- Covid19 Prudent
Footprints Of St. Paul Package Tour
14 days Tour to Antioch, Cappadocia, Smyrna, Nicea, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Pamukkale, Philadelphia, Sardis, Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamon, Troy and more.
Highlights
- Seven Churches of Ancient Christianity
- Old City of Istanbul
- Path of St. Paul in Turkey
Footprints Of St. Paul Package Tour
14 days Tour to Antioch, Cappadocia, Smyrna, Nicea, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, Pamukkale, Philadelphia, Sardis, Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamon, Troy and more.
Itinerary
The Biblical tour package in Turkey includes Seven churches of ancient times, historical part of Istanbul and most known places where St Paul visited.
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Starting Points: Turkey/Istanbul
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Day 1
Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul airport and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
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Day 2
Istanbul: Hagia Sophia; Topkapi Palace, Blue mosque, Sultanahmet square, Grand Bazaar
Hagia Sophia; Topkapi Palace, Blue mosque, Sultanahmet square, Grand Bazaar
Pick up from your hotel. You will visit the main attractions of Istanbul (capital of the Ottoman Empire untill 1923) by this full day tour. Hagia Sophia; magnificent Byzantine church and the unique sample of Byzantine architecture, Blue Mosque; one of the biggest mosque of the Istanbul from 17th century and famous for its blue tiles and 6 minarets,The Ancient Hippodrome where once chariot races were held. The main monument left today is the impressive Egyptian obelisk, carved in Egypt around 1,500 BC and brought to Constantinople in 390 AD. Our tour will continue with a visit to Topkapi Palace; it was once the residence of Ottoman sultans and their harem. We will finish the tour with a short drive to the exotic Grand Bazaar (Closed on Sundays and at Feast days). End of the tour return to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.
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Day 3
Adana: Tarsus, Selucia
Tarsus, Selucia
Pick up from your hotel early in the morning and transfer to the airport for your flight to Adana. Adana is the fourth largest city of Turkey. After check in to your hotel, we will drive to Tarsus. St. Paul, born in Tarsus in 5CE as Saul, the son of a tentmaker. Paul returned to Tarsus on his second and third Journeys. Visit the Apostle Paul s well, the Gate of Cleopatra, and the latest excavations. Then we visit the archaeological remains of Seleucia, the port from which Paul, Barnabas and John Mark departed from Antioch on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:4). Drive to Antioch and stay overnight.
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Day 4
Antioch
Antioch played an especially important role in Christian history: it was the base for missionary journeys of Paul, where followers of Jesus were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26) and where the Gospel of Matthew was probably written. The main sights to be seen in Antakya today are the mosaics in the Hatay Archaeological Museum and the Cave Church of St. Peter, which could be the oldest church in the world. After the tour, drive to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
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Day 5
Cappadocia
We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning and go to the visit Devrent Valley. Devrent Valley was under the water 20 million years ago, it rose up above the water after volcanic eruptions. After years and years, the rocks formed in a variety of different shapes. Then we will go to Pasabagi, also named Monks Valley (Rahipler Vadisi), you can see some special housing and living area here which are also only can be found in this area. After lunch in Avanos, we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum. Then we will continue to Esentepe where you can see the panoramic view of Goreme valley and Goreme village with fairy chimneys, different rock formations and cave houses. Finally, we will visit the natural rock castle in Uchisar, many rooms connected to anothers with stairs, tunnels or passages. End of the tour return to your hotel. Overnight in Cappadocia.
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Day 6
Aksaray: Lystra, Iconium
Lystra, Iconium
After breakfast depart for Aksaray to visit Sultanhan Caravanserai. A large Seljuk Caravanserai which was built in 1229, during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Kayquba. It is one of the best examples of Anatolian Seljuk architecture.Continue to Lystra which is located 30 kilometres south of the city of Konya. Lystra is the ancient name of the village where Apostle Paul visited. Paul preached the gospel in Lystra after persecution drove him from Iconium. Timothy joined him during the second journey (Acts 16:1;3). Depart for Iconium which was one of the missionary destinations of St. Paul; the site of one of the first church councils; the capital of the Seljuk empire from 1150 to 1300; and the home of Rumi (Mevlana), the Sufi saint who founded the Whirling Dervishes. Overnight in a Konya.
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Day 7
Pisidian Antioch, Colossea
After breakfast drive to Pisidian Antioch (also called Antioch of Pisidia); it was a major Roman colony that was visited by St. Paul on his First Missionary Journey. Pisidian Antioch marked an important turning point in Paul s ministry, as the city became the first to have a fully Gentile Christian community. The ruins of Pisidian Antioch lie about a mile north of the modern town of Yalvac, which is 110 miles west of Konya. Highlights of a visit here are the substantial archaeological site and the Yalvac Archaeological Museum. Drive to Colossea which was located 120 miles east of Ephesus. Colossians is one of the most Christ-centered books in the Bible. The letter was written to the church at Colossae (1:2), but was also intended to be read at Laodicea (4:16). Continue to Pamukkale (means cotton castle ) which is one of the most important higlights of Turkey. Enjoy the dazzling white calcareous castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs, creating the unbelievable formation of stalactites, potholes and cataracts. Waters in the terraces are the sediments of the springs with calcium bicarbonate in 33C. Waters, containing mainly calcium salts and carbon-dioxide. Overnight in Pamukkale.
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Day 8
Pamukkale: Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis
Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis
In the morning you will visit the Hierapolis ; Necropolis (cemetery) of Hierapolis which is one of the biggest ancient cemeteries in Anatolia with 1,200 graves and Roman Bath, Domitian Gate, the Main Street, Byzantian church, the Great Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, and the Plutonium, which pagan cults once called the entrance to hell. Examine the intriguing sites of the Churches of Revelation. Then visit the ancient Philadelphia listed among the seven churches by John in the Book of Revelation (sixth church of seven). Philadelphia was known for its variety of temples and worship centers. Today, Philadelphia is known as the Turkish city of Alasehir. Due to a series of ancient earthquakes, there is not much left of ancient Philadelphia, and archaeology is limited to foundation stones and a few Roman columns. Continue to Sardis; once the capital of the Lydian realm of Croesus. Here the first coins were minted. Overnight in Izmir.
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Day 9
Izmir: Smyrna, Miletus, Didyma
Smyrna, Miletus, Didyma
After breakfast visit the ancient Smyrna. In the first century AD, Smyrna became one of the earliest centers of Christianity and it was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Both Revelation and the Martyrdom of Polycarpindicate the existence of a Jewish community in Smyrna as early as the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. The letter to the church at Smyrna in Revelation indicates that the Christians were spiritually “rich” and apparently in conflict with the Jews: “I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” (2:9). At Miletus, you will see the theatre, Harbour monument, Roman baths, Delphinion, sacred way, sacred gate, north agora, stadium, Temple of Serapis and Ilyas Bey mosque. The ancient city of Miletus was the oldest and the most powerful of the twelve Ionian cities in Asia Minor. Continue to Didyma to visit the Temple of Apollo and the remains of the ancient city. Didyma, located in the southwest part of modern Turkey, was an important religious site of ancient Ionia. It was home to a large temple dedicated to Apollo, called the Didymaion. The temple of Apollo was built at the end of the 8th century BC. Continue to Kusadasi and stay overnight.
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Day 10
Kusadasi: Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary, St.john Basilica
Ephesus Ancient City, House of Virgin Mary, St.john Basilica
Depart from your hotel after 25 minutes drive we will arrive in House of Virgin Mary. After the visit which approximately takes 45 minutes, driving down to the Upper Gate of Ephesus Ancient City. See the Odeon,The Fountain of Trajan, the five terraces of apartment houses, the stream baths of Scholastika, the temple of Hadrian and impressive library of Ephesus. The Ephesus Library is adorned with columns and statues. The Grand Theater where Saint Paul preached is the largest theater is antiquity with capacity of 24,000 seats. You will return to the bus through the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. Drive to St.john Basilica , once a great church built on a 2nd century tomb thought to hold the remains of St.John. While the church is now in ruins, there are many frescoes, mosaics and graceful columns that attest to the glory that marked the place where St.John,the Evangelist lived and died. The next visit is to the museum of Ephesus. This is one of the most important museums in Turkey. It mainly exhibits the pieces found in and around Ephesus. Since the 2nd World War all small findings are on display in the Ephesus Museum. The visit of Ephesus Open Air Museum takes nearly 2 hours. After the tour drive back to Kusadasi.
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Day 11
Izmir: Thytira, Pergamon
Thytira, Pergamon
After breakfast depart for Akhisar to visit the site of ancient Thyatira. Thyatira became an early center of Christianity. The apostle Paul visited the city on a number of occasions during his missionary travels. Lydia, the woman converted by St. Paul at Philippi, was from Thyatira (Acts 16:13;15), and the church at Thyatira was one of the Seven Churches of Revelation. Then drive toPergamon and visit the Acropolis. Home to the famous physician Galen,you will see the remains of the great library that once housed over 200,000 scrolls and the restored theatre built into the hillside that seated 10,000. Then we will visit the Asclepion which was among the earliest and greatest medical centers of the world. The view of the Acropolis from the Asclepion site is really worth seeing. Overnight in Canakkale.
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Day 12
Canakkale: Troy, Alexandra Troas, Assos
Troy, Alexandra Troas, Assos
After breakfast, you will depart for Troy tour and visit the famous and mythological site of Troy, home of the Trojan Horse and Helen of Troy. Continue to Alexandra Troas which was mentioned six times in the bible it is the place, on his second missionary journey where Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16.9, which was the first time that Paul preached the gospel in Europe (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens). After visiting Alexandria Troas, Paul visited Assos by foot (Acts 20:13). Aristotle, Plato s most famous student was invited to Assos and spent over three years living and teaching here. The acropolis of Assos is 238 meters above sea-level, and the Temple of Athena was constructed on this site in the 6th century B.C. Drive to Bursa and stay overnight.
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Day 13
Bursa: Iznik (Nicea)
Iznik (Nicea)
Bursa, forth largest city of Turkey located beautifully at the slopes of Mount Uludag in Anatolia. It was the capital of the Ottoman State between 1326-1365. The mausoleums of early the Ottoman sultans are located in Bursa The nickname of the city is “Yesil Bursa” (meaning “Green Bursa”) in reference to the parks and gardens. We will visit The Great Mosque (Ulu Cami); style of mosque architecture (a big stone square or rectangle topped by small domes) is characteristic of the early Seljuk Turkish empire, Green Tomb; is a mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I. It was built by Mehmed s son and successor Murad II following the death of the sovereign in 1421 and visit Green mosque opposite to it. Finally visit the Silk Bazaar. Bursa has been a center for silk trade and silk production ever since. Free time for shopping in the bazaar. After that continue to Nicea where the famous Council of Nicea was held in 325 AD. You will see the well-preserved monuments from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman ages, Nicea s Roman and Byzantine city walls, 14,520 feet (4,426 m) in circumference, remain almost entirely intact around the city and ancient theather. The highlight for religious travelers and historians are the ruins of the 4th-centurySt. Sophia Cathedral where the Seventh Church Council convened in 787. Drive to Istanbul and stay overnight.
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Day 14
Istanbul
You will be transferred to Istanbul airport for your flight to home. End of our services.
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End Points: Turkey/Bursa
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Informations
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What's Included
• 13 nights accommodation according to your selection as 3, 4 or 5 star.
• All mentioned transfers in the program.
• Flight tickets from Istanbul to Adana.
• All mentioned ( group ) tours in the program including transportation with air conditioned buses,guidance and entrance fees.
• English Speaking guide during the tours.
• All local taxes.
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What's Excluded
• Tips (optional).
• International flight tickets.
• Visa (if needed).
• Travel insurance.
• Harem section in Topkapi Palace and Terrace Houses in Ephesus and Cleopatra swimming pool in Pamukkale.
• Personal expenses.
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Travel Tips
What to bring: Camera, Hat, Comfortable Footwear, Soft Drinks, Sun Cream, Sun Glasses, towel and swimsuit for Pamukkale.
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Note
This program may contain some hard walking tracks which are not suitable for senior and disabled people.
Tour Reminder!
You can create a reminder for yourself for this tour. We will send you a reminder e-mail/sms about this tour on the date you specify.
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FAQs
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How to meet my tour guide?
Your tour guide/staff will be waiting at pick up points such as your hotels’ lobby/main gate, a specific point etc. according to timing which you were given before tour date.
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Can I state the departure time for my tour?
Of course! We also operate tours on private basis, so you can customize the departure time, if it is a private service.
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Can I choose the sights to visit on my own?
On private tours. You can choose the sights and museums along with all sort of criteria you like by your agent according to content of service.
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How to buy museum tickets?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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Am I traveling with a group on the tour?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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How about the transportation?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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How do I pay?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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What is the language of group tours?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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What type of restaurants do you use?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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How to pay for my services?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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Am I traveling with a group?
If the museum tickets are included in your tour, you do not need to buy it as extra. But if the museum ticket/s is/are not included in your tour, still no need to buy tickets in advance, during the tour your tour guide will help you to purchase them. Official tour guides have priority at museum ticket offices.
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Are any Vaccinations Required For tourist entering Turkey?
There are no vaccination requirements for any international traveller. The World Health Organization web site, www.who.org, provides vaccination certificate requirements by country, geographic distributions of potential health hazards to travellers.
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Can We Choose our Hotels?
Yes, you can. All you have to do is just letting us know what hotels you would like to stay in while your agent creates your itinerary.
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Do I Have to Pay Full Amount To Book A Package Tours?
No. You will need to pay %50 of the total amount of your package tour in order to complete your booking. You will be required to pay the rest of the amount 30 days before your arrival day in Turkey.
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Do I need a Visa To Turkey?
Citizens of most of countries must have a visa to enter Turkey. U.S. citizens may obtain a visa upon entry into Turkey or in prior to departure from one of the five Turkish Consulates in the United States. Please find your state in the Turkish Consulates Jurisdiction (https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en).
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How Can I Travel in Turkey?
By Plane Virtually every major city in Turkey has air service and Turkish Airlines offers nationwide services. Most flights connect through Istanbul or Ankara, both of which have domestic and international terminals. You can check Turkish Airlines.
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How Should Visitors Dress in Turkey?
Casual wear is appropriate for most tour excursions. Women wear pants or skirts, but when visiting mosques it is recommended that they cover their heads with a scarf and both sexes should not wear shorts out of respects for religious customs.
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Is it Safe to Travel in Turkey?
Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world in which to travel, and its crime rate is low in comparison to many Western European countries. Interpol ranked Turkey as the safest holiday destination in Europe for travelers. Naturally, we recommend.
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Should I exchange money before I go to Turkey?
The highly favourable exchange rate makes travel to Turkey extremely affordable. Most banks in the U.S. do not have Turkish Lira. However, Turkish currency is easily obtainable upon arrival in Turkey at any exchange office or bank.
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What are the departure dates of your tours?
There is no specific date! You can just pick-up your own dates to depart your package tour! In another word, our tours depart every day all year-round.
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What is a Turkish bath (Hamam)?
Communal baths were used in Roman and Byzantine times, but as the name Turkish Bath suggests, they played a significant role in Ottoman culture. At a time when the concept of cleanliness was not yet accepted in Europe.
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Where can I find information on Festivals, Fairs and other Events in Turkey?
There are more than 100 festivals in Turkey every year. In addition to the local festivals organized in almost every city of the country, international culture and art festivals are held in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya.
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Good to Know
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Currency Regulation
Limits
There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than 5 5,000 worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. -
Exchange Slips
The exchange slips for the conversion of foreign currency into Turkish lira should be kept, since you may be required to show these when reconverting your Turkish lira back into foreign currency, and when taking souvenirs out of the country (to prove that they have been purchased with legally exchanged foreign currency).
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Customs Regulations
On Entry
The following items may be brought into the country duty free personal effects of the tourist.
One TV, one color pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs, one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector, one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette – keyboard), one transistor radio and portable radio – tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player, binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars), harmonica, mandolin, flageolet, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments). personal sports equipment, necessary medical items, bicycle, baby buggy, toys, 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars. 200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff (In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country), 1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea, 1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets, 5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits, five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each), one portable typewriter, one camera with 5 rolls of film, first aid, and spare parts for the car, other items necessary during the journey.
Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000 must be registered in the owner’s passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner’s passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
Sharp instruments (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Note
Cellular Telephones entering the country must be accompanied by a certification form showing ownership. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit. For more information contact the Ministry of transportation, General Directorate at Tel: (312) 212 35 72 – 212 60 10 (10 lines), Fax: (312) 221 32 26 or write to Ulastirma Bakanligi Telsiz Gn. Md. Emek – Ankara.
On Exit
Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary. Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner’s passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.
Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research). Etudler Dairesi 06520, Ankara. Phone: +90 312 287 3430 /1622, Fax: +90 312 285 4271
Tax Refund
You Can Receive a Tax Refund for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey! Refunds will be made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey. All goods (including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered. The minimum amount of purchase that qualifies for refund is 5.000.000 TL. Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be “authorized for refund.” These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office.
The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. If you prefer the refund to be made by check, a Tax-free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt.
For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and! or check.
There are four ways to receive your refund:
If the retailer gives you a check it can be cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport. If it is not possible to cash the check upon departure or if you do not wish to cash it then, .e customer must, within one month, send a copy of the receipt showing that the goods have left the country to the retailer who will, within ten days upon receiving the receipt, send a bank transfer to the purchaser’s hank or address.
If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit thin one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be made directly to the purchaser. Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase. The refund may be made by the organization of those companies that are authorized to make tax refunds.
Additional information:
Ministry of Finance and Tax Dept. General Directorate, (Maliye Bakanligi, Gelirler Genel Mudurlugu) KDV Subesi 06100, Ulus – Ankara Phone: +90 312 310 3880 / 725 – 728 – 735, Fax: +90 312 311 4510
Tourist Health
Turkish Tourist Health Society (Turizm Sagligi Dernegi-Hacettepe Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi Ana Bilim Dali, Sihhiye 06100 ANKARA
Phone:
+90 312 311 9393 – 310 98 08) performs the functions below, to provide the travelers in the entire country, mainly in the touristic regions, with proper health care:
- to secure food hygiene
- to prevent environmental pollution
- to ensure hygiene and healthy working-conditions in touristic establishments.
Health Regulations for Pets
For those who wish to bring domestic animals into the country the following are required:
- Pets have to be 3 months and older
- An International Certificate of Health issued within 15 days before the travel
- The Identification Card
- Vaccination Card
Note
If you have an official certificate, you may bring one cat, one bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the country. To get information for the importation of pets, please see the Consular Services. -
Motorist Rules
General
Those who wish to enter the country with their vans, minibuses, automobiles, station wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, sidecars, buses, motor coaches, trailers, caravans or other transport vehicles, will have to provide the following documentations:
- Passport.
- International driving license.
- Car license (document where all details related to the car and the owner’s name are registered). If it is somebody else’s vehicle a power of attorney should be provided.
- International green card (Insurance card). The TR sign should be visible.
- Transit book “Carnet de passage” (for those who want to proceed to the Middle East).
Period
The vehicle can be brought into Turkey for up to 6 Months. The owner should declare on the opposite form, the date of departure at the border gate and should absolutely ve the country at the date declared. If for any important reason the staying period has to be ended, it is necessary to apply to;
The Turkish Touring and Automobile Club (Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu) 1. Sanayi Sitesi Yani, 4.Levent, Istanbul, Phone: +90 212 282 8140 (7 lines).
The General Directorate of Customs (Gümrükler Genel Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara Phone:
+90 312 310 3880, 310 3818, Fax: +90 312 311 1346, before the end of the period declared.
In Case of Accident
The accident should be reported to the police or gendarme. That report has to be certified by the nearest local authority. The owner should apply to the customs authority with his passport and report.
If the vehicle can be repaired, it is necessary to inform the customs authority first and take the vehicle to a garage. If the vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to leave the country without his vehicle, he has to deliver it to the nearest customs office, and the registration of his vehicle on his passport will be cancelled. (Only after the cancellation can the owner of the vehicle leave the country.)
Following an accident, you can phone:
- Trafik Polisi (Traffic Police), Phone: 154
- Jandarma (Gendarme), Phone: 156
- For more information, contact the Touring and Automobile Association of Turkey.
Formalities for Private Yacht Owners
Yachts require a Transit Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports licensed by the Ministry of Tourist the storage of yachts for a period of two to five years. For further information and regulations contact the marina concerned.
Upon arriving in Turkish waters, yachts should immediately go for control of the ship to the nearest port of entry which are as follows: Iskenderun, Botas (Adana), Mersin, Tasucu, Anamur, Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Finike, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris, Datça, Bodrum, Güllük Didim, Kusadasi, Çesme, Izmir, Dikili, Ayvalik, Akçay, Çanakkale, Bandirma, Tekirdag, Istanbul, Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Hopa.
Port Formalities
All the required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen, members, intended route, passports, customs declarations, health clearance, and any obligatory matters must be entered in the Transit Log.
The Transit Log is to be completed by the captain of a yacht under a foreign flag or amateur sailor acting as captain of the vessel.
The Transit Log is completed upon first entering a Turkish port and, generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbor Authority before leaving. For information on tax-free fuel, contact the Marina Harbor Office.
Note
If you have a certificate from the Tourism Ministry Yacht Harbor, you may take petrol at no charge, provided you possess an official marina license. -
Formalities for Private Plane Owners
General
When coming to Turkey, international air routes should be followed. Private planes may stay for up to three months in Turkey with tourist status, but for longer periods permission should be obtained from;
The General Directorate of Customs (Gümrükler Genel Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara
Phone:
+90 312 310 3880, 310 3818, Fax: +90 312 311 1346
The airports of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon and Dalaman have ties for private planes. It is also possible to hire planes and helicopters in Turkey.
For further information, apply to:
The Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport (Ulastirma Bakanligi, Havacilik Gen. Müd.). Bosna-Hersek Cad., No: 5 – 06338 – Emek, Ankara.
Phone:
+90 312 212 6730, Fax: +90 312 2124684, TIx : 44659 Ga-tr.
Underwater Diving
Diving for purposes of sport, with proper equipment and in non-restricted areas, is permitted. Foreign divers should have official documentation of their specifics and training and must be accompanied, when diving, by a licensed Turkish guide.
The limit for diving with diving gear is 30 meters. For educational purposes, this limit is extended to 42 meters. Dives exceeding 30 meters must be carried out with proper diving and medical equipment. In order to protect Turkish archaeological and cultural values. It is strictly forbidden to transport Turkish antiquities or natural specimens. -
Postal System
Turkish post-offices are easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow background. Major post offices are open from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Small post-offices have the same hours as the government offices.
Postal charges vary for different services depending on destination. Post restante letters should be addressed “postrestant” to the central post-office Merkez Postanesi, in the town of your choice. You have to show your identification card to collect your letters.
All PTT branches have the facilities to exchange money at the current international exchange rates, as well as international postal orders and travelers’ cheques. There is also an express postal service (APS) operating to 90 countries for letters , documents and small packages. A wide variety of special stamps are available in all PTT centers for philatelists.
To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are extensively found in all areas; telephone cards , and tokens (“;jeton”) in three sizes are used. Local, inter-city and international calls can be made from all PTT offices. Besides these main offices there are also mobile PTT services in the touristic areas. For the area codes of major cities and touristic areas in Turkey, please see the “Area Codes” list. Foreign countries area codes are indicated in the International Telephone Codes list.
Some important service numbers are;
- 155 Police
- 112 Emergency
- 110 Fire
- 118 Unknown Numbers
- 161 PTT Information. -
Working Hours
Government Offices
Monday-Friday (8:30-12:30), (13:30-17:30)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8:30-12-00), (13:30-17:00)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9:30-13:00), (14:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
Istanbul Covered Market:
Monday-Saturday (8:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
During summer months, the government offices and many other establishments in the Aegean and Mediterranean Regions are closed in the afternoon. These fixed summer hours are determined by the governing bodies of the provinces. -
Other Practical Information
Local time: GMT+3 hours (April-September) GMT+2 hours (October-March)
Time Differences:
Argentina -5, France -1, Netherlands -1, Australia +8, Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria -1, Greece 0, Sweden -1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland -1, England -2, Japan +7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EST) -10 (WEST)
*These time differences are for the period October-March; however, they may show variances according to each country’s own time-saving adjustments.
Petrol: Super (premium) – Unleaded (at some places). Normal (regular) – Diesel.
Electricity: 220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.
Water: Although tap water is safe to drink since it is chlorinated, it is recommended to get advice from the conceded authorities of the places resided.
Weights and Measures:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters , 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches
1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards
1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles
1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds
Area: 1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres
Capacity:
1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters, 1 liter = 0.2199 UK gallons
1 US gallon = 3.7831 liters, 1 liter = 0.2643 US gallons
Newspapers and Magazines:
Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big cities and tourist areas. Also there is a Turkish daily newspaper, Daily News, published in English.
Tipping:
At various establishments like hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 5%-15% of the total is common. Taxi and “dolmus” drivers on the other hand, do not expect tips or even rounded fares.
Visiting a mosque:
Five times a day, the “müezzin” calls the faithful to prayer in the mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors should also remove their shoes and show the respect they would any other house of worship and avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time. Women should cover their heads and arms, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)
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