Food
Culture
Scenic
Europe
Turkey
Current status
Safe to travel
Safety
Very safe
Turkey is generally manageable for travelers, but petty theft, scams, protests, regional tensions, earthquakes, wildfires, and the Syria-border area need awareness. Check current advice from FCDO.
- Avoid demonstrations and stay away from areas within 10km of the Syria border.
- Watch bags and phones around bazaars, tram stops, nightlife areas, beaches, and major sights.
- In summer, check wildfire, heat, and flight-disruption alerts before moving between regions.
Emergency
112
Entry Information
Turkey visa rules depend on nationality. Many travelers can visit visa-free or use the official Türkiye e-Visa system for tourism or commerce; check before booking.
- The Foreign Ministry advises passports valid for at least 6 months from arrival.
- Some visa-free or e-Visa stays are limited to 90 days in a 180-day period.
- Your passport should generally be valid at least 60 days beyond your allowed stay.
Vaccination
Recommended
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Rabies
Regional Weather
Cold
Rain
Off Season
Cold
Rain
Off Season
Mild
Rain
Shoulder
Mild
Dry
Shoulder
Mild
Dry
Peak Season
Hot
Dry
Peak Season
Hot
Dry
Peak Season
Hot
Dry
Peak Season
Mild
Dry
Shoulder
Mild
Rain
Shoulder
Cold
Rain
Off Season
Cold
Rain
Shoulder
Prices
Level 2
Affordable
$$$$
$$$$
Must Know
Turkey is usually affordable for travelers, but Istanbul, Cappadocia balloon season, beach resorts, and imported goods can raise costs quickly.
- Local restaurants, ferries, buses, street food, and guesthouses keep daily spending low.
- Book Cappadocia balloons, coastal hotels, and long-distance transport early in peak months.
Travel Hack
Use local lokantas, public ferries, intercity buses, and museum passes where they fit your route to avoid tourist-zone markups.
Tipping Guide
Restaurants
10%
Cafes
No tips
Taxis
No tips
Hotels
No tips
Must Know
Tipping is common but flexible in Turkey. Restaurants often expect around 5 to 10 percent when service is good, especially in tourist areas.
- Round up taxis, cafe bills, and small services when helpful.
- Carry small Turkish lira notes because tips are easier in cash.
Pro Tip
Check bills for a service charge before adding a restaurant tip; if one is included, a small extra cash tip is enough.
Currency
Turkish Lira
TRY
US Dollar Rate
$1 = TRY 47.4
Euro Rate
€1 = TRY 53.9
Select currency...
Pro Tip
Turkish lira is the everyday currency, and cash is still useful for bazaars, taxis, small restaurants, tips, and rural stops.
- Use bank ATMs and avoid dynamic currency conversion when paying by card.
- Cards work well in hotels, malls, airports, and many city restaurants, but small vendors may prefer cash.
- Exchange money at banks or reputable exchange offices, not random street offers.
Traditional Food
Kebab
Grilled or roasted meat served with sides
Baklava
Layered pastry with syrup and pistachios
Pide
Boat-shaped flatbread with savory toppings
Lahmacun
Thin flatbread topped with spiced minced meat
Turkish Delight
Soft lokum sweets dusted with sugar
Mantı
Small dumplings with yogurt and spices
Börek
Flaky savory pastry with cheese or fillings
Simit
Sesame-crusted bread ring sold as a snack
Dolma
Stuffed grape leaves or vegetables
Turkish Coffee
Strong unfiltered coffee served in small cups
Power
Turkey uses 230V electricity at 50Hz.
Type C
Type F
Transport
Direction
Right side
Turkey is easiest with a mix of flights, intercity buses, ferries, trains, metros, taxis, and rentals. Big cities have useful transit, while buses and flights cover long distances well.
- Use Turkish Railways for rail routes, including high-speed trains between major cities.
- Istanbul ferries, metro, tram, Marmaray, and airport buses are practical for visitors.
- Intercity buses are frequent and useful for Cappadocia, the Aegean, and smaller cities.
- Driving gives flexibility on the coast and in rural areas, but expect assertive traffic and limited parking in old centers.
Language
Turkish is the main language, while English is useful in Istanbul, Cappadocia, beach resorts, and major hotels but less reliable in rural areas.
English language level
Moderate
Official
Common
Useful words and phrases
Merhaba
Hello
Teşekkür ederim
Thank you
Lütfen
Please
Ne kadar?
How much is it?
Tuvalet nerede?
Where is the bathroom?
Hesap lütfen
The bill, please
İngilizce biliyor musunuz?
Do you speak English?
Yardıma ihtiyacım var
I need help
