WORK HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 AM until noon or 12:30 PM and from 1:30 PM until 5.00 PM. However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks.
Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM until 5.00 PM or 5:30 PM and closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursday. For specific information on museums, please visit our museums section.
Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1.00 PM and from 2.00 PM to 7.00 PM, and closed all day on Sunday. But most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks.
You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night.
MAIL
Post offices are painted bright yellow and have PTT (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone) signs on the front. The central Post office is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, Sunday from 9 AM to 7PM. Smaller ones are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5.00 PM.
CURRENCY
As of 1 January 2005, the monetary unit in Turkey will be the New Turkish Lira (YTL), which will come in bank notes of 1.00 YTL; 5.00 YTL; 10.00 YTL ; 20.00 YTL; 50.00 YTL and 100.00 YTL. Smaller denominations will come in coins of 1.00 YTL; 50 Ykr; 25Ykr; 10Ykr; 5Ykr and 1Ykr. "Ykr" stands for New Kurus which represent the cents of YTL.
In Turkey travellers' checks are rarely accepted. We recommend that you cash your travellers' checks at the banks.
ATMs can be found in even the smallest Turkish towns. Most accept international credit cards or bank cards (a strip of logos is usually displayed above the ATM). Almost all ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English.
Credits cards are widely used in restaurants, cafés, shopping centers, super markets, boutiques, etc. VISA, MASTERCARD and EUROCARD are more widely accepted as compared to AMERICAN EXPRESS and DINERS Card.
VAT
The value-added tax, here called KDV, is 18%. Hotels typically combine it with a service charge of 10% to 15%, and restaurants usually add a 15% service charge.
Value-added tax is nearly always included in quoted prices. Certain shops are authorized to refund the tax (ask).
ELECTRICITY
220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.
SAFETY & SECURITY
The streets of Istanbul and all other cities are considerably safer than their counterparts in the United States or Western Europe. Travelers should nevertheless take care of their valuables, as pickpockets, although not as common as in the U.S. or Europe, do operate in the major cities and tourist areas.
Super - markets and hyper-markets (09:30 - 22:00) , 7 days a week.
Main hyper-markets : Migros, Tansaş, Carrefour, Kipa, Gima
Istanbul Grand Bazaar: Monday-Saturday (8:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
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Travel Information
