The Turkish lira (Türk Lirası – TL) was introduced in 1844 and was the currency of Turkey until 2005. That year Turkey switched to the New Turkish Lira (Yeni Türk Lirası – YTL, or more officially TRY). They dropped six zeros of the old banknotes and introduced new banknotes and coins. As you can see […]
With some 25 million visitors finding their way to Turkey every year, tourism is a key player in the country’s economy. Since tourists shouldn’t encounter any difficulties spending their money, all options are open: cash, credit cards and maybe even still traveler’s cheques. But what is the most sensible way to bring your money along? […]
In my previous post, I described some basic guidelines to stay healthy while enjoying the city. Today, we’ll be focusing on how to survive in Istanbul’s traffic, what to do if you experience small or more serious discomforts and how to locate the Tourist Police. Cars rules in Istanbul Streets are clogged all day, all […]
A city-trip to Istanbul doesn’t require any special vaccinations or health preparations, as long as you observe a few basic guidelines. The same applies to personal safety. Istanbul is as safe as any other major European city, if not safer. Visitors rarely become the victim of violence or theft, certainly when they stay away from […]
So you don’t belong to the happy few that don’t need a visa to enter Turkey. This means you can either obtain your visa a few weeks prior to your visit in a Turkish embassy or consulate in your country; or buy your visa upon your arrival at the Turkish border. But how much will […]