Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
US dollars and euros are easily changed at exchange bureaux. They are sometimes accep-
ted in carpet shops and hotels.
Turkish liras are fully convertible, so there is no black market.
Credit Cards
Most hotels, car-rental agencies, shops, pharmacies, entertainment venues and restaurants
will accept Visa and MasterCard; Amex isn't as widely accepted as the others and Diner's
is often not accepted. Inexpensive eateries usually accept cash only.
PRACTICALITIES
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Currency
Türk Lirası
(Turkish Lira; ). Coins come in amounts of one, five, 10, 25 and 50 kuruş
and one lira; notes in five, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lira.
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Smoking
Forbidden in all hotels and enclosed restaurant and bar spaces.
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Tipping
Usually 10% in restaurants; round taxi fares up to the nearest lira.
Post
Post offices are known as PTTs (peh-teh-teh;
Posta, Telefon, Teleğraf
) and have black-
and-yellow signs.
İstanbul's
Central Post Office
(Merkez Postane; Büyük Postane Caddesi)
is several blocks
southwest of Sirkeci train station.
The
yurtdışı
slot is for mail to foreign countries,
yurtiçi
is for mail to other Turkish cities,
and
şehiriçi
is for mail within İstanbul.
Public Holidays
Banks, offices and government services close for the day on the following secular public
holidays:
