TURKISH BAZAAR
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The city - Istanbul |
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Istanbul is a very modern city
with a population of around 12 million. Although it is the most densely
populated urban center in Turkey, the capital is Ankara located
approximately 450 km to the southeast -- in the center of the country.
Istanbul is quite large and sits astride two continents, Europe and
Asia. If you look at the map you will see that a geological strait separates the European and the Asian parts of Istanbul. This strait is called the Bosphorus. You can see also that the Bosphorus connects the Marmara Sea in the south to the Black Sea in the north. In the past, this city had been known as Byzantium and later as Constantinople. The main district of what was once Constantinople is now called Sultan Ahmet. |
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Taksim is the main commercial center of Istanbul. Remember that this city is so large that there are many other commercial centers as well.. Without traffic problems, it would take approximately 30 - 40 minutes from the airport to the city center (Taksim). However, in this densely populated metropolis, crowded traffic conditions are a major concern. |
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Most people live on the Asian side
of Istanbul and work on the European side. There are only two bridges
that connect both sides of the city, so it is advisable to avoid them at
rush hour. For the tourist the main attractions are located on the European side of the city. ARRIVAL TO THE CITY Turkey demands an official entry visa from citizens of several countries. Before your departure to Turkey it is better to check with a Turkish consulate in your country to determine if you need a visa. In some cases, you can obtain a visa upon arrival at Ataturk airport for a small fee. After passing from the passport control, it is appropriate to declare your foreign currency and your valuable objects and have it recorded in your passport. As elsewhere too, there are limits on the amount of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes that can be brought in: two boxes of cigarettes, 50 cigars, 200 grams of tobacco and 2.5 liters of alcoholic drinks are allowed. WORK HOURS AND HOLIDAYS Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 AM until noon or 12:30 PM, depending on the bank, and from 1:30 PM until 5.00 PM. However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks. Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 AM until 5.00 PM or 5:30 PM and closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursday. For specific information on museums, please visit our museums section. Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 1.00 PM and from 2.00 PM to 7.00 PM, and closed all day on Sunday. But most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks. You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night. VISITING THE MOSQUES Most mosques in Istanbul are open to the public during the day. Prayer sessions, called namaz, last 30 to 40 minutes and are observed five times daily. Tourists should, however, avoid visiting mosques midday on Friday, when Muslims are required to worship. For women, bare arms and legs are not acceptable inside a mosque. Men should avoid wearing shorts as well. Women should not enter a mosque without first covering their heads with a scarf. Before entering a mosque, shoes must be removed. Post offices are painted bright yellow and have PTT (Post, Telegraph, and Telephone) signs on the front. The central Post office is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, Sunday from 9 AM to 7PM. Smaller ones are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5.00 PM. THE MONEY The monetary unit is the Turkish lira (TL), which comes in bank notes of 250.000; 500.000; 1.000.000, 5.000.000, 10.000.000 and 20.000.000. Smaller denominations come in coins of 25.000; 50.000; 100.000; and 250.000. In Istanbul, traveler's checks are rarely accepted. ATMs can be found in even the smallest Turkish towns. Most accept international credit cards or bank cards (a strip of logos is usually displayed above the ATM). Almost all ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English. VAT The value-added tax, here called KDV, is 18%. Hotels typically combine it with a service charge of 10% to 15%, and restaurants usually add a 15% service charge. Value-added tax is nearly always included in quoted prices. Certain shops are authorized to refund the tax (ask). ELECTRICITY The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take Continental-type plugs, with two or three round prongs. |
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