Money

The currency is the Turkish Lira (TL,₺). Traveler’s checks are not favored in Turkey. ATMs can be found even in the smallest Turkish towns. Most ATM accept international credit or debit cards (a strip of logos is usually displayed on the ATMS). Almost all ATMs have a language option so that you can read the instructions in English. Also, many commercial enterprises accept international credit cards such as Visa, Master Card, and American Express.

Electricity

The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts and 50 hertz as alternating current (AC). The wall sockets are in the standard used in Europe and compatible with two or three round pin plugs.

Main Holidays in Turkey

January 1st: First Day of the New Year

National Holidays

April 23rd: National Sovereignty and Children's Day (anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, 1920).

May 1st: Labour and Solidarity Day (since 2009).

May 19th: Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Atatürk's arrival in Samsun in 1919 and the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence).

July 15th: Democracy and National Solidarity Day

August 30th: Victory Day (victory over the occupying forces in 1922).

October 29th: Republic Day (anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923).

Religious Holidays

Eid-al-Fitr: It is a three-day holiday celebrated after fasting in the month of Ramadan. It is also known as the "Sugar Feast" as candy is offered to visiting relatives and friends.

Eid-al-Adha: It is a four-day holiday in which sheep and cows are sacrificed and their meat is distributed to the poor. The dates of these religious holidays vary according to the Islamic calendar, the Hijri calendar, and they are celebrated every year 10-11 days earlier than the previous year (this is due to the difference of 10 days and 21 hours between the Hijri and Gregorian calendars). 

Local time

Standard time zone: UTC/GMT + 2 hours

Phone contacts

To make a long-distance call (any call outside of your area code), you have to dial the long-distance prefix (0) before the seven-digit local phone number. Below are the area codes for Turkey’s major cities:

• Adana 322
• Ankara 312
• Antalya 242
• Bursa 224 
• Istanbul (Asian side) 216
• Istanbul (European side) 212
• Kayseri 352

Each mobile operator in Turkey has a similar area code (mobile phone code): Turkcell uses the numbers 530-539, Vodafone  541-549 and Turk Telekom  502-506.

In case of emergency, by calling the 112 telephone number

• Police
• Ambulance
• Fire Department

you can benefit from their services.

• For tourism information, you can get service from number 170.