Turkey Travel Tips

Passport / Visa:

Your passport have at least six months of validity from your return date when traveling abroad.
Participants with valid U.S. or Canadian passport require a visa. If you hold a passport of a foreign country, please contact the Turkish Consulate in your area for further information on visa requirements.

Currency:

The unit of currency is the Turkish Lira (TL). Coinage is available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 Kurus with 1 Lira. Bank notes come in units of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 New Lira. It is best to consult your bank or newspaper for the current exchange rate before you leave the country. In Turkey, banks offer more favorable exchange rates than hotels. Major U.S. credit cards are widely accepted in major cities and resort areas. Sometimes, payment in U.S. dollars can help you in bargaining for a special price.
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30am to noon and from 1:30 to 5:00pm. Branches in major cities offer additional hours.

Time:

Turkey standard time is 2 hours ahead of GMT, 1 hour ahead of mid-European time, and 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Electrical Appliances:

The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts AC in all parts of the country. Most major hotels in the main cities have adapters and converters available for guest use.

What to Pack:

The dress code in Turkey is informal. Men will find that a jacket and tie may be appropriate for top restaurants and hotel dining rooms. While on tour and when visiting holy places of different faiths, dress should be conservative (no shorts or sleeveless shirts for men and women). The general rule is: the smaller the town, the more casual and conservative the dress.

Climate:

In Istanbul and around the sea of Marmara the climate is moderate. In winter 4 degrees Celsius and summer 27 degrees Celsius (39 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit) . In Western Turkey there is a mild Mediterranean climate with average temperatures of 9°C in winter and 29°C (48-84°F) in summer. On the southern coast the same climate can be found. The climate of the Anatolian Plateau is a steppe climate (there is a great temperature difference between day and night). Rainfall is low and there is more snow. The average temperature is 23 ° C (73°F) in summer and -2 (28°F) in winter. The climate in the Black Sea area is wet, warm and humid.

Shopping:

Shopping is great in Turkey, especially the bazaars. The best buys in Turkey are: leather, suede, copper, brassware, porcelains, jewelry, embroideries and the famed Turkish carpets. Remember to bargain, that’s part of the pleasure!

Shopping Hours:

Shops are generally open from 9:00am-1:00pm and from 2:00pm-7:00pm Monday through Saturday. Shops are closed on Sundays. However, in resort areas shops are open daily until 9:00pm and on Sundays.

Tipping:

Service charges are included, but it is customary to show appreciation to hotel personnel and to your guide and driver.