Republic of Turkey is located in the southeast of Europe, where Europe and Asia meet. It is 301,274 square miles and accommodates 65 million people. The country enjoys a varied climate ranging from the temperate Black Sea region and continental interior to the warmth of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Turkey has four coastlines of more than 4,375 miles.

The Hittites, Indo- European people who intermingled with the Hattis, indigenous people with a sophisticated culture, occupied much of Anatolian in the second millennium BC, gradually emerging as a great power in the Middle East, particularly after the capture of Babylon in 1595 BC. Hittite history is being reconstructed by deciphering thousands of cuneiform clay tablets, including the Cadet Treaty, the world's first recorded peace agreement. The Hittite capital at Hattusas, now Bogazkale, is encircled by more than five kilometers of massive walls, punctured by nine monumental portals carved with huge human or animal figures to keep evil influences at bay. The deities of the Hittites attest to the strong line of continuity that distinguishes Anatolian cultures: the Hittite goddess Hepcat, the Mistress of Beasts, a form of Mother Goddess of prehistoric Anatolian was worshipped under different names by different people until she was transformed into Airtime's. In the 5th Century BC, the name of another ruler, this time the Lydian monarch King Crosses, gained fame for these riches and generosity. In fact, his capital, Sardius, credited with the development of the market place and minting the first coins in human history, and the Lydian’s were known for their conspicuous consumption of luxury goods such as gold jewelry. The Romans and Byzantine can trace its history to 6,500 BC Alexander the Great was the dominant figure around 300 BC followed. The Turks appeared in the early 10th century and soon afterwards, the great Roman Empire began to lose its grip on Asia Minor. Four centuries later, the Ottoman Empire succeeded in capturing Constantinople in 1453 and renamed it Istanbul. Following the capture of Istanbul, the Ottoman Empire grew rapidly and ruled over most of the Mediterranean, up to Vienna, and all Middle East including North Africa.

Following World War I, the Turkish Republic, with its present boundaries, was formed. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emerged in 1923 as the first President of Turkey and Ankara was made the new capital. Extensive modernization took place under Atatürk's leadership and Turkey established herself as an integral part of the western world. Today Turkey is a member of NATO and plays a major role in contributing to the stability of the region. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Community since 1960. Turkish is written in the Latin alphabet and can be easily read. English, French and German are widely understood.

In Turkey you will experience an incredible diversity in nature, culture, history, beliefs and ideas. In Turkey this diversity is high enough to challenge even the most experienced eye because it is packed in spaces with abrupt changes in scenery. This is why people sometimes describe the Turkish landscape as a "symphony of sounds, smells and people in the most unlikely combinations of appearance and action."

1. CLIMATE

Turkey’s climate is singly varied. The South is very dry, the Black Sea coast is very wet, the Mediterranean coast has milled winters, but the mountainous Eastern Regions has months of snow. Turkey’s summers are usually long, warm and rainless, winters in general bring some snow and cold.

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN MAJOR CITIES ( Fahrenheit)

3. BANKING HOURS

Banks are open weekdays from 9:00 am to noon and from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.

4. ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

The voltage in Turkey is 220 volts AC in all parts of the country.

5. TELEPHONE

It is possible to use phone cards, coins and credit cards.

To Call Turkey, +90 (city code) (phone number)

Calls From Turkey;

For international calls dial 00 + country code + city code + phone number
For national calls dial 0 + city code + phone number
For local calls dial only phone number

6. CURRENCY

The New Turkish Lira (YTL), which is the currency of Turkey, is subject to fluctuating exchange rates due to the high level of inflation in Turkey. Check the daily rates from your Hotel's Reception, Banks or Exchange offices.

7. TIME

Local time in Turkey 
GMT +3 Hrs (April-September)
GMT +2 Hrs (October-March)

8. PEOPLE

Turkey has a kaleidoscope of cultures and history. The beauty of the land and the spirit of the people make it a seductive and rewarding country, and optimistic, forward-looking nation with a proud and gracious way of life. The population of 65 million is young, energetic, ranging from the outmost sophistication to the purely traditional. The human landscape is one of endless contrasts, with wealth and poverty, tradition and modernity, elegance and shabbiness, energy and indolence, worldliness and provincialism, generosity and selfishness, efficiency and bureaucracy, kindness and disregard, luxury and substance existing side by side. The Turk’s warm and generous spirit is apparent in their hospitality. Social visits, business meetings and even purchases are initiated by the traditional offer of a glass of tea or a small cup of Turkish coffee. Among alcoholic drinks, raki occupies an important and unique place in Turkish social life.

9. TURKISH TRADITIONS

Turks are very understanding of foreigner's different customs but if you want to do it the Turkish way, use all of the polite words and actions you can master. In Turkish language, there are dozens of polite phrases, which are actually rigid formulas to be repeated on cure in many daily situations.

The texture of Turkey's magnificent architectural heritage resembles one of the beautiful hand-woven rugs of Anatolian, with various influences and innovations threaded around a central theme to create a coherent, unified fabric. The Islamic Turkish cities represent a total break from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine tradition. The Turks coming from the hot and arid land of the East, had preferred cool and narrow streets covered or shaded bazaars and ripple of water.

The mosque complex formed a center for key activities of the community including a theological school, a hospital for the sick, soup kitchen and alms' houses for the poor, free lodgings for travelers and their servants. With the Islamic zeal for ritual cleanliness before prayer, the Turkish Bath-hamam-would be located closely as would the main bazaar, or commercial hub of the city and the administrative buildings

10. HOLIDAYS YEAR 2005

National Holidays:

Religious Holidays:

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT TURKEY?

The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman for more than 2000 years.

The number of archaeological excavations going on in Turkey every year is at least 150.

The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7500 BC).

Temple of Artemis and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the two of the seven wonders of the ancient world are in Turkey.

Abraham was born in Sanliurfa in Southeastern Turkey.

Anatolia is the birthplace of historic legends, such as Omer (the poet), King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history) and St. Paul the Apostle.

Julius Ceasar proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici" (I came, I saw, I conquered) in Turkey when he defeated the Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Turks introduced coffee to Europe. Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips.

St. Nicholas, who became popular as Father Christmas, was born in Demre on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast.

According to legend, Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in Eastern Turkey.

The last meal on Noah's Ark, a pudding with nearly 20 ingredients, is still served throughout Turkey.

The last home of Virgin Mary is in Selcuk.

St. John, St. Nicholas, St. Paul and St. Peter have all lived and prayed in Southern Anatolia.

Part of Turkey's southwestern shore was a wedding gift that Marcus Anthonius gave to Cleopatra.

Homer was born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted Troy in his Epic the Iliad.

Aesop, famous for his fables and parables, was born in Anatolia.

Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a bridge over the Bosphorus, the strait that flows through Europe and Asia. It was never built.

Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey and cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium) not far from Turkey's present-day capital (Ankara).

Istanbul's Robert College (established in 1863), is the oldest American school outside the United States.

Early Christians escaping Roman persecution nearly 2000 years ago sheltered in Cappadocia in Central Anatolia.

The Amazons were supposed to have originated in Turkey's northeastern region.

The Famous Trojan Wars took place in western Turkey, around the site where a wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.

According to Turkish tradition a stranger at one's doorstep is considered "A Guest from God" and should be accommodated accordingly.

The first church built by man (St. Peter's Church) is in Antioch (Antakya).

The first Ecumenical Council was held in Iznik.

Suleyman the Magnificent (the famous Ottoman Sultan) was a poet who wrote over 3000 poems, some of them criticizing the greed of mankind.

Turkey provides 70% of the world's hazelnuts; the nut in your chocolate bar was most probably grown in Turkey.

The most valuable silk carpet in the world, is in the Mevlana Museum, Konya with 144 knots per square centimeter.

In the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote "the best and handsomest of rugs are woven here, and also silks of crimson and other rich colors".

Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi was the first man to fly a significant distance using wings across the Bosphorus.

Anatolia is the location of the first known beauty contest, judged by Paris, with Aphrodite, Hera and Athena as leading participants.

Anatolia was producing wine as early as 4000BC.

Turkey receives children from around the world each year on 23rd April to "honor and cherish the freedom and independence of all people".

Anatolia is the location of Seven Churches of Asia. Anatolia is the origin of the names of Paris, Philadelphia and Europe.