As a country located in Middle East according to allcitycodes, Turkey borders in the northeast on the Black Sea and Georgia, in the east on Iran, in the southeast on Iraq, in the south on Syria and the Mediterranean Sea, in the west on the Aegean Sea and in the northwest on Greece and Bulgaria.
MONEY
Currency
1 Turkish Lira (Türk Lirasi) = 100 Kuruş. Currency abbreviation: TL, TRY (ISO code). There are banknotes in the denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 TL, coins in the denominations of 1 TL and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 Kurus.
Credit cards
Visa and MasterCard in particular, but also American Express, are accepted. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
cards with the Cirrus or Maestro symbol are accepted throughout Europe and worldwide. Further information from banks and credit institutes. Caution should be exercised when paying with an ec card, for example in restaurants where you cannot always keep an eye on the card (authorization by ID is often required here).
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1.30 p.m.-5 p.m. (sometimes also continuously).
Foreign exchange regulations
Unrestricted importation of local and foreign currencies, but a declaration is required for a total value of US $ 5,000 or more. Exports up to a total amount equivalent to US $ 5,000 or up to the declared amount.
Receipts from currency exchange in Turkey must be kept. In the case of a return exchange of TL for a foreign currency, all receipts must be presented upon departure.
Currency Exchange
All exchange and purchase receipts must be retained as evidence of legal exchanges. The rates can differ from bank to bank in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Money and travelers checks can be exchanged at all PTT offices. Airports, hotels and banks charge high commissions. It is better to go to one of the numerous free exchange offices (Döviz Bürou). Exchange offices are usually open until midnight on weekends and during the high season.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following items can be imported into Turkey duty-free:
400 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars, 250 g cigarette tobacco (with 200 sheets of cigarette paper), 250 g pipe tobacco or 200 g chewing tobacco or 200 g blue tobacco or 50 g snuff;
Drinks with an alcohol content of more than 22%: 1 liter;
Drinks with an alcohol content of up to 22%: 1 liter;
Travelers under the age of 18 are not allowed to import alcoholic beverages or tobacco products.
Eau de toilette, perfume, eau de cologne, lavender water, essence and lotions (total amount not more than 600 ml);
5 pieces of skin care products and toiletries.
1 kg of coffee, 1 kg of instant coffee, 1 kg of tea, 1 kg of chocolate, 1 kg of sweets.
Gifts, medical equipment and medication together worth up to € 300 (children under 15 € 145).
The import and export of personal jewelry up to a value of US $ 15,000 is permitted. Jewelry worth more than US $ 15,000 must be declared. Proof of purchase is required when purchasing jewelry in Turkey.
Only certain articles for personal use can be imported duty-free. A full list is available from the Consulate General (see contact addresses).
Foreign tourists should register their valuables in their passports upon arrival so that there are no problems later when leaving.
We recommend that you take a receipt with you for a mobile phone you are taking with you.
Import regulations
A special permit is required to import weapons and cutting tools.
Prohibited imports
The importation of all kinds of drugs is strictly prohibited. It should be noted that drug smuggling in and out of Turkey, as well as illegal drug use, is punishable by long prison sentences.
Prohibited exports
The acquisition, possession and export of cultural and natural goods (e.g. antiques, old coins, fossils, stones, fossils) is prohibited. These are considered state property. Violations are dealt with with several months of pre-trial detention and high bail payments (currently approx. 9,000 euros). The value of the antiques does not matter.
However, it is possible to obtain an export permit. Applications for this are made at the museums subordinate to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and at some customs offices.
ECONOMY
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1.30 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
SHOP
Overview
The Kapali Carsi Bazaar in Istanbul offers a wide range of jewelry, carpets and antiques. In addition, textiles, embroidery, carpets, leather goods, inlay work and painted tiles.
Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 9.30am-1pm and 2pm-8pm. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is open Mon-Sat 8 am-7pm.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
There are cinemas and nightclubs with European and Oriental music in almost all major cities. In Izmir, Istanbul and Ankara you can attend theater and concert events. Numerous restaurants and hotels host entertainment evenings. The choice of discos and bars in the holiday resorts is quite large.