Holidays in Turkey (FAQs)
- How can I travel to Turkey ?
- Do I need a visa to enter Turkey ?
- When is the best time to visit Turkey ?
- What is the time difference ?
- What should I take with me
?
- How can I get about in Turkey ?
- Can I hire a car ?
- What do I need to know about driving in Turkey ?
- If I have a road traffic accident what should I do ?
- What currency is used in Turkey ?
- If I am unwell or suffer a medical emergency what
should I do ?
- Do I need to have any vaccinations before visiting
Turkey ?
- Are there any restrictions on photography ?
- What are the guidelines on tipping ?
By Air: Most international flights into Turkey arrive at Ataturk
Airport Istanbul approx. 20km to the west of the centre of Istanbul.
Domestic flights to other Turkish cities depart from the nearby domestic
terminal linked by shuttle bus.
International flights also arrive at Ankara,
Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Trabzon & Dalaman airports.
Dalaman airport servers the Fethiye/Oludeniz area
and is about one hour's drive, this will be reduced
upon completion of a road tunnel through the
mountains during 2007.
By Sea: There are three ways to
arrive in Turkey by sea, Turkish Maritime Lines
operate ferries from Venice to Izmir with daily
services from Northern Cyprus, there are also
ferries from some of the Greek islands.
By Train: The Istanbul Express
leaves daily for Istanbul from Munich, Vienna and
Athens with connecting services from Sofia in
Bulgaria. Weekly services to Istanbul also
leave from Moscow, Budapest and Bucharest.
By car: No documents are needed for
visits of less than three months the vehicle is
entered on the driver's passport as imported goods,
if you intend to drive to Turkey you are advised to
check with you insurance company to extend your
insurance cover.
By coach: There are regular coach
services to Turkey from Austria, France, Germany,
Holland, Italy, Switzerland & Greece
Visa requirements differ from country to country and you should check with
your travel agent, Turkish consulate or embassy for any visa requirements.
For British and Irish nationals arriving in
Turkey a visa is required which can be purchased on
entry. They are valid for three months and
cost £10, so ensure that you have sufficient
sterling with you to cover the cost, change is
rarely available.
The visa is valid for three months which allows
you to enter and leave Turkey during this period, if
you have visited Turkey recently and are returning
and your visa is still valid for your period of stay
then there is no need to purchase another visa.
The Aegean, Mediterranean coasts: The tourist season normally
runs from 1st April to 31st October. May, June & September are the best
months July and August can be very hot for sightseeing in the midday sun.
Swimming in the sea of the Northern Aegean is normally from June to September,
and from April to November in the Southern Aegean and Mediterranean areas.
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The time in Turkey is GMT + 2 hours
Australia: + 8 hours - Canada - 7 hours - UK - 2
hours
Loose light cotton clothing is best, with a
cardigan or jacket for the cooler evenings.
Comfortable shoes are essential for scrambling over
rocky archaeological sites you may visit and sun
hats, sunglasses and high protection sun cream are
recommended.
A torch is always useful for returning to your
accommodation at night as street lighting is not
always installed along the roadsides.
The electricity current is 220 volts 50 cycles
throughout the country with two pin European plugs -
don't forget the adapter! although they are readily
available locally.
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Domestic air travel: Operated by Turkish Airlines (THY) between
local airports in Turkey. Flights are good value and frequent, THY buses
usually run from the airports to their offices in city centers. Flight
tickets can be arranged through Activities Unlimited office.
Intercity buses: Comfortable,
usually air conditioned, reliable and inexpensive,
there are many private companies offering frequent
day and night services between all Turkish cities.
Tickets should be booked a day or two in advance and
this can be arranged through Activities Unlimited
office.
Taxis & Dolmus: Yellow taxis are metered
with a day tariff and a night tariff. The
night tariff operates from 12 midnight to 6.0 am in
the morning, it is not normal to tip a taxi driver
however rounding up the fare is appreciated.
Dolmus (pronounced Dolmush) normally a minibus
operates on set routes and passengers pay according
to the distance travelled. Pasengers can
alight anywhere on route and a destination
board is normally displayed. Fares are cheaper
than a taxis which are fixed by the municipality.
Yes of course - Drivers must be over 21 years and be in possession of a current valid
driving licence from their own country. Third party insurance is
compulsory and it is advisable to take out collision damage and personal injury
comprehensive cover.
Cars and Jeeps are available for hire through
Activities Unlimited, email us for pre-booking
and for our competitive daily rates.
Generally the road network in Turkey is very good and usually well maintained
and roads outside of towns are pleasantly clear of large volumes of traffic
which makes driving on the open road in Turkey a pleasurable experience.
Traffic drives on the right in Turkey. The
speed limit in towns is generally 50 kph, 90 kph on
state highways and 120 kph on motorways but keep an
eye out for speed signs in towns as the speed limit can be
less than 50 kph and ensure you reduce your speed
when passing through villages as traffic police
frequently carry out spot checks especially on entry
to towns and villages where the limit changes from
90 kph to 50 kph.
If you are caught exceeding the speed limit a
speeding ticket is issued and payment is normally
made on the spot in cash.
Turkish road signs conform to the international
protocol. Seat belts are compulsory in the front
seats and should be worn.
At all times expect the unexpected, particularly
driving outside towns, be prepared for agricultural
vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road,
livestock wandering on the road along with the
chickens, dogs and cats, sheep, cattle and of course
children! A whole family on a scooter or motor
bike is also a common sight! along with the pillion
passenger riding side saddle. Crash helmets
are compulsory but infrequently worn.
In a nutshell it's a different driving experience
and anticipation of the unexpected is the key to
safe driving! and vigorous use of the horn will also
be needed!
Road Signs:
Dur = STOP
Yavas = SLOW Dikkat =
Watch out road works or similar
Sehir Merkezi
= Town Centre
Yellow road signs indicate archaeological sites
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Any road traffic accident should be reported to
the Traffic Police (navy uniforms with white caps)
First ensure the safety of all persons, do not
move the vehicle involved in the accident and call
the Traffic Police. It is normal for all
drivers to undergo a breath test if involved in a
road traffic accident.
If you are hiring a vehicle it is advisable to
find out in advance from the rental company what
action you should take in the event of a breakdown
or being involved in a road traffic accident.
Emergency numbers: 112 Ambulance
155 Police 110
Fire
The monetary unit is the Turkish Lira (YTL) exchange rates are published in
the daily newspapers. Most banks exchange foreign currency as do most
hotels and local shops in the tourist areas, there are also many change offices
in the major towns.
Credit and bank cards can be used in ATM's to
obtain local currency but the exchange rate may be
less than exchanging foreign currency locally.
Generally a better rate of exchange is obtained
locally so it may be advisable to change foreign
currency when you arrive. Check the
Central
Bank of Turkey web site for daily exchange
rates.
In the tourist areas you may find that goods and
services are priced in foreign currency i.e.
Sterling - it is advisable to enquire what exchange
rate applies before making any purchase.
You should make sure that you have suitable medical insurance cover when
visiting Turkey as medical and treatment costs can be very expensive.
For minor ailments go to the chemists (eczane)
and explain what the problem is, most medicines
including antibiotics are available over the
counter. In most towns and cities there is
always a 24 hour chemist. If it is necessary
to visit or call a doctor there will be a charge for
his/her services.
There are private hospitals, clinics and doctor's
offices available in towns and cities, your hotel or
tour operator will be able to advise you of where
they are. Many doctors and chemists in the
tourist areas speak good English.
In some cases you may have to pay for medical
treatment and then claim back from your insurance
company when you get home so make sure that you
receive all the necessary receipts and reports.
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There are no mandatory immunisation requirements for visits to Turkey.
If you are uncertain you should visit you own
doctor to seek advice well before arriving in
Turkey.
Never risk photography where there is a notice that expressly forbids it, as
this is an offence which can carry a prison sentence.
Some archaeological site ban flash photography
and you may sometimes find that higher entry charges
are levied for cameras and video cameras.
If a service charge of 10-15% is added to your
restaurant bill it is customary to still leave a
further tip of around 5% for the waiter. In
smaller restaurants when a service charge is not
added the norm would be a tip in the region of 10%.
It is not normal practice to tip taxis drivers a
rounding up of the fare is the accepted practise.
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