Istanbul

Climate for Istanbul

In summer the weather in Istanbul is hot and humid, with the temperature between June and September averaging 82F (28C). Summers are relatively dry, but rain does occur all year round. During winter it is cold, wet, and often snowy. Snowfalls tend to be heavy, but temperatures rarely drop as low as freezing point. Istanbul also tends to be a windy city.

Health Notes when travelling to Turkey

There are no vaccination requirements for travelling to Turkey other than that everyone 12 years of age and older should get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before visiting. Mosquitoes can be an irritation in mid-summer but malaria is not considered a risk in the main tourist areas of the west and south-west. Most tap water in the larger towns and cities has been chlorinated, but bottled water is still recommended for drinking. Food from street vendors should be treated with caution unless it is obviously fresh or hot. The standard of healthcare is not high in state hospitals but the private health sector is well-regarded, and modern facilities exist in private hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul. Travel insurance is recommended.

Safety Notes when travelling to Turkey

Street crime is low, but visitors should guard their valuables at all times. They should also avoid any public demonstrations and remember that many parts of Turkey lie on a major seismic fault line and are subject to earthquakes and tremors. As in many Western countries, there is a threat from terrorism in Turkey and there have been a number of incidents, including explosions in Istanbul, the capital Ankara, and in the coastal tourist resorts. The Istanbul Ataturk International Airport has been the most recent target. There are also continuing incidents of local terrorism in eastern Turkey, particularly the southeast.

Customs in Turkey

While it is difficult to make sweeping statements about a country that runs from Armenia to Greece, the Turkish people are generally welcoming and hospitable. Most visitors will stay in modern Istanbul or in one of the popular holiday resorts, where locals are likely to be fairly open-minded; however, tourists should respect religious customs, particularly during the month of Ramadan. Visitors should dress modestly when visiting mosques or religious shrines; there is a smoking ban on all forms of public transport and in outdoor venues.

Duty Free in Turkey

Travellers to Turkey do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 200g tobacco; 1 litre of alcohol over 22 percent volume or 2 litres under 22 percent volume; 120 ml of perfume or eau-de-cologne; and 1,5 km of (instant) coffee and 500g of tea.

Doing Business in Turkey

In Turkey, business associates are addressed by their first names. If the associate is male, then his name is followed by ‘bey’, and ‘hanim’ is used for females. A formal, conservative dress code is observed in Turkey, and women should be careful to dress particularly conservatively. Gifts are common and are usually something the associate would use in business such as a pen or other office stationary. Business hours throughout Turkey are generally 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday with an hour taken over lunch.

Communication in Turkey

The international country dialling code for Turkey is +90. WiFi is increasingly easily available, and visitors can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones.

Tipping in Turkey

Tipping is a way of life in Turkey and it is customary to give some small change for most services, or a small percent of the bill. In bigger hotels and restaurants if a service charge is not added to the bill, it is customary to tip between 10 and 15 percent. For taxi fares it is enough to round up the bill. Attendants at Turkish baths expect to share between 10 to 20 percent of the total bill if service has been good.

Passport/Visa Note

All passports must be valid for at least the period of stay. All travellers to Turkey are required to hold return or onward tickets, documents for the next destination and sufficient funds for the period of their stay. It is highly recommended that travellers’ passports have at least six months’ validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for Americans:

US passport holders must have a passport that is valid for six months beyond date of entry. A visa is required.

Entry requirements for Canadians:

Passports must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the duration of stay. Canadian nationals require visas to enter Turkey.

Entry requirements for UK nationals:

Passports should be valid for at least 6 months from the entry date. British Citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Entry requirements for Australians:

Australian passport holders must have a valid visa. Passports must be valid for at least 150 days from the date of arrival.

Entry requirements for Irish nationals:

Irish nationals require a visa to enter Turkey. Passports must be valid for at least six months longer than the expiry date on the requested visa.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

New Zealand nationals require a visa to enter Turkey. Passports must be valid for at least six months longer than the expiry date on the requested visa. Visas are required for stays longer than 90 days.

Entry requirements for South Africans:

South African passports must be valid for at least six months from the intended date of arrival. South African nationals require a visa to enter Turkey.

For those in the know, Istanbul only comes to life once the sun sets. There is certainly an astounding range of nightlife in the city, from cutting edge techno to belly-dancing. The best place to start is Beyoglu, which is home to plenty of wine bars, jazz joints, and hip rooftop bars. In contrast, the tourist area of Sultanahmet has few venues worth mentioning. Travellers can start their evening off at one of the many meyhanes,which is a type of Turkish tavern famous for raki and mezze platters. Some of the best nightclubs are in Ortakoy, overlooking the Bosphorous. The most popular is Sortie, famous for supermodels, millionaires, and the effortlessly cool. For jazz music, visitors can head to enduring classic, Nardis Jazz Club. Clubs and bars stay open very late and drinks are affordable in comparison to European cities. It’s best to be careful of visiting adult entertainment clubs, as these are notorious for ripping off tourists. A smart policy is to always establish prices before ordering anything.