Turkey




PRACTICALITIES



Currency

Turkish lira (TL)


Official languages

Turkish


Time

GMT + 2


Calling code

+90


Area codes

Adana: 322, Ankara: 312, Bursa: 224, Gaziantep: 342, Istanbul: 212


Internet TLD

.tr


Shopping

Generally shops in tourist areas are open everyday from 9:30am to 7pm. Shops located outside tourist areas may be closed on Sunday.


National holidays

New Year’s Day January 1
National Sovereignty April 23
Commeration of Atatürk May 19
Victory Day August 30
Ramadan Feast movable feast
Republic Day October 29
Sacrifice Feast movable feast


National dish

Kebab – small pieces of roasted/grilled meat (usually lamb or beef), served with bread, tomato and yoghurt sauce
Pide – Turkish pizza, round and flat bread with cheese, minced meat and vegetables
Mant – small dumplings with meat, cheese or cabbage
Imam bayld – ‘the Imam fainted’, a dish made of eggplants, onion, garlic, tomatoes and meat
Börek – a pie filled with cheese, minced meat and potatoes
Baklava – sweet pastry made of nuts, pistachios, honey and yufka


Electricity

Turkey’s electricity runs on 220V/50Hz.


Passport/Visa

Citizens of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Vatican do not need visa for stays up to 3 months.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Romania do not need visa for stays up to 2 months.

Citizens of Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine and UK should obtain sticker-type visas to enter Turkey.

Citizens of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Slovenia should obtain a visa to enter Turkey.


Useful numbers

Ambulance: 112:
Gendarmerie: 156
Fire Brigade: 110
Police: 155