Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Muzeleri)
Sultanahmet, Tel: 520 77 40. Across from the Cinili (Tiled) Kiosk in Topkapi Palace's outermost court is the magnificent Archaeological Museum. The first floor and the annex of the museum is open to the public, displaying a selection of the 60,000 Greco- Roman and Near Eastern antiquities in the collection, including more than 75,000 inscribed clay tablets. Don't miss the wonderfully preserved Alexander Sarcophagus found in Sidon and the treaty of Kadesh, the first peace treaty ever to be signed in the world. The museum brings to life the peoples of the ancient Middle East. 
(Open 09.30-16.30. Closed Mondays.)

Atatürk Museum
Halaskargazi Caddesi 250, Sisli Tel: 240 6319. Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, lived here briefly. The house displays some of his personal effects. 
(Open 09.30-16.30. Closed Thursdays and Sundays.)

Calligraphy Museum (Hat Sanatlari Muzesi)
Beyazit Square, Tel: 527 58 51. The Ottomans, always uneasy with human pictorial representation, preferred expression in calligraphy. This is the only museum of calligraphy in the world. 
(Open 09.00-16.00. Closed Sundays and Mondays.)

Carpet and Kilim Museum (Hali ve Kilim Muzesi)
(Next to the Blue Mosque), Sultanahmet, Tel: 518 13 30. A wonderful collection of ancient kilims and carpets in a very cool, marble environment. Also a large collection of carpets. 
(Open 09.00-12.00, 13.00-16.00. Closed Sundays and Mondays.)

Divan Literature Museum (Divan Edebiyati Muzesi)
Galip Dede Caddesi 15, Tünel, Beyoglu, Tel: 245 4141. Also called the Galata Mevlevihanesi, this is where the mystic "Whirling Dervishes" perform "Sema" dances and Sufi music, on the last Sunday of every month. A memorable experience not to be missed. A fine display of instruments and dervish accessories. 
(Closed Mondays. )

Haghia Sophia
Sultanahmet, Tel: 52217 50. The Church of Holy Wisdom is undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian circa AD535, it was transformed into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453. Now a museum, it is awesome in size, and contains beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics. Hanging alongside the pictures of Christ are huge wooden discs proclaiming the greatness of Allah: a meeting point of religions. A must for any visitor to Istanbul. 
(Open 9.30-16.30. Closed Mondays.) Click for more...

Kariye Museum (The Church of St. Saviour in Chora)
Kariye Catnu Sokak, Edirnekapi, Tel: 631 92 41. A legendary Byzantine church decorated with extraordinary late- l4th century frescoes and mosaics portraying the life and miracles of Christ. The most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings in the city and among the most significant in the world. 
(Open 09.30-16.30. Closed Tuesdays.) Click for more...

Maritime Museum (Deniz Müzesi)
Besiktas Tel: 26100 40. Includes examples of the extraordinary boats that used to row the Sultans to and from their homes along the Bosphorus. 
(Open 09.30- 17.00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.)

Mosaic Museum
Opposite Arasta Bazaar (behind the Blue Mosque), Sultanahmet, Tel: 51812 05. Houses the beautiful mosaics discovered in Justinian's Grand Palace of Byzantium. (Open 09.30-17.00. Closed Tuesdays.)

Museum of the 1839 Reforms (Tanzimat Müzesi)
Gülhane Park, Tel: 512 63 84. A small museum celebrating the Ottomans' l9th century attempt to catch up with the rest of Europe.
(Open every day 09.00-17.00.)

Rahmi M. Koç Industrial Museum
Hasköy Caddesi 27, Sütlüce, on the Golden Horn, Tel: 256 7153/54. A recently opened museum which gives an exciting glimpse into Istanbul's industrial past. Displays include scale models of steam engines, ships, cars, a full Maklin train set which visitors can operate and a fully recreated ship's bridge. 
(Open 10.00-17.00. Closed Monday.)

Sadberk Hanim Museum
Büyükdere Caddesi 27-29, Sariyer Tel: 242 3813. Excellent archaeological and ethnographical collections displayed in two handsome old mansions on the Bosphorus.
(Open 10.30-17.00. Closed Wednesdays.)

Topkapi Palace Museum
Sultanahmet, Tel: 512 04 80. The legendary palace of the Ottoman sultans from the l5th to the l9th centuries. Low buildings set in a series of courtyards, Topkapi is quite unlike a Western palace.Be sure to see the Harem, the Treasury and the golden-roofed Baghdad Kiosk. 
(Open 09.30-17.00.Closed Tuesdays.) Click for more...

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
At Meydani 46, Sultanahmet, Tel: 51813 85, 51818 05. A delightful museum on the ancient hippodrome, housed in Ibraham Pasa Sarayi, the home of Suleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vizier. Beautifully displayed Islamic objects and antique carpets.
(Open 10.00- 17 00. Closed Mondays.)

Yildiz Palace Museum (Marangozhane)
Yildiz Palace, Barbaros Bulvari, Besiktas, Tel: 258 30 80/ext. 280. The converted carpentry workshop of Sultan Abdülhamit now houses exquisite porcelain pieces, giant vases and the joinery produced by the Sultan himself. 
(Open10.00- 16.00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.)

Istanbul has hundreds of mosques, both monumental and intimate. Mosques are open to visitors every day outside worshipping hours, which are announced by the muezzins' call to prayer. All visitors are asked to remove their shoes and women are expected to cover their heads before entering. A few of the most architecturally interesting are:

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Sultanahmet Square. The most famous mosque in the city, built in the early l7th century, distinguished by six minarets and walls covered with amazing blue Iznik tiles.
(Open every day except during prayer times. ) Click for more...

Eyüp Mosque
Eyüp. For the Islamic world, this is the holiest mosque in all of Istanbul. The Ottoman sultans held their coronation ceremonies here. The faithful still flock here to pray to the relics of Eyüp, a companion of the Prophet. Be sure not to visit on Fridays, when the mosque is packed with worshippers. Up the hill through the graveyard is the atmospheric Pierre-Loti Cafe, offering refreshments and an arresting view of the Golden Horn.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque
Cagaloglu An 18th century mosque influenced by baroque architecture. Considered a turning point in mosque architecture. 

Ortaköy Mosque
Ortaköy. A superb setting on a point jutting into the Bosphorus. This Ottoman baroque mosque displays a wonderful sculptural approach.

Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Sultanahmet. Near the Covered Bazaar, an intimate Sinan mosque, breathtakingly beautiful.

Süleymaniye Mosque
Beyazit Sinan's masterpiece. The massive scale of this mosque is best appreciated from a distance. Up close, the mosque is formal and rather forbidding, but it is interesting to wander around the surrounding complex of buildings. Click for more...

Yeni Cami (New Mosque)
Eminönü. A late example of classical Ottoman architecture, this is one of the most familiar landmarks in the city.

The city abounds with churches of various denominations. A few churches of particular interest are:

St. Anthony of Padua
Istiklal Caddesi, Tünel. One of the city's best known functioning Roman Catholic churches.

Church of St. George
Fener. The seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

Christ Church
Serdari Ekrem Sokak 82, Tünel, Beyoglu. A restored Anglican church, formerly known as the Crimean Memorial church, designed by the famous Victorian architect C.E. Street.

St. Mary Pammakaristos (Fethiye Cami)
Fener, Tel:522 17 50. Many Byzantine emperors are buried here. Permission to visit must be obtained from the Haghia Sophia Museum, 09.30-17.00, closed Mondays

SS Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Ayasofya)
Sultanahmet. A Byzantine church built in Emperor Justinian's era. A must for architectural historians.

St. Stephen of the Bulgars
Fener. Stands in the middle of the Golden Horn road, this l9th century structure is built entirely of iron. It was prefabricated in Vienna and sent via the Danube to be erected here to celebrate the independence of the Bulgarian Church.

Beylerbeyi Palace
Cayirbagi Duragi, Beylerbeyi Tel: (216) 32193 20. A restored summer palace of the late Ottoman sultans, built of white marble. 
(Open 09.30-16.00. Closed Mondays and Thursdays.) Click for more...

Çiragan Palace
Besiktas. The former summer home of the Ottoman sultans, now rebuilt as part of the complex of the Çiragan Palace Hotel Kempinski. Click for more...

Dolmabahçe Palace
Besiktas,Tel: 258 55 44. The l9th century rococco residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the place where Atatürk died in 1938. Beautifully situated, with a 600 meter frontage on the Bosphorus, an impressive ballroom, and ornate Victorian furniture embodying the Turkish assimilation of European culture. Visitors are admitted in groups, Led by the museum's guides. Try to go early in the morning, later in the day it may be fully booked. 
(Open 09.00-16.00. Closed Monday and Thursday. Click for more...

Ihlamur Palace
Ihlamurdere Caddesi, Besiktas , Tel: 261 29 91. An imperial rest house that remains serene in the midst of city traffic. 
(Open 09.00-17.00. Closed Mondays and Thursdays.)

Sale Köskü (Yildiz Park)
Besiktas, Tel: 259 45 70. Late Ottoman imperial palaces, this time set in the hills above the Bosphorus, in the leafy Yildiz Park. Sale (Chalet) Köskü is an elegant wooden building which served as residence for foreign state guests and is now a museum
(Open 09.30-16.00, Closed Mondays and Thursdays.)

Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi) 
Yerebatan Caddesi, Sultanahmet Square, Tel: 52212 59 The vast awesome columned cavern was the water source for both the Grand Palace of the Byzantine and for the
Ottomans’ Topkapi Palace. 
Open 09.00-17.30. Click for more...

The Bosphorus
The straits which divide Europe from Asia and define Istanbul. A trip to the city would not complete without a cruise up and down its shores. Imperial palaces are interspersed with wooden seaside mansions, decorative ferry landings, the twin fortresses of Rumeli Hisar and Anadolu Hisar, and two intercontinental bridges. Along the way, stop to explore Rumeli Hisar (Open 09.30-1700 except Monday). Sultan Mehmet had the castle built in 1452 so he could lay siege to the city. If you take the circular tour from Eminönü (2 hours each way) you can enjoy a fish lunch.
at Anadolu Kavagi. Ferry-boats also leave from Eminönü for various points along the waterway. Private boats can be hired during the summer.

The Covered Bazaar (Kapaly Carsi)
Has several gates: most used are at Cagaloglu and Beyazit Istanbul's legendary bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4000 little shops, is everything you gdreamed an oriental market could be. Gold jewellery, carpets, silver bibelots, leather, ceramics, copper and bras objects, embroideries, hand-woven textiles. Best approached from the Nuruosmaniye entrance. 
(Open 09.00-19.00 Monday-Saturday.)  Click for more...

Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) 
Büyükhendek Sokak, Sishane Tel: 2451160 Worth climbing to the top for the view from this l4th century tower. 
(Open every day 08.00-21.00. )

The Princess' Islands
A group of nine islands, four of them-Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada-inhabited. A favorite summer place since Byzantine times, the islands are a haven of quiet. With their beautiful villas and pine groves, they offer lovely walks all year round. No private cars are allowed, so transportation is either by foot, horse-drawn carriage or donkey. Ferry-boats leave from Sirkeci, Kadiköy and Bostanci and sea buses operate infrequently from Kabatas and Bostanci (call 362 04 44 for sea 6us information). A charming excursion.

The Spice or Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
Eminönü. An exotic food market and bazaar selling spices, dried fruits cheeses, olives, as well as towels, slippers, baskets and some jewellery. Outside, to the left, there is a wonderful flower and bird market and to the right merchants busily sell vegetables and fish with lots of local color. 
(Open Monday- Saturday 09.00-19.00.)

Yildiz Park
(Entrance on coast road between Besiktas and Ortaköy) The Sultans' private park, now open to the public, with two lovely buildings-Malta Kösk and Çadir Kösk. Both places have marvelous terraces. Also don't miss the elegant wooden Sale (Chalet) Köskü inside the park which is a museum. The park is a favorite of courting couples.            Top of Page

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).

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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

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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 made 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 made directly to the purchaser.
  • Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase
  • The refund may be made 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

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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, please see the Consular Services.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 made 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.

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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.
   

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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.

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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.)

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