Turkey Travel Guide - Travel Insights and Tips

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey. It is the junction of most of the major roads in the country and is also Turkey’s largest industrial city. It might seem modern at first glance, but the city has been occupied since 2000 BC with significant expansion since 1000 BC.

Turkey covers an area of 783,562 square kilometers. Most of Turkey’s major highways run through Ankara, and there is a high-speed railway connecting the capital to Istanbul.

+90. If you are in Istanbul, there are two area codes: 212 is for the Europe side and 216 for the Asian side.

Turkey uses the Turkish Lira. The currency code is TRY. Most tourist cities have currency exchanges and card services are widely available. But ATM fees are high and you will need some cash for markets and transportation.

Istanbul International Airport is the main airport in Turkey. Located around 40 kilometers northwest of central Istanbul, it is one of two large airports in the city. CODE: IST CLOSEST CITY: ISTANBUL

Most visitors need an e-visa to enter Turkey. The process is simple and hassle-free and takes around 15 minutes to complete. The fee is different for most nationalities. We recommend checking your country's travel advisories in advance of booking a trip.

The official language of Turkey is Turkish. More than 90 percent of the country speaks Turkish as their first language. But in tourist-heavy cities, you will find many people speaking English. Greeting people in their native tongue is a great way to break the ice and “Merhaba” is the most common way to say hello.

Dialing 112 will get you in contact with an ambulance while 155 is the number for the police service in Turkey.

Turkey is predominantly an Islamic country so you will hear the call to prayer five times a day. Keep prayer times in mind, as many of the mosques are closed to visitors when worshipers are inside. Women should also carry a headscarf around, as many tourist attractions have religious sites where you will need to cover up.