Istanbul

Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, İstanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Its history tracks back from Byzantium to Constantinople to its place at the head of the Ottoman Empire. Today it hums as Turkey's cultural heart and good-time capital.

In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can tramp the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the sultan's harem; and hunt for bargains in the Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar).
Population
13,000,000

Currency
Name: New Turkish Lira
Code: TRY
Symbol: YTL
Electrical Plugs

220V 50Hz

Languages Spoken
Official: Turkish

Time Zones
GMT/UTC +2


Country Dialing Code
+90

Weights & Measures
Metric

Money and Costs
With hardly a town lacking an ATM, it's perfectly possible to get around Turkey with nothing else but a credit or debit card. Just remember to draw out money in the towns to tide you through the villages and keep some cash in reserve for the inevitable day when the machine throws a wobbly.

Currency, Changing Your Money, Money Tips, Price Guide, Tipping
Currency
Name New Turkish Lira
Symbol YTL The New Turkish Lira (YTL)(brought into circulation at the start of 2005 to replace the old lira's unwieldy denominations) comes in notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

The New Kuruş (YKr) comes in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and one New Turkish Lira. One hundred New Kuruş equals one New Turkish Lira.

Changing Your Money
It's easy to change major currencies in exchange offices, and many post offices (PTTs), shops and hotels; however, banks may make heavier weather of it. Cashing even major travellers cheques can be a hassle (although post offices in tourist areas are a good bet) and the exchange rate is usually slightly lower. Places that don't charge a commission usually offer a worse exchange rate instead.

Although Turkey has no black market, foreign currencies are readily accepted in shops, hotels and restaurants in many tourist areas. If you're left high and dry, most banks countrywide can do Western Union transfers.

Money Tips
Turkey is a relatively low-slung dollar burner. You can travel on as little as €20.00 to €35.00 per day using buses and trains, staying in pensions, and eating one restaurant meal. For €35.00 to €50.00 you can travel on plusher buses, take sleepers in overnight trains, kick back in one and two-star hotels and eat most meals in restaurants. For more than €50.00 per day you can move up to 3 and 4-star hotels, take the occasional airline flight, and dine in restaurants all the time.

Prices in İstanbul and along the coast are higher than in Cappadocia and elsewhere inland.

Sample Price Guide
small bottle of beer € 1.30 movie ticket € 2.50-6.00 night club entry € 6.00-16.00 open air seat at first league soccer game € 7.00 hamam bath and massage € 6.00-25.00 Bosphorus ferry ride € 2.00 (one way) basic meal from lokanta € 3.00 café latte € 2.50 Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
Euro4-50 Euro50-150 Euro120-300 Euro300+
Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe
Euro1-4 Euro4-12 Euro12-50 Euro50-80

Tipping
In cheaper restaurants it's not necessary to leave more than a few coins in the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you're expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d'. Porters expect a dollar or so; in taxis you might like to round up the bill; in other situations, for example, helpful guardians at archaeological sites, delicacy is required. Although a tip may be initially refused through politeness, you should offer the money a second and third time. After three refusals, you can safely assume they really don't want the money. In hamams you should tip 10% to 20% of the admission price to the masseuse/masseur.