Population: 71 158 647
G.D.P. Growth: 5.3%
Climate: Temporate
Coastline: 7 200 km
Government: Republican
Language: Turkish















The climate is a Mediterranean temperate climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet and cold winters. It is easy to see why Turkey is such a popular destination as summers are hot and dry, with temperatures generally above 30 °C (86 °F) in the day and all just 3.5 hrs from London!

Turkey is directly served by 4 international airports, Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir Bodrum and Dalaman - all accepting regular flights from the UK.

There is no doubt that one visit will not be enough, and you will want to come back again and again as you discover one extraordinary place after another. All of them, no matter how different, have one thing in common, the friendly and hospitable people of this unique country.

Menu of Topics

• Getting There
  
• Economy
  
• History and Politics
  
• Passports / Visas
  
• Property Purchase
  
• Health advice / risks
  
• Travelling in Turkey
• Restaurants
  
• Electricity supply
  
• Hours of Business
  
• Social Etiquette
  
• Legal System
  
  

Getting There
As Turkey is an established tourism hotspot, getting there couldn't be easier. Flights are readily available from many airports around the UK. Currently, flights are offered though BA, XL, Avro Flights, Opodo, Thomsonfly and the My Travel group. You can fly from London, Liverpool, Doncaster, Sheffield, Cardiff, Exeter and Bristol.

Economy
Over the Past decade, Turkey has undertaken many reforms to strengthen it's democracy, and economy enabling it to begin accession membership talks with the European Union. This has had many positive influences on the country and it's economy.

Since the economic crisis of 2001 and the reforms initiated by the finance minister of the time, Kemal Derviş, inflation has fallen to single-digit numbers, investor confidence and foreign investment have soared, and unemployment has fallen. Turkey has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment and the privatisation of publicly-owned industries, and the liberalisation of many sectors to private and foreign participation has continued amid political debate.

According to the CIA world fact book, Turkey is now classified as a stable, developed country. It has also joined the ranks of the G-20 (an organisation comprising the 20 largest economies of the world).


History and Politics
Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honoured with the title “Ataturk” meaning “Father of the Turks.” Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms.

After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians.

In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community.

In line with its traditional Western orientation, relations with Europe have always been a central part of Turkish foreign policy. Turkey became a member of the Council of Europe in 1949, applied for associate membership of the EEC (predecessor of the EU) in 1959 and became an associate member in 1963. After decades of political negotiations, Turkey applied for full membership of the EEC in 1987, became an associate member of the Western European Union in 1992, reached a Customs Union agreement with the EU in 1995 and has officially begun full accession negotiations with the EU on October 3, 2005.

Passports / Visas
Travellers from Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, and a number of other countries do need a visa to enter Turkey; however, this is just a sticker bought on arrival at the airport or border post rather than at an embassy in advance (make sure to join the queue to buy your visa before the queue for immigration). Those from the UK and the USA pay YTL15 (approximately £10.00). All other travellers who require a visa must apply for one before leaving for Turkey. The standard visa is valid for three months and, depending on your nationality, usually allows for multiple entries.

Property Purchase
Buying property in Turkey is a relatively simple process. We can now confirm that the law relating to the purchase of property by foreigners in Turkey was ratified by Turkish Parliament on 7 January 2006 and is now in force.

In real terms foreigners can only own up to a maximum of 2.5 hectares (25,000 m2) of land and property. Upon application the Council of Ministers may use its discretion to increase this threshold to a maximum of 30 hectares (300,000m2) providing this figure does not exceed a total of 0.5% of the land area of the province in question.


Foreign nationals and foreign commercial companies are not allowed to buy property in the strategic military and security zones of Turkey.

Foreigners may purchase land and property in Turkey under their own names and when the time comes to sell, the proceeds of the sale may be transferred out of Turkey. In order for foreigners to purchase property in Turkey research will be done to see whether Turks have reciprocal rights to buy property in the place that the foreigner was born.

Similar to purchasing property in European countries, on the day of transfer, the Buyer, Seller and Estate Agent will go to the Title Deeds Office and complete the paperwork. The paperwork consists of all the legal issues (title deeds, land registry etc) and financial issues. Financial affairs are concluded, signatures exchanged and the title deeds of your property are registered under your name.

DO NOT PURCHASE PROPERTY WITHOUT FIRST CONSULTING AN ENGLISH SPEAKING TURKISH LAWYER FOR BEST ADVICE.

The Embassy website: www.britishembassy.org.tr has details or access the Turkish Attorney's Paralegal online www.tapo.co.uk.

Health Advice
It is advised that you try and avoid drinking tap water, as you will find bottled water readily available.

There are pharmacies 'eczane' in Turkish in all cities and many towns. Pharmacies are open from 08:30 until 19:00, however every town has at least one pharmacy on duty overnight 'nöbetçi eczane', all other pharmacies in the town usually display its name, address and telephone numbers on their windows.

Travelling in Turkey
Many trains of the Turkish Railways (TCDD) website: www.tcdd.gov.tr have sleeping cars, couchettes and restaurant cars. Some are air-conditioned. Fares are comparatively low, but are more expensive for express trains.

There is currently huge investment in road building, but road conditions and standards of driving in Turkey can be poor. Traffic drives on the right.

Turkey has always been one of the most dynamic and exotic destinations. Travelling in Turkey is like a voyage in time, passing from one scene, legend or world to another. Visiting the historic city of Istanbul, where Romans and Ottoman Sultans once lived, will leave you breathless! The ruins of more than ten ancient civilisations make the country the world’s largest open-air museum.

If you find it impossible to think of a holiday without the thrill of shopping, then Turkey is the ideal destination. Shopping in Turkey is irresistible for the wide range of unique and beautiful crafts available there. Once you see the variety of products with this "very different" and unique Turkish style, you will want to take some home to share with your friends.


Restaurants
Much like Bulgaria, in order to really experience the Turkish eating/drinking 'behaviours' go to a restaurant (with a Turk, if possible) and drink Raki while eating mezze, small appetizers. This process should last a number of hours, while you talk about everything.

Electricity Supply
The Turkish electrical supply runs at 220 volts, at a frequency of 50hz and requires a European plug with two circular metal pins.




Hours of Business

Business	Monday-Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Banks	08:30-12:00 13:30-17:00	Closed	Closed
Shops/ Bazaars	09:30-13:00 14:00-19:00	09:30-13:00 14:00-19:00	Closed*

*In shopping centres you can often find shops open 7 days a week and during lunch hours.

Social Etiquette
As with all foreign countries, it will help if you learn a few local phrases such as 'Merhaba' meaning hello.

Your visit to Turkey is governed by the rules of hospitality that form a substantial part of the infrastructure of Turkish society, and which mean that you are truly regarded as a guest and (mostly) to be accorded the utmost help. This will show itself in the extent to which people will offer endless cups of tea, personal hospitality, invite you to their home, all of which can be gracefully and tactfully refused if you wish, without giving offence. Feet are regarded as unclean - so don't put them on a table, or where someone might sit. Should you be invited into a Turkish home, remove your shoes upon entering.

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Smoking is widely acceptable but prohibited in cinemas, theatres, buses, coaches and dolmuses (collective taxis).

The service on bills is not specially indicated in hotels or restaurants, you should calculate 5 to 10%. Of course as for every service, tipping is expected and the salaries are very low in Turkey, so many people are dependent on this sort of extra income. If the car is standing nicely washed and polished in front of the hotel next morning - an English pound or two dollars would be just nice. In general - like everywhere all over the world: the right tipping can open doors - so it does in Turkey.


Legal System
The judicial system is composed of general law courts; specialized heavy penal courts; military courts; the Constitutional Court, the nation's highest court; and three other high courts. The high court of appeals hears appeals for criminal cases, the council of state hears appeals of administrative cases or cases between government entities, and the audit court audits state institutions. Most cases were prosecuted in the general law courts, which include civil, administrative, and criminal courts. In 2004 parliament adopted legislation providing for the establishment of regional appeals courts to relieve the high court's caseload and allow the judiciary to operate more efficiently.

Civilian and military jurisdiction is separated. While military courts usually only try military personnel they can also try civilians in times of martial law and in matters concerning military service.