Maps     Visas     Cities     Beaches     Mountains     Culture
History    Weather     Money     Books

Maps:

Visas: Turkish visas are all multiple entry and are valid for three months. Get it on arrival at the airport or harbour. Only some country passports need visa before coming to Turkey. You must not leave Turkey after your visa finish. Becaouse you have to pay some extra money. 5 days before finishs your visa you can get new one with daily exit to closes greek islands. ( Chios - Cesme, Samos-Kusadasi, Kos - Bodrum, Rodos - Marmaris or Fethiye )

Cities: Capital city - Ankara
Major cities - Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Adana, Antalya, Trabzon, Erzurum and Konya

Beaches: The best beaches are - Ölüdeniz, Iztuzu Dalyan, Patara, Olympos, Kusadasi, Altinkum, Kilyos, Sile, Assos, Butterfly Valley, Antalya, Alanya

Mountains: Nemrut, Uludag, Kartal Kaya, Palandöken, Erciyes, Agri (Ararat)

Culture: Turkish culture is a mixture of Islamic and European influences.
It is country divided between east and west culture.  For more cultural information, visit the governments official site www.kultur.gov.tr

        History: The origional Turkish lands were in Middle Asia, but when food supplies ran short, the Turks moved all over the world.  They arrived in Anatolia in 1071.  As they passed through Arabic countries they were influenced by the Muslim religion which they brought to their new country.
They started building the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia in 1299.
In 1923 after the first world war (Anzak War) the Empire collapsed when the famous General/President Ataturk granted democracy for Turkey.  He build a new democratic republic and established modern rules and laws for the people.

Weather: Turkey enjoys an everchanging climate
Karadeniz (Black sea)           - Summer - warm and rainy  Winter - cold and rainy
Akdeniz (Mediterranean)        - Summer - v hot and dry   Winter - warm and rainy
Orta Anadolu (Middle Anatolia)- Summer - hot and dry     Winter - very cold, snow
Dogu Anadolu (East Anatolia)  - Summer - hot and dry      Winter - very cold, snow
Ege (Aegean)                   - Summer - hot and dry      Winter - warm and rainy

Average Temperature on Mediterranean coast (Centigrade Celcius)

Months	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Air 0C	16	16	18	21	26	30	33	33	29	24	19	18
Sea 0C	16	15	15	16	18	21	24	25	26	21	18	18

Money and banks:  There are many banks in Turkey - some private (Akbank, Garanti,Isbank, YKB) -  some government (Ziraat Bank, Vakifbank, Halkbank). They are all have ATMs, visit their websites for further info www.akbank.com.tr. Inflation is very high in Turkey, so change your money regularly, rather than in one lump sum - the longer you stay in Turkey - the more lira you will get for your currency.  But remember that English banks will charge a set rate commision on the money you take in any transaction. There are many private change offices where you can change cash, travellers cheques or get credit card advances. Check the rates and commission rates before you change money. Bank offer higher rates than change offices, but will charge more commission.
You can be a millionaire in Turkey as the smallest banknote is 100.000 TL - so always check your zeros when handling money.

Books:
Travel guides:   We recommend:  Lonely Planet, Turkey the Rough Guide
Fiction books:   Some very interesting reads featuring Turkey
A Fez of the Heart - Jeremy Seal  (humourous story of the Fez hat)
Lycian Turkey - George Bean  (historical information on the Ancient Lycian cities)
Aegean Turkey - George Bean
Anadolu Uygarliklari- Ekrem Akurgal
Atatürk- Aysegül Seidenberg  (the story of Ataturk - the Father of Modern Turkey)
Ataturk - Lord Kinross
Ottoman Centuries -  Lord Kinross
Fall of Constantinople - Steve Runciman
Journey to Kars -  Philip Glazebrook
A Turkish Family -  Irfan Orga
Gallipoli - John Moorhead
Istanbul, the Imperial City - John Freely