LANGUAGE

Turkish

CURRENCY

Turkish Lira

BEST TIME TO VISIT

April to May and September to November

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION

Sirkeci station (for European countries) & Haydarpasa Station (for Asian countries)

NEAREST AIRPORT

Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST)

EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER

112

INTERNET ACCESS

As is the case elsewhere in Europe, the proliferation of personal communications devices has led to internet cafes becoming a dying breed. Wi-fi connections are ubiquitous in hotels and hostels, and common in cafes, bars and restaurants.

The Turkish government has a well-documented track record in blocking access to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook during and immediately after security situations such as terrorist attacks. Many locals get around this by using VPNs.

If using a local computer, you may have to use a Turkish keyboard. When doing so, be aware that Turkish has two ‘i’s: the familiar dotted ‘i’ and the less familiar dotless ‘ı’. Unfortunately the one in the usual place is the dotless ‘ı’ on a Turkish keyboard; you will need to make sure you use the correct dotted ‘i’ when typing in a web or email address. To create the @ symbol, hold down the ‘q’ and the right-hand ALT keys at the same time.

VISA

Not required for some (predominantly European) nationalities; most other nationalities can obtain a 90-day visa electronically at www.evisa.gov.tr.

At the time of research, nationals of the following countries (among others) could enter Turkey for up to three months with only a valid passport (no visa required): Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland. Russians could enter for up to 60 days.

Nationals of the following countries (among others) needed to obtain an electronic visa (www.evisa.gov.tr) before their visit: Australia, Canada, China, India, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, UK and USA. These visas were valid for between 30 and 90 days and for either a single entry or multiple entry, depending on the nationality. Visa fees cost US$15 to US$80, depending on nationality.

Your passport must have at least six months’ validity remaining, or you may not be admitted into Turkey. See the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.tr) for the latest information.

HOTEL

If you’re planning to see Istanbul’s top tourist attractions, the easiest place to base yourself is Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s Old City, which is a short stroll from all the city’s major historical attractions. The Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Aya Sofya are all within a five minute walk, and many hotels in the area have stellar views of these buildings as well as out to the Bosphorus from their rooftop terraces.

A tram line runs through Sultanahmet and public transport is plentiful, connecting the district with other tourist attractions further afield. Another popular place to stay is across the Galata Bridge in the Beyoğlu and Taksim districts, these are both lively entertainment areas in the center of modern Istanbul.

LUXURY

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul

White House Hotel

Grand Hyatt Istanbul

MID-RANGE

Orient Express Hotel

Osmanhan Hotel

BUDGET

Aybar Hotel Boutique

Hotel Peninsula

Apricot Hotel

COST OF LIVING

Istanbul used to be considered a great budget destination, but things have changed a bit recently and now it’s nearly as expensive as many other large cities in southern Europe. It’s true that there are individual bargains to be had still, though if you want to live it up a bit it will definitely cost you. Hotels in Istanbul are more expensive than you might have guessed, at least during prime tourism season in the warm months. Hostel beds continue to be a great deal, as do private rooms at many of these hostels, so that’s an area where you can keep costs lower. For some great bargains with excellent central locations check out our recommended Istanbul hotels list.

The main attractions and the popular tours are also fairly expensive, so it’s a good idea to figure out the highest priorities rather than just rushing around trying to do it all. Food and drinks are relatively cheap, and especially if you go for street food or the places aimed at the local crowd.

Hotels in Istanbul are more expensive than many people expect based on the city’s reputation, but good bargains are available during the off season. Unfortunately, the high season generally lasts from sometime in March through sometime in November, and also includes the time around the Christmas holidays. The low season starts sometime in November and goes through most of March, and during this period prices can be nearly cut in half. The peak is July and August, and outside of those months you can often find good prices on hotel-booking sites.