Category: Uncategorized

On the general basis, the population in Turkey is characterised by youth and dynamism. According to a 2014 population census, Turkey has 74 million inhabitants, 60% of its population is under 26 age. Although there has been a marked migration into town, approximately 47 percent of the population still lives in the rural areas. Although the official language is Turkish, English is widely spoken in Turkey.

There are many high schools and universities where the curriculum is based on English, German and French are other commonly spoken foreign languages. Istanbul, which was the capital of three empires, is Turkey’s largest city, with approximately 9.1 million inhabitants. Ankara, the capital city, has 3.69 million in habitants. The next largest cities are Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Konya and Adana.

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.

In terms of numbers of lakes, the Eastern Anatolian region is the richest. It contains Turkey’s largest, Lake Van (3,713 square kilometers), and the lakes of Ercek, Cildir and Hazar. There are also many lakes in the west Taurus mountains area: the Beysehir and Egirdir lakes, and the lakes that contain bitter waters like the Burdur and Acigoller lakes. Around the Sea of Marmara are located the lakes of Sapanca, Iznik, Ulubat, Manyas, Terkos, Kucukcekmece and Buyukcekmece. In Central Anatolia 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 Ataturk Dam lake which started to collect water in January 1990, the following are good examples: Keban, Karakaya, Altinkaya, Adiguzel, Kilickaya, Karacaoren, Menzelet, Kapulukaya, Hirfanlt, Sariyar and Demirkupru.

Customs officials seldom bother to open tourists’ luggage on your entry, but they may show more interest on your departure. There is a strict prohibition on the export of antiquities and you may be required to show a proof of purchase slip and currency exchange slip if you have bought a Turkish carpet. Older carpets may also require a document from the shop keeper or from a local museum certifying that the carpet is not an antiquity.

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). Etudler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
– Phone: +90 (312) 287 3430 /1622, Fax: (312) 285 42 71

Every big city around the world experiences crime to some degree, but Turkey is a secular Islamic state and crime is looked upon by most Turks as the most shameful behavior a Muslim can commit. A money belt is the most convenient way of carrying your personal items while on tour, leaving your hands free to take photographs

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two pin plugs are used throughout Turkey.(Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug. American and Japanese appliances will need a transformer to convert from 110 volt. Electricity consumption per capita: 1,300 kw. % 40 Hydraulic and % 60 thermic energy.

Business and Shopping Hours
Turkey shares with Europe the Saturday and Sunday weekend.
Shops: 9.00-13.00 14.00-19.00 (closed Sundays)
Banks: 8.30-12.00 13.30-17.00 (closed Saturday and Sunday)

Turkish is the official language, Kurdish and Arabic is also spoken in the southeast, but most shopkeepers can speak rudimentary English, German and even Italian. All directions, apart from tourist signs, are written in Turkish. The Turkish language belongs to the Ural – Altaic group and has an affinity with the Finno – Hungarian languages. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and is spoken by at least 150 million people around the world.

Most Fluent Turkish Phrases in English

Turkey is a warm country for most of the year, and casual wear including shorts, pants, T-shirts and sunglassed are preferred during the Spring and Summer months. A good sturdy pair of walking shoes are essential, including a sweater for the occasional chilly evening after a suntan. Winter travellers will definitely need warm waterproof clothing, including hats, gloves and thick sweaters.

When it comes to dress codes, expectation that women will dress conservatively. Skimpy clothing is offensive to many local people, particularly the older generation and will be frowned upon. However it is fine for women to wear shorts in the more popular tourist areas, there is unlimited freedom on most beaches. A good option is a light cotton dress, or baggy cotton pants. You will need a dress when visiting mosques.

Men’s clothing is less subject to scrutiny. We recommend, however, that you take a mix of cotton pants and shorts. When visiting a mosque, both men and women should cover their limbs. Men can get away with trousers and a short-sleeved shirt; women should wear a dress (below the knees) with long sleeves, and when swimming, costumes must be worn at all times and a swimsuit, for women, is far more acceptable than a bikini.

How should visitors dress in Turkey
Casual wear is appropriate for most tour excursions. Women wear pants or skirts, but when visiting mosques it is recommended that they cover their heads with a scarf and both sexes should not wear shorts out of respects for religious customs.

Protected to the north, west and south by sea, guarded to the east and southeast by impenetrable mountain ranges, Turkey has the varied landscape of a continent complete in itself. Arable plains change over long distances into areas of steppe and pasture suitable only for livestock, surrounded by barren rocky regions or dense swathes of virgin forest. Throughout the course of history, the landscape has played a key role in determining the settlement of civilizations, migrations, invasions and the spread of numerous religions.

Turkey is located in south/western Asia (the part that is west of the Bosphorus is included with Europe, or referred to as the ‘European side’) and borders south eastern Europe. In the north it borders the Black Sea. To the west is the Aegean Sea, Greece and Bulgaria and to the east are Georgia, Armenia and Iran. In the south it borders the Mediterranean Sea, along with Iraq and Syria. It occupies a landmass of 780,580 square kilometres and its capital is Ankara.