Practical guide to travelling in Türkiye
Everything you need to know before you go: documents, money, getting around, safety, where to stay and more. Real advice from a local tour guide.
Planning and documents
Planning a trip to Türkiye is easier than it looks, but a few things are worth sorting out in advance. Visas: citizens of the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most EU countries can currently visit Türkiye without a visa for tourism, for up to 90 days (generally within any 180-day period). Other nationalities may need a visa, in many cases an e-Visa that you apply for online on the official website, evisa.gov.tr. Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the day you arrive.
Entry rules can change at short notice, so always check evisa.gov.tr and your government's travel advice for Türkiye before you travel.
When to go: spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) bring pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds, ideal for Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean coast. July and August are hot but perfect for the beaches, and winter means lower prices and a quieter, atmospheric Istanbul.
Getting there: most international flights land at Istanbul Airport (IST), the hub of Turkish Airlines, with direct flights from London, Dublin, New York, Toronto and dozens of other cities across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), on the Asian side of Istanbul, is mainly used by low-cost airlines, and Antalya, Izmir, Dalaman and Bodrum also receive international flights. From Australia and New Zealand you will usually fly with one stop.
I recommend taking out travel insurance (it isn't compulsory, but it is highly advisable), bringing a card with no foreign transaction fees, and setting up an eSIM so you are online from the moment you land. Türkiye is on GMT+3 all year round. In the articles below you'll find each topic covered in detail.
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Getting around and everyday tips
Türkiye has a very affordable network of domestic flights (Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and AJet) linking Istanbul with Cappadocia, Antalya, Izmir and Trabzon in 1–2 hours. For shorter distances, intercity coaches are comfortable, punctual and cheap. In Istanbul, the Istanbulkart is a rechargeable travel card for the metro, trams, buses and ferries.
Money: the currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keep some cash for small shops, markets and tips. Euros and US dollars are accepted in some tourist areas, usually at a poor rate. If a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose lira: the exchange rate is almost always better. Haggling is normal in the bazaars, but not in shops with fixed prices. Tipping is customary: around 5–10% in restaurants.
Plugs: Türkiye uses European two-pin sockets (types C and F) at 230 V. Travellers from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand need a plug adapter; if you are coming from North America, check that your chargers accept 230 V (most phone and laptop chargers do). Mobile data: an eSIM is the easiest option — buy it before you fly and switch it on when you land. Most hotels, cafés and restaurants have free Wi-Fi.
Safety: the main tourist areas are safe and welcoming. Take the usual big-city precautions: keep an eye on your belongings in crowded places and use licensed taxis with the meter running. In an emergency, call 112 (ambulance, police and fire).
Visiting mosques: take off your shoes at the entrance, cover your shoulders and knees, and women should cover their hair (the larger mosques usually lend scarves at the door). Visits pause during prayer times, especially the Friday midday prayer; keep your voice down and don't walk in front of people who are praying. In these articles I go into each topic with practical detail:
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Where to stay in Türkiye
Türkiye has accommodation for every budget. In Istanbul, the best areas to stay are Sultanahmet (right next to the monuments), Beyoğlu/Taksim (nightlife and food) and Karaköy (design and cafés). In Cappadocia, the cave hotels of Göreme and Ürgüp are a unique experience: sleeping in a room carved into the volcanic rock, with hot-air balloons drifting past at sunrise.
Prices vary a lot with the season: a good boutique hotel in Istanbul costs around €80–150 a night, while a cave hotel in Cappadocia ranges from €100 to €250. Booking 2–3 months ahead usually means better availability and prices.
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What to buy and what to eat
Türkiye is a shopper's paradise. In Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (one of the largest covered markets in the world, with more than 4,000 shops) you'll find rugs, Iznik ceramics, mosaic lamps, leather, spices, nuts and the famous Turkish tea. At the Spice Bazaar, the pyramids of colourful spices, Turkish delight (lokum) and freshly ground coffee are hard to resist.
Turkish food is much more than kebabs: try lahmacun (the “Turkish pizza”), meze (small cold dishes to share), pide (filled flatbread), pistachio baklava from Gaziantep and, of course, a Turkish breakfast — a feast of dozens of small plates that is a cultural institution in its own right.
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Tips for your kind of trip
Türkiye suits every kind of traveller. For couples, balloon flights and dinners by the Bosphorus make for unforgettable moments. Children love Cappadocia's underground cities and Antalya's water parks. Solo travellers find a safe, hospitable country, perfect for exploring at their own pace. In each guide I share specific tips for your type of trip.
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