If you’ve made up your mind and want to visit Turkey, you’re in for a treat. Probably you have already been informed about its mild weather, large sandy beaches, all-inclusive holiday villages, historical heritages, natural worth seeing destinations such as Cappadocia, Oludeniz, Dalaman, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, but a little bit of insider information doesn’t hurt, does it?
Let’s take a look at the 5 things you should know before traveling to Turkey!
A Turkish Visa is easily obtainable in most countries. First, you have to find out if you need a VISA for your country in the first place. If you do, then you can get your VISA after you land in Turkey, but if you don’t really feel like waiting in one for a VISA, you can get one before you leave for Turkey. People from Germany for example are exempt from VISA for up to 90 days and can enter the country with just a passport. Patients from the USA can use the Electronic Visa Application System for $20 or just get the VISA once they arrive.
Flymedi can also help international patients with VISA arrangements and other details regarding their trip.
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira as a local currency. It abbreviates as TL within the country and TRY in international mediums. You can change USD or EUR for Turkish Liras just about anywhere in the country but it is recommended to change your dollars or euros in the city center and not in the Airport or Hotel to benefit from a lower exchange rate. Most of the change offices will not charge you a commission, so it’s not a good idea to pick a change office with a commission. You can also use ATMs to withdraw money and there are quite a lot to pick from. Also, you can use your credit card for payments and even small shops offer this option.
PRO TIP: Changing your money into Liras before coming to Turkey can be more expensive than changing it after you arrive in Turkey, so it’s wise to wait a bit.
Turkey has three main mobile operators –Vodafone, Turkcell, and Turk Telekom. If you have roaming available on your phone, you’ll automatically connect to one of these three. Prices may be a bit expensive while roaming so it’s a good idea to simply buy a new Turkish SIM card and use it for the duration of your stay.
Turkey, although not cheap, is quite affordable compared to countries from Europe or the US. Shopping is lots of fun in Turkey and in the Grand Bazaar you can find just about anything. One thing you should keep in mind is that there are no price labels in the shops, so you’re in for a free negotiator course! If you’re good at it, you can reduce the price to as low as 50%. This is one of the best experiences when visiting Turkey.
Turkey’s population is mainly Islamic and apart from the natural religious diversity one can expect from a large country, 99% of Turkish people are Muslim. Some women cover their hair and heads with a scarf and some do not, it’s a matter of choice in Turkey. One thing to note is that when visiting religious sites, for example, Mosques, you should wear something that covers the knees and a headscarf to cover your hair. Don’t have a headscarf? No problem, you can just borrow one when you enter a Mosque and then return it after you leave. Also, it is good etiquette for men not to wear shorts in Mosques or religious sites.
Learn more about Medical Procedures in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.
This content is edited by Flymedi Medical Team in 2023.
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