| USEFUL INFORMATION
MONETARY SYSTEM
The national monetary unit is the Yeni (New) Turkish lira (YTL). The coinage is in 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 kurus and 1 lira pieces. Bank notes are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 YTL. The exchange rates for foreign currencies are published daily. Euro checks can be cashed immediately; so can traveller's checks upon producing identification. The most widely accepted credit cards are Euro card, Diner's Club, Visa, American Express and Mastercard. Exchange offices in touristy places are generally open until midnight.
Note you may exchange traveller's checks at Post Offices in touristy places and at certain banks.
WHEN TO
GO
Marmara,
Aegean and Mediterranean coasts: These coasts have typical
Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The
swimming season becomes shorter the further north one goes
Marmara and North Aegean - June to September, South Aegean and
Mediterranean - April to October.
Black Sea Coast : Warm summers, mild winters and
relatively rainfall.
Central Anatolia : Steppe climate with hot, dry
summers, cold winters.
Eastern Anatolia : Long snowy, cold winters with mild
summers.
Southeast Anatolia : Hot summer with mild, rainy
winters.
AVERAGE AIR AND WATER
TEMPERATURES FOR MAJOR REGIONS IN °C
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Antalya Air |
10 |
11 |
13 |
16 |
20 |
25 |
28 |
28 |
25 |
20 |
15 |
12 |
|
Antalya Water |
17 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
21 |
24 |
27 |
28 |
27 |
25 |
22 |
19 |
|
Izmir Air |
9 |
10 |
11 |
16 |
20 |
25 |
28 |
27 |
23 |
18 |
15 |
10 |
|
Izmir Water |
11 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
20 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
24 |
21 |
17 |
13 |
|
Istanbul Air |
5 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
21 |
23 |
23 |
20 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
|
Istanbul Water |
9 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
15 |
20 |
23 |
23 |
21 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
|
Trabzon Air |
6 |
6 |
7 |
11 |
15 |
20 |
22 |
22 |
19 |
15 |
12 |
9 |
|
Trabzon
Water |
10 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
14 |
20 |
24 |
25 |
24 |
20 |
16 |
13 |
|
Ankara Air |
0 |
1 |
5 |
11 |
16 |
20 |
23 |
23 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
2 |
|
Erzurum Air |
-9 |
-7 |
-3 |
5 |
11 |
15 |
19 |
20 |
15 |
9 |
2 |
-5 |
|
Diyarbakir Air |
2 |
2 |
8 |
14 |
19 |
26 |
31 |
31 |
25 |
17 |
10 |
4 |
WHAT TO TAKE
:
-
Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts: Light,
cotton summer clothing and cardigans for evening.
-
Black Sea, Central and Eastern Anatolia : Summer
wear, warmer clothing should be taken for cool evenings at
night attitudes.
-
Comfortable shoes are necessary for visiting
archaeological and historical sites.
-
Sun bats and sunglasses are advisable in the height
of summer.
-
Women for visiting mosques should take
headscarves.
POSTAL SYSTEM AND PHONE
CALLS
Turkish
post offices are easily recognisable by their yellow "PTT"
signs. Major post offices are open 8:00 - 24:00 hrs. Mon.-
Sat. ; and 9:00 - 19:00 Sun. Small post offices have the same
hours as government offices (see below)
Poste Restante
Poste
restante letters should be addressed "proterestant" to the
central post office " Merkez Postanesi", in the town of your
choice. It is only necessary to produce an identification card
when collecting your letter.
It is possible to use this service for sending or
receiving documents from other countries.
Fax Office
It is
possible to use this service for sending or receiving
documents from other countries.
Valuable Dispatch
It is
possible to use service for sending valuable belongings or
valuable important documents.
Other PTT Services
It is
possible to exchange money at some branches of PTT at the
current international exchange rate. International postal
orders and traveller's checks can also be exchanged.
An express postal service ( Acele Posta Servisi - APS )
operates from Turkey to 72 other countries for letters,
documents, and small packages.
Stamp collectors will be delighted with the wide range
of special stamps available to them.
Phone Calls
The most
economic way to telephone in Turkey is from a PTT telephone booth
( found in all towns) Jetton in three sizes for local,
inter-city, and international calls can be purchased from all
PTT offices. Telephone cards are also available.
OPENING TIMES
Government
Offices 8:30 - 12:30 ( closed Sat. and Sun., open daily in
tourists areas )
13:30 - 17:30 Banks 8:30 - 12:00 ( closed Sat. and
Sun., open daily in tourists areas )
13:30 - 17:00 Shops 9:30 - 19.00 ( In tourist areas,
closing times vary, some close around midnight) Covered Bazaar
- Istanbul 8:00 - 19:00 ( closed Sun. )
On the first day of the religious holidays ( Seker
Bayrami 3 Days and Kurban Bayrami 4 days) all shops and
bazaars are closed.
Summer
Hours
In the
Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey, government offices
and many other establishments are closed in the afternoon
during the summer months. The province governors fix these
summer hours each year.
MUSEUMS
Most
Turkish museums are open every day of the week. In order to
receive permission for photos or films in museums or at
ancient ruins, a fee, which varies according to the entrance
fee, is charged. The photographing or filming, for commercial
use, of yet unpublished objects, which are copyrighted,
requires a special permit from the General Directorate of
Antiquities and Museums. In Ankara most museums are closed on
the first day of religious holidays.
"Closed" Days in ISTANBUL
Monday:
Ayasophia - Dolmabahce Palace
Tuesday:
Topkapi Palace
Wednesday:
Sadberk Hanim, Kariye Museum
Thursday:
Dolmabahce Palace
Sunday:
Kapali Carsi & Misir Carsisi
www.indigotour.com
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