Official language is Turkish. In the south-east of Turkey, Kurdish is sometimes spoken, and Arabic, Greek and Armenian are also sometimes heard. German is often spoken in towns and tourist resorts, along with English and French.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
04/23/2022 National Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day
The dates given for Islamic holidays are calculated according to the lunar calendar and therefore shift from year to year.
During the fasting month of Ramadan, which precedes the feast day of Ramazan Bayrami, Muslims are prohibited from eating, drinking or smoking from sunrise to sunset, which leads to interruptions or deviations in the normal course of business (including reduced opening hours of shops and authorities) and therefore to Restrictions for travelers may come.
Many restaurants outside the hotels are closed during the day, and drinking alcohol and cigarettes is restricted or e.g. T. even strictly forbidden, even for non-Muslim vacationers. In hotel complexes it must be expected that meals and drinks during Ramadan may only be taken in the hotel restaurant or in the room.
Travelers should expect increased sensitivity in religious matters as well as respecting Islamic traditions.
Some disruptions may also occur during Ramazan Bayrami. This festival, like the Kurban Bayrami, is indefinite and can last from 2-10 days depending on the region.
Note: I. In general, tourist centers and hotel complexes are usually not affected. Duty free shopping
Overview
The following items can be imported duty-free into Turkey: 600 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars, 250 g of cigarette tobacco (with 200 sheets of cigarette paper), 250 g of pipe tobacco or 200 g of chewing tobacco or 200 g of blue tobacco or 50 g of snuff; Beverages with an alcohol content over 22%: 1 liter; Beverages with an alcohol content of up to 22%: 2 liters; Travelers under the age of 18 are not allowed to import alcoholic beverages or tobacco products. Eau de toilette, perfume, eau de cologne, lavender water, essence and lotions (total quantity not more than 600 ml); 1kg of coffee, 1kg of instant coffee, 1kg of tea, 1kg of chocolate, 1kg of sweets. Gifts, medical equipment and medicines together worth up to €430 (children under 15 €150). The import and export of personal jewelry up to a value of US$ 15,000 is permitted. Jewelry valued over US$15,000 must be declared. If jewelry is purchased in Turkey, proof of purchase is required. Only certain items for personal use may be imported duty-free. A full list is available from the Consulate General (see Contacts). Foreign tourists should register their valuables in their passport upon entry to avoid problems when exiting the country later. It is advisable to take proof of purchase for a mobile phone with you.
Import Restrictions
A special permit is required for importing weapons and cutting tools. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Prohibited Imports
The import of narcotics of any kind is strictly forbidden. It is pointed out that drug smuggling in and out of Turkey, as well as illegal drug use, are punishable by heavy prison sentences.
Prohibited Exports
The acquisition, possession and export of cultural and natural goods (e.g. antiques, old coins, fossils, stones, fossils) is prohibited. These are considered state property. Violations are treated with several months in custody and high bail payments (currently around 9,000 euros). The value of the antiques does not matter. However, it is possible to obtain an export permit. These are applied for at the museums under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and at some customs offices.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the TurkishRepublic
Consulates General that issue visas in Bregenz, Vienna and Salzburg. Honorary Consulate in Leonding.
Electronic visa application system (EVA)
+49 (30) 30 80 70 90 (call center Germany), +43 (720) 11 58 90 (call center Austria), +90 (312) 292 29 29 (call center for Switzerland).
http://www.evisa.gov.tr/en
http://www.evisa.gov.tr/en Embassy of the TurkishRepublic
Consulates General in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Cologne-Hürth, Karlsruhe, Mainz, Munich, Munster, Nuremberg and Stuttgart. Honorary consuls in Aachen, Bremen and Regensburg.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 08.30-12.00 and 13.30-17.30.
Business contacts
Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Leipziger Platz 14, 10117 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 23 32 99 50. Website: td-ihk.de German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yeniköy Tarabya Cad. No. 88, 34457 Sarıyer – Istanbul, Turkey Tel. +90 (0)212 363 05 00. Website: www.dtr-ihk.de
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0090. The internal telephone network is comprehensive. Public payphones are often found in shopping malls, in public squares, at train and bus stations and in front of post offices. You need prepaid phone cards or a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) to make phone calls. Telephone cards are available from post offices and newsstands. Emergency numbers are: police 155 and fire brigade 110.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800, 3G (1900/2100) and 4G (LTE). Main network operators are Turkcell, Türk Telekom and Vodafone Turkey. There are roaming contracts with European and international providers. It may be worth purchasing a Turkish SIM card. The network coverage is good and only patchy in some rural areas in the east of the country.
Internet
Internet providers include Türk Telekom. Internet cafes are available in all towns and many villages. Almost all hotels as well as numerous restaurants, cafes and bars offer free Wi-Fi service. Note: So far, the Turkish government has consistently blocked popular social media websites, as well as YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia and news channels. At the beginning of 2020, the blocking of Wikipedia was lifted by a court. Anyone who is critical of the Turkish government on social media risks being arrested when entering Turkey. VPNs are banned in Turkey.
Post office
Post to Europe takes at least five days. Post offices have a yellow sign that says PTT. Post office opening hours: Mon-Sat 08.00-00.00 and Sun 09.00-19.00 (main post offices). Small post offices have the same opening hours as government offices.
Radio
Numerous German-language radio stations such as Deutschlandfunk can be received via Astra satellites in western Turkey or via the Internet throughout Turkey.
