GMT/UTC +2 hours

Turkish Pound

220V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details: European plug with two circular metal pins

Jan 1: New Year's Day

Apr 23: National Sovereignty and Children's Day
May 19: Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day
Aug 30: Victory Day (victory over invading forces in 1922).
Oct 29: Republic Day (anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic)

Seker Bayrami: Three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end of the fast of Ramadan.
Kurban Bayrami: Four-day festival when sacrificial sheep are slaughtered and their meat distributed to the poor.

The dates of these religious festivals change according to the Muslim lunar calendar an thus occur 10-11 days (exact difference between Gregorian and Lunar calendars is 10 days and 21 hrs) earlier each year. According to this;

Seker Bayrami will be celebrated on 23-24-25 October 2006, and 12-13-14 October 2007, and 30 September-1-2 October 2008.

Kurban Bayrami will be celebrated on 31 December 2006-1-2-3 January 2007, and 20-21-22-23 December 2007, and 8-9-10-11 December 2008.

Ambulance: 112 (all over Turkey)
Police: 155 (all over Turkey)
Tourism Police: (0212) 5274503 (Istanbul only)
Gendarme: 156 (all over Turkey)
Coast Guard: 158 (all over Turkey)
Fire: 110 (all over Turkey)
Forest Fire: 177 (all over Turkey)
Yellow Pages: 118 (all over Turkey)
Tourism Info: 170 (all over Turkey)

AMERICAN HOSPITAL Tepebasi Mah. Yuksek Sok. 3/A, Phone : (342)2311069-2313420

AMERICAN HOSPITAL Guzelbahce Sok., Nisantasi, Phone : (212)2314050(20 Lines), Fax : (212)2341432

AUSTRIAN SAINT GEORGE HOSPITAL Bereketzade Sok. 5/7, Beyoglu, Phone : (212)2432590-91 Fax:(212)2455463

BALAT JEWIS(0R-AHAYIM)HOSPITAL Fatih, Phone : (212)5241156-5258996, Fax : (212)5310629

BALIKLI RUM HOSPITAL Zeytinburnu, Phone : (212)5827032-5471600-5102074-75, Fax : (212)5102075

ERMENI KATOLIK SURP AGOP HOSPITAL Beyoglu, Phone : (212)230l7l8-2327246, Fax : (212)2336828

FLORENCE NIGHTENGALE HOSPITAL Abide-i Hurriyet Cad. 290, Caglayan/Sisli, Phone : (212)2244950, Fax : (212)2244982

FRENCH LAPE HOSPITAL Sisli, Phone : (212)2461020-24, Fax : (212)2336989

GERMAN HOSPITAL Siraselviler Cad., No : 119, Taksim, Phone : (212)2932150(28 Lines), Fax : (212)2523911

INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL Cinar Oteli Yani, 82, Istanbul Cad. Yesilkoy, Phone : (212)6633000(30 Lines), Fax : (212)6632862

ITALIAN HOSPITAL Tophane, Phone : (212)2499751-52, Fax : (212)2441578

SURP PIRGIC ERMENI HOSPITAL Zeytinburnu, Phone : (212)5825050-54, Fax : (212)5581584

AMERICAN HOSPITAL 1375 Sok. Alsancak, Phone : (232)4845360/4014

KARATAS JEWIS HOSPITAL Inonu cad. 336 Sok. No : 30, Phone : (232)4849832-4835687-483993

Turkey has exoticism to spare, with its covered bazaars, whirling dervishes, sultans' treasures and Byzantine mosaics. And it has natural beauty in abundance, with great stretches of sandy beaches and romantic rocky coves. Travellers will find Turks to be exceptionally gracious hosts, which makes sense given the country's place as a crossroads between Europe and Asia for thousands of years. Over the past two decades, the country has dramatically improved its tourist infrastructure, too.

This appealing mix does have a few drawbacks -- increasing prices (though it's still an inexpensive place to travel); sprawling new development; and growing crowds -- but they're hardly enough to spoil a visit. Our advice is to take your time in discovering the country. It's best experienced in leisurely excursions to places of remarkable history and beauty (such as Cappadocia and Ephesus) and in extended visits to fascinating and energetic cities (such as Istanbul).

Beaches, historical sites, museums, shopping, palaces, mosques, architecture, good food, spas, beautiful and varied scenery and water sports are Turkey's foremost attractions.

Turkey will appeal to adventurous, well-travelled people who enjoy the combination of exotic cities, beautiful beaches and historical attractions. Standards in accommodations have increased dramatically in the past few years, although travellers who seek every Western comfort and a high degree of predictability and organization will get nearer their goal if they confine their trips to major cities and tourist resorts.

Yachting, Underwater diving, rafting, windsurfing, fishing, golf, air sports, spelunking, hunting, winter sports, International Ski Tournaments, mountaineering, trekking/hiking, thermal Resorts, horseback riding, plateau hiking, ornithology, national parks, wine tasting.

Turkey is 814,578 sq km in area. The European and Asian regions are separated by the Istanbul Bogazi (Bosphorus), the Sea of Marmara, and the Canakkale Bogazi (Dardanelles). Anatolia is a high plateau rising progressively towards the east, broken up by the valleys of about 15 rivers, including the Dicle (Tigris) and the Firat (Euphrates). There are numerous lakes and some, such as Lake Van, are as large as inland seas. In the north, the mountains along the eastern Black Sea coast run parallel to the Sea; in the south, the Taurus Mountains sweep down almost to the narrow, fertile coastal plain along the coast. Turkey enjoys a variety of climates, ranging from the temperate climate of the Black Sea region, to the continental climate of the interior, then, to the Mediterranean climate of the Aegean and Mediterranean coastal regions. The coastline touching the four seas that border the country is 8333 km in length.