Entry requirements
For citizens of the EU and Switzerland :
As a tourist, you can stay in Turkey , visa free, up to three months.
You can enter to the country with your passport or an identity card. Children must be included in the passport of one accompanying parent or they should be registered with their own children's card. The children's card is issued to Age 10 without a photo. Children older than 10 to 16 need a photograph on their identity card.
Customs regulations
For tourists, the following rules apply:
The import of a foreign currency is unlimited. Currency export is up to a total amount of 5,000 US dollars or equivalent in TL.
Travelers should limit their personal jewelry to a total value of 15,000 US dollars. A higher value must be declared upon entry. When you are buying jewelry in Turkey , a proof is required.
Moreover, the goods that are traveling to Turkey per person must be: (not applicable to transit passengers)
Personal property:
Items of personal property, including medical equipment, drugs and gifts should be limited to a total value of 300 euros (children under 15 years, to 145 euros).
Souvenirs:
. 200 pieces of cigarettes
. 50 pieces cigarillos (within 3 gr / Unit)
. 10 pieces cigars
. 200 grams cigarette tobacco (including 200 pieces of cigarette paper) or 200 grams of pipe tobacco or 200 gr of Chewing tobacco or 200 grams of tobacco for water pipes or 50 grams of snuff
. 1 bottle of alcohol (at 100 cc) or 2 vials with 70 or 75 cc
. Bottled water (à 120 ml), lavender water, perfume or essence should be limited up to 5 vials.
. 1 kg of coffee, 1 kg of soluble coffee, 500 grams of tea, 1 kg chocolate, 1 kg sweets are permitted.
Beware of exotic souvenirs
Please remind yourself before taking your trip that some souvenirs that might be of historical value are not allowed for importing through conservation reasons. There are a lot of tourists who are experiencing bad surprises about the custom regulations.
Time Difference
In Turkey, the Eastern European Time (EET) is being used. The time difference, for example, with Germany , Switzerland , Austria and Spain is +1 hour, whereas it is 2+ hours with England , Scotland and Ireland . It will also coincide with the Western countries.
Monetary and Foreign Exchange
The local currency, is the Turkish lira (TL).
You can ask your local bank about the exchange rate. However, we recommend the conversion of euros in Turkish liras at the airport, hotel or in a bank within Turkey . In many areas of the country, in particularly in the touristic centers Euro will be the currency for payment.
All the usual credit cards, such as Visa, American Express, Master Card / Eurocard, Diner's Club, are accepted in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Small amounts of cash could be needed for payment.
Language
The national language of Turkey is Turkish. In most hotels, restaurants and shops, especially in the tourist areas, English, German, French and Russian are also spoken.
Voltage
Alternating current of 220 V has being used and the use of an adapter is usually not necessary for tourists coming from Europe . For tourists from England and U.S.A. , an adapter is necessary.
Dates
Authorities and banks are open from Monday to Friday between the hours 9:00 to 17:00(National holidays are not included).
Museums are closed on Mondays. Ancient sites, which are open for tourists, can usually be visited from 9:00 until sunset.
Holidays:
National holidays:
01 January: New Year's Day
April 23: Day of National Independence, Children's Day
19 May: Ataturk's Memorial Day, Day of Youth, Sports Festival
Aug. 30: Day of the Great Victory
Oct. 29: Republic Day
Religious celebrations
In Turkey, there are mainly two major religious feasts. The dates of these religious feasts change every year because they are based on the Islamic lunar calendar.
Seker Bayrami (Candy Festival) - to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and giving out sweets to the children
Kurban Bayrami (Festival of Sacrifice) - it takes four days and marks the time of pilgrimage to Mecca. Those who can afford it, should sacrifice cattle and distribute one third of the meat to the poor, one third goes to the neighbors and friends, and the last third should be distributed among the family.
Clothing - a small reminder
Since the reforms of Atatürk, the clothing of Turkish people in the cities and tourist centers are heavily western oriented. During your travels, it is advised that you wear comfortable clothes and comfortable, solid shoes. For each evening, you need proper occasional clothes. You don't have to wear a suit and a tie or a cocktail dress for spending the night in the hotel. However, too casual clothes like shorts or sandals would be certainly inappropriate.
In rural areas, outside the towns and tourist resorts, we recommend long pants (not shorts) for men and women should at least cover the knees.
As a part of a mosque visit, make sure that when you are entering the mosque, you take off your shoes. In any case, men should wear long pants. Women should wear skirts, which at least cover their knees. In addition, women should cover their head, shoulders and arms. Some major mosques have headscarves for tourists that don't have the appropriate outfit to go into the mosque.
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