Travel Essentials › Turkey
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and F, 230 V. Emergency: One number for everything 112. Tipping: Around 5-10% in restaurants is customary; round up for taxis. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water outside major hotels..
Types C and F, 230 V
| One number for everything | 112 |
Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: gov.uk
Around 5-10% in restaurants is customary; round up for taxis.
Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov
Greetings. A handshake is standard; close friends and family greet with a cheek kiss on each side. Respect for elders is important, often shown with a hand-kiss-to-forehead gesture by younger relatives.
Shoes and hospitality. Remove shoes when entering a home; guests are usually offered tea (çay), which is polite to accept.
Mosque etiquette. Dress modestly and remove shoes when entering mosques; women should cover their hair (scarves are often provided at entrances).
Turkey is generally safe for tourists, with crime against visitors mostly limited to petty theft and scams; political tensions and occasional protests can arise, and as of September 2026 authorities launched a crackdown on LGBTQ+ organizations and activists, so travelers should follow local news.
Taxi meter tricks. Some drivers claim a broken meter or take long detours; insist on the meter or agree a fare in advance, and use ride-hailing apps where available.
Menu-less restaurant bill inflation. Tourist-trap restaurants, especially near major sights, may give menus without prices and inflate the bill; ask for prices up front.
Pushy carpet/shop sellers. Friendly strangers may lead tourists to carpet or jewelry shops for a commission; polite but firm refusal works best.
Women travelers. Turkey is largely welcoming to solo women travelers with low rates of serious crime against tourists, though some catcalling and unwanted attention can occur, particularly outside big cities.
Legal · Use Caution
Same-sex sexual activity is legal but LGBTQ+ people have no anti-discrimination protections, and social attitudes outside major cities are often conservative; a September 2026 nationwide crackdown saw dozens of LGBTQ+ activists and organizations targeted, so real risk for visibly LGBTQ+ travelers has increased and discretion is advised.
| Coffee (café) | TRY 170 | $4 |
| Local bus or metro ride | TRY 30 | $0.70 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | TRY 650 | $15 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | TRY 780 | $18 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | TRY 6,500 | $150 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | TRY 3,500-6,500 | $80-150 |
2026-09
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are best nationwide, with mild weather, good hot-air-balloon conditions in Cappadocia, and manageable crowds; summer is hot and busiest at the coast, winter can be cold and wet.
Turkey visa requirements by nationality
Basic Turkish phrases · Basic Kurdish (Kurmanji) phrases · Basic Zazaki phrases · Basic Kabardian phrases
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