Turkey General Information

Area

779,452 sq km (300,948 sq miles).

Population

69,757,000 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density

89.5 per sq km.

Capital

Ankara.

Population: 3,208,000 (official estimate 2002).

Government

Republic since 1923.

Head of State: President Ahmet Necdet Sezer since 2000.

Head of Government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan since 2003.

Language

Turkish. Kurdish is also spoken by a minority in the southeast. French, German and English are widely spoken in cities and tourist areas.

Religion

Muslim with a small Christian minority. Turkey is a secular state which guarantees complete freedom of worship to non-Muslims.

Time

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 90. Outgoing international code: 00. There is an extensive internal telephone network, but often an interpreter will be needed for more remote areas. To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are found in all areas, telephone cards and tokens are used. Local, intercity and international calls can be made from all PTT offices.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 and 1800 band networks exist. Main network providers include Avea (website: www.avea.com.tr), TELSIM Mobil Telekomuniksyon (website: www.telsim.com.tr) and Turkcell (website: www.turkcell.com.tr). Coverage is available in most urban areas.

Fax

All hotels and PTT offices have facilities.

Internet

Main ISPs include: EfesNet (website: www.efes.net.tr). Internet cafes exist in main urban areas.

Telegram

These may be sent from all post offices.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes three days. Turkish post offices are recognizable by their yellow PTT signs. Post office hours: major outlets Mon-Sat 0800-2000, Sun 0900-1900; smaller post offices have the same opening hours as government offices. It is also possible to use the 'Valuables Despatch Service' for valuable belongings or important documents.

Press

The main newspapers are Hürriyet, Milliyet, Sabah and Zamam. English-language daily newspapers include The Turkish Daily News.

Radio

BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Public Holidays

Jan 1:

2005: New Year's Day.

Jan 21: Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice).

Apr 23: National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

May 19: Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day.

Aug 30: Victory Day.

Oct 29: Republic Day.

Nov 3-5: Ramazan Bayrami (End of Ramadan).

Jan 1 2006: New Year's Day.

Jan 13: Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice).

Apr 23: National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

May 19: Commemoration of Atatürk and Youth and Sports Day.

Aug 30: Victory Day.

Oct 29: Republic Day.

Oct 22-24: Ramazan Bayrami (End of Ramadan).

:

Note

Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Ramazan Bayrami, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Some restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Generally, centers of tourism are unaffected. Some disruption may continue into Ramazan Bayrami itself. Ramazan Bayrami and Kurban Bayrami may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Special Events

For a detailed list of special events, contact the Turkish Tourist Office (see General Info section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Turkey in 2005:

Jan: Camel Wrestling Festival, Aydin and Izmir.

Mar: Ankara International Film Festival-Ankara; 1915 Sea Victory Celebration-Canakkale.

Apr 2-17: 24th International Istanbul Film Festival.

Apr: Traditional Mesir Festival, Manisa; International Ankara Music Festival.

Apr-May: Ankara International Arts Festival.

May 18-Jun 4 1-31: Turkish Theater Festival, Istanbul.

Jun 4-Jul 2: The 33rd International Istanbul Music Festival.

Jul 7-17: 12th International Instanbul Jazz Festival.

Aug: Troy Festival, Canakkale.

Sep: Seyh Edibali Commemoration and Culture Festival, Bilecik; Grape Harvest Festival, various locations.

Oct: International Bodrum Sailing Cup.

Contact Information:

Location

Southeastern Europe/Asia Minor.

Country dialing code

90.

Ministry of Tourism

Ismet Inönü Bulvar 5, Bahçelievler, Ankara, Turkey

Tel: (312) 212 8360. Fax: (312) 212 0255.

E-mail: basim@kulturturizm.gov.tr

Website: www.turizm.gov.tr

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey

43 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PA, UK

Tel: (020) 7393 0202 or 7235 6968 (press office). Fax: (020) 7393 0066 or 7245 9547 (press office).

E-mail: turkish.emb@btclick.com or lobm@btconnect.com (press office).

Website: http://turkey.embassyhomepage.com

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Not open to personal callers.

Turkish Consulate General

Rutland Lodge, Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1BW, UK

Tel: (020) 7591 6900 or (09068) 347 348 (recorded visa information; calls cost 60p per minute). Fax: (020) 7591 6911.

E-mail: tckons@btclick.com

Website: www.turkconsulate-london.com

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 (visas); 0930-1330 (general enquiries).

Turkish Tourist Office

1st Floor, 170-173 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EJ, UK

Tel: (020) 7629 7771 or (09001) 887 755 (brochure request line; calls cost 60p per minute). Fax: (020) 7491 0773.

E-mail: info@gototurkey.co.uk

Website: www.gototurkey.co.uk

British Embassy

Sehit Ersan Caddesi 46A, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

Tel: (312) 455 3344. Fax: (312) 455 3356 (general) or 3353 (consular).

E-mail: britembinf@tnn.net (general) or britembcons@tnn.net (consular).

Website: www.britishembassy.org.tr

Consulates in: Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul, Izmir and Marmaris.

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey

2525 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA

Tel: (202) 612 6700 or 6740 (consular section). Fax: (202) 612 6744.

E-mail: contact@turkishembassy.org (general) or consulate@turkishembassy.org (consular section).

Website: www.turkishembassy.org

Consulates in: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York.

Turkish Tourist Office

821 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

Tel: (212) 687 2194. Fax: (212) 599 7568.

E-mail: ny@tourismturkey.org

Website: www.tourismturkey.org

Embassy of the United States of America

Atatürk Bulvar 110, Kavaklidere 06100, Ankara, Turkey

Tel: (312) 455 5555. Fax: (312) 467 0019.

E-mail: didem@pd.state.gov

Website: www.usemb-ankara.org.tr

Consulates in: Adana and Istanbul.

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey

197 Wurtemburg Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L9, Canada

Tel: (613) 789 4044. Fax: (613) 789 3442.

E-mail: turkishottawa@msa.gov.tr

Website: www.turkishembassy.com

Canadian Embassy

Cinnah Caddesi 58, GOP 06690, Ankara, Turkey

Tel: (312) 409 2700. Fax: (312) 409 2712.

E-mail: ankra@dfait-maeci.gc.ca

Website: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ankara

Honorary Consulate in: Istanbul.