Türkiye

Travel tips for Türkiye: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Cards widely accepted. While contactless cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets, recent travelers advise carrying Turkish Lira for taxis, street food, markets, and small vendors.

Try the food

Iskender Kebab (İskender kebap): Thinly sliced lamb is layered over pieces of pita bread, smothered in hot tomato sauce, and generously slathered with melted sheep butter and yogurt.
Baklava: This rich, sweet dessert consists of layers of flaky phyllo pastry filled with chopped pistachios or walnuts and held together with sweet syrup.
Lahmacun: Often called Turkish pizza, this is a round, thin piece of dough topped with minced meat, vegetables, and herbs, baked until crispy and usually rolled up with a squeeze of lemon.

Say it in Turkish

Hello: Merhaba
Thank you: Teşekkür ederim
Please: Lütfen
Excuse me: Afedersiniz
How much is this?: Bu ne kadar?
The bill, please: Hesap lütfen
Yes / No: Evet / Hayır
Goodbye: Hoşça kal

Essentials

Plugs: Type C / Type F
Voltage: 230V, 50Hz
Driving: Right side
Tap water: Avoid — buy bottled
Emergency: 112 (all services)
SIM tip: Purchase a prepaid tourist SIM from Turkcell or Vodafone at the airport, or download an eSIM like Airalo before arrival for immediate connectivity.

Etiquette

Tipping around 10 percent in restaurants is customary and should usually be left in cash, as many card machines cannot process added tips.