Istanbul’s
Kapali Carsi Bazaar has jewelry, carpets and antiques for sale. Turkish handicrafts include a rich variety of textiles and embroideries, articles of copper, onyx and tile, mother-of-pearl, inlaid articles, leather and suede products, jewelry and, above all, carpets and
kilims. Most of the other cities and larger resorts have a market area where visitors can buy souvenirs and handicrafts.
Shopping hours Daily 0930-1900 in tourist areas. Closing hours vary, with some shops staying open until midnight. Outside tourist areas shops may close at lunchtime
and on Sundays. Istanbul covered market: Mon-Sat 0800-1900 (closed Sunday).
Currency Information:CurrencyNew Turkish Lira (TRY; symbol YTL) = 100 New Kurus (Ykr). Notes are in denominations of YTL100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of YTL1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 New Kurus.
Note: The old Turkish Lira (TL) was withdrawn from circulation on 1 January 2006.
Currency ExchangeCash can usually be exchanged commission free in bureaux de change, banks or hotels. Traveller’s cheques can only be exchanged in banks with a passport. Travelers planning to exchange currency back before leaving Turkey, or making a major purchase which may need to be declared to customs, must retain transaction receipts to prove that the currency was legally exchanged.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMsAmerican Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are available in most areas.
Traveller's ChequesTraveller’s cheques can only be exchanged in banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
Banking HoursMon-Fri 0830-1200 and 1330-1700. Some banks in tourist areas and large cities are open daily.
Exchange Rate Indicators| Date | Apr 07 |
| £1.00= | YTL2.72 |
| $1.00= | YTL1.37 |
| €1.00= | YTL1.84 |
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