This brochure provides information about Turkey, including: - General facts about Turkey such as the capital, currency, languages, and population. - Requirements for entry and exit such as passport validity and visa information. - Details about religion, ethnic groups, education, holidays, and cuisine. - Recommendations for top tourist attractions including Ephesus, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and more. - Guidance on transportation options within Turkey like buses, trains, ferries, taxis, and domestic flights.

1. LIVE LIFE TODAY TOGETHER
TURKEY
INFORMATION BROCHUREINFORMATION BROCHUREINFORMATION BROCHURE

2. T U R K E Y
Flag National emblem
GENERAL INFORMATION
Official Name: Republic of Turkey
Capital: Ankara
Area: 780,580 sq. km.
Currency: New Turkish Lira (TRY)
Official language: Turkish
Time zone: GMT +2
Dialing Code: +90
Internet top-level domain (TLD): tr
Emergency services: 112
Religions: 99% Muslim, 1% other
Population: about 79 million
Main International Airports: Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
and Istanbul Atatürk International Airport (IST); Antalya International Airport
(AYT); Ankara Esenboğa International Airport(ESB)
Business hours:
Shops: Monday-Saturday (09:00-22:00)
Offices: Monday-Friday (08:00-17:00)
Banks: Monday-Friday (09:00-16:00)
Drives on the right

3. ENTRY & EXIT FORMALITIES
Passports – make sure your passport will still have at least six months’ validity after
you enter Turkey.
Visas – for stays of up to 90 days, most Western nationalities either don’t require
visas or should purchase one in advance from www.evisa.gov.tr.
ResIdency PermIts
 There are various types of ikamet tezkeresi (residence permit)
 Visit e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr for more information
 If you do not have a Turkish employer or spouse to support your application, you
can get a permit for tourist purposes
Tourist permits are typically valid for up to a year; the price varies according to the
applicant’s nationality and office of application, with charges starting from a few
hundred lira including administrative charges.
RELIGION AND SECULARITY
99%oftheTurkishpopulationis Moslem. Theremainingpartiscomposedof Orthodox
Christians, Gregorian Christians, Catholics, Suryani, Protestant Christians and Jews.
Although most of the population is Moslem, Turkey is a secular country and everyone
has freedom of religion and beliefs.
LANGUAGES
Turkish is the official language. Kurdish is the second mostly spoken language
majorly in eastern provinces of Hakkari and Şırnak. Zazaki is spoken by over 1.6
million people, mainly in southeastern and central Anatolian provinces. The fourth
most common language is Circassian used by approximately 1 million people living in
Kayseri, Samsun, Amasya and Çorum provinces. Arabic is spoken by 500,000 people
living in the southeast Turkey, mainly in cities bordering Syria. Ladino, which is also
known as Judaeo-Spanish, is also a part of Turkey’s linguistic geographical diversity
as there are approximately 10,000 people using that language.
ETHNIC GROUPS
Turks (72.5%) Kurds (12.7%) Zaza Kurds (4%) Circassians (3.3%)
Bosniaks (2.6%) Georgians (1.3%) Albanians (1.2%) Arabs (1.1%)
Pomaks (0.8%) Others (0.5% - Syrians, Greeks, Laz, various peoples of the
Caucuses, and Azerbaijanis)
EDUCATION SYSTEM
Every citizen has the right to education which is free of charge for the compulsory
primary education. Except in specially licensed and foreign institutions, Turkish must
be taught as the mother tongue. Since 2012, twelve years of education is compulsory
for boys and girls, which can be divided into 4+4+4 years of schooling.
The academic calendar generally begins in mid-September and extends through to
mid-June. The school day usually has a morning and an afternoon session, but in
overcrowded schools there is a split session. Schools are in session of five days a
week (Monday to Friday) in a total of 35-40 hours. There is a two-week winter break
between January - February. Universities usually organize the academic year into two
semesters, usually between October - January and between February/March - June/
July.
The Turkish National Educational System is composed of two main sections: Formal
Education and Non-formal Education.

4. Formal Education
Formal education is the regular education of individuals in a certain age group and
given in schools. This includes Pre-Primary education, Primary education, Secondary
education and Higher education institutions. Graduates of the high schools can
attend universities if they pass entrance exams.
Non – Formal Education
Non – formal education is offered by a network of training centers which are
supervised by the Ministry of National Education (MEB). Non – formal education
services aim to teach reading-writing, help to continue education of students to finish
their incomplete education, teach balanced nutrition and a healthy life style, etc.
There is also Distance Higher Education which is offered at the Open Education
Faculty of Anadolu University. This program lasts for 2 or 4 years.
Foreign Students Admission
Foreign students who would like to enroll in the post-graduate programs of the
Turkish institutions of higher education can apply directly to universities and must
have completed their secondary education in a high school in which the education is
equivalent to that of a Turkish lycee; they need to have it confirmed from a Turkish
Embassy in their country and apply for a student visa. The applications of foreign
students will be considered by the universities within their limit of the allocated
places for foreigners. The students must also take the Foreign Student Entrance
Examination (YÖS).
HOLIDAYS
Official holidays: Jan 1st – New Year’s Day
National holidays
 Apr 23rd - National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (anniversary of the
establishment of Turkish Grand National Assembly in 1920)
 May 1st -Labour and Solidarity Day (since 2009)
 May 19th - Atatürk Commemoration and Youth & Sports Day (the arrival
of Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, and the beginning of the War of Independence)
 July 15th - Democracy and Freedom Day (since coup tentative of 2016)
 Aug 30th - Victory Day (victory over invading forces in 1922)
 Oct 29th - Republic Day (anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish
Republic in 1923)
Religious holidays
Ramazan Bayrami: three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end
of the fast of Ramadan month. Also known as “Seker (sweets) Bayrami” since it is
customary to offer candies to family members and friends.
Kurban Bayrami: four-day festival when sacrificial sheep or cows are slaughtered
and their meat distributed to the poor.

5. TURKISH CUISINE
 Soup is the most
popular dish for lunch,
dinner and breakfast in
many regions in Anatolia.
Pronounced as “chorba”
(çorba in Turkish), it is
served as a starter. There
are more than 300 kinds of
soup in the Turkish cuisine.
 Kebabs are dishes of
plain or marinated meat
either stewed or grilled.
Almost every district
of Anatolia has its own
kebab specialty. Lamb is
the basic meat of Turkish
kitchen. Pieces of lamb
threaded on a skewer and
grilled over charcoal form
the famous Sis kebab.
Doner kebab, another
famous Turkish dish, being
a roll of lamb on a vertical
skewer turning parallel to a hot grill. Try also Alanazik, Sac kavurma,
Tandir and different types of Kofte as typical meat dishes.
 Aubergine is used in a wide variety of dishes from karniyarik and
hünkarbegendi, to
patlican salatasi (eggplant
salad)andpatlicandolmasi
(stuffed eggplants). It can be
cooked with onions, garlic
and tomatoes and served
cold as imam bayildi.
 Pilav, a rice dish.
In the Black Sea
region of Turkey, they make
a great dish with rice and
small fish called Hamsili
pilav. Another
i n t e r e s t i n g
dish from the
same region is
Miroloto.
 Börek are pies
of flaky pastry
stuffed with meat,
cheese or potatoes.
 Turkish natural
yogurt; a typical
a p p e t i z e r
prepared with
yogurt is Cacik. Do
not forget to try
Manti with loads
of yogurt.
 Zeytinyaglilar,
dishes cooked with
olive oil. Dolma
is a name applied
to such vegetables
as grape leaves,
cabbage leaves,
and green peppers
stuffed with
spiced rice (Biber
dolma). You should
also try Baklali
Enginar (with
artichoke) and
Tekmil Lahana
(with cabbage).
 Turkish sweets
have milk as the
basic ingredient such as sütlac, tavuk gögsü, kazandibi, helva, asure, but
the best-known are baklava and kadayif pastries.
 Among the national drinks, Turkish coffee, Turkish tea, ayran, shira,
salgam, sahlep and boza should be mentioned. Turkish coffee comes
thick and dark in a small cup and may be served without sugar, with a little
sugar or with a lot of sugar.

6. TOP-RATED TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Ephesus
The mighty ruin of Ephesus is a city
of colossal monuments and marble-
columned roads. It is one of the most
complete, still-standing, Roman cities
in the Mediterranean region. This is
the place to experience what life must
have been like during the golden age
of the Roman Empire.
Cappadocia
Cliff ridges and hill crests are home to
rippling panoramas of wave-like rock
or wacky-shaped pinnacles that have
been formed by millennia of wind
and water action.
Pamukkale
The pure white travertine terraces
of Pamukkale (“Cotton Castle” in
English) cascade down the slope
looking like an out-of-place snowfield
amid the green landscape.
Sumela Monastery
With its stunning, lonely setting, built
into a cliff face, Sumela Monastery
(Monastery of the Virgin Mary) is the
star attraction for visitors along Black
Sea Coast.
Pergamum
Once home to one of the ancient
world’s most important libraries,
Pergamum’s remaining temple
remnants now preside dramatically
on a hilltop.
Aspendos Theatre
Aspendos boasts one of the best
preserved ancient theatres of
antiquity build in 155 AD during the
rule of the Roman Emperor Marcus
Aurelius.

7. Mount Nemrut
Nemrut is a 2,134
meter (7,001 ft) high
mountain in south-
eastern Turkey, near
thecityofAdiyaman.In
62 BC, King Antiochus
I Theos of Commagene
built a tomb-sanctuary
flanked by huge stat-
ues of himself, two
lions, two eagles and
various Greek, and
Persian gods on the
mountain top. Since
their construction, the
heads have toppled
from the bodies and
lay scattered through-
out the site.
Hagia Sophia
Located in Istanbul,
the Hagia Sophia
originally a basilica
constructed for the
Eastern Roman Em-
peror Justinian I in the
6th
century. A master-
work of Roman engi-
neering, the massive
dome (31 meters or
102 feet in diameter)
covers what was for
over 1000 years the
largest enclosed space
in the world. Looted
by the fourth Crusad-
ers in 1204, then be-
came a mosque in the
15th century when
The Ottomans conquered the city. Finally, converted into a museum in 1935.
Topkapı Palace
The 15th
century for-
mer residence of the
Ottoman Sultans,
the Topkapı Palace
in Istanbul is a huge,
ornate palatial com-
pound which was a
focal point of Istan-
bul’s social and polit-
ical life for hundreds
of years. A UNESCO
World Heritage site,
visitors flock through
its gates to see its
Ottoman architec-
ture, courtyards
and famous Muslim
and Christian relics.
Basilica Cistern
An ancient under-
ground wonder and
one of Istanbul’s
best Byzantine sites,
this former water
storage chamber is
composed of impos-
ing columns, vaulted
ceilings and even or-
nate carvings of the
ancient gods.

8. OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION WEB
www.kultur.gov.tr
MOVING AROUND
Local Shops
Most shopping is done at local “markets” which are simply grocery shops. They
usually sell basic foodstuffs as well as standard household cleaning materials,
cigarettes, newspapers, phone cards, etc. However, prices are often higher than in
supermarkets.
Street Markets
The best place to shop for fruit and vegetables remain the street markets which take
place almost everywhere in Turkey on a weekly basis. Most street markets sell also
a range of fresh cheeses, eggs, some meat, dry biscuits, cleaning materials, some
clothes and some fabrics.
Shopping Malls
Turkey has great places to shop for clothes, furniture and household goods under
one roof. Some also contain branches of the larger supermarkets. Most also have
bookshops with some foreign books as well as large food halls. Often they even offer
wireless internet services. Most have banks and cash machines as well as cinemas.
Clothes
Turkey has an important home-grown textile industry, much of which is exported.
There are many stores selling excellent home-manufactured clothes. There are also
foreign brand stores available across the country.
Student Discounts
Domestic and international students are offered discounts in public transportation,
restaurants, cinemas, museums, book stores, shops and many others. Discounts
may range from 10% to 50%. If you are a student abroad, but can’t visit Turkey on
a student visa, before coming to Turkey, you may apply for one of the International
Student Cards that offer international student identification cards, youth ID cards, or
faculty/teacher ID cards in order to benefit from student discounts in Turkey.
TRANSPORT
Bus: For most city buses you must buy your bilet (ticket) in advance at special ticket
kiosks, which are found at major bus terminals and transfer points, and sometimes
attached to shops near bus stops. The fare is normally around ₺2. Turkey’s intercity
bus system is as good as any you will find, with modern, comfortable coaches
crossing the country at all hours and for very reasonable prices. On the journey,
you will be treated with hot drinks and snacks, plus liberal sprinklings of the Turks’
beloved kolonya (lemon cologne).
Air: Turkey is a vast country and domestic flights are an affordable way of reducing
travel time. More route choices if flying to/from İstanbul.
Train: The growing network of high-speed services offers rapid routes across
Anatolia, for example, between İstanbul and Ankara. The bus is often quicker than
normal trains.
Car: A great way to explore rural areas, with rental operators in cities and airports.
Drive on the right. Petrol is expensive.
Ferry: Regular services cross the Sea of Marmara and link parts of the Aegean coast.
Local Dolmuş: Dolmuşes are minibuses that operate on set routes within a city. They
are usually faster, more comfortable and only slightly more expensive than buses.
In larger cities, dolmuş stops are marked by signs. Stops are usually conveniently
located near major squares, terminals and intersections.
Taxi: Turkish taxis are fitted with digital meters.
Underground: Several cities have underground metros, including İstanbul, İzmir,
Bursa and Ankara. These are usually quick and simple to use.
Tram: Several cities have tramvays (trams), which are a quick and efficient way of
getting around, and normally cost around ₺2.
ETIQUETTE & CUSTOMS
 The Turkish are extremely friendly, polite and hospitable. If you are invited
into the home of a Turkish family, be sure to take them a gift (chocolates,
flowers, or something from your home country).
 The elderly are greatly respected in Turkey and it is usual for younger people
to offer their seat on public transport.

9. Meeting and Greeting Etiquette
 Whenmeetingshakehandsfirmly.Whendepartingitisnotalwayscustomary
to shake hands although it is practised occasionally.
 Friends and relatives greet each other with either one or two kisses on the
cheek. Elders are always respected by kissing their right hand then placing
the forehead onto the hand.
 When entering a room, if you are not automatically met by someone, greet
the most elderly or most senior first. At social occasions greet the person
closest to you then work your way around the room or table anti-clockwise.
 Greet people with either the Islamic greeting of Asalamu alaykum (peace
be upon you) or Nasilsiniz (How are you? pronounced na-sul-su-nuz). Other
useful phrases are Gunaydin (Good Morning, pronounced goon-ay-dun), iyi
gunler (Good Day, pronounced ee-yee gun-ler) or Memnun Oldum (pleased
to meet you).
Gift Giving Etiquette
 Gift giving has no real place in business relationships or etiquette.
Relationship building will usually take the form of dining or sightseeing trips
rather than lavish gifts.
 However, if a gift is given, it will be accepted well. It is always a good idea to
bring gifts from your own country such as food stuffs or craft items.
 Be aware that Turkey is a Muslim country. Before giving alcohol to anyone be
100% sure that they drink.
 The only time you would need to give any great thought to gifts would be if
you were invited to a Turk’s home for dinner. The most usual gifts to take
are pastry (especially ‘baklava’) and decorative items for the home such as
ornaments or vases. Flowers are not usually taken to a host but can be if felt
appropriate. It is best to ask a florist for advice on what is best to take. If the
host has children take some expensive sweets or candy.
Dining Etiquette
 Most business entertaining will take place in restaurants. Turks enjoy food
and the meal is a time for relaxing and engaging in some good conversation.
 The protocol of Turkish hospitality dictates that the host always pays for
the meal. The concept of sharing a bill is completely alien. You may try and
offer to pay, which may be seen as polite, but you would never be allowed to
do so. The best policy is to graciously thank the host then a few days later
invite them to dinner at a restaurant of your choice. It may be a good idea
to inform the restaurant manager that under no circumstances are they to
accept payment from your guests.
 Tea or Turkish coffee is served at the end of a meal sometimes with pastries.
Turkish coffee is a national drink and should at least be sampled. It comes
either without sugar, a little sugar or sweet. Turkish coffee is sipped and
allowed to melt into the taste buds so do not gulp it down as you would
instant coffee. Never drink to the bottom of the cup as it will be full of ground
coffee and taste awful.
 The collective dinner table is one of the traditional foundations of Turkish
culture that symbolizes togetherness.
 Celebrations are other important occasions where communities, small or
large come together. Religious holidays and social activities like bayram
celebrations, iftar (thetimetobreakthefastduringRamadan),circumcision
and wedding ceremonies, the most important matter is the dinner table
and the food that is offered during these occasions. Especially in Anatolian
culture, there are certain types of food that are associated with certain types
of celebrations. Güllaç (starch wafers soaked in milk syrup and layered with
walnuts) for Ramadan, keşkek (slow cooked, pounded wheat with lamb)
for weddings, zerde (saffron infused rice pudding) for circumcision feasts,
and kavurma (sauteed beef or lamb in its own fat) prepared for the sacrifice
holiday are some examples of these occasion-specific foods. Especially in the
Anatolian culture, preparing these feasts by way of imece which means,
everybody taking place in the celebration gives a hand with preparations.
This collective effort gives food and social life concept a different dimension.
Business Meeting Etiquette
 Appointments are necessary and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance,
preferably by telephone.
 Many Turks take vacation during July or August, so it is best not to try to
schedule appointments at that time.
 Have all printed material available both in English and Turkish.
Business Dress Etiquette
 Business dress is conservative. You will be expected to wear a suit and a tie.
Similarly, women should wear smart professional outfits.
 In the summer, and especially in the cities of Istanbul, Izmir and Anakara the
weather is very hot and humid. It is acceptable to wear a shirt with trousers
and in most cases not to wear a tie.

10. Naming Conventions
When addressing a Turk the most common method is to call a man by his first name
followed by bey (pronounced bay). So, Ertan Gonca, would be Ertan Bey. Similarly, a
woman’s first name would be followed by hanim (pronounced ha-num).
Where professional titles exist such as Doctor or Professor, always use them either
on their own or before the first name. Curiously this is also the case with many
other professions such as lawyers Avukat or engineers Muhendis. Within Turkish
companies and organisations senior ranking staff will be addressed accordingly. A
common example is Mr. Manager, Mudur Bey.
A common phrase Turks use is efendim (literally my master). You may hear this from
a waiter, a secretary, a taxi driver, a doorman, shop staff and many others. It is simply
a polite way of addressing people you are not familiar with.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
All health care and related social welfare activities are coordinated by the Ministry
of Health.
The social security system in Turkey is composed of three different major
organizations:
 Social Insurance Institution (SGK)
 Social Security Institution for the Self-employed (Bağ-Kur)
 Pension Fund for Civil Servants (Emekli Sandığı)
SGK: SGK members are insured for work injuries and professional job diseases,
medical care, illness, disability, and maternity. If the insured person dies, a widow,
children, or close parents of the deceased are paid for funeral expenses and get their
pension payments.
Bağ-Kur: This institution covers the self-employed outside the coverage of the Social
Insurance (SSK) Law. These would be craftsmen, artisans and small businessmen,
technical and professional people who are registered to a chamber or professional
association, shareholders of companies other than co-operatives and joint stock
companies, and self-employed in agriculture.
State employees’ pension fund: This is a Government Employees Retirement Fund
for retired civil servants, it also includes health insurance.
Green Card System: It was established in 1992 and is directly funded by
the Government. Poor people earning less than a minimum level of income which is
defined by the law, are provided a special card giving free access to outpatient and
inpatient care at the state and some university hospitals, and covering their inpatient
medical drug expenses but excluding the cost of outpatient drugs.
The Red Crescent (Kizilay), equivalent of the Red Cross, is a humanitarian aid
organization and covers the widest range of welfare services in Turkey, especially in
times of war or natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Foreign Tourists: Foreign tourists that are not covered by any insurance system
specifically designed for purposes of their visit can access healthcare services for free
in emergencies. Emergency healthcare services for all individuals are free without
any distinction of private or public healthcare institutions.
Citizens of a foreign country with international social security contract who
work in Turkey: Turkey has signed and executed international social security
contracts with many countries. These bilateral contracts determine the legislation
applicable to foreign individuals who are employed in a foreign country and
implementation of equal treatment between national workers and workers of the
sending country.
Foreigners who have residence permit: Universal Health Insurance means the
insurance which ensures maintenance of healthcare status of individuals and the
financing of costs arising when the individuals experience health risks. A foreigner
residing for more than one year in Turkey could apply to benefit from such universal
health insurance.
ORGANIZATIONS HELPING FOREIGN PEOPLE
 SGDD-ASAM: for more than 20 years it has been creating solutions to the
problems that refugees and asylum seekers encounter in Turkey. It helps
them to fulfill their primary needs and to support them to provide access
for fundamental rights and services. Since its establishment, SGDD-ASAM
has been providing psycho-social support for asylum seekers and refugees
coming from conflict zones.
http://www.sgdd.org.tr
 Support to Life (STL): it is a humanitarian aid agency working with
communities to help foreigners meet their basic needs and rights.
http://www.hayatadestek.org
 IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
https://www.ihh.org.tr
 Kızılay
https://www.kizilay.org.tr

11. An information brochure
LIVE LIFE TODAY TOGETHER
was created as
one of the outputs of the project
I CHANGE – INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCES:
HORISONS APPLIED TO NEW GENERATION’S EDUCATION.
The brochure is an effect of cooperation
among the teenagers of the partner schools:
Lycée Marie Joseph in Trouville-sur-Mer, France
Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Mikołaja Kopernika in Tuchów, Poland
IES Mercedes Labrador in Fuengirola, Spain
N. Serap Ulusoy Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi in Samsun, Turkey
The brochure includes useful information for foreigners
who are planning to settle down in Turkey.