WHY TURKEY;

Turkey is outsdandingly beautiful.

Turkey is not frightening.

Turkey is exotic.

Turkey is inexpensive place to live.

Turkey is also inexpensive place to buy property.

Turkey has low crime rates.

Turkey straddles the borders of Europe and Asia with the majority of the country in Southwest Asia. It has a total area of 780,580 sq.km. that lies within Europe. The country is bordered at the east by Georgia, Armenia and Iran with Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea on the south. The Aegean Sea, Greece and Bulgaria are to the west, and the Black Sea forms the northern border. Turkey's geographical coordinates are 36o 00' to 42o 00' north latitude and 26o 00' to 45o 00' east longitude

Country Profile

The lands of Turkey are located at a point where the three continents making up the old world. 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. Turkey is roughly rectangular in shape and is 1,660 kilometers wide.
Because of its geographical location the mainland of Anatolia has always found favour 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

Area

The actual area of Turkey inclusive of its lakes, is 814,578 square kilometres, of which 790,200 are in Asia and 24,378 are located in Europe.
Boundaries
The land borders of Turkey are 2,573 kilometres in total, and coastlines (including islands) are another 8,333 kilometres, Turkey has two European and six Asian countries for neighbours along its land borders.
The land border to the northeast with the commonwealth of Independent States is 610 kilometres long; that with Iran, 454 kilometres long, and that with Iraq 331 kilometres long. In the south is the 877 kilometre-long border with Syria, which took its present form in 1939, when the Republic of Hatay joined Turkey. Turkey's borders on the European continent consist of a 212-kilometre frontier with Greece and a 269-kilometre border with Bulgaria.

Geographical Regions

Turkey is generally divided into seven regions: the Black Sea region, the Marmara region, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, the East and Southeast Anatolia regions. The uneven north Anatolian terrain running along the Black Sea resembles a narrow but long belt. The land of this region is approximately 1/6 of Turkey's total land area.
The Marmara region covers the area encircling the Sea of Marmara, includes the entire European part of Turkey, as well as the northwest of the Anatolian plain. Whilst the region is the smallest of the regions of Turkey after the Southeast Anatolia region, it has the highest population density of all the regions.
The most important peak in the region is Uludag (2,543 metres), at the same time it is a major winter sports and tourist centre. In the Anatolian part of the region there are fertile plains running from east to west.
The Aegean region extends from the Aegean coast to the inner parts of western Anatolia. There are significant differences between the coastal areas and those inland, in terms of both geographical features and economic and social aspects.
In general, the mountains in the region fall perpendicularly into the sea. and the plains run from east to west. The plains through which Gediz, Kücük Menderes and Bakircay rivers flow carry the same names as these rivers.
In the Mediterranean region, located in the south of Turkey, the western and central Taurus Mountains suddenly rise up behind the coastline. The Amanos mountain range is also in the area.
The Central Anatolian region is exactly in the middle of Turkey and gives the appearance of being less mountainous compared with the other regions. The main peaks of the region are Karadag, Karacadag, Hasandag and Erciyes (3.917 metres).
The Eastern Anatolia region is Turkey's largest and highest region. About three fourths of it is at an altitude of 1,500-2,000 metres. Eastern Anatolia is composed of individual mountains as well as of whole mountain ranges, with vast plateaus and plains. The mountains: There are numerous inactive volcanoes in the region, including Nemrut, Suphan, Tendurek and Turkey's highest peak, Mount Agri (Ararat), which is 5,165 metres high.
At the same time, several plains extended along the course of the River Murat, a tributary of the Firat (Euphrates). These are the plains of Malazgirt, Mus, Capakcur, Uluova and Malatya.
The Southeast Anatolia region is notable for the uniformity of its landscape, although the eastern part of the region is comparatively more uneven than its western areas.

Coastlines

Turkey is surrounded by sea on three sides, by the Black Sea in the north, the Mediterranean in the south and the Aegean Sea in the west. In the northwest there is also an important internal sea, the Sea of Marmara, between the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, important waterways that connect the Black Sea with the rest of the world.
Because the mountains in the Black Sea region run parallel to the coastline, the coasts are fairly smooth, without too many indentations or projections. The length of the Black Sea coastline in Turkey is 1,595 kilometres, and the salinity of the sea is 17%. The Mediterranean coastline runs for 1,577 kilometres and here too the mountain ranges are parallel to the coastline.
The salinity level of the Mediterranean is about double that of the Black Sea.
Although the Aegean coastline is a continuation of the Mediterranean coast, it is quite irregular because the mountains in the area fall perpendicularly into the Aegean Sea. As a result, the length of the Aegean Sea coast is over 2,800 kilometres. The coastline faces out to many islands.
The Marmara Sea is located totally within national boundaries and occupies an area of 11,350 square kilometres. The coastline of the Marmara Sea is over 1,000 kilometres long; it is connected to the Black Sea by the Bosphorus and with the Mediterranean by the Dardanelles

Rivers

Most of the rivers of Turkey flow into the seas surrounding the country. The Firat (Euphrates) and Dicle (Tigris) join together in Iraq and flow into the Persian Gulf. Turkey's longest rivers, the Kizilirmak, Yesilirmak and Sakarya, flow into the Black Sea. The Susurluk, Biga and Gonen pour into the Sea of Marmara, the Gediz, Kucuk Menderes, Buyuk Menderes and Meric into the Aegean, and the Seyhan, Ceyhan and Goksu into the Mediterranean .

Lakes

In terms of numbers of lakes, the Eastern Anatolian region is the richest. It contains Turkey's largest, Lake Van (3.713 square kilometres), and the lakes of Ercek, Cildir and Hazar. There are also many lakes in the Taurus mountains area: the Beysehir and Egirdir lakes, and the lakes that contain bitter waters like the Burdur and Acigoller lakes, for example. Around the Sea of Marmara are located the lakes of Sapanca, Iznik, Ulubat, Manyas, Terkos, Kucukcekmece and Buyukcekmece. In Central Anatoia is the second largest lake in Turkey: Tuzgolu: The waters of this lake are shallow and very salty. The lakes of Aksehir and Eber are also located in this region.
As a result of the construction of dams during the past thirty years, several large dam lakes have come into existence. Together with the Atatürk Dam lake which started to collect water in January 1990, the following are good examples: Keban, Karakaya, Altinkaya, Adiguzel, Kilickaya, Karacaoren, Menzelet, Kapulukaya, Hirfanli, Sariyar and Demirkopru.

The Climate

Although Turkey 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, results in significant differences in climatic conditions from one region to the other. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.

DİD YOU KNOW THAT?

THE FIRST COINS WERE MINTED AT SARDIS, THE CAPITAL OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF LYDIA IN WESTERN ANATOLIA, AT THE END OF THE 7 TH CENTURY BC. LYDIA IS THE FIRST KNOWN CIVILIZATION IN THE WORLD TO USE MONEY AS A MEANS OF EXCHANGE.
THE ONLY CITY IN THE WORLD LOCATED ON TWO CONTINENTS IS ISTANBUL WHICH HAS BEEN THE CAPITAL OF THREE GREAT EMPIRES – ROMAN, BYZANTINE AND OTTOMAN – FOR MORE THAN 2000 YEARS.
THE OLDEST KNOWN HUMAN SETTLEMENT, DATING BACK TO 6500 BC., IS IN ÇATALHÖYÜK, NEAR KONYA IN THE CENTRAL ANATOLIAN REGION OF TURKEY. THE EARLIEST LANDSCAPE PAINTING IN HISTORY EXISTS ON A WALL OF A ÇATALHÖYÜK HOUSE. IT SHOWS THE ERUPTION OF A VOLCANO, PROBABLY THAT OF NEARBY HASANDAG.
TWO OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD STOOD IN ANATOLIA: THE TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS AT EPHESUS AND THE MAUSOLEUM AT HALICARNASSUS - BODRUM.
MANY IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE BIRTH OF CHRISTIANITY OCCURED IN TURKEY. APOSTLES ST. JOHN, ST. PAUL AND ST.PETER HAVE ALL LIVED AND PREACHED IN ANATOLIA. ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY IN THE FORESTED MOUNTAIN ABOVE EPHESUS IS THE HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY (MERYEMANA EVI), A MODEST STONE HOUSE WHERE THE VIRGIN MARY LIVED HER LAST DAYS. IT IS BELIEVED THAT ST. JOHN BROUGHT MARY TO THIS SITE AFTER CHRIST’S CRUCIFIXION. VATICAN DECLARED THE HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY A HOLY SITE IN 1967.
THE SEVEN CHURCHES MENTIONED IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, ARE ALL LOCATED IN ANATOLIA: EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM, THYATEIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA AND LAODICEA.
ANTIOCH, ONCE CALLED THE “QUEEN OF THE EAST” AND KNOWN AS THE THIRD LARGEST CITY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY. ST PAUL BEGAN HIS THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS FROM THERE AND IT WAS AT ANTIOCH THAT THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS. A CAVE KNOWN TODAY AS THE GROTTO OF ST. PETER OR THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER IS BELIEVED TO BE WHERE THE APOSTLE PETER PREACHED WHEN HE LIVED IN ANTIOCH. IN 1963, THE PAPACY DESIGNATED THE SITE AS A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE AND ALSO RECOGNIZED IT AS >THE WORLD’S FIRST CATHEDRAL.
ANATOLIA IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF MANY HISTORIC LEGENDS, SUCH AS: THE POWERFUL PHRYGIAN KING MIDAS, THE WORLD’S FIRST HISTORIAN HEREDOTUS AND ST PAUL, THE APOSTLE. ARCHEOLOGISTS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM OPENED THE TOMB OF KING MIDAS IN 1957. THEY DISCOVERED SOME OF THE EARLIEST AND BEST PRESERVED WOODEN FURNITURE IN THE WORLD.
ST. NICHOLAS, KNOWN TODAY AS SANTA CLAUS, WAS BORN IN PATARA AND SERVED AS BISHOP OF MYRA (DEMRE) ON TURKEY’S MEDITERRANEAN COAST. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NICHOLAS DIED IN MYRA ON DECEMBER 6TH AT THE AGE OF 65. THE VILLAGE IS HOME TO THE FAMOUS CHURCH OF ST. NICHOLAS WHICH HOUSES A SARCOPHAGUS BELIEVED TO BE THE ORIGINAL TOMB OF ST. NICHOLAS.
ACCORDING TO THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE PATRIARCH ABRAHAM WAS BORN IN SANLI URFA, A CITY IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY. THE CITY’S ANCIENT NAME WAS UR OR EDESSA. A CAVE THERE IS THOUGHT TO BE ABRAHAM’S BIRTHPLACE. IT HAS BECOME A PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE AND IS NOW SURROUNDED BY THE HALIL RAHMAN MOSQUE.
TROJAN WARS, DEPICTED IN HOMER’S EPIC ILIAD TOOK PLACE IN WESTERN TURKEY IN ABOUT 1200 BC. A SYMBOLIC WOODEN HORSE AT THE SITE COMMEMORATES THIS LEGENDARY WAR.
ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT FLOOD MENTIONED IN BOTH THE KORAN AND THE OLD TESTAMENT, NOAH’S ARK LANDED AT MOUNT ARARAT (AGRI DAGI) IN EASTERN ANATOLIA. FOR CENTURIES SCIENTIESTS HAVE LAUNCHED EXPEDITIONS ON THE MOUNTAIN’S SLOPES IN SEARCH OF THE REMAINS OF THE NOAH’S ARK.
THE WORD “TURQUOISE” COMES FROM “TURK” MEANING TURKISH, AND WAS DERIVED FROM THE BEAUTIFUL COLOR OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA ON THE SOUTHERN TURKISH COAST.
COFFEE WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO ISTANBUL FROM YEMEN IN THE 16TH CENTURY. IT WAS IN TURKEY THAT A NEW METHOD OF PREPARING GROUND COFFEE -NOW CALLED TURKISH COFFEE- WAS INVENTED AND TURKS INTRODUCED THIS NEW DRINK PREPARED IN THEIR OWN WAY TO EUROPE BY THE 17TH CENTURY. PIERRE LOTI, VICTOR HUGO, DUMAS, MOLIERE AND BALZAC ARE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE ADMIRED TURKISH COFFEE. DRINKING COFFEE IS STILL AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF TURKISH CULTURE.
TULIPS WERE INTRODUCED TO HOLLAND FROM TURKEY BY OGIER GHISELIN DE BUSBECQ WHICH STARTED THE CRAZE FOR THE FLOWER IN THE NETHERLANDS AND ENGLAND. HE WAS THE AMBASSADOR OF CHARLES V TO THE COURT OF OTTOMAN EMPEROR SÜLEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT IN 1554.
IT WAS FROM GIRESUN, A CITY ON THE BLACK SEA COAST OF TURKEY, THAT THE ROMAN GENERAL LUCULLUS EXPORTED THE FIRST CHERRY TREES TO EUROPE. GIRESUN IS A VARIATION OF THE ANCIENT NAME KERASUS, MEANING CITY OF CHERRIES, FROM THE GREEK WORD FOR CHERRY, KERASI.
PIRI REIS, WELL-KNOWN TURKISH CAPTAIN AND NAVIGATOR OF THE LATE 15TH CENTURY, PREPARED AND DREW THE MAP KNOWN TODAY AS “PIRI REIS MAP” IN THE CITY OF GALLIPOLI-TURKEY IN 1513. DRAWN ON GAZELLE HIDE, THIS MAP SHOWED THE THEN KNOWN PORTIONS OF THE WORLD: EUROPE, ASIA, AFRICA AND SUCH PARTS OF AMERICA AS HAD BEEN DISCOVERED. ERICH VON DANIKEN IN HIS FAMOUS BOOK “THE CHARIOTS OF THE GODS” ADVOCATES THAT HE WAS TAKEN TO AN AIRSHIP BY THE VISITORS FROM THE UNIVERSE TO SEE THE WORLD AND DREW THIS MAP WHICH RESEMBLES THE PHOTOS OF THE EARTH TAKEN FROM THE SATELLITES

Tips for Travelers

Currency Regulation

Limits: There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than 5 5,000 worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country.
Exchange slips: 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).

Customs Regulations

On Entry
The following items may be brought into the country duty free
personal effects of the tourist.
one TV, one colour pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector.
one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette - keyboard).
one transistor radio and portable radio - tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
Binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
harmonica, mandolin, flageole, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments).
personal sports equipment.
necessary medical items.
bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff
(In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets.
5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
one portable typewriter.
one camera with 5 rolls of film.
First aid, and spare parts for the car.
Other items necessary during the journey.
Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000 must be registered in the owner's passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner's passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
Sharp instruments (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year's.
Note:
Cellular Telephones entering the country must be accompanied by a certification form showing ownership. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit. For more information contact the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate at Tel: (312) 212 35 72 - 212 60 10 (10 lines), Fax: (312) 221 32 26 or write to Ulastirma Bakanligi Telsiz Gn. Md. Emek - Ankara.

On exit

Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary.
Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner's passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.
Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research). Etüdler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
Tel: (312) 287 3430 /1622, Fax: (312) 285 42 71

Tax Refund
You Can Receive a Tax Refind for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey!
Refunds will be made to travellers who do not reside in Turkey.
All goods (including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered.
The minimum amount of purchase that qualifies for refund is 5.000.000 TL.
Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be "authorised for refund." These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office.
The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. If you prefer the refund to be mada by check, a Tax-free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt.
For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and! or check.
There are four ways to receive your refund:
If the retailer gives you a check it can he cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport. If it is not possible to cash the check upon departure or if you do not wish to cash it then, .e customer must, within one month, send a copy of the receipt showing that the goods have left the country to the retailer who will, within ten days upon receiving the receipt, send a bank transfer to the purchaser's hank or address.
If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit thin one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be mada directly to the purchaser.
Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase
The refund may be mada by the organisation of those companies that are authorised to make tax refunds.
Additional information:
Ministry of Finance and Tax Dept. General Directorate, (Maliye Bakanligi, Gelirler Genel Müdürlügü) KDV Subesi 06100, Ulus - Ankara
Tel: (312) 3103880/725 - 728 - 735, Fax: (312) 311 45 10
 
Health Regulations for Pets
For those who wish to bring domestic animals into the country the following are required:
Pets have to be 3 months and older
An International Certificate of Health issued within 15 days before the travel
The Identification Card
Vaccination Card
Note:
If you have an official certificate, you may bring one cat, one bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the country. To get information for the importation of pets, 
Motorist Rules
General: Those who wish to enter the country with their vans, minibuses, automobiles, station wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, sidecars, buses, motor coaches, trailers, caravans or other transport vehicles, will have to provide the following documentations:
Passport.
International driving license.
Car license (document where all details related to the car and the owner's name are registered). If it is somebody else's vehicle a power of attorney should be provided.
International green card (Insurance card). The TR sign should be visible.
Transit book "Carnet de passage" (for those who want to proceed to the Middle East).
Period:
The vehicle can be brought into Turkey for up to 6 Months. The owner should declare on the opposite form, the date of departure at the border gate and should absolutely ve the country at the date declared. If for any important reason the staying period has to be ended, it is necessary to apply to;
The Turkish Touring and Automobile Club (Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu) 1. Sanayi Sitesi Yani, 4.Levent, Istanbul, Tel (212) 282 81 40(7 lines). Fax (212) 282 80, or to
The General Directorate of Customs (Gümrükler Genel Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara Tel (312) 310 38 80,310 38 18, Fax (312) 31113 46, before the end of the period declared.
In Case of Accident:
The accident should be reported to the police or gendarme. That report has to be certified by the nearest local authority. The owner should apply to the customs authority with his passport and report.
If the vehicle can be repaired, it is necessary to inform the customs authority first and take the vehicle to a garage. If the vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to leave the country without his vehicle, he has to deliver it to the nearest customs office, and the registration of his vehicle on his passport will be cancelled. (Only after the cancellation can the owner of the vehicle leave the country.)
Following an accident, you can telephone:
Trafik Polisi (Traffic Police), Tel :154,
Jandarma (Gendarme), Tel :156.
For more information, contact the Touring and Automobile Association of Turkey.

Formalities for Private Yacht Owners
Yachts require a Transit Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports licensed by the Ministry of Tourist the storage of yachts for a period of two to five years. For further information and regulations contact the marina concerned.
Upon arriving in Turkish waters, yachts should immediately go for control of the ship to the nearest port of entry which are as follows: Iskenderun, Botas (Adana), Mersin, Tasucu, Anamur, Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Finike, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris, Datça, Bodrum, Güllük Didim, Kusadasi, Çesme, Izmir, Dikili, Ayvalik, Akçay, Çanakkale, Bandirma, Tekirdag, Istanbul, Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Hopa.
Port Formalities: All the required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen, members, intended route, passports, customs declarations, health clearance, and any obligatory matters must be entered in the Transit Log.
The Transit Log is to he completed by the captain of a yacht under a foreign flag or amateur sailor acting as captain of the vessel.
The Transit Log is completed upon first entering a Turkish port and, generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbour Authority before leaving. For information on tax-free fuel, contact the Marina Harbour Office.
Note: If you have a certificate from the Tourism Ministry Yacht Harbour, you may take petrol at no charge, provided you possess an official marina license.
 
Formalities for Private Plane Owners
General: When coming to Turkey, international air routes should he followed. Private planes may stay for up to three months in Turkey with tourist status, but for longer periods permission should be obtained from
The General Directorate of Customs (Gümrükler Genel Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara, Tel: (312) 3103880,3103818,Fax: (312) 311 1346
The airports of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon and Dalaman have ties for private planes. It is also possible to hire planes and helicopters in Turkey.
For further information, apply to:
The Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport (Ulastirma Bakanligi, Havacilik Gen. Müd.). Bosna-Hersek Cad., No: 5 - 06338 - Emek, Ankara. Tel: (312) 212 67 30, Fax: (312) 212 46 84, TIx : 44659 Ga-tr.

Underwater Diving
Diving for purposes of sport, with proper equipment and in non-restricted areas, is permitted. Foreign divers should have official documentation of their specifics and training and must be accompanied, when diving, by a licensed Turkish guide.
The limit for diving with diving gear is 30 metres. For educational purposes, this limit is extended to 42 metres. Dives exceeding 30 metres must be carried out with proper diving and medical equipment. In arder to protect Turkish archaeological and cultural values. It is strictly forbidden to transport Turkish antiquities or natural specimens.

Postal System

Turkish post-offices are easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow background. Major post offices are open from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Small post-offices have the same hours as the government offices.
Postal charges vary for different services depending on destination. Post restante letters should be addressed "postrestant" to the central post-office Merkez Postanesi, in the town of your choice. You have to show your identification card to collect your letters.
All PTT branches have the facilities to exchange money at the current international exchange rates, as well as international postal orders and travellers' cheques. There is also an express postal service (APS) operating to 90 countries for letters , documents and small packages. A wide variety of special stamps are available in all PTT centers for philatelists.
To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are extensively found in all areas; telephone cards , and tokens (";jeton") in three sizes are used. Local, inter-city and international calls can be mada from all PTT offices. Besides these main offices there are also mobile PTT services in the touristic areas. For the area codes of major cities and touristic areas in Turkey, please see the "Area Codes" list. Foreign countries area codes are indicated in the International Telephone Codes list.
Some important service numbers are;
155 Police
112 Emergency
110 Fire
118 Unknown Numbers
161 PTT Information.

Tourist Health

Turkish Tourist Health Society (Turizm Sagligi Dernegi-Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi Ana Bilim Dali, Sihhiye 06100 ANKARA Tel: (312) 311 93 93-310 98 08) perfoms the functions below, to provide the travellers in the entire country, mainly in the touristic regions, with proper health care:
to secure food hygiene
to prevent environmental pollution
to ensure hygiene and healthy working-conditions in touristic establishments.

Working Hours

Government Offices
Monday-Friday (8:30-12:30) , (13:30-17:30)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8:30-12-00) , (13:30-17:00)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9:30-13:00) , (14:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
Istanbul Covered market: Monday-Saturday (8:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
During summer months, the government offices and many other establishments in the Aegean and Mediterranean Regions are closed in the afternoon. These fixed summer hours are determined by the governing bodies of the provinces.

Other Practical Information
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.
Petrol:
Super (peremium) - Unleaded (at some places). Normal (regular) - Diesel.
Electricity:
220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.
Water:
Although tap vater is safe to drink since it is chlorinated, it is recommended to get advice from the concemed authorities of the places resided.
Weights and Measures:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters , 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches
1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards
1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles
1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds
Area:
1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres
Capacity:
1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres, 1 litre = 0.2199 UK gallons
1 US gallon = 3.7831 litres, 1 litre = 0.2643 US gallons

Newspapers and Magazines:
Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities and tourist areas. Also there is a Turkish daily newspaper, Daily News, published in English.
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.)