## Basic information

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## Why go to Turkey

There are really many reasons to visit Turkey, for example:

Turkey has the significant advantage of being a destination suitable for all types of passengers. Whether adventurers or lovers of organized rides, active young people or quiet retirees looking for peace, singles, or on their honeymoon. In Turkey, everyone will find something for themselves.

Go from one continent to another. In Istanbul, you have a unique opportunity in the world to jump from one continent to another. But be careful, if you don't want to end up in the Bosphorus Strait, you'd better get on a ferry that goes from one side to the other.

## The capital of Turkey

The capital of Turkey is Ankara and with a population of over 5 million it is the second largest city in Turkey.

Ankara is located in central Anatolia, right in the heart of Turkey.

The city of Ankara has an important historical value for the Turks, because it is not only the country's capital, but a symbol of Turkish independence. It is the main financial center of Turkey and you will find many important museums and historical monuments where you can learn a lot about the history of this country.

Here is a list of a few museums in Ankara that are definitely worth a visit:

Ethnographic Museum - A museum dedicated to Turkish culture and civilization. It was built between 1925 and 1928.

State Museum of Art and Sculpture - The museum was built between 1927 and 1930 and is located near the Ethnographic Museum. In the museum you can admire the works of painters and sculptors, who played an important role in the development of painting and sculpture in today's Turkey.

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations - The museum with its invaluable collections is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world. Here you will find works from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Eneolithic, from the Early Bronze Age, as well as from the period of the Urart and Roman civilizations, exhibited in chronological order covering several millennia of history.

The museum is located at the door of the Citadel in two historic buildings from the 15th century.

## Flag of Turkey

The flag of Turkey consists of a red background, which shows the motif of a white crescent and a five-pointed star placed to the mast part of the flag.

Originally, the flag of Turkey contained only a month on a green background, the color of which in 1793 Sultan Selim III changed to green. In 1844, a star was added to the moon.

The Turkish flag as we know it today was approved in 1936, in the years 1920 - 1923 the color of the flag returned to green.

## Population of Turkey

According to TUIK (Turkish Statistical Office), the population of Turkey in 2020 exceeded 83 million.

Of this, 50.2% of the population is male and 49.8% female.

The country is administratively divided into 81 provinces, the urban population is 74% and has grown slightly in recent years due to strong migration to large cities.

Turks represent 76% of the population, with the most significant minority being Kurds (16%), who live mainly in the eastern part of the country; 96.5% of the population are Muslims.

## Holidays in Turkey

Holidays in Turkey could primarily be divided into two groups.

Religious holidays governed by the Muslim calendar and holidays in the Turkish state governed by the European calendar.

Public Holidays:

- January 01 - New Year
- April 23 - Independence Day and Children's Day
- May 1 - Labor Day
- May 19 - Remembrance of Atutürk (founder of the Turkish state) and Youth and Sports Day
- August 30 - Victory Day
- October 29 - Anniversary of the Republic
- November 10 - anniversary of Ataturk's death

Religious (Muslim) holidays:

- Ramadan - a moving holiday, in 2020 it took place from April 24 to May 23.
- The end of Ramadan, also called Sugar Feast - this feast begins at sunset on the last day of Ramadan and lasts for 3 days.
- Feast of Sacrifice - a moving holiday

## Coat of arms of Turkey

Turkey does not officially have its official emblem, but in offices and passports, it uses a crescent moon with a star, which is depicted in the national flag.

For example, the President uses the seal of the President of the Republic of Turkey, which consists of 16 small gold stars that surround a large glittering star in a circle with a red background.

## Currency in Turkey

The official Turkish currency is the Turkish lira, which is denoted by the symbol TL in Turkey, the same currency is also used by northern Cyprus. Its international designation is TRY.

1 TL is divided into 100 kurushi (kurush).

The banknotes are printed at a face value of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lire.

As for the coin, it is minted in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kurus and 1 lira.

## Time shift

Until recently, there was summer and winter time in Turkey, but in 2016, this transition was canceled and only one time is introduced throughout the year, in the UTC +0300 zone.

Despite its size, Turkey is fortunately only in one time zone, so you will have no problem orienting yourself, as is the case with other large countries.

If we have winter time in the Czech Republic, then in Turkey it is +2 hours.

In the case of summer time in the Czech Republic, in Turkey it is +1 hour.

To make it easier:

- Summer: Czech Republic (14:00) - Turkey (15:00)
- Winter: Czech Republic (14:00) - Turkey (16:00)

## Prices in Turkey

Transport:

- One-way ticket (local transport) 3.30-3.80 TL
- Monthly season ticket 210 TL
- Start taxi (normal tariff) 3.20-3.60 TL
- Taxi 1 km 8 TL
- Petrol (1 liter) 6.50-7 TL

Boarding:

- Main course in a cheap restaurant 20-30 TL
- Meals for 2 people, middle class restaurant, three-course menu 80-150 TL
- McMeal v McDonald's 22-28 TL
- Homemade beer (0.5 liters) 13-16 TL
- Imported beer (0.33 liters) 18-22 TL
- Cappuccino (normal) 11-14 TL
- Coca-Cola / Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) 4-4.50 TL
- Water (0.33 liter bottle) 1.30-1.60 TL

Foodstuffs:

- Milk (1 liter) 5-5.40TL
- Plain bread (500 g) 2.50-2.70 TL
- Classic rice (1 kg) 9-10 TL
- 12 eggs 11-12 TL
- Local cheese (1 kg) 38-42 TL
- Butter (250g) 1.70-2.50 TL
- Chicken fillet (1 kg) 19-22 TL
- Beef (1 kg) (or equivalent hind leg red meat) 62-68 TL
- Apples (1 kg) 5.50-6.50 TL
- Bananas (1 kg) 12.50-13 TL
- Oranges (1 kg) 5.50-6.50 TL
- Tomatoes (1 kg) 5.30-5.60 TL
- Potatoes (1 kg) 3.40-3.80 TL
- Onions (1 kg) 3.20-3.40 TL
- Salad (1 head) 3.50-4 TL
- Water (1.5 l) 2-2.50 TL
- Bottle of wine (middle category) 40-60 TL
- Homemade beer (0.5 liter bottle) 13-14 TL
- Imported beer (0.33 liters) 17-18 TL
- Cigarettes 20 packs (Marlboro) 18-20 TL

## Vaccination in Turkey

You do not need to get any vaccinations before your holiday in Turkey.

There are currently no dangerous diseases in this destination.

If you plan to travel and stay outside the tourist area, vaccination against hepatitis A and B, or typhoid fever is recommended.

The more common health complications of tourists are rather bites by a snake, scorpion or insect.

## Visa to Turkey

If you go to Turkey for tourism, you do not need to obtain a visa.

However, when traveling to Turkey, citizens of the Czech Republic, including children, must have a valid travel document - a passport.

**Entry on an identity card is not possible.**

The passport must be valid for at least 150 days from entry into Turkey. Otherwise you will not be allowed to enter the territory of the Republic of Turkey.

In case of study, work or stay that will last more than 90 days, it is necessary to apply for a visa at the Turkish Embassy in Prague.

## Security in Turkey

Turkey is generally one of the relatively safe countries.

The riskier parts are the east and southeast of the country in the border areas with Syria and Iraq.
Before traveling to these areas, we recommend that you carefully consider the specifics and increased risks of this area.
Some roads may be closed by the military. Furthermore, it is not recommended to comply with the requests of local residents to export various packages, films, sheets, etc. If they find a similar shipment from a tourist and have any connection with a terrorist organization, he faces a relatively high penalty.

There are no personal safety issues in other parts of Turkey. Outside of tourist resorts and large cities, it is necessary to take into account the possibility that the woman herself attracts attention. If she walks outside these areas, especially in the countryside, alone (or accompanied by another woman) down the street, she is not surprised by any problems.

The security situation is comparable to Europe. Assaults are less common in Turkey than in Western countries. Petty crime (theft of personal belongings from hotel rooms, car theft, fraud) is relatively common in the main tourist areas, there are also cases of rape. Therefore, it is definitely not recommended to spend the night in the open air or leave personal belongings in an unguarded place.

## Interesting facts about Turkey

Few people know that Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport is the largest anti-seismic structure in the world, able to withstand high-intensity earthquakes while maintaining full operation.

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Should Istanbul be hit by an earthquake or other serious disaster, the airport would remain in full operation.

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Its structure is able to withstand an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale, thanks to a design system that allows it to withstand strong vibrations without consequences. In addition, the entire complex of Sabiha Gokcen Airport is designed to remain functional even in the event of natural disasters or war, in order to guarantee the operability of Istanbul, even in serious cases.

## Important contacts

**Where to call in case of emergency in Turkey?**

- Rescue Service 112
- fire brigade 110
- police 155

**Turkey phone code is +90.**

**Contacts at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ankara:**

**Address:**

```txt
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Kaptanpasa Street No. 15, Gaziosmanpaṣa, 06700 Ankara
```

Telephone: +90 312 405 61 39

Email: ankara@embassy.mzv.cz

Further contacts can be found at www.mzv.cz/ankara

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## List of airports

- Istanbul (IST)
- Ankara Esenboga (ESB)
- Izmir (ADB)
- Antalya (AYT)
- Internal (DLM)
- Gazipasa (GZP)
- Etimesgut (ANK)
- Adnan Menderes (ADB)

## Istanbul Airport

If you are heading to Istanbul, you can use Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).

### Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport (IST) is located approximately 50 km from the center of Istanbul and is the largest Turkish airport with ambitions and prospects to become the largest airport in the world.

For transfers from the airport to the center of Istanbul, you can use the buses of HavaIst, which operates 20 routes, 24 hours a day, or the buses of IETT, which offer 3 routes. The ticket price is in the range of 17 - 19 lire.

If you want to be transported from the airport by bus, you have to buy a recharging card Istanbulkart, which you can buy directly at the airport and its price is around 6 lira.

The card can then be recharged at vending machines located at bus stops or at the airport. It can be topped up in cash in lira or by credit / debit card.

If you want to get to the center by taxi, we recommend you use the Uber service, which is much cheaper than a classic taxi.

### Sabiha Gokcen Airport

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) is located in the Asian part of the city, about 35 km from the historic center of Istanbul.

This airport is used mainly by low cost airlines.

The best way to get there from Sabiha Gokcen Airport is with Havabus buses. The buses are white and can be found on the left, at the exit of the airport. The ticket price ranges from 14 to 18 lire per trip.

You can also use public transport. This alternative is the cheapest mode of transport - the ticket costs 2-3 lira, but also the slowest, because the bus has many stops on the way to the center.

If you want to comfortably transport to the center with a taxi, the price is around 200 lire.

## Antalya Airport

Antalya Airport (AYT) is located just 13 km northeast of the center of Antalya.

From the airport to the city center, you can easily reach either by bus or tram. If you opt for a bus, you will find a stop directly opposite Terminal 2 and the ticket can be purchased directly from the driver, paying in cash.

The tram stop is located near terminals 1 and 3 and runs every 10 to 20 minutes. It runs every day from 06:00 to 12:00 and the ticket price is around 4 to 5 lire.

You can also get from the airport by taxi, which costs about 100 lire and the journey takes about 25 minutes.

## Ankara Airports - Esenboga and Etimesgut

Etimesgut is a military airport of the Turkish Air Force. However, its ANK code is also confused with the designation of the city of Ankara. If we are looking for a flight to ANK, we mean Ankara Esenboga public airport.

Airports

The climate in Istanbul and around the Sea of Marmara is mild. In winter an average of 4 degrees Celsius and in summer 27 degrees Celsius. Western Turkey has a mild Mediterranean climate with average temperatures of 9 ° C in winter and 29 ° C in summer. You will experience the same climate on the south coast.

The climate of the Anatolian Plateau is a steppe climate - there is a large temperature difference between day and night. There is little rain and more snow. The average temperature in summer is 23 ° C and in winter -2 ° C. The climate in the Black Sea is wet, warm and humid. There is a long and harsh winter in eastern Anatolia and south-eastern Anatolia, where it snows every year from November to the end of April.

## Weather in Istanbul

In Istanbul, the average temperature in January is around 6.5 ° C, but sometimes cold air masses from the Balkans or Russia get into this area, which brings cold and rainy days and even snow (in Istanbul it is about 15 days a year snow, mostly from December to March). In summer, when average temperatures are around 24.5 ° C in July and August, there is the least rainfall and August is the driest month, while autumn and winter are the most favorable periods.

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The sun in Istanbul is rarely seen in winter, partly because fog can sometimes form, while in summer the sky is often cloudless.
The sea in Istanbul is very cold in winter. In July and August warm enough for swimming with a temperature of 23-24 ° C.

## When to fly to Turkey

Turkey is a year-round destination. When you visit it depends on your wishes. Although the tourist "high season" - and the associated higher rates - is from mid-June to mid-September, spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel. The sun is warm and the sky is clear. During this time you can expect mild to warm temperatures and a little rain.

Weather

## 5 most beautiful beaches of Turkey

If you want some tips on the most beautiful beaches in Turkey, we can definitely recommend the following 5 beaches, which are categorically among the most popular beaches in Turkey: Oludeniz, Patara, Icmeler, Olympos and Lara.

### Oludeniz

Oludeniz is located in the southern part of Turkey, just 12 km from the famous resort of Fethiye.

It is one of the most popular beaches and is generally considered to be the most beautiful beach in Turkey, for its charming blue lagoon lagoon with beautiful turquoise water that will make you feel like you are in the Caribbean.

Oludeniz is known as one of the best places in the world for paragliding. Especially for satisfying wind currents and especially for the beautiful view that entices you to try this amazing sport. There are many rental shops and schools for beginners.

It is also a popular place for scuba diving, for its crystal clear water and underwater caves.

### Patara

Patara is located on the south coast of Turkey, approximately 200 km from Antalya Airport (AYT).

Patara is an interesting destination not only for summer holidays, but also for spring or autumn escape from the sun.

Here you will find beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise waters, ancient ruins and charming rural villages. It is also an ideal place for diving or boat trips. It is also said that St. Nicholas comes from this place.

### Icmeler

The town of Icmeler is located just a few kilometers from the famous Turkish resort of Marmaris on the Datca Peninsula.

This beautiful bay is popular for its modern hotel resorts, many restaurants and nightlife. There are many bars, pubs and discos, some of which are open until four in the morning.

Water sports enthusiasts will also find theirs here.

### Olympos

Olympos is located on the south coast of Turkey, 90 km southwest of Antalya.

Olympos is known for its pristine beach, pine forests and Chimera, a natural flame located at a height of 250 meters, which has been burning constantly for millennia. Olympos is a nature reserve protected by law, which protects it from the development of mass tourism and thanks to that it is also a unique natural paradise.

There is the Olympos National Park - Beydaglari - extending to approximately 70 thousand hectares of land. The park stretches along the Mediterranean coast and includes part of the Taurus Mountains. This coast is known for the laying of giant card eggs, which are known to have very demanding requirements in terms of water purity and environment.

### Lara

Lara is just a few kilometers from Antalya Airport, making the journey from the airport only approximately 15 minutes away.

It is a relatively new resort full of luxury hotel resorts for even the most demanding clients.

Lara, due to its rich nightlife and also the architectural appearance of the hotels, is often called the Turkish Las Vegas. There are many restaurants, bars and light nightclubs.

Lara beach is clearly one of the most famous and longest Turkish beaches.

## Tips for trips and places of interest in Turkey

Turkey has other treasures than just beaches.

### Düden Waterfalls

Düden Falls are a group of waterfalls located in the province of Antalya and are divided into Upper Düden and Lower Düden.

The waterfall, formed by the Düden River flowing from the Taurus Mountains (one of the main rivers in southern Anatolia), is located 12 km southeast of Antalya and ends when the clear waters of the lower Düden Falls fall in a dazzling show, from a rocky cliff 40 meters straight into Mediterranean sea.

If you are lucky and it is a nice sunny day, then this beautiful scenery is complemented by a beautiful colored rainbow.

### Hora Nemrut

The top of Mount Nemrut is home to one of the most famous monuments in Turkey. At this peak with a height of 2150 meters lies the fascinating burial mound of King Antiochus I of Commagene. It is said that the tomb of Antiochus was hidden deep under a tall human statue, although despite extensive archaeological work, his tomb was never found here, yet at the top of the hill lies one of the most important tourist attractions in eastern Turkey.

The magnificent terraces are dotted with the fallen remains of huge stone statues, which were once majestic, arranged to give praise to the glory of Antiochus and the glory of the gods.

If you are located in the eastern part of Turkey, then definitely do not miss this fascinating tourist attraction.

### Dim

Dim Cave is located 12 km from the tourist town of Alanya and was opened to the public only in 1998.

The cave is located at an altitude of 232 meters above sea level, west of the Cebeli Reis mountains and east of the Dim river valley.

It is estimated that the cave is about a million years old and is the second largest cave in Turkey. Its length is 360 meters and at its end there is a small lake.

The cave can be easily reached by bus from Alanya or through local agencies that organize day trips.

### Bafa Lake Nature Park

Bafa Lake is located in the southwestern part of Turkey and its area is about 65 km2 and reaches a maximum depth of 25 meters.

Bafa Lake was originally a bay of the Aegean Sea, which gradually closed with the influence of time and nature, until it became today's salt lake.

This beautiful and quiet place surrounded by beautiful nature was declared a nature reserve in 1994.

In this rich natural habitat you will even find up to 40 different species of orchids and there are rare butterflies and about 350 species of birds.

### Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sofia is located in the European part of Istanbul and is one of the most important and largest sacral buildings in Turkey. The Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, who commissioned the mathematician Anthemius of Tralli and the builder Izidor of Miletus to build it. The symbol of Byzantine architecture was built by approximately 100,000 craftsmen and the construction took less than 6 years. The best available marble and large amounts of gold and silver were used in the construction of Hagia Sofia.

In 1935, Mustafa Atatürk had this temple transformed into a museum. Subsequently, the carpets that covered its marble floor decorations for centuries were removed.

It is currently forbidden to use the temple for religious purposes, but the set is an interesting attraction for tourists from all over the world who decide to visit Istanbul.

### Bospor

The Bosphorus, also known as the Bosphorus Strait, is a strait approximately 32 km long and 700 to 3000 meters wide, which separates the Asian continent from the European continent in the center of Istanbul. Its depth ranges from 30 to 120 meters. The width between the two fortresses built on both sides of the strait: Anadoluhisarı and Rumelihisarı, is 750 meters. It is also the narrowest strait between continents in the world.

The Bosphorus, as the only crossing between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, has always been of great strategic and commercial importance.

The Bosphorus has a very strategic position, as it is the only exit from the Black Sea. Many civilizations of antiquity have always wanted to control this transition between Asia Minor and Europe and collect tolls. One of the most important reasons for Constantine the Great in choosing the place where to establish the city of Istanbul or ancient Constantinople in 330, was the existence of the Bosphorus.

At present, the waters of the Bosphorus are considered to be international in the law of the sea and the strait allows free access to ships. Along the Bosphorus, commercial maritime transport is very intensive. It includes thousands of oil tankers from the Black Sea bound for the Mediterranean, and around 50,000 to 60,000 merchant ships pass through it every year.

Near Istanbul, the Bosphorus is connected by two bridges, and in 2013 a railway submarine tunnel was put into operation.

### Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula is located in the province of Çanakkalev in the northwestern part of Turkey. It lies between the Aegean Sea in the west and the Strait of Dardanelles in the east.

The Gallipole Peninsula has a very strategic position thanks to the strait. During the First World War, a huge naval conflict took place here to recharge this peninsula. And many warships have been sunk, making this place an attraction for scuba diving fans.

In defense of the Gallipol Peninsula, General Mustafa Atatürk, who later became President of Turkey, became famous.

### Antalya Aquarium

The Antalya Aquarium was opened in 2013 and is located in the famous resort of Antalya.

This large complex is considered one of the largest aquariums in the world and offers fun and education for the whole family.

There are 40 themed tanks and you can walk through the largest tunnel aquarium in the world, which is 131 meters long and 3 meters wide. With more than 5 million liters of water in this tunnel aquarium, you'll find thousands of fish, from sharks to moray eels. The decoration of the main aquarium was created by the famous Italian sculptor Benedetti and consists of, for example, a plane, a ship or the wreck of a life-size submarine.

You will also find the largest artificial coral reef in the world. Among other things, you can visit a 5D cinema, terrariums with tropical reptiles or an ice museum with real snow. In the building you will also find restaurants, fast food chains, cafes and souvenir shops.

## The highest mountain in Turkey

Discover with us the highest mountain in Turkey, a mythical mountain from the Bible, where Noah and his ark allegedly landed after the flood of the world.

### Ararat

Mount Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and is located in the eastern part of Turkey, in Anatolia, on the border with Iran and Armenia.

The peak of Ararat is located only 16 km west of the Iranian and 32 km south of the Armenian border.

Ararat is divided into two peaks. Little Ararat, 3915 meters, and Great Ararat, 5165 meters, among which is the saddle Sardar Bulag (2540 meters).

The journey to the top of the great Ararat is not difficult, but it requires a lot of will, since to reach the top you have to go out early in the morning, before sunrise, to enjoy the spectacular panorama in its full beauty.

During communism, due to its strategic position between Russia and Turkey, Ararat was a sensitive issue between the two governments and foreigners were not allowed to climb the mountain.

Today, it is a destination for professional climbers from around the world, in summer and winter.

However, for security reasons, permission from local authorities must be obtained before climbing Ararat. The best month to climb the mountain is August, when the weather is milder. From a height of 4,000 meters it has a permanent snow cover.

Guide to Turkey

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