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Turkey Practical information Turkey

 
 
Area : 116809  sq.mi - Population 72561312 hab.
Turkey

Our expert Turkey

map

map Turkey

Weather

  • Istanbul  19°C 20°C 21°C 21°C
  • Ankara  20°C 23°C 24°C 22°C
  • Izmir  25°C 25°C 24°C 25°C
  • Bursa  22°C 24°C 23°C 22°C
  • Adana  26°C 27°C 26°C 29°C
  • Konya  20°C 22°C 22°C 21°C
  • Antalya  26°C 25°C 24°C 25°C
  • Bodrum  24°C 22°C 24°C 24°C
  • Trabzon  22°C 21°C 24°C 24°C
  • Diyarbakir  25°C 29°C 29°C 29°C

Practical information Turkey

superficie

Area

116809  sq.mi
vol

Flights

Istanbul is approximately 1,550 miles from London and about a 4 hour flight from the UK.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

GMT+2
population

Population

72561312 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul serves the European side of the city and is located about 15 miles to the west. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport serves the Asian side of the city and is 22 miles south east of central Istanbul. There are shuttle services available at a reasonable price, as well as taxis. Depending on traffic, the ride can take anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour. The Milas-Bodrum International Airport is 22 miles from the centre of Bodrum and the journey takes about 45 minutes. Taxis from the airport to Bodrum are especially expensive, about £40.
securite

Security

Yes, Turkey has been the scene of numerous attacks over the past years but being a tourist over there is a case of using common sense. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, travellers ought to be vigilant during their stay, both in the large cities and in seaside resorts.

The borders with Iraq remain closed until further notice. It is important to remain cautious when visiting the areas in the south-east of Turkey, and avoid travelling in the evening and remote areas. Traffic restrictions may occur in the areas bordering Iraq, especially in the regions of Sirnak and Hakkari.

The more remote Eastern lands are, nonetheless, more volatile due to the Kurdish issue. Prior to any movement in this area, seek advice from the British embassy or consulate, and keep them informed of your plans. Try to use the main highways (where there are no flights) and avoid stopping in isolated areas.
langue

Languages

Turkish is the official language. English is understood in tourist areas.
formalites

Requirements

A valid passport is required for travel to Turkey. Ensure that younger children in the travelling party have a passport or identity card (a family certificate is not enough). Passengers on cruise ships entering Turkey for 1 day only do not need a visa, provided they return to the ship the same day. However, a visa is required to enter Turkey for British nationals. This multiple entry visa is valid for 90 days and can be obtained at the port of entry on payment of £10 cash, or can be acquired in advance from the Turkish consular in London. As of 1 February 2012, the Turkish immigration authorities will enforce rules that stipulate a maximum stay in the country of 90 days in a 180 day period.
religion

Religion

99.8% of the population is Muslim. However, the country is also has a Christian minority and a small Jewish community.
monnaie

Currency

The Turkish lira (TL) has been in circulation since 1st January 2009: 1TL = approximately 0.4 GBP. You can exchange currency in foreign exchange offices, banks and hotels all over the country. All international credit cards are accepted. Cash machines are present in all cities and in tourist areas (given the continuous inflation, it is best to withdraw money as and when you need it rather than in one lump sum at the beginning of your stay). Whenever possible, avoid credit card payments processed using old manual machines as the carbon copies can be used for fraudulent purposes. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 12:00pm and from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Some shops also accept euros, but not pounds, in the cities and tourist areas in particular.
transports

Local transportation

Domestic flights serve most regional tourist cities from Istanbul and Izmir. However it's very practical to travel by car, as the local trains and buses can be slow. Our preferred car rental company, Budget, is present in all of the major Turkish towns and cities. It also offers regular car hire offers, such as special deals for passengers of Pegasus airlines, so keep an eye on their website. Some may say the Turks have a 'special' way of driving so always be careful and vigilant, as you would be anywhere! For short distances, go by taxi, at a very affordable cost, or by 'dolmus,' small cheap buses that stop and pick up on request. The Istanbul subway is equally comfortable and efficient.

One of the more economical and highly practical ways of getting around within Turkey is with the local low cost airline Pegasus. From Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport, fly to Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir and many other domestic destinations. Pegasus of course links UK cities such as Birmingham, Manchester and London (Gatwick and Stansted airports) with various towns and cities in Turkey.
sante

Health

No particular vaccine is required. However, it is recommended that you are vaccinated against typhoid and hepatitises A and B. Avoid drinking tap water.
electricite

Electricity

220 V. Electric plugs are compatible.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

According to the Ministry of Tourism 2,426,749 British tourists visited Turkey in 2009.
taxe

Taxes and tips

Tipping is much less common in Turkey than in other Middle-Eastern countries, but luggage carriers, taxi drivers (round up to the nearest whole number) and restaurant staff (where service is not included in the bill) usually receive tips of between 5% and 20% of the total bill.
telephone

Telephone

To call Turkey from the UK: Dial 00 + 90 (country code) + local code (212 for Istanbul, 242 for Antalya, 232 for Izmir) + number you are calling.
From Turkey to the UK: Dial 00 + 44 + the number you are calling without the initial 0.