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GENERAL INFO
WELCOME TO TURKEY! TURKIYE ‘A HOS
GELDINIZ!
Turkey
is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains, and lakes that offers the vacationer
a complete change from the stress and routine of everyday life. From April
to October, most places in Turkey have an ideal climate that is perfect
for relaxing on sandy beaches or enjoying the tranquility of mountains and
lakes. Turkey also has a magnificent past, and is a land full of historic
treasures from 13 successive civilizations spanning 10,000 years. Even if
you spend only a short time in Turkey, you can see a lot of this great heritage.
There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to
come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after
another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common:
the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country.
For more useful information on Turkey please see the sites listed on our links page.
NON U.S. CITIZENS - Non-US Citizens need to apply for their tourist visas in advance BEFORE going to Turkey. Applicants should directly contact a Turkish Consulate in person, by mail or by a courier service.
CANADA - Canadian Citizens can obtain a multiple-entry sticker visa at the Turkish International Border Gates to stay in Turkey for a maximum period of three months.
821 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 687-2194
Fax: (212) 599-7568
Email:ny@tourismturkey.org
2525 Massachusetts Ave.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 612-6800
Fax: (202) 319-7446
Email:dc@tourismturkey.org
5055 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 850
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Tel: (323) 937-8066
Fax: (323) 937-1271
Email:la@tourismturkey.org
Founder - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk ( 1881-1938 )
Capital City - ANKARA
Population - 67.8 million (as of 2000)
Language - Turkish which uses the Latin Alphabet
Currency - As of 1/1/2005 Turkey has a new lira. Exchange rates as of 2/19/2005 1 USD = 1.30950 TRY ( Turkish New Lira ) To obtain exchange rates on all currencies please visit www.xe.com/ucc
Currency Regulations - There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than $5,000 worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. The exchange slips for the conversion of foreign currency into Turkish lira should be kept, since you may be required to show these when reconverting your Turkish lira back into foreign currency, and when taking souvenirs out of the country (to prove that they have been purchased with legally exchanged foreign currency).
Credit cards, ATM and travelers checks - You must notify your bank and your credit card companies when you are traveling to foreign countries if you plan to use ATM or credit card services while you travel. The fee for cashing travelers checks is very high. American Express Travelers checks can only be cashed at certain banks.
Location - Eastern Mediterranean, located on two continents, Europe and Asia. The European part of Turkey is called Thrace, while the Asian part is called Anatolia or Asia Minor
Size - 814,578 Km2 (314 500 square miles), 3% on the European continent, 97% on the Asian continent
Population for major Cities - Istanbul 10.0 million, Ankara 4.0 million, Izmir 3.3 million, Konya 2.2 million, Bursa 2.1 million, Adana 1.8 million
Religion - 99 percent of the population is Muslim. Turkey is a secular state that assures complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.
Government - Turkey is a democratic, secular state committed to the nationalism of Atatürk.
History - Turkey, known as "the cradle of civilization" hosted it's first humans from 12,000 years ago. Turkey is also the home of ancient cultures, including the Hattis, Hittites, Phrygians, Urartias, Lycians, Lydians, Ionians, Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantians, Seljuks and Ottomans. Following the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the modern Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal who is known as "Ataturk." He was an army general and World War I hero who was the father of modern Turkey.
Electricity - 220 volts throughout Turkey. Voltage is clearly marked on all hotels outlets.
Tap water -Water is chlorinated but bottled water is advisable.
Time zone - Seven hours later than U.S Eastern Standard Time.
What to wear - Dress as you would in the United States. Comfortable shoes are essential for touring archaeological sites. Hats (with brims) and sunglasses are recommended and head scarves are necessary for women visiting mosques.
Shopping - Part of the mystique of Turkey is the shopping. Our world- famous carpets, for example, are an exceptional bargain in Turkey There are great bargains in leather goods and fine jewelry.
Sports and recreation - Soccer, basketball and wrestling are Turkey's most popular spectator sports. A water sports haven, yachting, snorkeling, diving, fishing and windsurfing are also extremely popular. Turkey also offers downhill skiing, trekking and mountain biking. Turkish nightlife is famous. There are discos, clubs, casinos and bars. There are also coffee shops, tea houses, taverns and restaurants which range from the casual to the 5 star varieties.
Economy - Agriculture plays an important role in the Turkish economy, which has signed a Customs Union Agreement with the European Union. Turkey is self-sufficient in food production and produces enough surpluses for export as well. Leading industries include the processing of agricultural products, metallurgy, textiles and the manufacturing of automobile and agricultural machinery. With the increased development of summer and winter resorts, Turkey is becoming a major European tourist destination. The tourism industry earns an average annual income of more that $ 7 billion for the Turkish economy and this amount is increasing yearly.
Cuisine - Turkish food is prepared with fresh-from-the garden ingredients. A meal usually begins with soup or several of the many traditional meze (hors d'oeuvres) followed by a fish or a meat dish such as "shish kebab" or a mixed grill served with rice and cooked vegetables.Turkey is also a vegetarian friendly country! There are a great deal of delicious fresh vegetable and grain meals available. Bread is fresh baked daily. Dessert may be fresh fruit, sweets or a pastry such as "baklava." Turkish coffee and tea, beer, wine and mineral water, soda, applea tea and the national drink "raki" complement the meal.
Daily Newspapers - Foreign papers are available in large cities and all tourist areas. The Turkish Daily News is published in English with international news coverage.
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