Know before you go
Turkey
General Information
Turkey is mainly located in Anatolia in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It shares borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, the Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. Its capital city is Ankara while Istanbul is the country’s largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. They drive on the right side of the road.
Visa
Holders of a EU passport don’t require a Visa. For holders of a different passport check out this link to see if you are required to apply for a visa or not or contact your ministery of foreign affairs.
Power
Turkey uses Type F plug outlets („Schuko“). They also work with Type C and E. The voltage is 220 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz
Language
The official language of Turkey is Turkish. In touristy areas you can get by with English.
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Merhaba! | Hello! |
| Güle güle! | Bye! |
| evet | yes |
| hayır | no |
| Teşekkür ederim! | Thank you! |
| Memnuniyetle! | You're welcome! |
| Özür dilerim! | Excuse me! |
| Şerefe! | Cheers! |
Weather Forecast
Climate
The coastal areas of Turkey bordering the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas have a temperate Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters. The coastal areas bordering the Black Sea have a temperate oceanic climate with warm, wet summers and cool to cold, wet winters.
Average Temperature in Istanbul
Average Precipitation in Istanbul
Transportation
How to get there?
Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) is one of the busiest airports in Europe and well served from all over Europe as well as outside of it. The airport is connected to the Istanbul Metro.
If you are travelling to the Turkish Riviera Antalya Airport (AYT) is the best choice. Follow this link for a list of all airports in Turkey.
It is also possible to take a bus or train from neighboring countries to go to Turkey. There are ferries going to Athens, Odessa and Tripoli.
How to get around?
The cities of Adana, Ankara, Bursaray, Istanbul and İzmir have a Metro. When transferring between buses, the metro and trams in Istanbul, note that you will have to pay extra for each means of transport. Prices are cheap though. When buying a 10-rides pass you will only pay around 55 Cents per ride. Check out this link for more information.
How to get from town to town?
You can use buses or trains to get from town to town. Considering the size of the country, it might be better to fly between cities.
Money, Money, Money
Currency
The currency of Turkey is the Turkish Lira. Check out the currency converter to find out about current exchange rates.
Accommodation
Depending on where you are staying prices will vary of course. Using Airbnb, we paid around 21€ per person per night in Istanbul.
Cash
Upon entering Turkey, you will have to withdraw Lira at an ATM. Cash is king, and you will need it everywhere from restaurants to markets and public transport. How much you will need of course depends on your spending habits. Retrospective I found I needed around 33€ per day. This includes food, transportation, activities and souvenirs.
