In partnership with Booking.comTurkey
Istanbul
Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Eur..
INTRODUCTION: Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti) is a Country with a double identity, hanging between past and future. Busy, fascinating, mystic: Turkey is all this and much more, and a trip will not be sufficient to discover all its attractions.
Capital: Ankara (4.651.591 )
Surface: 783.562 km²
Population: 75.586.100 in 2009
Density: 91/km²
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)
1 Euro = 2.07 TRY
1 TRY = 0.49 Euro
Time zone: UTC +2
Language: Turkish
Religion: Muslim. Minorities: Christian Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish and Protestant.
Entry requirements: a valid identity card with a residual validity of at least 3 months is sufficient. Entrance to the Country must be by air or by sea, or via the Greek and Bulgarian frontier. European driving licenses must be accompanied with the Green Card.
Travelling with pets: small sized pets like cats, dogs and ferrets must travel with a certificate of good health conditions and must be vaccinated against rabies.
Health and safety: both private and public health structures are sufficient. No vaccination is required, but it is advisable to drink only bottled mineral water to avoid the risk of endemic infections such as hepatitis.
Turkey is characterised by a huge presence of tourists, therefore it is considered quite safe. Nonetheless in the last years the Country has been exposed to repeated terrorist attacks, so the utmost prudence is always required when travelling on the borders and in the eastern side of the Country.
Climate: the Turkish territory can be divided into three different climate zone: the Mediterranean coast is characterised by very hot summers and mild winters. On the Tauro mountains climate is more humid, whereas the rest of the Country is hot and sultry.
Form of government: parliamentary republic
President: Abdullah Gül
Prime Minister: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Economy: Turkish has developed considerably over the last years from an economic point of view. Agriculture is still a fundamental resource, which employs 45% of the workforce. The key industrial sector is textile industry: Turkish is in fact one of the biggest world producers. Other key industries are metal, food processing, building, car assembly, electronic and petrochemical. Tourism is gaining more and more relevance.
Electricity: Voltage: 220V - Frequency: 50 Hz. It is advisable to bring an adapter.
Post offices, banks and communications: post offices are open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 24 pm, Sunday from 9 am to 19 pm. Banks are open Monday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm, and from 13.30 to 17 pm.
Mobile phone covering is excellent.
Country code: 0090
Useful numbers:
Emergency number: 112