Pratical Info

Emergency Numbers

Medical emergency / Ambulance: 112
Fire: 110
Police: 155
Forest fires: 177
Missing child / Women’s helpline: 183

Pharmacies

Pharmacies are open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:30. Most are closed on Sundays, but there is always one pharmacy in an area open 24 hours.

ATMs

ATMs can be found all around the country. All of them offer foreign language options and pay out Turkish liras. Cash withdrawal limits vary from bank to bank and are around 500$/€ to 1.000$/€ TL

Changing Money

Foreign Exchange offices, which are known as “döviz bürosu” can be found throughout the country. Operating hours are mostly Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00. In the arrivals section of Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, there are 24-hour Exchange offices. Also, the Exchange offices located in shopping malls and touristic areas are open later and on Saturdays. US Dollars and Euros are accepted in highly touristic districts like Sultanahmet and Taksim but rates are often better.

Currency

The Turkish lira is the official currency. Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 TL.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely used and accepted. Visitors can use their Visa, Master-cards, Amex and Diner’s.

Business And Banking Hours

Offices and banks are generally open 09.00 to 17.00 Mondays to Fridays, and close for lunch 12.00 to 13.30.

Tourism

Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism’s Tourism Information Offices help all visitors to reach all kinds of information and documents they need.
For more please call +90 212 518 10 21 Istanbul Tourism Police +90 212 527 45 03 WhatsApp: +90 505 187 6614
Instagram: istanbultourismpolice

Visas

To enter into Türkiye visas are required but most of the visas can be purchased for 10 Euro or 20 dollars at Türkiye’s airports or border gates. Since the information of visas is changeable, please contact the visa information for foreigners on Turkish Foreign Ministry website. www.mfa.gov.tr
Türkiye’s electronic online visa application system offers to its applicants a comfortable and practical way to obtain visa. www.evisa.gov.tr

Demographics

İstanbul is the largest populated city of Türkiye with a population of 15.1 million.

Local Time

UTC / GMT + 2 hours

Electricty

220 volts, 50 cycle. Most hotels have a receptacle with 110 volts. Socket type is standard European two-pin.

Weight And Measures

Metric System

Official Holidays

April 23rd: National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.
May 19th: The Commemoration of Atatürk Youth and Sports Day.
August 30th: Victory Day.
October 29th: Republic Day.
1st of May: Worker’s Day.
Ramadan: 13-15 May (only for 2021)
Eid Al-Adha: 20-23 July (only for 2021)

Nature & Climate

İstanbul is a city where four seasons can be experienced. Spring and autumn are two unpredictable seasons with a range from chilly to warm. The average winter weather is between 5 C and 9 C. During the summers, average temperature is between 18 C and 28 C. The hottest months are July and August while the coldest months are January and February.

Telephone

Istanbul’s telephone service has two area codes, one for the Anatolian side and one for the European. If the land line you need to call is on the other side, you must also include its area code (0216 for the Anatolian side and 0212 for the European side). Türkiye’s country code is 90.

Hospitals

In Istanbul, you can find world- class hospitals and medical facilities. Many doctors in Türkiye speak English. In an emergency, foreigners who do not have social security insurance can go to any hospital, where they will not be charged.

Post Offices

Post Offices and the Postal Service in Türkiye are generally abbreviated to PTT. (www.ptt.gov.tr)

Practical Turkish

Hello Merhaba (mehr hah bah)
How are you? Nasılsın? (na suhl suhn)
Fine, thank you İyiyim, teşekkürler (ee yee yeem teh shek ür lerr)
What is your name? Adın ne? ( ad uhn ne)
My name is___ Adım ___ (Ad uhm___)
Nice to meet you Memnun oldum (mem noon oll doom)
Please Lütfen (Luet fen)
Thank you Teşekkür ederim (teh shek uer eh der emm)
You’re welcome Bir şey değil ( bir shey de yeel)
Yes Evet (eh vet)
No Hayır (hah yuhr)
Excuse me? Bakar mısınız? (bah kar muh suh nuhz)
Excuse me? (begging pardon) Afedersiniz (af air dair sin niz)

I’m sorry Özür dilerim (ö zuer dil air rim)
Goodbye Hoşçakalın (hsh cha kaluhn)
Goodbye Güle güle (guele guele)
Good morning Günaydın (guen eye duhn)
Good afternoon Tünaydın (tuen eye duhn)
Good day İyi günler (e yee guen ler)
Good evening İyi akşamlar (e yee ak aham lar)
Good night İyi geceler (e yee ge jay ler)
Good night (to sleep) İyi uykular (e yee yoo ku lar)
Welcome Hoşgeldin (hosh gel din)
I don’t understand Anlamıyorum (an la muh yor uhm)
Where is the touilet? Tuvalet nerede? (too va let ner eh de?

İstanbul Ticaret Odası Ek Hizmet Binası Hobyar Mah. Seyhulislam Hayri Efendi Cad. No:14 K:6 Fatih – 34112 İstanbul

Opening Hours:

Mon – Fri: 9:00 – 17:30

Phone: (+90) 212 522 55 55

E-mail: istanbul@icvb.org