What should I know before visiting Turkey?

Entry and paperwork

1. Most Western visitors need no visa. Since 1 January 2024 ordinary US and Canadian passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, according to Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Britons and most EU citizens are also visa-free. The e-Visa system (evisa.gov.tr) is only for those who still need one; look-alike sites charge more. See do I need a visa for Turkey.

2. There is no arrival card. You show your passport at immigration and that is it. The US State Department advises six months of passport validity beyond entry, which also covers Turkey's own rule.

3. Your phone works for 120 days. A foreign phone can be used on roaming or a Turkish SIM for 120 days before it must be registered by IMEI, or Turkish networks block it. For a normal trip that is no problem; an eSIM is the simplest option. See eSIM or local SIM.

Money and costs

4. Expect euro prices at the big sights. Hagia Sophia has charged foreign visitors €25 (≈ $28) for the upper gallery since January 2024, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as reported by CNN Türk, and the ground-floor prayer area remains free. The Museum Pass Istanbul does not cover it. Ephesus and Pamukkale tickets are also high; see Ephesus tickets and the Pamukkale day trip.

5. Pay in lira, and decline currency conversion. Restaurants, shops and taxis price in lira, which has lost value fast in recent years, so prices you read online go stale quickly. Cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants; carry cash for small cafés, markets and tips. When a card machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose lira. See cash or card abroad.

6. Tip 5 to 10% in restaurants, in cash. Since the end of January 2026 a Trade Ministry regulation bans restaurants and cafés from adding a service, table or cover charge, so any tip is your choice; round up for taxis. More in tipping in Turkey. Our daily budget by country puts Turkey at about $25 to $45 a day on a budget and $60 to $100 mid-range; site tickets and Cappadocia balloon flights are the big extras.

Mosques, dress and the religious calendar

7. Mosques welcome visitors outside prayer times. Take shoes off at the entrance, women cover their hair with a scarf, and everyone covers shoulders and knees. Mosques close to tourists during each of the five daily prayers, and for longest at Friday midday prayer, so plan the Blue Mosque and others for mornings. Clothing detail: what to wear in Istanbul and Turkey.

8. Know what is rude. Pointing the soles of your feet at people, kissing in conservative areas and criticising Atatürk or the flag go down badly, the last also being a legal matter. See what is considered rude in Turkey.

9. Ramadan is easy for visitors. Diyanet's calendar puts Ramadan 2027 at about 8 February to 8 March. Sights stay open; some restaurants in conservative districts close in daylight, and evenings are busy around iftar. See Ramadan 2027 in Istanbul.

10. The bayrams are the real travel crunch. Ramazan Bayramı is 9 to 11 March 2027 and Kurban Bayramı 16 to 19 May 2027, with the eve (arife) on 15 May, according to the Diyanet calendar as reported by Turkish media. Millions travel home, so book buses and domestic flights early. Details in Eid al-Fitr 2027 in Turkey.

Getting around

11. Fly or take the night bus between regions. Turkey is large: Istanbul to Cappadocia is a short domestic flight or an overnight bus. Compare them in Istanbul to Cappadocia, flight vs night bus and Cappadocia to Pamukkale. The high-speed YHT train links Istanbul and Ankara: see Istanbul to Ankara by YHT.

12. Get an Istanbulkart in Istanbul. The reloadable card covers metro, tram, ferries and buses. From the airports, the Havaist bus and metro are cheaper than taxis: see our Istanbul airport transfer guide and where to stay in Istanbul.

13. Book Cappadocia balloons for your first morning. Flights are cancelled when the wind is wrong, so put the booking on your first morning and keep later mornings free for a rebooking. See Cappadocia balloon cancellations and how many days in Cappadocia.

Safety, seasons and practical details

14. Watch for the classic Istanbul scams. The dropped shoe-shine brush, the friendly stranger who suggests a bar with a huge bill, and taxis that take the long way. Use the meter or a taxi app and agree carpet prices in writing. More in is Turkey safe to visit.

15. Stay away from the border regions. The US State Department's June 2026 advisory rates Türkiye at Level 2, exercise increased caution, and says not to travel to the border region with Syria and Iraq. Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean coast are outside that area.

16. Spring and autumn are the sweet spots. April to May and late September to October suit Istanbul, Cappadocia and Ephesus; July and August are hot and crowded at the open-air sites. Month by month: best time to visit Turkey and best time to visit Istanbul.

17. Plugs, water and emergencies. Sockets take European two-pin plugs (types C and F) at 230 V. Most people drink bottled or filtered water. The single emergency number is 112. To build a route, see our 33-day Turkey itinerary, the 10-day itinerary and the Istanbul and Cappadocia guide.

Frequently asked questions