| |
 Travel Tips
& Info
Useful Sites
Turkey in the News
Editors Corner
Turkey Regions
Turkey
Maps
Did You Know?
10 Things To
Do In Turkey |
|
Travel Tips Turkey & Country
Info
Location
Turkey is located in south/western Asia (the part that is west of the
Bosphorus is included with Europe, or referred to as the ‘European
side’) and borders south eastern Europe. In the north it borders the Black Sea. To the west is the Aegean
Sea, Greece and Bulgaria and to the east are Georgia, Armenia & Iran. In the
south it borders the Mediterranean Sea, along with Iraq and Syria. It
occupies a landmass of 780,580 square kilometres and its capital is Ankara.
Geography
Turkey is divided into 7 geographic regions: Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean,
South-eastern, Eastern, Black Sea and Central Anatolia. Over half Turkey's
land mass is above 1000 metres, with mountain ranges extending in an
east-west direction parallel to the north and south coasts. The highest
mountain of Turkey is the Mount Ararat in the east, on which Noah's Ark is
believed to be, and it is not far from Lake Van, the biggest lake of the
country. The country has seven river basins, all of which have their sources
within its borders and flow into the sea, into neighbouring countries.
Turkey is a country of diverse landscapes, fertile plains, endless beaches,
high mountains, long rivers like Euphrates and Tigris, which flow south as the elevation decreases
rapidly.
Government System
The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) consisting of 550 members, is
democratically elected by voters for a 5 year term. Voting is
compulsory for all people 19 years and over. The TGNA then elects the Prime
Minister and President to share executive powers and also The National Security
Council, who is made up of high-level government and military officials,
who meet regularly to advise the officials of current issues.
Population
The population of Turkey is around 74 million. 60% of its population is
under 26 age.
Major industry
Agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism are the main industries in
Turkey.
go
top ↑
Climate
Although Turkey is situated in a geographical location where climatic
conditions are quite temperate, the diverse nature of the landscape, and the
existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts,
results in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to
the other.
Istanbul is part of Europe and the weather reflects that. You'll find a wet
cold winter (3-8 degrees Celsius) slowly turning into a damp, warm Spring
and a mild to hot (18-32 C°)
summer that doesn't hang around any
longer than feels is necessary.
The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate
with hot summers (24-36°C) and mild winters (4-16 °C).
Cappadocia shares the climate of much of inland Turkey. Summers can be very
hot and your altitude is directly proportional to the amount of snow you get
in the winter.
Being a large country there is no ‘average’ climatic condition and there are
considerable variations between Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coastal
regions. In Central Anatolia (Cappadocia) there is a considerable variation
between day and night time temperatures, with summer peaking at around 26°C.
Around Izmir and Ephesus
the climate is warmer still, with average summertime temperatures
occasionally exceeding 30°C. Further south on the Mediterranean in Fethiye
mild winter for a few months and long hot summers with 30°C average. As for
eastern Turkey The climate of the region can be harsh and unpredictable,
summers tend to be hot and extremely dry. Winters are bitterly cold with
frequent, heavy snowfall. Villages can be isolated for several days during
winter storms. Spring and autumn are generally mild, but during both seasons
sudden hot and cold spells frequently occur.
go
top ↑
Country Festivals & Official Holidays 2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
23 Apr National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.
19 May Commemoration of Ataturk and Youth & Sports Day.
30 Aug Victory Day.
1-4 Oct Ramazan Bayrami (End of Ramadan).
28-29 Oct (28th is a half-day) Republic Day.
7-11 Dec Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice).
go
top ↑
Visas
Please ensure that you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and
regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and
vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with
your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.
www.mfa.gov.tr
Most Nationalities require a visa for Turkey which can be purchased upon
arrival at Ataturk Airport. There are normally two types of tourist visas. A
single-entry visa allows you to enter Turkey once. After you leave, no
matter how long you've stayed in Turkey, you must pay for another visa to
enter Turkey again. A multiple-entry visa allows you to enter and leave
Turkey multiple times within its period of validity (normally 30, 60 or 90
days) at no additional charge.
Make sure you have cash (US dollars, euros, or pounds sterling) to pay for
your visa when you enter Turkey as no travellers cheques or credit cards are
accepted, cash only!
If you are arriving overland from Syria, Greece, Bulgaria or with a cruise,
most nationalities will be able obtain a Turkish visa at the border or port
customs.
Vaccinations
Currently there are no compulsory vaccinations for Turkey; however, please
consult your doctor for further advise.
Working Hours
Government Offices
Monday-Friday (8:30-12:30) , (13:30-17:30)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8:30-17:00)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9:30-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
Istanbul Covered market: Monday-Saturday (8:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
During summer months, the government offices and many other establishments
in the Aegean and Mediterranean Regions are closed in the afternoon. These
fixed summer hours are determined by the governing bodies of the provinces.
go
top ↑
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in
October).
Telephone
The international dialling code for Turkey is +90. IDD is widely available.
The outgoing international code is: 00. There is an extensive internal
telephone network, but often an interpreter will be needed for more remote
areas. To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are found in all areas,
telephone cards and tokens are used. Local, inter-city and international
calls can be made from all PTT offices. Mobile phones work across 99.9 % of
the country and there are internet cafes in all cities.
go
top ↑
Email & Internet
Internet cafes are widely available throughout the cities and rural areas and the local
charges are generally very low. This is easily the cheapest form of
communication. A few internet cafes are starting to offer VOIP services
(using Skype or a similar host network).
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two pin plugs are used throughout Turkey.
go
top ↑
Food
The style of Turkish food owes some of its origins from the nomadic
lifestyle of the people of this region during the reign of the Sultans. Even
today the evening meal is often the evenings entertainment. Mezze, the
equivalent of the western 'starter', consists of a huge selection of tasty
dishes served individually in the centre of the table which include
vegetables, meat, chicken and seafood all prepared in uniquely different
ways. It is customary for everyone to sample a taste from every dish, which
often consist of the same vegetable prepared in a number of very different
ways. There are for example over 100 ways to prepare Aubergines alone.
Eating in a traditional Turkish restaurant is never a hurried affair and
people tend to take their time. The transition from mezzes to the main
course is not always obvious. The arrival of skewers of succulent lamb or
chicken, supplemented by tasty rice dishes has to be anticipated at the
mezze stage in order to avoid overdoing the first course. Deserts are very
sweet (similar to Greek desserts) complement the predominantly savoury
aspect of Turkish food.
Transport
Turkey has a good long-distance bus network with air-conditioned buses,
reserved seats and generally good service quality, at least with the big
operators. There are a few firms now provide luxurious buses with 1st class
seats and service. Buses are staffed by good drivers and a number of
assistants. On long haul travel a second driver will take over when the
first gets exhausted. During the ride you will be offered free drinks, a
bite or two, and stops will be made every two hours and a half or so at
well-stocked road restaurants. The further East you travel, the less
frequent busses will be, but even places as far as Dogubeyazit or Van will
have regular services to many places hundreds of kilometres away.
Major cities are served by airlines as well, with reasonable prices, beating
the bus travel experience especially over longer distances. Tickets can be
conveniently bought from us or at ticket
offices of Turkish Airlines , Onur Air , Fly Air , Pegasus Airlines and
Atlasjet among others . Many of the large cities have daily connections to
the traffic hubs Ankara and Istanbul, others will have flights on specific
days only. Upon arrival at regional airports there will often be a
connecting Havas bus, which has very limited stops. They
may wait for half an hour, but will be available after the arrival of major
flights.
Shopping
Shopping is one of great pleasures of a trip to
Turkey, and the rich variety of Turkish crafts make it impossible to resist
buying a gift for friends or for yourself. Alongside the most modern
objects, traditional handicrafts from villages and cities can be found. The
most popular objects for the holiday makers are, of course, carpets; but the
various leather and suede goods, copper and bronze wares, silver, ceramics,
handicrafts, embroidery, and the famous Turkish meerschaum and onyx are on
many shopping lists.
go
top ↑
Airports
Ataturk International Airport is located 24km (15 miles) west of Istanbul.
There are 17 International & 47 domestic airports. International airports
facilitate banks, ATMs and exchange bureaus. At International airports there
are 24-hour shopping facilities, including duty free shopping, 24-hour
left-luggage facilities and porter services are also available. In Istanbul
to get into the city, there is a light rail metro system connects the
airport to Esenler. Taxis or dolmus (shared taxis) are available from the
airport. Havas airport buses run to central Istanbul (Taksim Square) and to
the bus terminal on demand (journey time: 30 minutes).
Places of Worship
If you wish to enter a place of worship, ask
first. Shoes must always be removed before entering a mosque. Some mosques
are out of bounds to tourists. Always dress conservatively, as
though you were entering a Church, Synagogue or any other place of worship. In general, respect the
locals wishes and tread softly wherever you go.
go
top ↑
Dress Standards
When it comes to dress codes, expectation that women will dress
conservatively. Skimpy clothing is offensive to many local people,
particularly the older generation and will be frowned upon. However it is
fine for women to wear shorts in the more popular tourist areas, there is
unlimited freedom on most beaches. A good option
is a light cotton dress, or baggy cotton pants. You will need a dress when
visiting mosques.
Men's clothing is less subject to scrutiny. We recommend, however, that you
take a mix of cotton pants and shorts. When visiting a
mosque, both men and women should cover their limbs. Men can get away with
trousers and a short-sleeved shirt; women should wear a dress (below the
knees) with long sleeves, and when swimming, costumes must be worn at all times and a swimsuit, for women,
is far more acceptable than a bikini.
go
top ↑
Safety
Please take great care with your passport, airline tickets and monies. Most
accommodation will have safety deposit facilities, which you are strongly
urged to use. Do not carry more cash than required. A money belt worn under
your clothing is suggested. If you are buying something, you should not
flash large amounts of money around. Please clearly mark all your baggage
with your name and address. Common sense and
awareness will greatly reduce the unlikely misfortune of loss or theft. We
also suggest you carry small padlocks for your luggage.
go
top ↑
Currency
For many years Turkey had a somewhat confusing currency for foreigners, with
a Euro worth about 1,900,000 Turkish Lira. Literally anyone with 1 US dollar
was a millionaire. In 2004, the 'New Turkish Lira'
was introduced, with the Euro becoming 1.9 New Turkish Lira (YTL). Most of
the old notes have been phased out but you may still encounter them in some
areas so please check your change carefully. New notes are as follows,
the old notes had 6 zeros more. 100 YTL, 50 YTL, 20 YTL, 10 YTL, 5 YTL, 1 YTL (TL 1,000,000). There are also
coins for 1 YTL. The New Turkish Lira is divided into 100 Kurus (YKR) and
these are all coins. Currency can be exchanged at airports, banks and
exchange booths of which there are many. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday
from 8.30pm to 5.00pm. All bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus, Plus
and just about every credit card and ATM's can also be found at ideally in
many places. Major credit cards are widely accepted. Traveller's cheques can
be exchanged at banks and hotels. US$ or Euros are preferred. Post Offices
in the larger towns will sometimes change currency and travellers cheques
for a much lower commission than banks. The local currency is New Turkish Lira (YTL).
Check out www.tcmb.gov.tr for current exchange rates.
Money
Money is safest carried in the form of traveller's cheques; however, these
are difficult to change in regional areas. With plenty of ATM's in
major cities more and more people are bringing a combination of cash and
credit cards. Look for ATMs displaying either the Maestro, Cirrus, Visa or
MasterCard or whatever your card symbol is. ATMs will allow you to access
cash (in local currency) from your credit card and possibly from your
savings account if it is linked to Maestro or Cirrus or Visa Plus network.
Withdrawn money or the purchase amount will be converted precisely by
www.tcmb.gov.tr official rates.
If you are bringing cash, then the best currencies are US Dollars, Euro's or
British Pounds. Be aware that most insurance policies will not cover for
loss or theft of cash.
Credit cards are useful for large purchases but they may not be accepted in
small restaurants, mini markets, local transport, taxis. More
likely they will only accept cash as payment for goods or services.
go
top ↑
Airport taxes
There are no departure taxes payable locally when departing Turkey by air
(it's included in your air ticket).
Local prices
Eating out in Turkey is relatively inexpensive. Good quality snack foods,
such as small pizzas, cheese puffs or doner kebab sandwiches are good for a
light lunch, will cost about 2-5 Euro. A typical dinner will include mezzes
and kebabs and will set you back about Euro 6-12 Euro. Soft drinks cost about
1 Euro and a beer around Euro 2 in shops. In pubs and bars, beer is around
3-6 Euro.
go
top ↑
History
Earliest records of the Turkish people show that their ancestors in Central
Asia date back to some time before 2000 BC. The word ‘Turk’ comes from
Chinese and the Great Wall was built to keep out Turkish tribes. Roaming
widely throughout Asia and Europe, the Turks established vast empires
throughout these continents.
By the 10th century, most Turks had adopted the religion of Islam. Following
this substantial change, the Karahanid Empire of central Asia (10th and 11th
centuries) and the Ghaznavid Empire (10th and 12th centuries) developed in
areas known today as Iran, Afghanistan and Northern India. Some Turks
travelled southwest to Anatolia (Asia Minor) considered to be the cradle of
civilisation because it has embraced more than 20 cultures and
civilizations. These civilizations included the Hittites, Assyrians, Lydians,
Greeks, Persians, Macedonians, lonians, Romans, Byzantines and Turks. In AD
1071, the Turks fought a crucial war with the Byzantine Empire. Settling in
Anatolia (which today covers most of Turkey), they established many small
feudal states and some empires.
The Seljuk Empire was the first Turkish Empire in Anatolia. After the
Seljuk's' influence declined, Anatolia fragmented into a number of small
states. The Ottoman Turks unified these separate units, which eventually
became the largest empire in recent history, the Ottoman Empire. The
Ottomans ruled for more than six centuries (1281 - 1922), in part because
their system of government allowed flexibility in the practice of diverse
religions, languages and cultures.
By the end of World War I, the Ottoman Empire had collapsed completely. In
1922, a fundamental political and social revolution took place, and the
Sultanate, or Kingship, of Turkey was abolished. A man named Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk was elected President of the Grand National Assembly in December and
led the War of Liberation against such world powers as Greece. The next move
of Kemal's was the declaration of a Republic, occurring in 1923, to which he
was again elected President. A wave of change swept through the country. The
Arabic script was abolished and many religious schools and convents were
closed. Ataturk is considered the founder of Modern Turkey and after
surviving earlier assassination attempts he died in 1938. His comrade and
long time friend Inonu became President of the Republic and the Turkish
woman were given their right to vote and to be elected.
During the course of World War II, Turkey remained divided; people against
government. Only when it became clear that the Allies would win did Turkey's
more liberal side show itself. The final Allied victory, in fact, was the
turning point of Turkey's governmental system. Democracy flourished, opening
new doors of escape from the influence of strict governing. As new parties emerged, the Democrat Party became the most
prominent, eventually overshadowing all others. In 1949, small measures of
religion were re-introduced to the school system. By 1990, Turkey's
government had become a republican parliamentary democracy, since then, there are
82 provinces of the Republic of
Turkey. The principal one of the 82 is the province of Ankara which
is Turkey's capital.
Historical events of recent years including the War on Terror,
the Gulf War, the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet
Union (which gave independence to Turkish republics in Central Asia) have
increased Turkey's importance as a power for peace and stability in the
region.
Turkey is an element of stability in an otherwise turbulent part of the
world. As a modern, secular democracy with a free market economy, Turkey
will continue to expand its role as a commercial, political and cultural
link between the Middle East, the Caucasus, the Balkans and the West.
go
top ↑
People
The Turks are racially diverse. Many are the descendants of refugees, often
from the Balkans, but a strong sense of national identity is rooted in a
shared language and religion. Most are Sunni Moslems, although a Shia
community including the Alawite sect is growing fast. The largest community
are the Kurds, making up about 20% of the population and the rest are Turks.
There are some 500,000 Arabic speakers.
Language
Turkish, English, German and French are widely spoken in cities.
Religion
99 %
Moslem with a small Christian and Jewish minority. Turkey is a secular state which
guarantees complete freedom of worship to any religion.
go
top ↑
Economy
Turkey is one of the only regional countries that export agricultural
produce such as cotton, tobacco, fruit and vegetables. Agriculture accounts
for over 15% of total economic output and is a major employer, particularly
of women. There are also sizeable mining and manufacturing industries.
Tourism is one of the largest service sectors and serves as a key source of
foreign exchange. Turkey is attempting to become part of the European Union
and as a result many social and economic reforms are taking place throughout
the country. As a result of this European alignment, Turkey’s trading
partners have expanded widely from the Middle East, Europe, Balkans, Asia,
Australia to America.
ABOUT THESE COUNTRY NOTES
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled
with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information
may become out of date. If you have any queries, please contact us for
further information, please contact us at
info@exclusivetravelturkey.com
Last updated
10 May 2008
go
top ↑ |
|
