Turkey Travel Guide
April–May and September–October are best for Istanbul and Cappadocia. July–August is hot and busy on the coast.
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Turkey at a glance
Best time to visit Turkey
April–May and September–October are best for Istanbul and Cappadocia. July–August is hot and busy on the coast.
Peak: July–August on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, plus the Ramadan and Kurban Bayram holiday weeks.
Shoulder season: April and October: mild, and the most reliable months for Cappadocia balloon flights.
Visa and entry
e-Visa required for many nationalities; apply at evisa.gov.tr. UK, US, and most EU citizens can obtain online before travel. Some nationalities visa-free.
Entry rules depend on your nationality and change frequently. Always confirm with an official embassy or consulate source before booking.
Money and tipping
Turkey uses the TRY (₺).
Optional but appreciated. 10% at restaurants; round up taxi fares; small amounts for hammam staff and guides.
Getting around
An İstanbulkart costs about ₺130 and brings per-ride fares to roughly ₺27, with cheaper automatic transfers. Ferries across the Bosphorus use the same card.
When a pass pays off: There's no tourist day pass; the automatic transfer discount is where multi-leg days actually save. Buy a card each rather than sharing one.
Local etiquette
Do
- Remove shoes at mosques, and cover your head if you're a woman — scarves are usually available at the door.
- Accept tea when it's offered; it's the standard gesture of hospitality.
- Buy an İstanbulkart on arrival — it covers metro, tram, bus and the Bosphorus ferries.
Avoid
- Don't visit mosques during prayer times, especially Friday midday.
- Don't accept the first price in the Grand Bazaar.
- Don't tip taxi drivers beyond rounding up.
Common scams and tourist traps
- The “dropped shoeshine brush” — you return it, and you're charged for a shine.
- A friendly local inviting you to a nearby bar or club, where the bill is enormous.
- Drivers claiming a broken meter or swapping your banknote — use BiTaksi or Uber and pay by card.
Health
Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for Turkey. This is general information, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic before your trip.
When locals eat
Meal windows shift by country, and eating on the local clock is the difference between a full restaurant and a closed kitchen.
| Meal | Early riser | Typical | Night owl |
|---|---|---|---|
| breakfast | 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | 10:00 AM |
| lunch | 12:30 PM | 1:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| dinner | 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM |
Useful Turkish phrases
English is common in Istanbul tourism and coastal resorts, limited elsewhere. Turkish is phonetic and easy to read aloud.
- Hello
- Merhaba(MER-ha-ba)
- Thank you
- Teşekkürler(te-shek-kur-LER)
- Excuse me
- Affedersiniz(af-fe-DER-si-niz)
- How much is this?
- Ne kadar?(ne ka-DAR)
Staying connected
eSIM providers that cover Turkey: Airalo, Holafly, Ubigi. Buying an eSIM before you fly avoids airport queues and roaming charges.
Turkey travel FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Turkey?
- April–May and September–October are best for Istanbul and Cappadocia. July–August is hot and busy on the coast.
- Do I need a visa to visit Turkey?
- e-Visa required for many nationalities; apply at evisa.gov.tr. UK, US, and most EU citizens can obtain online before travel. Some nationalities visa-free. Entry rules depend on your nationality and change often — confirm with an official consulate or embassy source before booking.
- Do you tip in Turkey?
- Optional but appreciated. 10% at restaurants; round up taxi fares; small amounts for hammam staff and guides.
- What currency is used in Turkey?
- Turkey uses the TRY (₺).
- What power plug and voltage does Turkey use?
- Turkey uses Type C and Type F sockets at 220V / 50 Hz. Check your device's rated input before traveling; most modern laptop and phone chargers handle both 110V and 220V.
- What is the emergency number in Turkey?
- In Turkey, call 155 (police) / 112 (ambulance & fire).
- What time zone is Turkey in?
- Turkey is in the Europe/Istanbul time zone (UTC+03:00).
- What language is spoken in Turkey?
- The main language is Turkish. English is common in Istanbul tourism and coastal resorts, limited elsewhere. Turkish is phonetic and easy to read aloud.
- Is public transport worth buying a pass for in Turkey?
- An İstanbulkart costs about ₺130 and brings per-ride fares to roughly ₺27, with cheaper automatic transfers. Ferries across the Bosphorus use the same card. There's no tourist day pass; the automatic transfer discount is where multi-leg days actually save. Buy a card each rather than sharing one.
- What health precautions should I take in Turkey?
- Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are commonly recommended for Turkey. This is general information, not medical advice — consult a doctor or travel clinic before your trip.
Plan a Turkey trip around how you actually travel
Travaio builds a day-by-day plan from your travel style, matches each stop against Google Maps for hours where a match exists, and accounts for local meal times.
Plan my Turkey tripThis guide is general travel information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Visa, health, and safety requirements change — verify anything time-sensitive with an official source before you travel.