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MONETARY SYSTEM
The national monetary unit is the
Turkish lira (TL.). The coinage is in 5,000, 10,000, 25,000 and 50,000
lira pieces. Bank notes are of 50,000, 100,000 (for a while), 250,000, 500,000
1,000,000, 5.000.000, 10.000.000 and 20.000.000 Turkish Lira. In order to see what they are like,
please check our currency page now. The exchange
rates for foreign currencies are published daily. Eurochecks can be cashed
immediately; so can traveler's checks upon producing identification. The
most widely accepted credit cards are Eurocard, Diner's Club, Visa and
Mastercard. Exchange offices in touristic places are generally open until
midnight. For more information:
-Turkiye Bankalar Birligi,
Nispetiye Cad., Akmerkez, No: 131 B-3 Blok, Kat: 13-14, 80630 Etiler-Istanbul
Tel: (212) 282 09 73 (16 Lines), Fax: (212) 282 09 46.
Note : You may exchange traveler's
checks at Post Offices in touristic places and at certain banks.
POSTAL SYSTEM AND PHONE CALLS
Turkish post offices are easily recognizable
by their Turquise & darkblue “Turk Telecom” signs. Major post offices
are open 8:00 – 24:00 hrs., Mon.- Sat.; and 9:00-7:00 P.M., Sun. Small
post offices have the same hours as government offices (see below). The
services they are offering:
Poste restante
Poste restante letters should be
addressed "postrestant" to the central post office "Merkez Postanesi",
in the town of your choice. It is only necessary to produce an identification
card when collecting your letter. It is possible to use this service for
sending or receiving documents from other countries.
Fax Office
It is possible to use this service
for sending or receiving documents from other countries. Valuable Dispatch,
It is possible to use this service for-sending valuable belongings or valuable
important documents.
Other PTT
services
It is possible to exchange money
at some branches of PTT at the current international exchange rate. International
postal orders and traveler's checks can also be exchanged. An express postal
service (Acele Posta Servisi - APS) operates from Turkey to 72 other countries
for letters, documents, and small packages. Stamp collectors will be delighted
with the wide range of special stamps available to them.
Phone calls
The most economic way to telephone
in Turkey is from a Turk Telecom telephone booth (found in all towns).
30, 60 100 Unit Phone Cards for local, intercity, and international calls
can be purchased from all Telecom offices & most markets. Nowadays
prepaid Global phone cards are also available at Post Offices. Just scratch
the sealed section and dial 0 800 number then talk. If you wish we may
obtain rental cellular phone for your entire tour. (The information is
updated regularly). The credit cards can be used easily as well. GSM system
has large coverage area for the users for roaming. Turkcell and Telsim
are the GSM operators of Turkey. In the West part, you may also prefer
Telestet & Panaphone services for roaming. If you’d like to hire a
cellular phone in Turkey, please contact us.
OFFICIAL OPENING
TIMES
Government
Offices: 8:30 - 12:30 (closed Sat. and Sun., open daily in tourist
areas) 13:30 - 17:30
Banks:
8:30 - 12:00 (closed Sat. and-Sun., open daily in tourist areas) 13:30
- 17:00
Shops:
9:30 - 19:00 (In tourist areas, closing times vary, some close around midnight)
Covered Bazaar:
Istanbul 8:00 - 19:00 (closed Sun.)
On the first
day of the religious holidays ( Seker Bayrami, 3 days and Kurban Bayrami,
4 days) all shops and bazaars, are closed.
Summer Hours
In the Aegean and Mediterranean regions
of Turkey, government offices and many other establishments are closed
in the afternoon during the summer months. These summer hours are fixed
each year by the province governors.
OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
Jan.1 - New Year's Day.
Apr.23 - National Independence
and Children's Day.
May.19 - Atatürk Commemoration
and Youth and Sports Day.
Aug.30 - Victory Day (final
rout of invading forces in 1922).
Oct.29 - Republic Day (anniversary
of the declaration of the Turkish Republic).
MUSEUMS
Most Turkish museums are open every
day of the week, except Mondays. Palaces are also closed only on Mondays.
The famous Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays instead of Mondays. In
order to receive permission for photos or films in museums or at ancient
ruins, a fee, which varies according to the entrance fee, is charged. The
photographing or filming, for commercial use, of yet unpublished objects
which are copyrighted, requires a special permit from the general Directorate
of Antiquities and Museums. In Ankara most museums are closed on the first
day of religious holidays. |
