Events & Holidays

Visiting museums, in some of the museums you are not allowed to take pictures or use flash, before you go in, just check if there is a sign with a camera crossed over, which means keep your camera in your hand bags, or check them in. As a universal rule you are not permitted to touch artefacts…

Before your departure from home, check your passport if it is valid at least for 3 months. Your stay in Turkey as a tourist is limited up to 3 months.

Always keep your passport handy especially at the entry port.

Turkey’s time zone is Eastern European Time (+2 GMT).

Major credit cards & traveler’s cheque’s are accepted in big cities however you may need to carry some cash with you. The best exchange rates usually are offered by the change offices & secondly comes the post offices.

Passport is not required for domestic flights within Turkey, however you will be asked for photo id.

Visiting mosques in Turkey, you will have to leave your shoes at the entrance or carry them in your hands. Women in most mosques are required to cover their heads with a scarf & be covered to knee & elbow levels. Silence is required inside the mosques, it is suggested that you shouldn’t laugh loudly inside as this may offend people praying. Most of the mosques are closed to visits at prayer times.

Going online is pretty easy & inexpensive in Turkey. Most hotels have an internet room or corner & internet cafes are widely available throughout the country.

There are no special immunization requirements for traveling to Turkey.

Antique pieces are not allowed to be taken out of the country, this is a crime.

Use & traffic of any kind of drugs is strictly illegal.

Photographing the Turkish ladies especially in the rural areas may offend them. The procedure is, just direct your camera towards them, if they say no, or mean it with gestures, just leave it. Some people including ladies might not be camera shy & if photographed, they will probably give you their address hoping to receive a copy from you. If you promise them you would have to send a copy, please do, or don’t promise.

Visiting museums, in some of the museums you are not allowed to take pictures or use flash, before you go in, just check if there is a sign with a camera crossed over, which means keep your camera in your hand bags, or check them in. Also, as a universal rule you are not permitted to touch any of the artifacts displayed.

If you are visiting Turkey in summer time (particularly July & August), you may need a sun hat & sun blocks to protect yourself against sun burning, also people with sensitive skin should have something to cover their shoulders for the same reason.

If you are visiting Turkey in winter time (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar), you will need warm clothes & have your umbrellas & raincoats with you.

Public restrooms are available at the town centres, museums, restaurants, mosques & gas stations, usually a small service charge is expected (50c). It may be difficult to find a european style closet especially in rural areas. Western style can be found at gas stations & restaurants along the major tourist roads. In any case, you should have your own toilet paper & Kleenex where it is unavailable at public rest rooms.

Food matters, although the sanitation is taken seriously & strictly controlled at tourist places by the authorities, some rare instances of diarrhea have occurred, that’s partly because of the hot & spicy meals eaten, or the guests may have a sensitive stomach. So, have some medicine with you against stomach upsets & diarrhea. Those who are vegetarian will be able to find vegetable food or at least omelet which is very popular in Turkey, almost in every town.

Most of the restaurants display their food in windows, or waiters can bring the samples if you request. Also, the menu that shows available food can be found at your table in Turkish & most areas in English as well. If you are eating out in a restaurant, waiters expect some tip usually 10% of your bill & it is not included in your bill, you can leave it at the table separately.

Water, although it is safe to drink tap water, it is recommended to buy bottled water for drinking which can be found almost at store, that’s because the city water is chlorinated for sanitation reasons of which you might not like the smell. You can safely brush your teeth with tap water.

Electricity, those who use 110V or any other than 220V at home need a converter as Turkey has 220V power system. Please check your electric appliances before you use them in your hotel room.

Usually hotel guests are not allowed to bring any food & drink into hotel rooms, but in most cases, this is tolerable. If you will so, put them in a black plastic bag that will be provided at the grocery.

If you are provided a breakfast & dinner ticket by the hotel reception to eat in the hotel restaurant, have it with you, as though not all of them but some of them may require it at the entrance of the restaurants.

Don’t forget to return your hotel room keys before your departure from the hotel, as this will cost the friendly hotel receptionists a lot.

Some of the hotels have energy saving systems. You may need to insert the metal attached to your room key in a slot which is usually right behind the room door. When you remove it from the slot, all electric appliances including air-conditioning will automatically turn off. If you would like to leave your a/c on, separate the key from metal attachment & leave the metal in the slot while you can take the key with you.

Crossing the streets in big cities, before you do that, make sure that the car or whatever is at a reasonable distance to allow you cross the street safely. Because, in Turkey, cars have the privilege to use the streets. You can safely walk on the pedestrian walk ways.Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world to travel, but some rare instances of crime, theft & robbery happen in big cities. Especially, if you would like to walk around the city at night, leave your valuable stuff, money & passport at hotel safety box. Almost every tourist hotel has a safety box service free to hotel customers.

Phoning from your hotel room might be expensive, alternative would be to use the public phones available out on the streets, or in some hotel lobbies. All you need is to buy a telephone card from Post Office (recognizable by ‘PTT’ sign), which comes in 30, 60 & 100 units.

If you are traveling independently, check which dates that the museums are open to visits. Most of the museums are closed to visits at least one day a week. Archaeological sites can be visited everyday from 9 AM to 5 PM (this may change from summer to winter).

You may be approached by vendors at archaeological sites trying to sell ancient coins or fragments of a statue or a piece of pottery, don’t buy them, they are fake. Even if not you can find your self in real trouble at the airports since they scan all your luggage on X-ray machines.

Usually customs check at entry & departure ports is not strict. However, customs officials are authorized to check your hand bags & suitcases. At their request, you have to open up your bags & suitcases.

If the kids approach you saying ‘bon bon’, they mean some candies or chewing gums. Or saying ‘kalem’, that means pencil, or in some cases ‘Para’, which is money.

If you are annoyed by street vendors trying to sell something to you, don’t look interested in their products & look the other way. Even if you start an innocent dialog, that may take your valuable time.

If you would like to contact or speak to local people especially kids, go ahead, they love it.

Some airline companies may require a final flight confirmation a few days before your departure flight, please check it with your flight ticket agent.

Always pay attention to where you are walking, as there may be some holes in the street or some steps up or down.

Although there is no restriction on the sale & use of alcohol which is available at stores, the guests should avoid drinking in public during the month Ramadan.

The information provided here is given in good faith & has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change & some of the information may become out of date. If you have any queries, please contact us for current updates.

Last Updated: 18/May/2019

Julius Caesar issued his celebrated proclamation, Veni, Vidi, Vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”), in Turkey upon defeating the Pontus. Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey & cut the Gordion Knot in (Gordium), not far from Turkey’s present day capital (Ankara).

A country of sun & history, Turkey straddles the point where Europe & Asia meet. It is located where the three continents making up the old world, Asia, Africa & Europe, are closest to one another.

Gobeklitepe Temple complex in southeast Turkey, is the oldest ancient temple built by mankind anywhere in the world. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years & the pyramids by 7000 years. It is also claimed to be in the Garden of Eden.

St. George, the patron saint of England is from Cappadocia region in central Turkey.

The first democratic union known in history was ‘The Lycian Federation’ & in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)

Because of its geographical location, the mainland, Anatolia, has witnessed the mass migration of diverse peoples shaping the course of history. Home to countless civilizations, Anatolia has developed a unique blend of cultures, each with its own distinct identity, each linked to its predecessors through history.

As an ancient land & modern nation, Turkey today holds & protects the common past of all people.

Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents – Europe & Asia. It has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine & Ottoman Empires.

Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World stood in Turkey – the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus & the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Bodrum.

St. Nicholas, known as Santa Claus today, was born & lived in Demre (Myra) on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The village contains the famous Church of St. Nicholas, which contains the sarcophagus believed to be his tomb.

The first man ever to fly was Turkish. Using two wings, Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from the Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Uskudar in the 17th century.

Many archaeologists & biblical scholars believe Noah’s Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in eastern Turkey.

The famous Trojan War took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.

Turks introduced coffee to Europe.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus was a Greek historian who lived in southwest coast of Caria, Anatolia (Asia Minor) in the 5th century BC & is regarded as the ‘Father of History’ in Western culture.

Julius Caesar issued his celebrated proclamation, Veni, Vidi, Vici (“I came, I saw, I conquered”), in Turkey upon defeating the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey & also cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium), not far from Turkey’s present day capital (Ankara).

About 65-80% of the worldwide production of dried apricots belong to Malatya

Aesop – famous all over the world for his fables & parables – was born in Anatolia.

Homer was born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey. He depicted Troy in his epic Iliad.

Part of Turkey’s southwestern shore was a wedding gift from Marc Antony to Cleopatra.

Writing was first used by people in ancient Anatolia. The first clay tablets – in the ruins of Assyrian Karum (a merchant colony) – date back to 1950 B.C.

One of the oldest known human settlement in the world is located in Catalhoyuk Turkey, dating back to 6500 B.C.

Philosophy began with Thales of Miletus on the western coast of Anatolia (in what is now Aydin Province, Turkey).

There are 9 UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Turkey.

Today, the House of the Virgin Mary is looked after by a small contingent of monks & nuns, is in Turkey, & is visited each day by people from the all over the world.

Assos, is a small historically rich town in Bahramkale, Turkey. The philospher Aristotle lived here & opened an Academy. The city was also visited by St. Paul. Today Assos is a Aegean-coast seaside retreat amid ancient ruins.

Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a bridge over the Bosphorus, the strait that flows through Europe & Asia. (Although da Vinci’s bridge was never built, there are now two bridges over the Bosphorus).

The oldest active sport organization after the Olympic Games is an oil-wrestling festival called K覺rkp覺nar in Edirne.

Dalyan beach is well known for the Caretta Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtles) which have existed for 95 million years. International animal protection organizations monitor & protect the turtles’ nesting grounds in Turkey.

The most valuable silk carpet in the world which has 144 knots per square centimeter is located in the Mevlana Museum in Konya.

Asia Minor (modern Turkey) was the home for all Ecumenical Councils in the early history of the Christian church.

In 1492, Sultan Beyazid II, after learning about the expulsion of Jews, dispatched the Ottoman Navy to bring them safely to the Ottoman lands.

Likewise, Jews expelled from Hungary in 1376, from Sicily early in the 15th century, from Bavaria in 1470, from Bohemia in 1542, & from Russia in 1881, 1891, 1897, & 1903 all took refuge in the Ottoman Empire.

In ancient times the city Antakya was known as ‘Antioch’ & has historical significance for Christianity, being the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians.

Turkey has the 17th largest economy in the world.

Turkey has so much to offer her visitors: breathtaking natural beauties, unique historical & archaeological sites, a tradition of hospitality & competitive prices. Whatever the reason you choose to see Turkey today, you will be delighted to have seen it tomorrow. Turkey welcomes you…

There’s a lot of history here. The easiest way to deal with it in a digestible format seems to be to give a chronology of the major events to begin with. We’re going to use that as a framework to hang bits & pieces on later.

7500 BC First Stone age settlements at Catalhoyuk
1900-1300 BC Hittite Empire with Hattusas as capital, contemporary with ancient Egypt & Babylon
1250 BC The Trojan war & the fall of Troy
1200-700 BC Migration of Greeks to Aegean coastal regions. Establishment of the Phrygian, Ionian, Lycian, Lydian, Carian & Pamphylian Kingdoms. The East of Turkey is the home of the Urartians
725 BC King Midas rules the Phrygians from his capital of Gordion
700 BC Homer is born in Izmir (Smyrna). Aegean Hellenism begins
546 BC Cyrus the Great leads the Persians into Anatolia
334 BC Alexander the Great drives out the Persians
130 BC The Romans incorporate Anatolia as the province of Asia, controlled from Ephesus
40 BC Antioch sees the marriage of Antony & Cleopatra
47-57 AD St. Paul spreads Christianity & a community at Antioch is established
313 AD Roman Empire adopts Christianity
330 AD Constantine lays out the boundaries of his new capital, Constantinople
527-65 AD Glory of Byzantium under Justinian
638-718 AD Muslim Arabs besiege Constantinople
1054 AD Greek & Roman Churches split over theology
1071-1243 AD Rise & rule of the Selcuk Turks in Anatolia, Konya is their capital
1096-1204 AD The Crusades, marking the beginning of the end for Byzantium, a fascinating period in Byzantine history
1288 AD Ottoman Empire appears in Bursa
1520-66 AD Suleyman the Magnificent sits on the Ottoman throne controlling a huge & powerful empire
1682-1725 AD Peter the Great initiates Russo-Turkish rivalry
1854 AD Crimean war
1909 AD Abdul Hamid, the last of an unbroken line of Ottoman sultans is deposed
1914 AD Turkey allies with Germany in the first world war
1915 AD Gallipoli Campaign
1919 AD Ataturk leads resistance to the allied plan to carve up Turkey
1923 AD Foundation of the modern Republic of Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Many things happen all at once
1938 AD Ataturk dies in Istanbul’s Dolmabahce palace
1939-45 AD Turkey manages to remain neutral during the second world war
1946 AD Charter membership of the UN
1952 AD Turkey joins NATO

Turkey travel guide.
Turkey has so much to offer her visitors: breathtaking natural beauties, unique historical & archaeological sites, a tradition of hospitality & competitive prices. Whatever the reason you choose to see Turkey today, you will be delighted to have seen it tomorrow. Turkey welcomes you…

Rumeli Hisari Concerts
Istanbul, Turkey
Held over the summer in the magnificent Rumeli Hisari fortress, the open-air concerts bring some of Turkey’s best-loved musicians to the stage. Situated on the European side of the city, the fortress was built in 1451 by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II & offers stunning views over the Bosphorus & is a great venue in which to listen to Turkish music.
Themes: Music, History

International Istanbul Jazz Festival
Istanbul, Turkey
Each year the International Istanbul Jazz Festival treats music lovers to a packed two-week programme of jazz concerts. Taking place in various venues around the city, the festival always attracts large crowds made up of jazz fans from Turkey & beyond. Each year, the festival awards a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to one of the old jazz masters for their contribution to the world of music. Over the years, the festival has welcomed many jazz legends to the stage with past performers including such greats as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Stan Getz, Ornette Coleman & Youssou N’Dour.
Themes: Music

Rock n Coke Music Festival
Istanbul, Turkey
Rock’n Coke is a member of the European Festival Association. Every summer, the Hezarfen Airfield is used as a venue for a 4 day chain of concerts, with both national & international performers featured. Although mainly rock-oriented, Rock’n Coke also hosts other music genres. While the main stage is generally reserved for rock & its subgenres, the DJ Arena (now called Burn Stage) is reserved for styles such as house music. In 2005, the festival grounds were large enough to support two stages, a mini-amusement park, two large food areas, a shopping area, several sponsor attractions, 400 outhouses & a large camp site for people with two-day tickets. The total area used by the festival was around 60 acres.
Themes: Music, Entertainment

Victory Day (Zafer Bayram)
Countrywide, Turkey
Victory Day is a national holiday that is recognised on 30 August & is celebrated throughout the country. Its origins date back to a battle that began on 26 August 1922 when Greek troops invaded Turkey. The invasion was successfully repelled & the battle ended just four days later on 30 August. Although the day has now lost much of its military significance for the younger generations, it is still a day of national pride on which the country’s armed forces lay wreaths at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Istanbul, acknowledging the role Mustafa Kemal Ataturk played in founding the country.
Themes: National History

Istanbul Biennial
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul’s main arts festival takes place in a variety of historic buildings & venues across the city. The aim since its foundation in 1987 has been to bring together artists from home & abroad to encourage a free exchange of ideas & inspiration. A showcase for contemporary art, the Istanbul Biennial has attracted leading exhibitors such as the British Turner prize winners Gillian Wearing & Gavin Turk.
Themes: Art & Literature, Exhibitions

Ramadan
Countrywide, Turkey
Ramadan is the Muslim festival of fasting & is the most important festival in the Islamic Calendar which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. The arrival of the crescent moon in the night sky signals the start of 30 days of fasting during which Muslims don’t eat, drink or smoke during the day, eating all their meals before sunrise & after sunset. Consequently, many of Turkey’s cafes & coffee shops throng with activity each evening during Ramadan as people catch up with one another & the day’s news. Fasting is one of the pillars of the Islamic faith & reminds Muslims of the plight of the poor, sick & needy. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the 30-day fasting period & is a great celebration throughout the Muslim world.
Themes: History, Religion, Culture

Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon
Istanbul, Turkey
The only intercontinental marathon which starts in Asia & ends in Europe. Open to participants over 18 years old, runners from all over the world are invited to join the Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon which starts from the Anatolian side of Istanbul, crosses the Bosphorus Bridge & ends on the European side of the city. Participants can also opt for a shorter Fun Run & both routes take in some of the most spectacular sites of this stunning city. The night before, participants are invited to attend a Pasta Party at the City Hall.
Themes: Spectacle, Sport, Entertainment

Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayram)
Countrywide, Turkey
Republic Day is celebrated on 29 October & marks the day in 1923 when Turkey’s constitution was changed, freeing it from the grasp of the Ottoman Empire, to become a republic. The day is a national holiday throughout the country & ceremonies & events take place to honour the founder of the republic & the country’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Themes: National History, Exhibitions

Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayram)
Countrywide, Turkey
The Feast of the Sacrifice is a religious holiday that is celebrated throughout Turkey & remembers the ram that Abraham sacrificed in place of his son Ismail (Isaac). During the four-day festival, lambs are still traditionally slaughtered & the meat distributed to the poor & needy. This is mostly done in professional abattoirs, but some of the ritual slaughters take place in public places. This is a major public holiday in Turkey & many businesses & shops close during the festival.
Themes: Religion, Food & Drink, History, Entertainment

Mevlana (Seb i Aruz) Whirling Dervishes
Konya & Countrywide, Turkey
The Commemorative Ceremony for Mevlana, the great Sufic saint (1207-1273), is one of the world’s greatest spectacles. More than a million people descend on Konya, the ancient Seljuk capital, for the festival of the Whirling Dervishes. At the Mausoleum of Mevlana in Konya, mystical ceremonial dances are performed in honour of the great teacher & thinker.
Themes: Religion, Music, Performance

Country overview, holiday guide, attraction in Turkey.
Turkey has so much to offer her visitors: breathtaking natural beauties, unique historical & archaeological sites, a tradition of hospitality & competitive prices. Whatever the reason you choose to see Turkey today, you will be delighted to have seen it tomorrow. Turkey welcomes you…

Location
Southeastern Europe/Asia Minor
Area
783,562 sq km (302,535 sq miles)
Population
80 million (2017 estimate)
Population Density
93 per sq km
Capital
Ankara: Population: 3.9 million (2007 estimate)
Government
Republic since 1923
Language
Turkish. Kurdish is also spoken by a minority in the southeast. French, German & English are widely spoken in major cities & tourist areas
Religion
Muslim, mostly Sunni, with a very small Christian minority. Turkey is a secular state which guarantees complete freedom of worship to all religions
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October)
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz
Head of Government
Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım since 2016
Head of State
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan since 2016
Recent History
Turkey’s economy has recovered well from a crisis in 2001. With IMF support, the mildly Islamist Justice & Development Party (AKP) government introduced structural reforms & sweeping institutional & social reforms in order to initiate EU entry negotiations in October 2005.
Telephone
Country code: +90 The cheapest way to make calls is from PTT telephone booths, which are found in all areas. These operate using phone cards, which can be bought from kiosks, or by using major credit cards
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is mostly good, but can be patchy in some rural areas in eastern Turkey.
Internet
Internet cafes exist in main urban areas. Some restaurants & hotels have Wi-Fi Internet access.
Media
The Turkish media is dominated by several large corporations that own the main newspapers & private television channels. The Turkish press is fairly free & outspoken in most areas, although a significant number of journalists have been prosecuted under highly controversial laws against ‘insulting’ the country, state institutions or ‘Turkishness’. These are viewed by many, including the European Commission, as against the right to freedom of expression.
Post
Turkish post offices are recognizable by their yellow PTT signs. Post office hours: major outlets Mon – Sat 08:00 – 22:00, Sun 09:00-17:00; smaller post offices have the same opening hours as government offices.
Press
The main newspapers are Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Zamam Cumhuriyet & Yeni Asir. English language daily newspapers include The Turkish Daily News.
Radio
TRT stations include TRT 1 (cultural & educational), TRT 3 (classical, jazz & popular music) & TRT 4 Turkish folk & classical music). Best FM, Show Radyo & Capital Radio are commercial stations. Radyo Foreks broadcasts news.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the 2011 period

New Year’s Day 1 Jan
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day 23 Apr
Labour Day 1 May
Commemoration of Ataturk and Youth and Sports Day 19 May
Victory Day 30 Aug
Ramazan Bayrami 14 Jun
Republic Day 29 Oc
Kurban Bayrami 20 Aug