Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Medications in labeled pharmacy bottles can be brought into Turkey. Injections needles needed for those with diabetes are also allowed, but it would be helpful if you have a doctor’s note or copy of your prescription with you. Wheelchairs of any sort are allowed into Turkey, along with breathing mask or other protective medical clothing.

What can I bring to Turkey?

On Entry

The following items may be brought into the country duty free:

personal effects of the tourist.
one TV, one color pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank), 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector.
one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128K Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette - keyboard).
one transistor radio and portable radio - tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
Binoculars [one pair, except night (vision) binoculars]
harmonica, mandolin, flageole, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments).
personal sports equipment.
necessary medical items.
bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff
(In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets.
5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
one portable typewriter.
one camera with 5 rolls of film.
First aid, and spare parts for the car.
Other items necessary during the journey.

Valuable items and all items with a value of over $15,000 must be registered in the owner's passport upon entering Turkey for control upon exit.
Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner's passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
Sharp instruments (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.

Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year's.

For more tips please visit the Embassy’s section on traveler tips

Undersecretariat of Customs:

[LINK: http://www.gumruk.gov.tr/english/Brosurler.aspx ]

I am going hunting, can I bring shotguns?

Yes, but you have the proper case. No other type of firearm may be brought in Turkey. Please check with the airline carrier to determine what may be required.

I am going golfing, can I bring my clubs?

Yes.

I am sending gifts to Turkey; do I need to pay any customs duties?

You may bring gifts to Turkey, but keep them unwrapped for security reasons. During certain holiday seasons, many items can be brought in duty-free. During Ramadan, Kurgan Barmaid, Christmas holiday, and New Years holiday, gift items may be sent duty free (without customs duties) to Turkey (no items for commercial purposes, personal and family use only) as long as their total worth/value does not exceed 300 euros. Exemption is valid only for one month prior and after these holiday periods.

For other parts of the year (non-holiday periods) items may also be sent to Turkey without being subject to customs duties and related tariffs as long as said items are for personal use only (not for commercial purposes) and that the total value of said items does not exceed 100 euros.

Will airport scanners damage my film?

It depends on how often your film is exposed to scanners. If it goes through a scanner once or twice, it is not likely that it will be damaged. Lower speed film (less than 400 ASA) stands a better chance of remaining fog free. However, higher speed film can be damaged (800 ISO, 1600 ISO) so ask if a hand inspection is possible. You may also want to consider waiting to buy your film at your destination and developing the photos there, or try sending the film home via a courier (but please verify that the courier doesn’t use package scanners). Another option is using a digital camera. Most importantly, never pack your film in checked luggage. The scanners used to screen checked bags are up to 300 times more powerful than those used for carry-ones. Lead-lined bags are not strong enough to protect your film at this level of exposure, and in the future scanners may be used at security points throughout airports. To make sure a scanner is OK look for a “Film Safe” sign. For more information, you can also contact individual film companies (such as Kodak or Fuji film).

How can I recover VAT from my purchases made in Turkey?

Valued added tax (VAT) can be recovered if the purchaser makes sure that purchase invoices are stamped off by a customs agent. The purchase will then need to send the stamped invoice back to the company that sold them the item, and then this company will send you the VAT amount.

I want to rent a car in Turkey, what do I need to do?

International driver’s permits are strongly recommended, but not always required. Drivers must usually be age 21 (or sometimes 25). It may be hard to find an automatic transmission or four wheel drives, so request and reserve one ahead of

Road conditions not withstanding, there are 25,000 miles of paved and generally well-maintained highways. Archaeological and historic sites are indicated by yellow sign posts.

In the countryside, watch out for drivers passing on a curve or the top of a hill, and be aware of horse-drawn carts, unlit at night, and motorcycles. Urban streets are often tight and jammed with vehicles, and drivers often honk their horns.

Driving in Turkey conforms to Mediterranean customs (like the United States) with driving on the right and passing on the left.

What other modes of transportation are good to travel around Turkey?

The bus system in Turkey is comprehensive. You may also travel by train, but buses are faster and provide excellent, inexpensive service virtually around the clock, between all cities and towns; they’re fairly comfortable and sometimes air conditioned. All are run by private companies, each of which has its own fixed fares for different routes and, usually more significantly, standards of comfort. Tickets are sold at stands in the town’s central bus station the usual procedure is to go to the bus station and shop around. All seats are reserved. You may also ask to sit on the shady side if you prefer.

For short and very inexpensive trips around a city, take a minibus or a shared taxi (dolmuş).

By Air

Atatürk International Airport is 20 km from city centre. The new airport is the biggest in the country, with the most international flights. There are direct flights to every European capital, and many to Asia, USA and the Middle East.

The domestic terminal has flights to every domestic airport in the country, with several a day to major cities like Ankara and Izmir. Turkish Airlines (THY) is the national carrier.

I want to visit religious sites in Turkey. Where should I go?

Turkey is home to many important Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious sites. Please find below a small sampling of the many places (by city or area) that you can visit, sorted by religious context or interest:

Christian Sites and Places of Interest:

The Virgin Mary’s Home (three miles from Ephesus)

St. Sophia’s (Istanbul)

Topkapi Palace-Christian relics (Istanbul)

Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Istanbul, Yedi Kule area)

Church of the Kyriotissa-depicts the life of St. Francis of Assisi (Istanbul)

Church of St. John (Izmir, Alcansak area)

Castle of St. Peter “Crusaders’ Castle” (Bodrum)

Church of St. Nicholas, i.e. Santa Claus (Demre)

Tarsus-birthplace of Paul the Apostle (Tarsus)

Cappadocian churches: Goreme, Cavusin, Soganli (Cappadocia)

Sumelas Monastery (Zigan Mountains, 54 km from Trabzon)

Muslim Sites and Places of Interest:

St. Sophia’s (Istanbul)

Topkapi Palace-Muslim relics of the Prophet Mohammed (Istanbul)

Eyup Camii (Istanbul)

Arap Camii (Istanbul, Karakoy area)

Museum of the Mevlevi (Whirling Dervishes) (Istanbul, Golden Horn area)

Suleymaniye Camii-Architect Sinan’s masterpiece (Istanbul)

Sultanahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)-named for its exquisite blue tiles and frescos (Istanbul)

Mevlana Mausoleum/Camii (Konya)

Jewish Sites and Places of Interest:

Corapci Han Synagogue (Istanbul, Sultanahmet area)

Neve-Shalom Synagogue (Istanbul, Tunelbasi area)

Ashkenaz Synagogue (Istanbul, Yukselkaldirim)

Princes’ Islands [Istanbul, Buyukada Island(s)]

Jewish Synagogue (Edirne)

I want to visit ancient/historic/archaeological/geographically-interesting sites. Where should I go?

Historic/Archaeological Sites and Areas of Interest:

Archaeological Museum-houses the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great (Istanbul)

Truva (Troy)

Efes-Temple of Hadrian; baths, brothel, public toilets, library, theater (Ephesus)

Bodrum-home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world (Halicarnassus)

Izmir (Smyrna)

Behramkale-Temple of Athena (Assos)

Bergama (Pergamum)

Sart Koy-Temple to Artemis, stadium, theater and marketplace (Sardis)

Pamukkale-“cotton castle” ancient pools, calcified hot springs, travertine terraces (Hierapolis)

Klaros-temple and Temple to Dionysus (south of Izmir)

Underwater Archaeology Museum (Bodrum)

Lycian rock tombs (Fethiye)

Aspendus-the best preserved Roman theater in the world (Belkis)

Hatay-natural phenomenon of fire coming out of rock

Side-Temples of Apollo and Athena, basilica, roman aqueduct, theater (66km east of Antalya)

Tarsus-Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s meeting place…

Gordium-home to Alexander’s “cutting of the knot” and King Midas’ tumulus (Yassihoyuk)

Museum of Anatolian Civilization (Ankara)

Atatürk’s Mausoleum (Ankara)

Shipwreck Museum (Sinop)

Fairy Castles (Cappadocia)

Underground City (Derinkuyu)

Catal Hoyuk-stone age walled city (35km from Konya)

Nemrut Dagi-colossal heads and tumuli (eastern Turkey)

Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (eastern Turkey)

Mt. Ararat (eastern Turkey)

Van Lake (eastern Turkey)

I want to exchange money now before I go, where can I do this?

We recommend that you wait to exchange your currency into Turkish Lira until you arrive in Turkey. Many places in Turkey accept MasterCard and Visa, traveler’s checks.

What are some good “traditional souvenirs” to look for while in Turkey?

Traditional Turkish souvenirs are often carpets, kilims, jewelry, leather goods, tiles and/or porcelain. Another unique item is meerschaum, a soft white stone often carved into simple or elaborately designed pipes. It is highly recommended that you visit a bazaar while in Turkey, where one can find copper, brassware, hand painted ceramics, clothing, carved alabaster and onyx, fabrics, and of course carpets. Vendors will often serve tea to browsing customers.

Turkish Delight is also popular, and comes in packs of flavors varying from rose to lemon to double pistachio.

Can I buy antiquities in Turkey?

Turkish rules state that taking antiquities out of the country is absolutely forbidden. If an item is of national importance or historically valuable, it will not allowed out of the country. Items such as carpets over 100+ years old could be deemed as an “antiquity”, thus check carefully with the salesman to verify that the item can be taken out of Turkey legally.