To make your holiday in Turkey interesting and hassle-free, we present you with useful tips that will come in handy when traveling around this country.
Social rules in Turkey
Shooting prohibited
Pay attention to signs prohibiting photography. They are usually located in temples, mosques, as well as in the territories of strategically important military installations.
No smoking
In Turkey, there is a ban on smoking in public places.
Penalty for smoking in prohibited areas is 100 TYR.
For a cigarette butt thrown past the urn - 55 TRY.
Restaurants and cafes are equipped with special rooms for smokers.
Beaches
It is recommended to be on the beaches before 12:00 and after 16:00. Always use sunscreen, as the sun is very active and you can get sunburned even on a cloudy day.
Financial issues in Turkey
Change money
The country pays in Turkish lira, but accepts dollars and euros. You can exchange currency in the following places:
Hotels. The exchange rate will not always be profitable here;
Exchange offices. Offices are open from Monday to Friday.
Bank. Working hours of banking institutions from 8:30 to 17:30.
It is unnecessary to change all the currencies at once since its exchange rate in Turkey changes very often. For large purchases, euros and dollars are better suited.
Use Tax-free
So that shopping does not affect your wallet too much, it is better to shop in stores with such signs:
Tax-Free Shopping.
Global Refund.
When you purchase from 120 TRY, excluding books, food products and tobacco products, you will be refunded VAT in the ratio of 15-18% of the amount. The seller must issue a check in three copies, where the following information must be indicated:
data about the store and the buyer;
list of goods and their cost;
Tax amounts.
Receipts with goods are provided at the border. The customs officer puts a stamp, and then you need to proceed to the Cash Refund Office, where part of the money spent will be returned.
Move around the country
Urban transport
The country has a well-developed transport network. In addition to buses and taxis, there is also a subway.
Opening hours of public transport from 8:00 to 0:00.
Cost by bus 1.95-4 TRY, in dolmush - 3-7 TRY.
Tourists are advised to purchase IstanbulCard. The card can be bought at a kiosk or vending machine everywhere: at the airport, train stations, metro and public transport stops. Its price is 6 TRY. The card is replenished with any amount and with it you can get decent discounts on travel in public transport.
Renting a car
To use car rental services, you must be over 21 years old. Do not forget about a driver's license and a deposit in the form of money. The car is issued with a full tank of fuel, which must be taken into account when returning it.
Important: You cannot talk on a mobile phone without a special handsfree device. All passengers, including the driver, must wear seat belts.
Communication in Turkey
Getting to grips with the phone
Mobile coverage works throughout the territory, except for the eastern mountainous part. Among mobile operators in Turkey there are:
Turkcell;
Vodafone;
Avea.
Sim cards can be purchased at large supermarkets, specialized stores, and post offices. Their cost is in the range of 20-50 TRY.
Turkish cities are equipped with payphones. The cost of out-of-town calls is quite expensive. Telephone booths accept phone cards with a face value of 30, 60, 120 units, or you can pay with a bank card.
Wi-Fi
Free Internet connection is available in hotels and some catering establishments. To connect a high-quality connection - visit an Internet cafe. You need to pay 5-6 TRY per hour.
What you need to know about hotels
Check-in to the room starts at 14:00 and must be vacated by 12:00. For an additional fee, you can arrange an early check-in or late check-out.
Water is better to buy bottled water, the quality of tap water is poor.
Cheap hotels or hostels often serve yesterday's meals for lunch or dinner.
All valuable items should be stored in safes, which are usually provided free of charge. Or ask for it at the reception.
Tipping
For the services of porters and cleaners, it is customary to pay from 1 to 5 USD (from 3 to 15 TYR).
Preferably in dollars.
Grocery shopping in Turkey
Mostly shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00, except Sunday. Lunch break starts at 13:30.
Many pharmaciesclose at 18:00, but you can always find an on-call pharmacy open all night.
There are many mobile stalls on the streets where you can try local cuisine at reasonable prices:
kebabs for 15-20 TRY;
fish lunch from 20 TRY;
Shawarma and local pizza from 8-10 TRY;
pancakes with minced meat, cheese and tomatoes from 15 TRY;
desserts from 10 TRY.
Well, in principle, here are all the basic tips for making your vacation in Turkey memorable for a long time. It remains only to pack a suitcase and enjoy the rest.
