Turkey Travel Guide

Language

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

Currency

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travelers checks can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

1.6093

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin plug is standard.

Communications

The international country dialing code for Turkey is +90. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Istanbul Asya (Asia side) is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Turkey do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200g tobacco. Alcohol allowance includes 1 liter or 700ml bottle of wine or spirits. Other allowances include 5 bottles perfume up to 120ml each; gifts to the value of dm500, tea and coffee for personal consumption, jewelry and guns for sporting purposes. Tape recorders, record players and transistor radios have to be declared on arrival. Restricted items include playing cards limited to one pack.

Tourist Office

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org

Embassies in Turkey

• United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000.
• British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344.
• Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 409 2700.
• Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500.
• South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 405 6861.
• Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 1000.
• New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 3333.

Turkey Embassies Abroad

• Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700.
• Turkish Consulate, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7391 6900.
• Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044.
• Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6234 0000.
• Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6055.
• Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240.
• Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1290.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 110 (Ambulance); 115 (Fire)

Language

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

Currency

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travelers checks can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

1.6093

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin plug is standard.

Communications

The international country dialing code for Turkey is +90. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Istanbul Asya (Asia side) is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Turkey do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200g tobacco. Alcohol allowance includes 1 liter or 700ml bottle of wine or spirits. Other allowances include 5 bottles perfume up to 120ml each; gifts to the value of dm500, tea and coffee for personal consumption, jewelry and guns for sporting purposes. Tape recorders, record players and transistor radios have to be declared on arrival. Restricted items include playing cards limited to one pack.

Tourist Office

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org

Embassies in Turkey

• United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000.
• British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344.
• Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 409 2700.
• Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500.
• South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 405 6861.
• Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 1000.
• New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 3333.

Turkey Embassies Abroad

• Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700.
• Turkish Consulate, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7391 6900.
• Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044.
• Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6234 0000.
• Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6055.
• Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240.
• Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1290.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 110 (Ambulance); 115 (Fire)

Language

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

Currency

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travelers checks can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

1.6093

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin plug is standard.

Communications

The international country dialing code for Turkey is +90. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Istanbul Asya (Asia side) is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Turkey do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200g tobacco. Alcohol allowance includes 1 liter or 700ml bottle of wine or spirits. Other allowances include 5 bottles perfume up to 120ml each; gifts to the value of dm500, tea and coffee for personal consumption, jewelry and guns for sporting purposes. Tape recorders, record players and transistor radios have to be declared on arrival. Restricted items include playing cards limited to one pack.

Tourist Office

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org

Embassies in Turkey

• United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000.
• British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344.
• Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 409 2700.
• Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500.
• South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 405 6861.
• Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 1000.
• New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 3333.

Turkey Embassies Abroad

• Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700.
• Turkish Consulate, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7391 6900.
• Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044.
• Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6234 0000.
• Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6055.
• Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240.
• Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1290.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 110 (Ambulance); 115 (Fire)

Language

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

Currency

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travelers checks can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

1.6093

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. The European two-pin plug is standard.

Communications

The international country dialing code for Turkey is +90. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. Istanbul Asya (Asia side) is (0)216 and Istanbul Avrupa (Europe side) is (0)212. GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover most of the country. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

Duty-Free

Travelers to Turkey do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200g tobacco. Alcohol allowance includes 1 liter or 700ml bottle of wine or spirits. Other allowances include 5 bottles perfume up to 120ml each; gifts to the value of dm500, tea and coffee for personal consumption, jewelry and guns for sporting purposes. Tape recorders, record players and transistor radios have to be declared on arrival. Restricted items include playing cards limited to one pack.

Tourist Office

Turkish Tourist Office: +90 (0)212 573 4136 (Istanbul) or www.tourismturkey.org

Embassies in Turkey

• United States Consulate General, Istanbul: +90 (0)212 335 9000.
• British Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 455 3344.
• Canadian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 409 2700.
• Australian Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 9500.
• South African Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 405 6861.
• Irish Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 459 1000.
• New Zealand Embassy, Ankara: +90 (0)312 446 3333.

Turkey Embassies Abroad

• Turkish Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 612 6700.
• Turkish Consulate, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7391 6900.
• Turkish Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 4044.
• Turkish Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6234 0000.
• Turkish Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 342 6055.
• Turkish Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 5240.
• Turkish Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 472 1290.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 110 (Ambulance); 115 (Fire)