USEFUL INFORMATION FOR VISITORS

Passport and Visa
A passport with at least 3 months validity left on it is required for entrance into Turkey.  Be sure that the name on your passport and your airline tickets are identical.  A visa is also required for U.S. citizens and can be obtained from a Turkish consulate prior to departure or upon arrival in Turkey.

Vaccinations
No immunization shots are required for travel within Turkey.

Time Difference
Turkey is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time

Money/Banks
The monetary unit in Turkey is the lira. Although all credit cards are accepted throughout Turkey, Visa and Master Card are most commonly used. Automated teller machines are typically available in larger cities. However, it is important to know that your PIN number must be all numerals, (no letters), and that the money dispensed will be in Turkish Lira. Banking hours are 8:30AM to 12:00PM, and 1:00PM to 5:00PM Monday through Friday, throughout Turkey. Although commission rates and exchange rates vary from bank-to-bank, commission rates typically remain within 1% to 3%. Money exchange bureaus usually offer a decent rate for cash, while hotels are as good a place as any to cash travelers checks. Please note that a passport is required when exchanging travelers checks for large amounts of cash.

Post Offices
Post Offices are easily identified by their bright yellow facades and PTT (Postal, Telegraph, and Telephone) signs. The main post offices in the large cities are open Monday-Saturday 8:00AM to 9:00PM, and 9:00AM to 7:00PM on Sunday. Smaller post offices are open Monday-Saturday from 8:30AM to 5:00PM. Postal fees fluctuate according to inflation rates, though the cost of mailing postcards and letters is minimal.

Calling the US from Turkey
As throughout the world, hotels in Turkey apply heavy service fees to international phone calls. Therefore, we recommend using a long distance calling card. Although your calling card will be billed for the call, the hotel will assess a nominal fee for connecting you with the international operator. You may access AT&T at 00-800-12277, Sprint at 00-800-14477, and MCI at 00-800-11177.

Religious Services
Please check with your tour guide for details regarding time and location of religious services in particular cities.

Clothing
Since Turkey is an informal country, comfortable, casual clothing is appropriate to wear throughout. Layered comfortable clothes and sensible walking shoes are advisable to wear during sightseeing. You will be required to remove your shoes upon entering a mosque; therefore, we recommend wearing heavy socks. Be mindful that neither shorts nor bare shoulders are allowed in the mosques, and that a head covering for women, although not required, is greatly appreciated.

Laundry Facilities
Most hotels have dry cleaning/laundry services, however you will need a minimum of 2 nights stay in order to get your laundry done.

Electricity
In Turkey, electrical appliances manufactured in the U.S. require the use of a standard two-prong adapter. A converter is also needed if the appliance doesn't have dual voltage as the voltage varies between 110 and 220 of the 50 cycle. However, many hotels are equipped with 110-volt outlets for such items as shavers, and are clearly marked "For Shavers Only."  As the voltage in the U.S. is considerably higher, (240v), the use of high wattage appliances such as blow dryers should not be attempted.

FLAG :  

Official Name : The Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti)

Founder : Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK ( 1881-1938 )

Population : 70 million (as of 2003)

Language : Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)

Currency : New Turkish Lira ( YTL )

Location : Eastern Mediterranean. Located on two contitents Europe and Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is called Anatolia or ( Asia Minor )

Religion : 99 percent of the population is Muslim. Turkey is a secular state that assures complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.

National Anthem : “ Istiklal Marsi ” , Lyrics by : Mehmet Akif Ersoy, Adopted as Turkey’s National Anthem on March 12,1921

Government : Turkey is democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; committed to the nationalism of Atatürk and based on the principle of the separation of powers; Legislative Power : The Turkish Grand National Assembly, Executive Power   : President and the Council of Ministers, Judicial Power : Independent courts and supreme judiciary organs.

Coastline : 8333 Km. (5000 miles). Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.

Geographical  Regions : Turkey has 80 administrative provinces and seven geographical regions. The first four of the seven regions are given the names of the seas which are adjacent to them. Black Sea Region, Marmara Region, Aegean Region, Mediterranean Region. The other three regions are named in accordance with their location in the whole of Anatolia; Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Anatolia Region, Southeastern Anatolia Region. 

Famous Landmarks : Ayasofya Museum, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Dolmabahçe Palace, ancient City of Troy, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Göreme- Cappadocia, Mt.Nemrut, Safranbolu.

Some important products : As of 1998, Turkey is the world's largest producer of hard-shell nuts, fig and apricot, the fourth STET in fresh vegetables, grape and tobacco production and seventh in wheat and cotton production. Turkish delight and helva are famous throughout the world.

Turkey is among the leading countries worldwide in textiles and ready-to-wear clothing production. The exports of this sector constitutes 36 percent of total industrial exports. The leather processing industry is also very developed in Turkey, both in terms of technological level and high production capacity. It places second to textiles in terms of export figures.

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