Practical Info A–Z

Turkey has a good healthcare system — especially in major cities and tourist regions. Private clinics often have a higher standard than public hospitals.

• Public Hospitals (Devlet Hastanesi): More affordable, but longer wait times. EU citizens are treated in public facilities with EHIC (reciprocal agreement).
• Private Clinics (Özel Hastane): Acibadem, Memorial, Florence Nightingale — international standard, English- and partially German-speaking doctors. Direct billing with foreign health insurance possible.
• Pharmacies (Eczane): Many medications are available over the counter and significantly cheaper than in Germany (e.g., antibiotics, painkillers). Green "E" as a symbol. Night pharmacy (Nöbetçi Eczane) rotates.

• German Embassy Ankara: Atatürk Bulvarı 114, Kavaklıdere, Tel: +90 312 455 5100
• German Consulate General Istanbul: İnönü Caddesi 10, Gümüşsuyu/Beyoğlu, Tel: +90 212 334 6100
• German Consulate Antalya: Konserve Yolu Üzeri 13, Tel: +90 242 314 1101
• German Consulate Izmir: Akdeniz Mah., Halit Ziya Bulvarı 88, Tel: +90 232 488 8888
• Austrian Embassy Ankara: Tel: +90 312 405 5190
• Swiss Embassy Ankara: Tel: +90 312 457 3100

In case of emergency (loss of passport, arrest) reachable via the 24-hour emergency number of the Foreign Office: +49 30 1817-0.

German, Austrian, and Swiss citizens require a visa to enter Turkey.

e-Visa (recommended)

• Online at evisa.gov.tr — the only official site (beware of fake sites!)
• Cost: about 50 US$ (approx. 47 €) for German citizens
• Validity: 180 days from the date of issue, max. 90 days stay
• Processing time: Immediate (within minutes via email)
• Required: Valid passport or ID card (valid for at least 6 months)

Visa on Arrival

At Turkish airports, there are visa counters where you can purchase a visa upon arrival. Price and conditions are the same as for the e-Visa, but with a queue. The e-Visa is preferable in any case.

Important Notes

• The ID card is sufficient for entry (since 2015 also without a visa for stays up to 90 days — check the current status on the Foreign Office's website, as regulations may change).
• Children require their own passport/ID card.
• The 90/180-day rule applies: Within 180 days, you may spend a maximum of 90 days in Turkey.

The national currency is the Turkish Lira (₺ / TRY). The exchange rate fluctuates greatly — check the current rate before traveling.

Reference Rates (as of early 2026)

1 € ≈ 35–38 ₺ (fluctuating). 1 CHF ≈ 38–41 ₺.

Withdrawing Money

• ATMs (Bankamatik): Available everywhere — at airports, in cities, at tourist spots. The Turkish bank often charges a fee of 15–30 ₺ per withdrawal.
• Best Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. DKB, Barclays, Revolut, and Wise offer cheap foreign withdrawals. American Express is rarely accepted.
• Exchange Offices (Döviz Bürosu): Present in every city, better rates than hotels or airports. Keep the receipt!

Payment

• Credit Cards: Accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops, and supermarkets almost everywhere. Small shops and bazaars prefer cash.
• ALWAYS pay in Lira! Paying in Euro results in a 5–15% loss due to poor rates. Also at the ATM: choose "withdraw in local currency" (decline DCC).
• Cash: Always have some cash on hand (200–500 ₺) for Dolmuş, bazaars, small eateries, and rural areas.

WLAN is almost universally available for free in hotels, restaurants, and cafes — even in cheaper accommodations. The quality varies.

Mobile Internet

• EU roaming does NOT apply in Turkey (not an EU member). Your German mobile data package is extremely expensive in Turkey (often 5–15 €/MB!).
• Turkish SIM card: Turkcell, Vodafone TR, or Türk Telekom offer tourist SIM cards at the airport (from 300–600 ₺ for 10–20 GB, 30 days). Passport required!
• eSIM: For newer phones (iPhone from XS, Samsung from S20): Airalo, Holafly, or Ubigi offer Turkey eSIMs from 5 € (1 GB, 7 days) to 25 € (10 GB, 30 days). Convenient, no card swap needed.
• Beware of IMEI registration: If you insert a Turkish SIM card into a non-Turkish phone, the device must be registered within 120 days (IMEI registration, fee approx. 20,000 ₺!). Irrelevant for short vacationers (prepaid works 120 days without registration). eSIM circumvents this issue.

Turkey is generally a safe travel destination for tourists. Millions of Germans travel there without problems every year. As everywhere, common sense and a few regional peculiarities apply.

General

• Petty crime: Pickpocketing in Istanbul (Taksim, Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar), overpriced bills in tourist bars, scam taxis. Keep valuables in the hotel safe, use only licensed taxis (Taksi sign on the roof, make sure the meter is on!).
• Scams in Istanbul: "Friendly strangers" inviting you to a "great restaurant" — resulting in a bill of hundreds of euros. Politely decline.
• At night: Most tourist areas are safe even at night. In Istanbul, Beyoğlu/Taksim, Kadıköy, and Beşiktaş are lively until late. Avoid dark side streets away from the centers.

Regional Notes

• Border regions with Syria and Iraq: Follow travel warnings from the Foreign Office. Do not travel to the provinces of Hatay, Şırnak, Hakkâri.
• Demonstrations: Avoid political gatherings. Do not photograph police or military.
• Earthquakes: Turkey is in an earthquake zone. Pay attention to escape routes in hotels.

Emergency Numbers

National Holidays

Religious Holidays (annually moving)

• Ramazan Bayramı (Sugar Feast): 3 days at the end of Ramadan. Some shops closed, extreme domestic travel.
• Kurban Bayramı (Feast of Sacrifice): 4 days, the most important Islamic holiday. Hotels fully booked, domestic flights 3–4× more expensive, many shops closed. Avoid these days for domestic travel!

Bargaining is as much a part of shopping in Turkey as tea is to conversation — but only in certain places:

Where to Bargain?

• Bazaars and markets (Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, weekly markets)
• Carpet dealers, jewelry and leather goods stores
• Souvenir shops
• Taxi rides WITHOUT a meter (agree on the price in advance)

Where NOT to Bargain?

• Restaurants (never!)
• Supermarkets, chain stores
• Museums, public transport
• Hotels (except for longer stays or off-season)

Bargaining Tips

1. Show interest, but not enthusiasm.
2. Ask for the price. Offer 40–50% of it.
3. Negotiate kindly — it's a game, not a fight.
4. Be ready to walk away — the price often drops when you turn around.
5. Only pay if you really want to buy — an accepted offer is binding.
6. Compare prices with several vendors beforehand.

Turkey is more relaxed about clothing than many assume — at the coast and in Istanbul, swimwear, shorts, and tank tops are normal. In the interior and in conservative neighborhoods, a bit more coverage is respectful.

Mosque Visits

• Shoes: Always remove them (bring a plastic bag or place them on the shelves at the entrance)
• Women: Headscarf (often provided at the entrance), shoulders and knees covered
• Men: Long trousers (no shorts), shoulders covered
• Behavior: Quiet, no eating/drinking, photography without flash, do not disturb during prayer
• Prayer times: During the 5 daily prayers (especially Friday noon, Cuma Namazı), tourist access is restricted or closed

Homosexuality is legal in Turkey (since 1858 — earlier than in Germany!), but societal acceptance varies greatly. Istanbul has a visible LGBTQ+ scene (especially in Beyoğlu), but even here the atmosphere has become more conservative in recent years. The Istanbul Pride Parade has been banned since 2015.

• In Istanbul, Bodrum, and Antalya, tolerance is highest — there are LGBTQ+-friendly bars and hotels.
• In rural Anatolia and conservative neighborhoods, discretion with public displays of affection is recommended — this also applies to heterosexual couples.
• For transgender travelers, border controls and hotel registrations can pose problems if the passport does not match the appearance. Research the situation in advance.

Women traveling alone are generally safe in Turkey, but it requires a bit more attention than in Scandinavia. Turkish society is hospitable, but in some regions traditionally patriarchal.

• Istanbul, coastal cities, tourist regions: No problem. Women routinely travel alone, work, and go out here.
• Staring and approaching: Can happen, especially in less touristy areas. Firmly but politely decline: "Hayır, teşekkürler" (No, thank you).
• Public transport: Buses often have separate seating (women in front). Solo female travelers are usually seated next to other women.
• Evenings/nights: No problem in well-frequented areas. Avoid deserted alleys. A taxi (with a meter!) is the safe choice in the evening.
• Clothing: Best to adapt to the surroundings — in Istanbul and on the coast, anything goes; in the conservative interior, dress more modestly.

• Restaurant: 5–10% of the bill. Sometimes "servis" (service) is already included — then additional tipping is optional.
• Taxi driver: Round up to the next full amount.
• Hammam: 10–20% for the Tellak (masseur/bather).
• Hotel: Porter 20–50 ₺, room cleaning 20–50 ₺/day.
• Tour guide: For guided tours 50–100 ₺/person/day.
• Boat tours: 10% or round up.

Turkey uses 230V, 50Hz, plug types C and F — identical to Germany. No adapter needed!

Power outages are possible in rural areas, but they are rare and brief. Hotels usually have backup generators.

Turkey uses TRT (Turkey Time) = UTC+3 = CET+2 year-round. There is no daylight saving time (abolished since 2016).

This means: In the German winter (standard time), Turkey is 2 hours ahead. In the German summer (daylight saving time), Turkey is only 1 hour ahead.

The Turkish postal service is called PTT (yellow logo). Postcards to Germany: 15–20 ₺, delivery time: 7–14 days. PTT branches in every city. For packages, DHL/UPS/Fedex is more reliable.

Import into Turkey

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars
• 1 liter of spirits (over 22%), 2 liters of wine/beer
• 5 bottles of perfume
• Valuables over 15,000 US$ must be declared

Export from Turkey

• Antique and archaeological objects: Strictly prohibited — even seemingly worthless stones from excavation sites. Severe penalties, including imprisonment!
• Carpets over a certain age require an export certificate (issued by reputable dealers)
• Gold and gemstones: Keep the receipt