USEFUL INFO TÜRKIYE
Practical information to organize the trip with details about the best period to go, necessary documents, how to get around and much more.
WHEN TO GO to TÜRKIYE
Türkiyecan be visited all year round but undoubtedly the best time to visit it is spring, between the end of March and the end of June. However, the month of September is warm, but the climate begins to cool towards October, reaching decidedly winter temperatures in December and January.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED for TÜRKIYE
To enter Türkiye, for Italian Travelers a visa is currently not required but you simply need a passport or identity card valid for travel abroad, valid for at least 5 months from the date of entry into the country. The maximum length of stay is 90 days.
WHAT TO BRING to TÜRKIYE
If you plan to travel to Türkiye, as far as clothing is concerned everything depends on the season during which you are leaving and the destination. For example, Istanbul is an extremely open city, while other places are more conservative. In summer, remember to bring swimsuits and light clothing and never forget a sweatshirt, as the evenings are usually a little cooler. To visit religious sites, long clothes that cover at least your arms and legs are required. If you don't have the right clothes, don't worry: you will be provided with suitable clothes for accessing the mosques!
If, however, you will be traveling in winter, given that the climate is cold and rains are frequent, wear warm clothes that are resistant to wind and rain.
TURKEY'S CULTURE
The culture of Türkiye contains a mix of cultures from Central Asia, the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, coming largely from the Ottoman Empire which, within it, brought together peoples with different cultures, traditions and religions. 97% of the population professes the Muslim religion, with the Turkish constitution recognizing freedom of belief and preventing religious discrimination. Walking around the city you will see both people dressed in Western clothing and others in more traditional clothing.
GAY FRIENDLY TÜRKIYE?
As is well known, although homosexuality was legalized in 1858, Türkiye is not a totally gay friendly country and in fact there is no law that protects LGBT people against discrimination and recognizes their couples. In recent years, Erdogan's government, at the head of a conservative and moderately Islamist government since 2003, has created many problems for the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey, with episodes of intolerance, even going so far as to censor the Grindr application. However, Istanbul remains a perfect destination for the LGBTQ+ community from every point of view, whether it be singles looking for company or homosexual couples.
VALUTA LOCALE in TÜRKIYE
The currency of Türkiye is the Turkish lira. In exchange offices it is often abbreviated TRY or TL (1 TL is equivalent to approximately 0.30 cents in euros).
CREDIT CARDS in TÜRKIYE
In Türkiye, with rare exceptions, all shops, bars, restaurants and hotels accept electronic payment systems and therefore it is possible to use credit, debit and debit cards. Often, however, as is well known, paying by card involves a surcharge and therefore we recommend that you have some Turkish lira with you for small expenses. Furthermore, if you have a current account, you can withdraw with your LibraMat ATM card via the maestro circuit, but be careful because the withdrawal commission on the international circuit is around 2.50 - 3.50 euros.
LOCAL TIPS in TÜRKIYE
In Türkiye, tipping is much less known than in other countries but, despite this, it is customary to leave around 5-20% of the total bill for taxi drivers, porters and table attendants in restaurants where it is not already included in the service.
BARGAIN in TÜRKIYE
Don't forget that the number one rule when shopping in Türkiye is to always haggle. In fact, it is a consolidated custom to negotiate on the price whatever it is and for any product, and if you are good you will be able to take home some wonderful souvenirs from Turkey at very low prices!
ELECTRICITY AND TIME ZONE in TÜRKIYE
The electricity is the same as in Italy as is the type of sockets used, so there will be no problem charging your mobile phone or using electronic equipment. Regarding the time zone, Turkey is 2 hours ahead of Italy in the winter months, while in the summer months it is 1 hour ahead because the country no longer follows the summer time setting like in other countries.
GETTING AROUND in TÜRKIYE
The main cities of Türkiye have an excellent urban transport network and 5 of them, Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Izmir and Bursa also have trams, metro and buses. Taxis have significantly lower prices than in Italy and for this reason they are an excellent alternative to public transport for medium-short distances.
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