Language
The national language of Turkey is Turkish. English is widely spoken in Istanbul and all Tier One cities in the country.
Time
Turkey follows the Eastern European Time (EET) Zone.
Eastern European Standard Time: GMT +2
Eastern European Summer Time: GMT +3 (Summer time with Daylight-Saving)
Visa
Most travellers to Turkey need a visa with the exception of citizens from most Western European countries, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore who only need a valid passport for visits up to three months.
Please check with the local Turkish Embassy / High Commission or Consulate if a visa is required for the passport you hold.
E-Visas can be obtained for most citizens from UK, USA, Canada and other Schengen states. E-Visas are also issued to a handful of other nationalities (please check their website for updated information), as long as one holds a valid USA / Schengen visa on their passports.
For further information on the e-Visa and eligibility, please visit https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
Currency
Decimal currency is used in Turkey with the Turkish Lira (TL) as the basic unit (100 kurus = TL 1). Notes come in TL 200, TL 100, TL 50, TL 20, TL 10 and TL 5. Coins come in TL 1, 50 kurus, 25 kurus, 10 kurus, 5 kurus and 1 kurus. Credit and Debit cards are widely used.
VAT
Turkey has a Value Added Tax (VAT) rate of 8% or 18% depending on the type of purchase or service offered. Generally, most prices shown are inclusive of VAT but it would be prudent to check if unsure.
Gratuity
In restaurants, tipping at 10% is customary if a service charge has not been already imposed in the bill.
Banks
In general, banks are open from 09:00 to 17:00 hours from Mondays to Fridays (closed on Religious and Public Holidays). Most banks close from 12:30 to 13:30 hours for lunch. Bank branches in Shopping Malls have teller services open till 21:00 hours, 7 days a week.
Offices
General office hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 hours, Mondays to Fridays.
Retail
Modern shops and malls in Istanbul are open 7 days a week from 10:00 to 22:00 hours. Shopping times at local stores and along Istanbul streets vary. Some may close on Sundays and/or public holidays.
Telephone
The country code for Turkey is 90 and the city code for Istanbul is 212. International calls are made by first dialing 00 followed by the country code, area code and desired telephone number. Calls to other states in Turkey are made by dialing the area code before the desired telephone number. When contacting Turkey from overseas, first dial the country code prefix (90) then the area code without the first zero, followed by the number. For instance, placing a call to Istanbul would be a 212 instead of 0212, followed by the desired number.
Health
Visitors can bring reasonable quantities of prescribed medications into Turkey. It is advisable to clearly label them. For large quantities, do bring a doctor’s certificate to produce to Customs if necessary. Visitors are not covered by the National Health Insurance scheme in Turkey. It is recommended that one travels with adequate travel and health insurance.
Electricity
220 V – 50Hz (European plugs: YP-21, YP-24)
Public Holidays
01 January - New Year’s Day
23 April - National Independence & Children’s Day
01 May - Labor Day
19 May - Youth & Sports Day
Moveable dates - Ramadan Feast
30 August - Victory Day
Moveable dates - Sacrifice Feast
29 October - Republic Day (with an additional ½ day off on 28 October)
