• Temperatures

• Transportation: Taxi

  Taxis are numerous and recognizable by their yellow colour. The amount shown on the meter reads according to the distance travelled. Pay the fare shown on the meter in TL.

• Dolmus

  The Dolmus is a special service found only in Turkey, which is a collective taxi following specific routes and is recognizable by its yellow band. Each passenger pays according to distance travelled and can get off at specific stop. This is a very practical means of transport and much cheaper than a taxi.

• Bus (Inter - City Coaches)

  Many private - conditioned bus companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities. Coaches depart from the bus stations (Otogar) Most of the public buses are plentiful and cheap, you can find buses to any part of the country.

• Pharmacies

  Domestic and foreign medicaments are sold in pharmacy (Eczane in Turkish); they also have a large range of non-prescription medicines. Personnel are often able to speak English. Some pharmacies are on duty at night.

• Insurance

  For your own safety we advise you to take out traveller's insurance to cover accidents, illness, baggage and liability.

• Post, Telegraph, Telephone

  Turkish post offices are easily recognizable by their yellow "PTT" sign. Post office (PTT) are open 24 hours, having automatic telephone connections, parcels, registered mail, special delivery mail, post restate, air mail telegrams, fax and telex messages may be sent from post offices. Operator assisted calls may also be ordered here. Postage stamps, envelopes, postcards, telecards and pay phone token (Small token for local calls) are available.

  Direct calls can be made from all telephone booths, all post offices and private telephones.

  To make a long distance local first, the area code second and the phone number third. When making an international call, dial zero first, dial zero again after the odd dial tone, and follow by the country and area codes and then your number. For automatic calls.

Long-distance calls
0 (area code) (tel.number (7 digits)

International calls
0 0 (country code) (area code) (tel.number (7 digits)

To telephone overseas by operator (non-automatic):

• Electricity - Water - Time

  Mains electricity is 220 volts and 50 (Hz) AC, the same as in most of Europe. Plugs and sockets are the same as in the Continental countries of the European Union. British and American visitors need plug adapters for electrical appliances.

  It is safe to drink tap water, but it has an unpleasant taste. In hotels and restaurants it's best to order bottled spring water, which is abundant and cheap.

  Turkey is seven hours a head of Eastern Standard Time and two hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime.