General Information before to visit Turkey

What documentation is required to enter Turkey? Passport or identity card?

For Italian citizens, a passport is not necessary. Entry is also permitted with a valid identity card for foreign travel. For several years, thanks to agreements between the Italian and Turkish governments, the entry visa, which cost 10 euros, has also been removed. Therefore, to enter Turkey, you will not have to do or pay absolutely anything. If you have a passport, a stamp will simply be placed on it at the customs control at the airport; if you have an identity card, you will be given a stamped slip of paper that you must keep during your stay and show again when you leave the country.

Very Important: the passport or identity card must necessarily have a residual validity of at least 5 months and be in perfect condition. Therefore, pay attention to the expiry date of your identity document, otherwise entry into Turkey will be denied and you will be turned away at the entrance. There are no problems for identity cards renewed with a stamp.

The maximum duration of stay for tourism purposes is 90 days, it is recommended not to stay for a longer period as the fines are quite high. A passport is only necessary for those who enter Turkey by land from the south-eastern and eastern borders of Turkey. Until 2018, a passport was also necessary for those who entered Turkey with their own means (car, motorcycle, camper, etc.), but this obligation has been removed, so even in this case, an identity card is sufficient (only a green card is needed).

Is health insurance mandatory or necessary?

No health insurance is necessary or obligatory to travel to Turkey. In terms of insurance, these are always personal choices, so it is difficult to give advice. It should be noted that Turkey is not part of the European community, so the Italian health card is not recognized, and there is no agreement between Italy and Turkey.

Following the Covid-19 emergency, both the Italian and Turkish governments strongly recommend taking out health insurance before going to Turkey.

Are there any security problems?

Despite appearances, Istanbul is considered a safe city. In our opinion, much safer than most Italian cities.

Are there any problems regarding clothing? How should one dress?

Regarding clothing, for all religious sites (mosques), it is necessary to have shoulders and head covered and trousers below the knee. In any case, veils are always provided at the entrance of all the main mosques, which can be used if needed, so there is no need to worry.

For walking around the city, there are no problems, you can dress as in any Italian city, obviously using common sense (avoiding, for example, mini shorts if you are going to visit a more religiously observant neighborhood).

What is the climate like in Istanbul?

The best months to visit Istanbul are spring and autumn, particularly April, May, June, September, and October. Winters are generally rainy and cold, with cold spells arriving suddenly and snow is not at all rare. Summer is instead hot and humid, but fortunately free of mosquitoes.

Are Euros accepted? Is it necessary to change currency? Where can Euros be exchanged?

The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (YTL). Except for the Grand Bazaar and many tourist spots in the historical center, the euro is normally not accepted. Generally, the exchange rate is favorable and recently it has shot up to 30. However, in recent years it has fluctuated a lot, so it is advisable to monitor the current exchange rate.

You will find currency exchange offices (Döviz Bürosu) scattered throughout Istanbul, offering fast service and more convenient rates compared to banks and hotels, and they never charge commissions on exchanges. Exchanging lira/euro can also be done at the airport, although the rates are less favorable compared to city exchange offices. However, for convenience, we recommend using the thousands of ATMs available at every corner of the city, as well as in airports, which offer instructions in major languages (often including Italian). Credit cards are widely accepted and can be used without issues in almost all hotels, restaurants, shops, and bars. Do not exchange currency in Italy as Italian banks apply a more unfavorable exchange rate of 20-25%, which is practically a theft.

What are the shop opening hours?

Generally, the closing day for various businesses is Sunday (even the Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays), but many shops still remain open on Sundays. The closing time varies depending on the type of business, between 8 PM and 10 PM. Grocery stores and shopping centers are almost always open, every day and at all hours, some even at night!

What is the phone prefix for calling Italy?

To call from Italy to Turkey, you need to prefix the phone number with the international dialing code 0090 (+90). To call from Turkey to Italy, the international dialing code to use is 0039 (+39). In Turkey, there are efficient public telephones, the phone cards are similar to those in Italy and can be purchased at post offices, newsstands, or grocery stores. The GSM network covers the entire country, and it is possible to use Italian cell phones if they are enabled for international use. For more information, we recommend reading our article on how to use the phone in Turkey.

Time zone

The time difference between Turkey and Italy is +1 hour during spring and summer and +2 hours during autumn and winter. This is because, starting from 2016, Turkey decided to use daylight saving time throughout the year, completely abandoning standard time.