About Türkiye

THE FACTS OF ABOUT TÜRKİYE

Türkiye is as accessible and modern as any of its Western European counterparts with regard to the tourism sector. You can expect the same, if not better standards as vacation destinations in France, Spain or Portugal, in terms of service, convenience, and organization.

Area
The actual area of Türkiye inclusive of its lakes is 814,578 square kilometers, of which 790,200 are in Asia and 24,378 are located in Europe.

Geographical Profile
The lands of Türkiye are located at a point where Asia, Africa and Europe are closest to each other, and straddle the point where Europe and Asia meet. Geographically, the country is located in the northern half of the hemisphere at a point that is about halfway between the equator and the north pole, at a longitude of 36 degrees N to 42 degrees N and a latitude of 26 degrees E to 45 degrees E. Türkiye, as a country roughly rectangular in shape, has a width of approximately 550 kilometers and a length of approxiamately 1500 kilometers.

Because of its geographical location, the mainland of Anatolia has always found favor throughout history, and is the birthplace of many great civilizations. It has also been prominent as a centre of commerce because of its land connections to three continents and the sea surrounding it on three sides.

Capital City
Ankara

Local time:
GMT+3 hours (April-September) GMT+2 hours (October-March)

Time Differences:
Argentina -5, France -1, Netherlands -1, Australia +8, Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria -1, Greece 0, Sweden -1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland -1, England -2, Japan +7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EST) -10 (WEST)
* These time differences are for the period October-March; however, they may show variances according to each country's own time-saving adjustments.

Public Holidays
New Years Day (01 Jan); National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (23 April); Youth and Sports Day  (19 May); Victory Day (30 Aug); Republic Day (29 Oct).

Electricity:
220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Türkiye. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.

The Climate
Although Türkiye is situated in a geographical location where climatic conditions are quite temperate, the diverse nature of the landscape, and the existence in particular of the mountains that run parallel to the coasts cause significant differences in climatic conditions between regions. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.

Turkish Cuisine:
For those who travel engaged in culinary pursuits, the Turkish Cuisine is a very curious one. The variety of dishes that make up the Cuisine, the ways they all come together in feast-like meals, and the evident intricacy of each craft offer enough material for life-long study and enjoyment. It is not easy to discern a basic element or a single dominant feature, like the Italian "pasta" or the French "sauce". Whether in a humble home, at a famous restaurant, or at a dinner in a Bey's mansion, familiar patterns of this rich and diverse Cuisine are always present. It is a rare art, which satisfies your senses while reconfirming the higher order of society; community and culture.

A practical-minded child watching Mother cook "cabbage dolma" on a lazy; gray winter day is bound to wonder : "Who on earth discovered this peculiar combination of sautéed rice, pine-nuts, currants, spices, herbs and all tightly wrapped in translucent leaves of cabbage all exactly half an inch thick and stacked up on an oval serving plate decorated with lemon wedges? How was it possible to transform this humble vegetable to such heights of fashion and delicacy with so few additional ingredients? And, how can such a yummy dish possibly also be good for one"

Tipping:
At various establishments like hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 5%-15% of the total is common. Taxi and "dolmus" drivers on the other hand, do not expect tips or even rounded fares.

Visiting a mosque:
Five times a day, the "müezzin" calls the faithful to prayer in thi mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque durin prayer time. Women should cover their heads and ams, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)

Visas and Passports:
All visitors to Türkiye will need a valid passport that does not expire within 6 months of the date of entry. Citizens of the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia will all need visas for entering Türkiye. No visa is required for citizens of Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Most visas are valid for 3 months, and allow for multiple entries during this period. For U.S. citizens a Tourist Visa is $45, $20 for Australians, U.K. citizens £10, and not more than €20 for E.U. citizens. Visas can easily be obtained upon entering the country before passing through passport control and customs, and can be purchased with both U.S. Dollars and Euros. Please note prices are subject to change.

Getting There and Away:
-By Plane: Daily flights are available from all European Capitals, New York, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Turkish Airlines offers several direct flights from both Istanbul and Ankara to Antalya (45min) and other southern resort towns. Check www.turkishairlines.com for details.
-By Train: Türkiye is also accessible by train from Sofia, Bulgaria in the West, but rail travel is not recommended as the Turkish rail system has yet to be given the modern face-lift that most other sectors of the infrastructure have.
-By Road: You can reach Istanbul from the border crossing with Greece at Alexandropoulus and Thessaloniki. Alternatively near Edirne at the Bulgarian border, which offers a modern, superhighway directly to Istanbul. Be prepared to wait a little while at both crossing during busy travel times. Antalya is accessed by a 2-lane highway from Istanbul (10hrs) and Ankara (8hrs), visit www.theaa.com for a free, detailed route planner. Alternatively Antalya and other southern golf resorts can be reached by overnight bus from both Istanbul (12 hours) and Ankara (9hrs). The bus system in Türkiye is well developed, comfortable and efficient.
-By Sea: Ferries run from several Greek Islands, Athens and Northern Cyprus on a daily basis to the southern Turkish ports of Bodrum and Marmaris. From there Antalya (2hrs) is easily accessed by minibus transfer. There is also a ferry available from Venice, Italy to Izmir. Check www.ido.com.tr for details.

Please contact us if you have any further requirements for Travels&Tours in Türkiye:

DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ISTANBUL
Kore Şehitleri Cad. No. 45, K.1-2 34394 Zincirlikuyu- İstanbul-Türkiye
Tel:+90 212- 340 70 81- 62 - 63 - 67 Fax:+90 212 347 12 14
Incoming Department Manager Tel: +90 212- 340 70 61
Mail: cdinc@tui.com.tr