Useful Travel Information

Currency 

The Turkish currency is in liras. Turkish lira allows for an affordable holiday, not to mention all the bartering you can also do while you're there! Official Currency The official currency for Turkey is the Turkish lira. Banknotes come in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lira, while 100 Kurus make up one lira. There is a one lira coin along with 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kuru coins. 

Euro Free Holiday Destination 

You will find that a few places in Turkey might accept Euros, though definitely do not depend on this as a currency. The Turkish lira, which is accepted everywhere in the country allows for visitors to have a far more affordable holiday. Exchange rates are approximately 4 TL to 1 GBP.

Communication 

Many people enjoy going abroad to get away from it all, cutting off every technological connection they have back home so that they can truly get away from everything, but some people aren't like that. Some people need to be able to tweet a beautiful picture of the grand bazaar in Istanbul, or the turtles on the beach in Dalyan area of Dalaman, and some people simply need to be able to call home to check on their children, or parents, or pets. And for these people their connection and the cost of it is important, so we want to explain all the basics for you, and help understand the charges that may apply, and how to avoid them if possible. 

Mobiles 

Each network is different, so it's probably worth investing some time either calling or searching for what the charges are for using your phone abroad, because some can become very expensive. If you're lucky, or travel regularly, you might have an international roaming plan in which case you don't have to worry, but most phone providers have roaming plans which you can opt into for an additional monthly cost if you already have a contract, or you could buy a new sim card so that the costs are lower. However it's not advisable to buy a Turkish sim, as they can cause many problems both with connectivity and unlocking. However if you intend on staying for a while, and need to use the phone a lot, it might be worth buying a cheap second hand Turkish phone with a Turkish sim-card. 

Internet 

Unless absolutely necessary, it's highly unadvisable to use mobile internet whilst in Turkey unless connected to a Wi-Fi service as the charges can be unfairly high. However as most hotels offer free internet either in their rooms, lobbies or both, it's easy to connect from there without incurring any charges. And if you're desperate for some internet access whilst out and about, look for a McDonalds or a similar modern international chain as they will more often than not have free access too.

Emergency Contact Numbers

We hope you never need to call any emergency services whilst in Turkey, but in the unlikely event that you are ever in trouble and require the help of emergency services, whether it is fire, ambulance or police, it's important to know who and how best to contact for the required assistance. 

For a medical emergency, it's advisable to contact the British embassy and they will assist with a call to your local hospital. However if you speak Turkish, or cannot contact the embassy, the number for an ambulance is 112 and it might be worth asking someone at your hotel to translate if they are unable to find an English speaking person. 

Unfortunately, unlike the UK, Turkey has multiple numbers for the difference emergency services, so if you find yourself in need of a help with a fire, the number is 110. The police also have their own number, and are contactable via 155, while the coast guard is 158 and for forest fires the number to call is 177. However, if you require legal services or more assistance with concern to any criminal activity, the best place is once again the British embassy. 

Overall we hope that your Turkish holiday is absolutely perfect and that you will never have need for emergency help, but if something does go wrong, it's always best to have these numbers at hand to ensure the problem doesn't become a bigger problem than it has to be.

Visa & Passport Requirements

Travellers to Turkey will need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Turkey. Visa A Visa is required and will be issued at £10 for UK citizens on arrival at all airport, sea and land entry points. Note: different countries have varying visa fees. Tourist visas are valid for 90 days although Turkish officials will not allow visitors to leave and then return to Turkey without further visa charges within this time period. Those wishing to climb Mount Ararat will also need to apply for a sport visa. British Embassy in Turkey The British Embassy is located in Ankara and represents the UK government in Turkey. 

The Ambassador is David Reddaway and its service can support visitors through providing them with an attorney, hospital or other assistance if necessary. 

This information is for guidance, please check for the latest information and regulations.

Contact details are below: 

Address: British Embassy Sehit Ersan Caddesi 46/A Cankaya Switchboard: 0312 455 3344 Phone: 0312 455 3344 Fax: 0312 455 33 52 Office hours: GMT Mon-Fri: 0645-1530 Local Mon-Fri: 0845-1700 Open to public Mon - Fri: 0900 - 1230 / 1415 - 1545 

Worldwide Turkish Embassies

For non-UK travellers or Turkish nationals there are also Turkish embassies located around the world. If you want to ask a question about applying or to find out more information about visa requirements for any of our destinations, Direct Traveller recommends contacting the relevant embassy.

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