Turkey - Türkei

The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has a special one about this country Travel and safety advice released (Web link). We strongly advise against traveling to the border area between Turkey and Syria and Iraq, especially to the cities of Diyarbakır, Cizre, Silopi, Idil, Yüksekova and Nusaybin as well as to the provinces of Mardin, Şırnak and Hakkâri in general. Arrests, prosecution or ban on leaving the country of German citizens can take place in connection with statements critical of the government on social media or with people who are or were active in Kurdish associations. Date of the last notification: 10/29/2019.

location
flag
Short dates
Capital	Ankara
Form of government	Parliamentary republic
currency	Turk Lirasi (TL) / Turkish Lira (TRY)
surface	781,000 km²
population	74.7 million
languages	Turkish
Religions	mostly Sunni Islam, Alevis, others 0.2%
power grid	220 V / 50 Hz (connector C / F)
Phone code	90
Time zone	CET 2h (winter) or CEST 1h (summer)

The Turkey(Türkiye) is largely in Middle East part Asia, with a smaller part also in Europe. The Asian part is also under the name Anatolia or the historical term Asia Minor known. Many ancient sites of cultural and historical interest are located in what is now Turkey. Istanbul, pulsating metropolis and economic center, with its location on the Bosporus, reflects Turkey's affiliation to two continents and cultural spheres.

Regions

Turkey, the country on two continents: the eastern part of ancient Thrace forms the European part of the country. The dividing line between the continents runs from the strait of the Dardanelles through the Sea of ​​Marmara and the Bosphorusthat merges into the Black Sea. 97% of the national territory is on the Asian continent. Often one finds the term Anatolia for the Asian part of the country, which is also part of the world region middle East is counted.

That is in the north of the country Black sea, in the west that Aegean sea and in the south that Mediterranean Sea. Turkey has national borders in the west Bulgaria and Greece, in the northeast with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, in the east with the Iran and in the southeast with Syria and the Iraq.

Politically, the country is divided into 81 provinces. The division into seven regions or geographical areas that is common today goes back to the First Geography Congress in Ankara in 1941:

Marmara region: 

Smallest but most populous region in the northwest with a rich Byzantine and Ottoman history and the city on the Bosporus Istanbul

Central Anatolia: 

Tree-poor steppe landscapes with the capital Ankara and the hiking paradise Cappadocia

Aegean region: 

Beach resorts on the Aegean Sea, Greek and Roman ruins and olive groves in western Turkey

Mediterranean region: 

Mountains, pine forests, the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean and Antalya.

Turkish Black Sea Region: 

Forests and mountains for hiking and winter sports, seaside resorts on the coast and further east plantations for hazelnuts and tea

Southeast Anatolia: 

Steppe climate with cold winters and hot, dry summers, border region too Syria

Eastern Anatolia: 

Mountainous part of the country in the east with the Mount Ararat

Cities

Map of Turkey

• Ankara - capital of Turkey
• Istanbul - the old Byzantium and Constantinople
• İzmir
• Konya
• Bursa
• Adana
• Fethiye
• Antalya
• Mersin (İçel)
• Şanlıurfa
• Diyarbakır
• Gaziantep
• Manisa
• Antakya
• Samsun
• Kocaeli (İzmit)
• Balikesir
• Kayseri
• Kahramanmaraş
• Trabzon
• Eskişehir

Other goals

Düden waterfall in Antalya.

• Cappadocia - amazing stone formations, underground cities - UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Ephesus - Ruined city of this ancient metropolis
• Hattuşa - Former Hittite capital UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Turkish riviera - Over 1000 kilometers of coastline in the west and south of Turkey attract hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The seaside resorts are popular Aegean coast, for example Bodrum. The Turkish South coast of the Mediterranean starting in Fethiye or Antalya above Side to Alanya or. Kızkalesi is also referred to as the Turkish Riviera, sometimes as the turquoise coast. These terms, coined by the marketing departments of the tour operators, are not always very clear and so the coast of the Aegean is occasionally also included. Despite the numerous package deals, this coastal region is also a destination for individual tourists.
• Ararat - At 5166 m, the mountain is the highest point in the country and the legendary stranding point of Noah's Ark. It is located in the mountain region on the Armenian border at the very eastern end of the country. The national symbol Armenia is located in the military restricted area and can therefore not be climbed without special permission.

background

The Turkish Republic was established in 1923 as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire on a remnant part of the former state territory under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, alias Ataturk Soon a strict separation of religion and administration was introduced, which began a creeping re-Islamization about 20 years ago and is more and more weakened. Turkey joined the United Nations in 1945 and NATO in 1952.

getting there

Entry requirements

The spice market in Istanbul

Germans and Liechtensteiners, Swiss and Luxembourg nationals can use an identity card or Passport entry. If you are entering from a country that is not a member state of the Council of Europe (especially important when entering, but also leaving, for example to Syria), a passport must be presented. It is not advisable to enter the country with a temporary identity card or travel document as a passport substitute. Passports must contain at least one blank page. A separate identification document is required for children.

Upon presentation of the identity card, a small note with a date stamp will be issued, which must be returned when leaving the country. Tourists can stay for 90 days within a period of 180 days without a visa. Several stays within the 180-day period are added up, so a re-entry to extend the period is not possible. With this provision, the legal situation in Turkey is to be adapted to the rules customary in European countries. For a longer stay, a tourist residence permit with a validity of up to 6 months must be applied for from the provincial authorities (ikamet tezkeresi).

Austrian need a passport and an eVisa entry permit, which can be obtained from kiosks at airports or in advance on-line (e.g. when entering the country by land) can be bought. Those entering the country not for tourism purposes (truck drivers, etc.) must apply for their visa in advance at the

• Embassy of Turkey, Hietzinger Hauptstrasse 29, 1130 Vienna. Responsible for Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria and Burgenland.Open: Applications: Mon.-Fri. 11.00-12.00.last change: not specified
• Residents of Salzburg, Tyrol, Carinthia and Upper Austria contact the consulate in Salzburg (Strubergasse 9); Vorarlberger to the consulate near Bregenz (Senderstrasse 10, A-6960 Wolfurt).

With the entry into force of the new Aliens Act on April 11, 2014, visas will only be issued in exceptional cases at the borders.

If you travel by car one, one receives at the border one Triptic, which is returned upon departure. The vehicle / triptych is entered in the passport or (if the identity card is used) on the immigration card. It is not possible to leave the country without a car. Problems can arise if the driver is not also the registered owner of the vehicle. A power of attorney is required in order to be able to import a rented vehicle.

The Green insurance card Must absolutely be carried, while Turkey (TR) must not be crossed out. Otherwise, insurance must be purchased at the border. Whether accidents in the Asian part are also covered is discussed again and again. Liability tends to be included rather than comprehensive insurance; depending on the insurance conditions of your own contract. Since the green card often has to be requested before a trip, you should ask your insurance company about the specific conditions.

By plane

The airlines Turkish Airlines and Pegasus offer numerous scheduled flight connections from many cities in Central Europe to their bases at both Istanbul airports. So you can reach most of the larger cities in Turkey with a change of trains.

There are many non-stop scheduled flights from many German cities to Ankara, Antalya, Istanbul or Izmir every day. Other destinations on the south and west coast are also served by charter.

By train

With the train there is only the possibility of putting together a connection with multiple changes. One variant goes off, for example Munich above Zagreb, Belgrade and Sofia or to the other over Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest.

The only Turkish train connection from other European countries is the one only in summer (June to September) Istanbul-Halkali (at 7.00 am) from the Bosporus Express Bucharest (from 12.45), the through car from Sofia leads. There is a direct train from Istanbul-Halkali (since Feb. 2017), departure 10:40 p.m., arrival Sofia 8.45 a.m. You have to get off at the border control in the middle of the night.

On the side of the Turkish State Railways the international timetables are included in English.

From the direction of Austria it's off Villach the journey with the motorail train from the company Optima Tours to Edirne possible in 32 hours according to the schedule.

The train connections from Greece have been discontinued for several years.

There is a weekly service between Ankara and Tehran with departures on Wednesdays Asya-Express.

The train connections within Turkey are relatively poor. The city of 3 million people Bursa is not connected to the rail network, for example. The best connections are from Istanbul to Ankara and from there to the east of Anatolia.

There are no train connections along the south coast. Cities like Antalya are not connected to the rail network.

By bus

The international long-distance bus network to Turkey is extremely well developed.

In the street

The journey to Turkey via the Balkan route via Bulgaria or Greece is unproblematic. Visa and Carnet are not required. It should be noted that during the main travel season the road border crossings of the "guest worker route" can be heavily congested, waiting times of several hours can occur. The main travel times on the guest worker route are:

• At the beginning of the summer vacation in Turkey
• Back to Central Europe towards the end of the summer vacation
• Something similar, albeit in a less pronounced form, also applies to the time around Christmas / New Year and Easter.

Outside the main travel season, crossing the border is quick, efficient and uncomplicated. A Carnet of the passage not necessary.

There are road border crossings with the following neighboring countries

• Greece: E90 Kipoi - İpsala; Kastanies - Edirne as well as numerous car ferries across the Aegean Sea
• Bulgaria: E80 Kapitan Andreevo - Kapıkule; Lesovo - Hamsabeyli; E87 Malko Tarnovo / Dereköy
• Georgia: E70 / E97 Hopa - Sarp; E691 Vale - Türkgözü; Kartsakhi - Aktaş
• Armenia: Due to the bad relations between the two countries, it is not possible to cross the border directly; you have to take a detour through Georgia.
• Azerbaijan: at the northern tip of the exclave Nakhchivan
• Iran: Gürbulak (about 10 km from Dogubayazit) - Bāzargān (بازرگان), then direction Tabriz.
• Iraq: Because of the US intervention, it is imperative to inform you about the security situation and the opening of the border crossings at short notice!
• To Irkaish Kurdistan there is only one transition.
• Syria: As of May 1, 2019, there was none for the general public opened land border crossings from Turkey to the area controlled by the Syrian government.

There is also the option of using Ferry across the Black Sea to get the car from Russia or Ukraine to Turkey, e.g .:

• Chornomorsk (until 2016 called Illitschiwsk; near Odessa) ↔ Istanbul
• Sochi ↔ Trabzon (seasonal)

By boat

From the Ukrainian Odessa-Odessa-Chornomorsk moves Ukrferry to Istanbul Haydarpasa and seasonally after Samsun. From this port there are also ferries to Georgian cities Batumi and Potentiometer.

A pure passenger ferry connects Istanbul with in summer Burgas in Bulgaria.

Out Taşucu, the port of Silifke has at least one ship every day all year round Northern Cyprus. The weekly ferry to Lebanon was discontinued in 2017.

Aegean ferries

There are regular connections between the numerous Greek islands and the nearby Turkish mainland, but these are thinned out outside the tourist season. The journey times are rarely more than an hour. Therefore, “day return” tickets are often offered, which are cheaper than normal return tickets. In the summer of 2019 the following lines will operate (Greek places mentioned first):

• Samos ↔ Kuşadası
• Kastellórizo (Meis) ↔ Cheese
• Rhodes ↔ Fethiye or Marmaris
• Kos ↔ Bodrum or Turgutreis
• Chios ↔ Çeşme
• Lesvos ↔ Ayvacik

mobility

For long-distance hiking trails see Hiking in Turkey.

By plane

There are flight connections between the larger cities at reasonable prices.

Rental car

Traveling by rental car in Turkey is generally unproblematic. The requirements of the rental companies are different, but at the latest by the age of 21 you can get a car everywhere. The national driving license is sufficient.

Road traffic

Allowed speeds

Danger! The speed limit for motorcycles is often incorrectly stated as 80 km / h for country roads and 90 km / h for highways!

Traffic offenses are expensive. The speed measurement is often done with a laser and the actual control about 2 to 3 kilometers later.

toll

Most motorways, with a few exceptions, no longer have any toll booths. Instead, they have lanes that automatically scan for the RFID stickers (HGS) on the window pane as one enters or exits the motorway. HGS stickers are easy to use, you can add as many lira to your account as you think you need. HGS stickers can be bought in the service buildings at the major toll stations, PTT post offices, at motorway service stations and at some Shell petrol stations.

fuel

The prices for petrol and diesel are significantly higher than in Germany. Currently (September 2016) one liter of super unleaded costs approx. 5 TL (~ 1.54 €). There are only small price differences between gas stations, including motorway gas stations. Sometimes the price is wrongly labeled, the price directly at the pump always applies.

State of the roads

There are probably only a few countries in which road construction is as busy as in Turkey. Most of the important country roads have already been developed as generously laid out four-lane (two lanes in each direction) expressways and are in good condition. There are many petrol stations and rest stops along the highways. Construction work is still in full swing, especially in the east and south-east, although great progress has already been made here too. At numerous construction sites, traffic is diverted over several kilometers of gravel roads. Such places are signposted in good time so that one can prepare for the disability in good time. New, straightened routes are often laid at great expense. It is therefore to be expected that the road network will improve significantly in the next few years. Nevertheless, there are still remote places that can only be reached via miles of unpaved slopes.

Even on well-developed expressways, one should bear in mind that, especially inland, these roads are shared with the local population - and these are often still on the move with donkey carts or wagons with auxiliary engines. At night there is therefore an increased risk of accidents due to unlit vehicles on the streets.

The quality of the roads varies considerably within towns or cities. Main roads can have six or even eight lanes, while small side streets are in extreme cases without any pavement. Unexpected potholes must be expected on side streets.

The motorways are in very good condition, relatively empty but subject to a charge. To do this, you initially needed a so-called KGS card. This system has now been replaced by the HGS system. This is based on vignettes with a transponder. You should get this beforehand. All rental cars are generally equipped with this vignette. A cash payment is not possible and only a few toll stations have an alternative with the KGS system. But the fees are clear and hardly exceed 10TL even for longer distances.

Driving style

The driving style in Turkey differs significantly from that in Western Europe or Germany. This is particularly noticeable within the cities.

Any gaps between vehicles are often used to your own advantage. This also applies to gaps that were actually intended as a safety distance or that would have kept an intersection free. Lanes are changed frequently and suddenly when the other lane promises somewhat faster progress. Cutting other vehicles is accepted. In front of red lights or in slow-moving traffic, the marked lanes are more likely to be understood as a friendly recommendation. For example, four vehicles can stand next to each other in front of a traffic light on what is actually a two-lane road.

The horn and headlight flasher are used extensively. The driver of another car is alerted by a short horn that they are standing (driving) in their way. Likewise, before overtaking or when driving past a vehicle that might want to cut into the flow of traffic, the horn is often honored. Drivers who are familiar with the area make others aware of the fact that the red traffic light will turn green in a few seconds by honking briefly.

By train

Modern rolling stock at Haydarpaşa station

While traveling by train from Europe to Turkey is not very attractive at the moment, the situation for train travelers within the country has improved compared to the last few decades. After times of decline, there are now investment programs. Modern and clean vehicles are now used on numerous routes. In addition, the first new lines are in operation, on which the trains can travel at speeds of up to 250 km / h; Others under construction and in planning.

The website of the Turkish state railway company TCCD has most of them information only in Turkish, the offer in English available on the site is limited to the few international connections. So there are only a limited number of timetables on the Internet. There are no printed timetables, only the current timetables are posted in the train stations.

Wanderlust to the east

Wanderlust for Lake Van

The train fares are cheaper than those of the buses.

An S-Bahn has been running through the tunnel under the Bosporus since October 2013. The further expansion of the Marmaray project long-distance trains between Europe and Asia should be completed by June 15. Until then, there will be restrictions in rail traffic to and from Istanbul due to the construction work on the access routes. After commissioning, the Asian train station in Istanbul Haydarpaşa to be abandoned in favor of a central train station.

There are attractive connections between Istanbul and Ankara, you can choose between (slow) connections overnight in a sleeping car or fast connections during the day with a change in Eskişehir, between Eskişehir and Ankara on a new line. There is also a new high-speed route between Ankara and Konya, on which the approximately 300 km long journey can be completed in 90 minutes.

By bus

Small towns in central Turkey can also be easily reached by bus. It should be noted that many of the bus stations newly built in recent years are far outside. To get to the bus station, some companies offer a free shuttle service, and the prices for the trips are cheap.
If you are traveling as a couple or a group, you should buy the tickets together, otherwise the seats will be separated by gender.

The buses leave punctually at set times and in most cases are very neat and clean. On the journey there is a stewart who provides the passengers with water and small sweets. The buses mainly run between cities and start from the bus station, which is in almost every city. It is particularly pleasant that the buses also run overnight, so you can reach your destination asleep.

Dolmuş

These "shared taxis" are a practical and inexpensive means of local transport. They are also used very heavily by locals and offer little comfort. The Dolmuschs always circulate in a larger area around villages or towns. Stops are usually with a big one D. (marked for "Durak," stop). It is also possible to get on between the stops, in which case the driver should be given appropriate hand signals. To get off immediately, you call the driver “Dur” (“Stop”), “Durakta” ​​says whoever wants to get off at the next stop. The fare is calculated according to zones, in Dolmuş they are given in a table. A trip is inexpensive and usually stays under 1 euro, but a maximum of 2 euros for a very long distance (travel time over 30 min.)

By boat

Deniz Otobüsü (fast ferries) are fast (50-60 km / h) catamaran ferries that e.g. Istanbul connect to the other side of the Marmara Sea. You can shorten the travel time considerably: You can go from Yeni Kapı in Istanbul (a bit southwest of the Blue mosque located) within two hours of the bus station Bursa with an actual driving time of less than an hour Yalova. Similar connections connect different parts of Istanbul with the Asian side or places further up the Bosphorus. This type of ferry is used anywhere in the country where there is enough water.

language

Is the national language Turkish. Other languages ​​spoken are Kurdish, Arabic. In the tourist centers (especially on the Aegean coast and in Istanbul) one can often speak most of the common European foreign languages, including particularly common ones English and German, communicate. German is the most widely used foreign language, ahead of English. Russian is also widespread in İstanbul and Antalya.

Outside the tourist centers, communication is sometimes only possible in the local language. If you don't speak Turkish, you should at least have a dictionary with you. Even in more favorable cases, communication is often only in very simple English or sometimes German.

shop

On January 1, 2009, new banknotes were again introduced with the designation "Türk Lirasi" (instead of "Yeni Türk Lirasi"). The on YTAL Denominated banknotes have been invalid since January 1, 2010 and can only be exchanged at the central bank.

In Turkey there is again high inflation of around twenty percent in 2019, so that the prices quoted here can quickly become obsolete.

Euros and dollars can easily be exchanged and in some tourist centers they are also accepted for payment directly. However, it is advisable to exchange the money first. The cash supply at the ATM is problem-free, sometimes euros or US dollars can be withdrawn in addition to YTL. Many hotels, restaurants, shops and supermarkets usually also accept major credit cards.

Attention: The Foreign Office expressly warns against taking ancient objects or objects (including fossils or coins) or any kind of processed stones (even if they are just simple pebbles) with you from Turkey.[1] The Turkish customs regularly arrest tourists who try to do this and only release them after weeks or months of pre-trial detention and very high fines. The Federal Foreign Office points out that diplomatic aid is generally ineffective. The classification of which objects are classified as ancient is extremely arbitrary and in no way appropriate. Anyone who is interested in special works of art needs a certificate from a museum and has to report it to customs without being asked. For the normal tourist, it is strongly recommended to forego all souvenirs of this kind, even if they are obvious imitations or just simple rock.

As in many other countries, tourists pay so-called Double prices, so a higher price than locals. That is why many shops in tourist areas do not have prices listed for the goods. The dealers are therefore also open to trading. You should try to trade the price down by at least a third.

If you want to buy a cheap carpet, there is a simple rule: you buy it at home. They are much cheaper there. A very simple characteristic distinguishes the carpet dealer from the tourist: the dealer is a professional, the tourist is not. He will never get involved in bad business. There are no carpet bargains in Turkey! Starting bids are around five to ten times the real value. If you bargain extremely hard (not the usual 3-minute haggling), you can cut the price to about twice what you would have paid at home. Should the purchase horse go through, be sure to note the following: It is widespread to have the carpet delivered (which works in principle). Employees of the carpet dealer very often sell these addresses in exchange for bribes to dealers in Central Europe, who then pretend to be the dealers from back then. You are in the vicinity, a customer has jumped off, you have really great carpets, but you can't take them back with you, etc. blabla. In any case, you can buy carpets very cheaply, the dealer would come by immediately (surprise tactic). It goes without saying that nothing is cheap at all.

kitchen

Turkish food

Meze, Turkish appetizers.

Köfte.

Ciğer, Liver.

Kokoreç with tomatoes and spices in bread.

Çiğ Köfte, Dumplings from raw mince

Hamsi, Anchovies.

Pilaf, Rice with chicken.

Sütlaç, Rice pudding pudding.

Boza, Millet drink.

If you only associate Turkish food with doner kebab, you will be surprised how difficult it is to find this “Turkish fast food” in the country outside of the larger cities. The cuisine is varied, but for religious reasons it does not use pork. Tourists can order alcohol in most restaurants without any problems, but it is expensive (especially in hotels).

Foreign guests are always surprised by the variety of ways that vegetables are prepared. The offer on the market makes it clear: fresh vegetables have the highest priority in Turkish cuisine. It is also fried, deep-fried, or served with yogurt. Vegetable dishes are eaten warm alone or with meat, filled with rice and minced meat (Dolma) or prepared with olive oil and eaten cold.

Of course, lamb, veal and beef and lots of chicken are also on offer. Fish, it must also be said, has become expensive in recent years.

Contemporary Turkish cuisine is the result of mixing the original simple nomadic cooking tradition of the Turkish tribes with Indian, Persian, Kurdish and Arabic cuisine. Since its migration, it has also included influences from the Mediterranean region. This variety of influences developed over the centuries, especially under the influence of the Ottoman culture and way of life, into today's characteristic Turkish cuisine.

Turkish cuisine has also shaped the Greek and Balkan cuisine. For example, the “Zaziki” comes from the Turkish “Cacık” and “Cevapcici” comes from “Kebap Şişi” (kebap skewer; roasted spit). The “yogurt” also comes from the Turkish “yoğurt”. Doner kebab is made from beef, veal or poultry. In Turkey, but also in other (European) countries, the doner kebab is also served on the plate.

snack

Dishes that you get from the hawker to hand or at the snack bar.

flesh

Köfte = Minced lamb with herbs.

Ciğer = The liver, on a skewer or on the plate dish, is a traditional dish that is served with greens.

Çiğ Köfte = Rohklops, made from raw mince, all kinds of spices and lettuce leaves, is prepared with extreme hygiene.

Et Dürüm = Meat roll, the meat is wrapped in a thin flatbread

İçli Köfte = Filled loaf filled with minced lamb, bulgur, walnuts and spices

Islak hamburger = Wet meatbread is the mantsch version of a hamburger with garlic sauce

Suçuk Dürüm = Garlic sausage roll, fried spicy garlic sausage is rolled up instead of meat.

Tantuni = Meat rolls in bread

Ladle Paça Çorbası = Lamb head soup

Kokoreç = Mutton intestine bread, toasted, hot and spicy

fish and seafood

Balık Ekmek = Fish bread, a quarter of a baguette, with fried mackerel fillet, green lettuce and onions

Midye Tava = Mussel skewer, either filled with rice (Dolma) or breaded and deep-fried (Tava), with garlic sauce

Hamsi = Anchovies are served on the plate and taste best when whole.

various

Pide = White bread with one of the many fillings

Menemen = Scrambled eggs with tomatoes and ham, filled hot in small aluminum bowls, for breakfast or brunch

Çorba = is the soup, Tavuk Çorbası is chicken soup with noodles, cheap and warming.

Pis pilaf = Chickpea rice, a cheap dish, a plate of chickpeas, some chicken, rice and spicy pickled peppers.

Kestane = Chestnuts, popular in winter, roasted over a charcoal fire.

Sütlaç = Rice pudding pudding

beverages

Çay = Black tea, is drunk always and everywhere

Boza = Millet drink, or wheat or corn drink, a semi-fermented grain, with a thick consistency and fruity taste.

See also

• Turkish cuisine in the Koch Wiki.

nightlife

The nightlife in Turkey is different: cities like Istanbul, Ankara or Antalya are rich in possibilities and never sleep, but in the villages of Turkey it is rather quiet at night. In the tourist resorts on the south coast, there is always something going on in the open-air discos, beach bars and pubs during the main season from June to September.

accommodation

Strictly speaking, unmarried couples do not get a room together. There are no problems with this in western Turkey and in areas dominated by tourism. In more rural areas, it is advisable to wear wedding rings, even if you are not married or at least pretend to be a married couple, and to fill in the "Date of marriage" field on the registration card at the check-in. However, the handling can differ greatly in different areas and locations.

öğretmenevi - teachers' houses

The öğretmenevi = teachers' house can be found in almost every city in Turkey. These are hotel-like accommodations that are maintained by the state for educational people passing through. Wenn genug Platz vorhanden ist, sind die öğretmenevi aber für jedermann zugänglich. Der Standard der Zimmer ist mit einem einfachen Hotel vergleichbar (sauber, TV, Dusche mit heißem Wasser, z.T. freies Internet). Eine Übernachtung kostet ca. 35 TLY pro Person, Frühstück (Kahvalti) gibt es für 5 TLY extra. Lehrerhäuser liegen meistens etwas abseits des Stadtzentrums und sind in der Regel in pinkem Farbstil gehalten und mit dem Signet des Bildungsministeriums (ein aufgeschlagenes Buch mit Fackel) versehen. Um die Unterkunft zu finden fragt man nach "öğretmenevi" oder benutzt den Adressfinder auf www.ogretmenevim.com.

Learn

In vielen Städten wird Türkischunterricht vor Ort angeboten. Das Kursangebot geht hier vom Crashkurs über Einsteigerkurse bis hin zur Klassengröße. Die Kursdauer beträgt meistens zwischen einer und 12 Wochen.

Angebote findet man z.B. in

• Istanbul
• Antalya
• Ankara
• Bursa
• Marmaris

Work

public holidays

Es gibt nationale und religiöse Feiertage. Religiöse Feiertage durchlaufen aufgrund der Orientierung am islamischen Mondkalender die Jahreszeiten.

An religiösen Feiertagen haben viele Geschäfte geschlossen. Der Fastenmonat Ramadan dauert 2021 von Montag, 12. April bis zum Mittwoch, 12. Mai 2021 und 2022 von Samstag, 2. April bis zum Montag, 2. Mai 2022.

security

The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany hat zu diesem Land einen besonderen Reise- und Sicherheitshinweis released (Web link). Reisenden wird empfohlen, sich von politischen Veranstaltungen, Kundgebungen und grundsätzlich von größeren Menschenansammlungen fernzuhalten und Anweisungen von Sicherheitskräften Folge zu leisten. Die Sicherheitsvorkehrungen befinden sich landesweit auf hohem Niveau. Angesichts von Anschlägen terroristischer Gruppierungen auch gegen nicht-militärische Ziele muss aber in allen Teilen der Türkei grundsätzlich von einer terroristischen Gefährdung ausgegangen werden.Deshalb wird Deutschen, die sich in der Türkei aufhalten oder dorthin reisen möchten, generell empfohlen, sich zur Sicherheitslage laufend, mittels dieser Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise sowie der Medienberichterstattung, informiert zu halten. Menschenansammlungen, auch auf öffentlichen Plätzen und vor touristischen Attraktionen sowie der Aufenthalt nahe Regierungs- und Militäreinrichtungen sollten gemieden werden. Von Reisen in das Grenzgebiet der Türkei zu Syrien und Irak, insbesondere in die Städte Diyarbakır, Cizre, Silopi, Idil, Yüksekova und Nusaybin sowie generell in die Provinzen Mardin, Şırnak und Hakkâri wird dringend abgeraten. In den Provinzen Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman, Bitlis, Bingöl, Siirt, Muş, Tunceli, Şırnak, Hakkâri und Van besteht ein erhöhtes Risiko für Reisende. Alle nicht zwingend erforderlichen Reisen in diese Gebiete sollten vermieden werden. Es wird weiterhin zu größter Vorsicht geraten. Die aktuelle Berichterstattung in den Medien sollte aufmerksam verfolgt werden. In den genannten Gebieten werden immer wieder „zeitweilige Sicherheitszonen“ eingerichtet und regionale Ausgangssperren verhängt. Sicherheitszonen und Ausgangssperren werden streng kontrolliert, das Betreten der Sicherheitszonen ist strikt verboten. Zur Einrichtung von Sicherheitszonen und Verhängung von Ausgangssperren kam es bisher insbesondere im Gebiet südöstlich von Hakkâri entlang der Grenze zum Irak sowie in Diyarbakır und Umgebung sowie südöstlich der Ortschaft Cizre (Dreiländereck Türkei - Syrien - Irak), aber auch in den Provinzen Gaziantep, Kilis, Urfa, Hakkâri, Batman und Aǧrı. Die türkischen Behörden erteilen aus Sicherheitsgründen keine Erlaubnis mehr, den Berg Ararat zu besteigen. Festnahmen und Strafverfolgungen deutscher Staatsangehöriger erfolgten vielfach in Zusammenhang mit regierungskritischen Stellungnahmen in den sozialen Medien. Ausreichend ist im Einzelfall das Teilen oder „Liken“ eines fremden Beitrags entsprechenden Inhalts. Es muss davon ausgegangen werden, dass auch nichtöffentliche Kommentare in sozialen Medien etwa durch anonyme Denunziation an die türkischen Strafverfolgungsbehörden weitergeleitet werden. Im Falle einer Verurteilung wegen „Präsidentenbeleidigung“ oder „Propaganda für eine terroristische Organisation“ riskieren Betroffene ggf. eine mehrjährige Haftstrafe. Date of the last notification: 21/06/2019.

Die Gewaltkriminalität in der Türkei ist relativ niedrig. Es gibt aber Taschendiebstahl und Betrug, wozu auch massiv überzogene Preisforderungen im Bazar oder von Taxifahrern gehören.

Aufgrund der Auseinandersetzung mit der PKK ist die Anschlagsgefahr auch für Touristenzentren erhöht.

In der Türkei ist in etwa das verboten, was auch in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz verboten ist. Jegliche politische Kritik am türkischen Staat, an Kemal Atatürk und Sympathie für terroristische Organisationen sollten allerdings unbedingt unterbleiben. Drogenbesitz und Konsum steht unter strengsten Strafen. Der Filmklassiker 12 Uhr nachts – Midnight Express schildert eindringlich was ausländische Drogenkonsumenten erwartet.

Bei der Polizei wird zwischen Polis and Jandarma unterschieden. The Polis entspricht etwa dem, was im deutschsprachigen Bereich die Polizei ist. The Jandarma sind eine am ehesten der Bundespolizei vergleichbare Polizei, die auch für die Terror-Bekämpfung und den Grenzschutz zuständig ist. Sie ist kriegstauglich bewaffnet und vor allem in grenznahen Gebieten im Süden und Osten oft in Kampfanzügen anzutreffen. Die Notrufnummern sind 155 für die Polis und 156 für die Jandarma.

Streunende Hunde sind in der Türkei weit verbreitet. In der Regel halten sie jedoch einen respektvollen Abstand von Menschen, so dass keine Gefahr von ihnen ausgeht. Man sollte seine Tierliebe im Zaum halten und sie nicht zur Zutraulichkeit ermutigen. Alleine schon deshalb, weil jedes Tier mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit einen ganzen Zoo von Ungeziefer mit sich herum trägt.

Unbedingt sollte man den Sicherheitshinweis des Auswärtigen Amtes beachten, da die Türkei ein Nachbarland von Syrien und dem Irak ist, welche sich zur Zeit im Bürgerkrieg befinden.

health

Auch in vielen Touristenzentren gibt es sie noch ab und zu: die Stehtoilette. Klopapier gibt es nicht, dafür einen Wasserschlauch, mit dem man dann umgehen lernen muss. Wer an Papier und Seife hängt, sollte selbst einen Vorrat mitführen. Ebenso kann wegen der Verstopfungsgefahr auch ein Eimer neben der Toilette stehen, in den das Toilettenpapier soll.

Die medizinische Versorgung ist gut. Apotheken finden sich in allen größeren Orten. Da aber die Türkei zum Teil recht dünn besiedelt ist, kann der Transport in ein Krankenhaus schon mal etwas dauern.

climate

Während die kalten Nordwinde für die Gegenden am Bosporus Schneestürme bringen, kennt man in den Küstenländern des Mediterranean and des Ägäischen Meers und auf den Inseln winterliche Witterung nur auf den Gebirgshöhen. Die Luft ist, wenige Sumpfstriche ausgenommen, überall rein und gesund. Istanbul hat mit Venice die gleiche mittlere Jahrestemperatur. Die Türkei gehört zum größten Teil zu der teilariden Regenzone mit dürren Sommern. Die Schwarzmeerküste macht hierbei eine Ausnahme, da man dort selbst im Sommer etwa gleich viele Regentage hat wie in Deutschland. Als Tourist wundert man sich daher oft über die grüne Landschaft mit vielen Wäldern und fühlt sich teils sogar an Alpentäler erinnert. Im Inneren des Landes herrscht ein trockenes Kontinentalklima, das durch heiße trockene Sommer und kalte schneereiche Winter geprägt ist.

Durchschnittliche Tagestiefstwerte/Tageshöchstwerte:

respect

Selbst in Großstädten wird man türkische Männer kaum in kurzen Hosen sehen. Wenn überhaupt, sollten mindestens die Knie bedeckt sein. Lediglich beim Baden sind Shorts üblich.

Besonders außerhalb touristischer Gebiete sollten sich Frauen zurückhaltend kleiden. Beine und Schultern müssen bedeckt sein. Die Oberbekleidung darf keinen Ausschnitt haben. Offenherzige Kleidung oder Blickkontakt kann als Aufforderung missverstanden werden.

Beim Betreten von Gotteshäusern müssen die Beine vollständig bedeckt sein. Kurze Ärmel sind dagegen akzeptiert, solange die Schultern bedeckt sind. Bei touristisch sehr bedeutenden Moscheen erhalten Besucher manchmal Tücher, um unbekleidete Beine und Schultern zu bedecken. Beim Betreten der Moschee müssen die Schuhe ausgezogen werden. Wer barfuß in Sandalen unterwegs ist, sollte sich vorher im Vorhof der Moschee die Füße waschen. Nicht-Moslems sollten nicht versuchen, die rituelle Waschung der Gläubigen nachzuahmen. Einfaches Waschen der Hände oder Füße ist jedoch in Ordnung. Während des Gebets sollten touristische Besucher im hinteren Bereich der Moschee bleiben.

Die linke Hand gilt in der Türkei (wie in anderen muslimischen Ländern) als unrein. Insbesondere sollte man auf das Benutzen der bloßen linken Hand beim Essen verzichten. Die Unreinheit rührt daher, dass man auf altmodischen Toiletten mit der linken Hand und Wasser das Gesäß reinigt. Allerdings gelten derartige Verhaltensregeln nur für ländlich geprägte Gegenden. Aus dem gleichen Grund sollte man auch darauf achten, dass man beim weit verbreiteten Grüßen aus der Ferne durch Zuwinken stets die rechte Hand benutzt.

Ein Besuch der türkischen Dampfbäder (Hamam) steht auch Touristen offen, sofern sie sich an die örtlichen Gegebenheiten halten - Eintritt in den Dampfraum nur mit umgelegten Handtuch (peştemal). Viele Hotels bieten im Wellnessbereich auch eine Sauna an, welche aber anders als vielerorts üblich nur in Badebekleidung (oder mit Handtüchern umwickelt) betreten werden sollte.

Beim Betreten einer türkischen Wohnung ist es üblich, die Schuhe auszuziehen.

Für Türken nimmt die Großfamilie einen wesentlich höheren Stellenwert ein als es im deutschen Sprachraum der Fall ist. Wer alleine reist wird ständig mit der Frage konfrontiert, warum man alleine ist, ob man verheiratet sei oder Kinder habe. Eine entsprechende Gegenfrage wird quasi erwartet. Es wird auch gerne nach dem Alter gefragt.

Türken haben ein anders Verständnis von Privatsphäre als Mitteleuropäer. Wer sich an einem öffentlichen Platz aufhält, wird schnell in ein Gespräch verwickelt oder zum Tee eingeladen. So kann es durchaus vorkommen, dass ein Bauer seinen Traktor anhält, um einen Plausch mit dem vorbeilaufenden Wandersmann abzuhalten oder dass der Besitzer eines Imbissstandes 200 m quer über den Parkplatz läuft um den rastenden Autofahrer zum Tee einzuladen. Solche Einladungen sind ehrlich gemeint und in aller Regel frei von geschäftlichen Hintergedanken.

Practical advice

Mobilfunk

Es besteht eine flächendeckende GSM-Versorgung durch drei Mobilfunkanbieter. Roaming - auch für Datendienste - funktioniert problemlos. Viele Hotels, Restaurants und Buchläden in den Großstädten bieten mittlerweile kostenlose WLAN-Zugänge.

Wer plant, eine türkische SIM-Karte für sein mobiles Gerät zu verwenden, muss dieses bei einer Türkcell-Filiale anmelden. Hiermit ist tatsächlich das Gerät und nicht etwa die SIM-Karte gemeint. Ansonsten wird nach einiger Zeit (30-Tage?) die IMEI-Nummer des Geräts in den türkischen Handynetzen blockiert - und das Gerät versagt seinen Dienst. Zum Registrieren wird ein Reisepass benötigt.

Internet

Wikpedia ist in der Türkei gesperrt - dies betrifft alle Sprachen, d. h., auch die deutsche Version ist gesperrt. Wikivoyage kann über den Browser aufgerufen werden, nicht aber über die Android-App.

Museums

Die staatliche Verwaltung der Museen gibt auch verschiedene Wert- bzw. regionale Kombikarten aus, die gewisse Vergünstigungen bringen, besonders wenn man einen Ort intesiver besichtigen möchte.

literature

Web links

• Klimadaten aus der Türkei (German)
• Auswärtiges Amt - Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise Türkei
• Türkische Botschaft Berlin
• Nationalparks in der Türkei
• Staatliche Museen Kurzbeschreibungen (türkisch/teilweise englisch)

This is a useful article. There are still some places where information is missing. If you have something to add be brave and complete them.

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