by St.
Paul. Jesus' followers were first called "Christians" in
Antioch and from here Christianity spread to the world.
St. Paul departed from Antioch on his three missionary
journeys. The city holds the Church of St. Peter, a
cave-church where the apostles Peter and Paul are believed
to have preached. In 1963, the Vatican designated the site
a place of pilgrimage and recognized it as the world's
first cathedral.
The
"Seven Churches of Asia Minor," a series of communities
located near the Aegean coast, is where St. Paul visited,
preached and built the early church. Their ancient names -
Ephesus (Efes), Smyrna (Izmir), Thyatira (Akhisar), Sardis
(Sart), Philadelphia (Alasehir), Laodicea (Eskihisar) and
Pergamon (Bergama) are familiar from the New Testament's
Book of Revelation.
Ephesus,
perhaps the most prominent of the Seven Churches, is where
St. Paul wrote his letters to the Ephesians, and where St.
John the Evangelist brought the Virgin Mary to spend her
last years. The Vatican recognizes the Virgin Mary's
house, located in the hills near Ephesus, as a shrine.
Just outside Ephesus, in Selcuk, is the Basilica of St.
John where he preached and is believed to be buried.
Many
other regions in Turkey offer a wealth of attractions to
the Christian traveler. St. Nicholas was born and lived in
Demre on the Mediterranean coast. A church dedicated to
the original Santa Claus still stands. Visitors to the
biblical area of Cappadocia, located in Central Anatolia,
can explore more than 200 carved rock churches beautifully
decorated with frescoes depicting early Christian motifs,
and a seven-story underground city where Christians took
refuge from their persecutors.
The
stunning Monastery of the Virgin Mary located near the
Black Sea in Trabzon is a well-known monastic center
dating to the 4th century. Built on the edge of a l200
foot cliff and accessible only by foot, it housed some of
the Orthodox Church's greatest thinkers.
Istanbul
became the center of Christianity in 330 AD and it was
here that the largest church in Christendom at the time,
Haghia Sophia or the Church of the Divine Wisdom, was
dedicated by Emperor Justinian in 536 AD. The Kariye
Museum, a Greek Orthodox Church from the 11th and 14th
centuries, is famous for its incomparable Byzantine
frescoes and mosaics.
Judaism
Judaism has had a continuous presence in Turkey
since ancient times. Signs written in Hebrew and menorahs
carved into stone at historical sites such as Ephesus,
Kusadasi, Priene, Hieropolis, and Pamukkale attest to long
history of Jews in Turkey. In Sardis, near Izmir, the
remains of the largest ancient synagogue in existence date
to the 3rd century AD. Its frescoes and mosaics suggest a
large, well-established and successful Jewish community in
Sardis.
According
to the legend of the great flood, Noah's Ark ran aground
at Mount Agri (Ararat). When the floodwaters receded, Noah
and his family descended from the mountain to the fertile
Igdir Plain and repopulated the world.
Jewish
Patriarchs Abraham and Job also made their mark in eastern
Turkey. Sanli Urfa in southeastern Turkey is known as the
city of Prophets. A cave there is said to be the
birthplace of the prophet Abraham. It has become a place
of pilgrimage and is now surrounded by the Halil Rahman
Mosque. The Prophet Job, who was famed for his patience,
is believed to have spent seven years recovering from
illness inside another cave located in the district of
Eyyübiye two kilometers south of Sanli Urfa.
Jews have
enjoyed tolerance and peace in Turkey for centuries. After
the Jewish communities in Spain and Portugal were exiled
in 1492 during the Inquisition, Sultan Beyazit II welcomed
them to the Ottoman Empire. As a result, many Jewish
communities still thrive in modern Turkey.
Istanbul
is of particular significance to Jewish visitors. In the
city's old Jewish Quarter is the 19th century Neve Shalom
Synagogue, the Zulfaris Jewish Museum and nearby, the 15th
century Ahrida Synagogue. The first Jewish printing press
began operating in Istanbul in 1493 and Jewish literature
and music flourished during this period.
In Bursa,
a short drive south of Istanbul, visitors will find the
Gerus Synagogue, built at the end of the 15th century by
the first Jews who settled in the city after being
expelled from Spain. The name of the synagogue in Hebrew
means, "Expelled". Izmir, located on the Aegean coast, has
several synagogues, including Beth Israel Synagogue;
Bikour Holim Synagogue, named in memory of an epidemic
when city hospitals were so full that synagogues were used
to house the sick, and Giveret Synagogue, rebuilt after an
1841 fire.
Islam
Visitors to Turkey are often touched by the call to
prayer from lofty minarets. The call is heard five times a
day, inviting the faithful to face towards Mecca and pray
from the Koran. Although Turkey is a secular democracy
which guarantees freedom of religion for all people, Islam
is the country's predominant religion. People of all
faiths may visit Turkey's mosques.
Islam's
roots in Turkey date to the 10th Century. In the ensuing
centuries Seljuk and Ottoman Turks constructed impressive
mosques with elegant interior decorations and imposing
domes and minarets. Virtually every Turkish city has a
mosque of historical or architectural significance.
Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul stands as perhaps the most
impressive. Built between 1609 and 1616 in the classic
Ottoman style, the building is more familiarly known as
the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior
paneling of blue and white Iznik tiles. The Suleymaniye
Mosque is the largest in Istanbul. It was built between
1550 and 1557by Suleyman the Magnificent, the greatest
sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
Other
cities also have impressive Islamic architecture. The Ulu
Cami (Grand Mosque) with its 20 domes and Yesil Cami
(Green Mosque) in Bursa, was constructed between 1419 and
1420. The mosque derives its name from the exquisite green
and turquoise tiles in its interior. Haci Bayram Mosque in
Ankara was built in the early 15th century in the Seljuk
style and was subsequently restored by the master Ottoman
architect Sinan in the 16th century. Selimiye Mosque in
Edirne reflects the classical Ottoman style and Sinan's
lasting genius.
Konya
ranks as one of the great cultural centers of Turkey. As
the capital of the Seljuk Turks from the 12th to the 13th
centuries Konya was a center of cultural, political and
religious growth. During this period, the mystic Mevlana
Celaleddin Rumi founded a Sufi Order known in the West as
the Whirling Dervishes. Mevlana's striking green-tiled
mausoleum is Konya's most famous attraction. Attached to
the mausoleum, the former dervish seminary now serves as a
museum housing manuscripts of Mevlana's works and various
artifacts related to the mystic sect.
How can I travel in Turkey?
By Plane
Virtually every major city in Turkey has air
service and Turkish Airlines offers nationwide services.
Most flights connect through Istanbul or Ankara, both of
which have domestic and international terminals. You can
check Turkish Airlines' schedules and book flights at
www.turkishairlines.com or call them toll-free in the
U.S. at 1 800 874 8875.
By Bus
Busses are an efficient and affordable way to
travel in Turkey. Private bus companies provide frequent
day and night services between all Turkish cities. Local
Tourism Information Offices usually have bus schedules for
their regions; their addresses can be found at
www.turizm.gov.tr by clicking on "Tourism
Information."
The major
bus lines have spacious, comfortable coaches, and offer
coffee, tea and snacks. The two largest bus companies' web
sites,
www.varan.com.tr and
www.ulusoy.com.tr, provide routes, schedules, ticket
prices, and office addresses.
By Train
The extensive Turkish State Railways network
connects most major cities. On some trains, sleeping
compartments are available. Detailed train schedules and
prices as well as reservation telephone numbers and
authorized ticket agents are listed on their web site at
www.tcdd.gov.tr. Transportation From and To the
Airport
Havas
airport busses are a convenient and affordable alternative
to taxis for transportation from airports to downtown
areas or from downtown areas to airports in Turkey. You
can find detailed information about the schedules at
www.havas.com.tr
How can I travel to eastern
or southeastern Turkey?
Several
specialized tour operators offer organized tours to
Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. A list of these tour
operators can be obtained from the Washington, D.C.
Turkish Government Tourism Office. It is also possible to
rent a car in Turkey and drive to these areas. However,
during winter some parts of Eastern Anatolia can be quite
cold and snowy. Roads are not always passable. Therefore,
it is generally recommended that visitors travel to these
regions as part of an organized tour during the summer.
Where should I stay in
Turkey?
Turkey
offers a wide array of comfortable and modern lodgings to
fit any budget. Larger cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and
Izmir, offer a range of international chain hotels, as
well as many charming locally run Turkish properties.
Seaside resorts on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and
other popular tourism destinations abound with hotels,
pensions and holiday villages. Many of the Turkey tour
specialists listed in our guide can make hotel
reservations.
The
Ministry of Tourism licenses a number of hotels throughout
the country. Rated from one to five stars, they must meet
standards set forth by the Ministry. Renovated and
refurbished Ottoman mansions, 19th century wooden houses
and other historic buildings now operate as special
licensed hotels. The Turkish Tourism Offices can provide a
Hotel Guide that lists numerous hotels licensed by the
Ministry of Tourism. Licensed hotels and other licensed
accommodations in any city in Turkey can also be found at
www.turizm.gov.tr
See
www.hotelguide.com.tr for a comprehensive list of
hotels in all regions of Turkey sorted in alphabetical
order.
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.
How can I hire a guide?
Guides
can be pre-arranged prior to departure through any of the
Turkey tour specialists, or can easily be hired upon
arrival in Turkey. Most hotels offer concierge services,
which can provide reliable guides to their guests for an
affordable fee. The advantage of hiring a guide through
your hotel is that the guide will usually have a long
history of working successfully with the hotel and its
previous guests. However, visitors may also go to any
local travel agency in Turkey and make arrangements on the
spot.
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. Visit the
"What to buy" section at
www.turizm.gov.tr to discover shopping opportunities
in each province.
Unique
regional handicrafts make shopping that much more
enjoyable. Traditional Turkish handicrafts crafts
including carpets, ceramics and pottery, tiles, copper
items, woodcarvings, decorative glass, and embroidery are
a major component of Turkish culture. They are a stunning
reflection of Turkey's diverse cultural heritage and
thousands of years of history. For more information on
Turkish handicrafts visit
www.kultur.gov.tr (click on Culture, then
Handicrafts).
The
Turkish Ministry of Culture's Revolving Capital
Administration (DOSIM) promotes production of Anatolian
handcrafts. DOSIM markets those products through its 13
Cultural Products Sales Centers located throughout the
country. Please visit
www.kultur.gov.tr and click on "DOSIM Shopping" to
find out more about DOSIM and the locations of their Sales
Centers.
The
Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey (TURING) has
restored the old Cedid Mehmet Efendi Medresesi in
Sultanahmet and now operates it as the Istanbul
Handicrafts Center. The center's aim is to revive dying
crafts and show visitors how these arts and crafts were
performed. Each of its rooms is devoted to a traditional
Turkish craft, such as producing marbled paper,
calligraphy, painting miniatures, making lace, pinking and
embroidering. There is also traditional bookbinding, and a
glass and porcelain atelier. For more information, visit
their web site at
www.turing.org.tr (click on "Cultural Institutions"
then "Istanbul Handicraft Center").
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.
Where can I find information
on Festivals, Fairs and other Events in Turkey?
There are
more than 100 festivals in Turkey every year. In addition
to the local festivals organized in almost every city of
the country, international culture and art festivals are
held in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and
Antalya. Istanbul is the most important center in Turkey
of international culture and art festivals.
Information on the principle Turkish international art and
culture festivals and other important events can be found
at www.turkey.org (click on Travel and Tourism -Calender
and Weather section) The Istanbul Culture and Art
Foundation's web site,
www.istfest.org, gives detailed information on their
festivals in Istanbul.
In recent
years, Turkey has been very popular with the congress
tourism market, and Turkey hosts more congresses, fairs
and conventions every year. With over 50 airlines flying
to Turkey and most major European cities just a two or
three hour flight away, Istanbul has become the venue of
choice for many conventions and exhibitions. Istanbul
offers the 5,000-person capacity Istanbul Convention &
Exhibition Center (ICEC), two fair and exhibition halls,
the International Exhibition Center (CNR) and the Fair and
Congress Center (TUYAP), and numerous five star hotels
with convention facilities. Istanbul can host 25,000
conference and exhibition delegates and visitors at any
one time. For more information on ICEC, CNR, TUYAP and for
a calendar of fairs and exhibitions at these centers,
visit their web sites:
www.icec.org,
www.itf-exhibitions.com, and
www.tuyap.com
A list
and a calendar of all fairs throughout Turkey can be found
at
www.igeme.org.tr (the calendar of fairs is in
Turkish).
How can I receive more
information about Turkey?
Those
interested in learning more about the Turkish Republic and
discovering what Turkey has to offer to visitors may call
or write to either of the two Turkish Government Tourism
Offices in the U.S. at:
Washington, D.C. Turkish Government Tourism Office
2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 612-6800
Fax: (202) 319-7446
E-mail:
dc@tourismturkey.org
New York
Turkish Government Tourism Office
821 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 687-2194
Fax: (212) 599-7568
E-mail:
ny@tourismturkey.org
We also
maintain an up-to-date web site with useful information
and links about many subjects relating to Turkey and
Turkish tourism at
www.tourismturkey.org. The Turkish Ministry of
Tourism's web site at
www.turizm.gov.tr is also a comprehensive site
featuring many topics relating to Turkish tourism.
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