Public Holidays in Turkey - 2013

• January 1 - New Year's Day (Yılbaşı) and the first day of the Gregorian new year 
• April 23 - National Sovereignty and Children's Day (Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı); Commemoration of the first opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey at Ankara in 1920. 
• May 1 - Labor and Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanışma Günü) 
• May 19 - Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day (Atatürk'ü Anma Gençlik ve Spor Bayramı).
• August 7 – Ramadan Feast Eve (Half-Day) Non-Working Holiday
• August 8 – Ramadan Feast (1st Day) Ramazan Bayramı or Şeker Bayramı - National Holiday -
• August 9 – Ramadan Feast (2nd Day) Extra Public Holiday 
• August 10 – Ramadan Feast (3rd Day) Extra Public Holiday 
• August 30 Victory Day (Zafer Bayramı); Commemoration of the victory at the final battle in Dumlupınar ending the Turkish Independence War in 1922, dedicated to the armed forces. 
• October 14 – Sacrifice Feast Eve (Half-Day Non-Working Holiday) 
• October 15 – Sacrifice Feast (1st Day) – National Holiday 
• October 16 – Sacrifice Feast (2nd Day) – Extra Public Holiday 
• October 17 – Sacrifice Feast (3rd Day) – Extra Public Holiday 
• October 28 – Republic Day Eve (Half-Day Non Working Holiday) 
• October 29 – Republic Day (Cumhuriyet Bayramı) Commemoration of the proclamation of the republic in 1923. 

Holiday & Vacation Rentals in Turkey

Turkey apartments for rent, holiday apartment rentals - flat rentals - vacation rentals are all available in Turkey. Rent an apartment or flat anywhere in Turkey and feel the comfort of staying in a home away from your home while on a holiday vacation.

Holiday apartments and flat rentals have become one of the most popular types of accommodation these days especially to large families or groups. Many travelers and tourists who come to Turkey would want to experience more than just being a regular tourist while on a holiday. Some foreign visitors in Turkey find that staying in an apartment or flat in one of the best locations in the major towns and cities such as near a tourist site, historical attractions, or beach resorts at the heart of the major cities and towns of Turkey may not only make them feel more like one of the locals but it also allows them to save on their budget such as food and transportation.

Hotels in Turkey

From small guesthouses, hostels, lodging inns, budget hotels, to apartment complexes, purpose-built villas, family & business hotels, luxury hotels, suites and residences, you can easily find a most convenient and friendly accommodation for you and your family to stay while in Turkey.

Hotels and Inns

Turkey has a wide range of hotel and hostel accommodations suitable for every kind of traveler and for every type of holiday vacation or any occasion. So whether you are in a holiday, in a honeymoon, a family vacation, a group tour, or in a business trip, there are several places for you to stay safely and comfortably in most towns and cities of Turkey.

Telephone Calls

Calling abroad from Turkey is fast and easy. To do so, dial the international code 00 followed by the country code, the local area code (remove the first 0) and the number you want to call. For example, a London number with an area code of 0207 would be dialed from Turkey as 00 44 207 followed by the number.

To dial Turkey from abroad dial the international code 00 followed by the country code 90, the local area code (deleting the first 0) and then the number you want to call. For example, a Fethiye number with an area code of 0252 would be dialed from abroad as 00 90 252 followed by the number.

In Turkey, there are several public telephone booths which accept telefon kartı or jeton. They can easily be bought from post offices (PTT) or local shops.

Emergency Numbers:

• Emergency - 112 
• International Operator - 115 
• Directory Assistance - 11811
• Reversed Charge Calls - 131
• Police - 155 
• Gendarme - 156
• Fire Department - 110

Using Mobile Phones in Turkey

Mobile or cellular phones are very useful for communication in Turkey. Network coverage is very good and it is very rare to be in an area where mobile phones do not work. However, foreigners may not use their foreign mobile phones in Turkey so easily - even with a new SIM-card bought from a Turkish mobile phone company. This is due to the mobile phone law passed by the Turkish government several years ago requiring all mobile phones to be used in Turkey to be registered with the government. The said requirement applies not just with the SIM card but also with the handset itself. The mobile phone registration will help prevent terrorist acts.

Money, Currency & Foreign Exchange in Turkey

The currency used in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TL) or Türk Lirası in Turkish. Its international 3-digit code is TRY and the new Turkish Lira is available in the following denominations (banknotes) of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 Turkish Lira. These new series of Turkish Lira banknotes (also known as the E-9 Emission Group) mostly depicts a famous Turkish personality instead of geographical sites which the previous banknotes appeared to have. Also, to prevent forgery the new Turkish Lira banknotes come in different sizes. Coins start from 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 kuruş (kr) and 1 TL. The Turkish Lira is also the currency used in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Other major currencies used by travelers such as the Euro and US dollar can be exchanged into Turkish Lira upon arrival at the international and domestic airports in Turkey or before departure.

Driving in Turkey - Traffic & Road Signs

Foreigners can drive in Turkey with an international driving license. You should have a copy of this, together with your passport and insurance documents with you in the car at all times, as you will need it if you are involved in an accident. All of the major international car rental companies and a number of local ones have offices at the airports and major centers. Just as in continental Europe, driving in Turkey is on the right.

Turkish road signs conform to the International Protocol on Road Signs and archaeological and historic sites are indicated by yellow signs. Turkey has a good network of well-maintained roads. There is a 50 km per hour speed limit within urban centers and 90 km outside urban centers. Petrol stations are fairly easy to rind and on main highways, they are often open 24 hrs and have restaurants and other facilities attached. Unleaded (kurşunsuz) petrol is easily available.

Climate in Turkey

Turkey is a travel destination that can be visited all year round. For the most part, summer in Turkey is usually hot and dry. The Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts display a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures around 29°C. The humidity is usually a little high during summer in these regions.

Temperatures increase a few degrees when traveling to the south and water temperatures also become warmer. The swimming season is from June to September along the Marmara and North Aegean coasts, while it is from April to October on the South Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. These are the best months highly recommended for most beach lovers so they can fully enjoy the glorious Mediterranean sun.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Guide & Info - Going to and from Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Going to and from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport without having someone to pick you up or take you at the airport is not something that you have to seriously worry about. There are several ways to travel from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to the main locations of Istanbul such as Taksim in Beyoğlu and Koztayatağı in Kadikoy.

In going to and from Sabiha Gökçen airport, you can either take a taxi, a public (IETT) bus, or the Havaş shuttle buses with non-stop services and runs daily at regular intervals right from the SAW airport to the city centers of Kozyatağı (Kadikoy), and Taksim (Istanbul's European side). Additionally, the airport shuttle bus also takes passengers to Izmit (Kocaeli province). Havaş shuttle buses depart from the Izmit Kocaeli Bus Terminal at certain hours taking passengers directly to and from the Sabiha Gökçen airport.

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Guide & Information

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) or Sabiha Gökçen Uluslararası Havaalanı (in Turkish) is one of the major airports serving Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in Kürtkoy, Pendik at the Anatolian side (Anadolu Yakası) of the bi-continental city, about 12 km to Pendik, 40 km to Kadikoy, and 50 km to Taksim (city center of the European side of Istanbul).

This award winning airport is named after Sabiha Gökçen - the first woman combat pilot of Turkey who also happens to be the first female combat pilot in the world.

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport was built due to the growing domestic and international passenger demands in Istanbul.  This significant growth has made Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport to cause problems for not being large enough to serve its millions of passengers.  At first, the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport's international terminal capacity was only 3 million passengers per year, and with a domestic terminal capacity of about 0.5 million passengers per year. But today, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport boasts of an international terminal which serves up to 25 million passengers annually making it as the World's Best Airport at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress in London in 2010.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Timetable - Going To and From Atatürk International Airport

Havaş airport shuttle buses which run faster (non-stop) than the regular public buses in Istanbul can be a good option for most passengers goint to and from Atatürk International Aİrport in Istanbul. It not only offers a good service and value for your money, but its a lot more convenient and economical for travelers and tourists who don't know so much about getting around in Istanbul. 

Below you will find the Havaş Shuttle Bus Timetable going to and from the Ataturk International Airport. You may also see this timetable posted at the Ataturk Airport which also writes Atatürk Havalimani Hareket Saatleri in Turkish.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Guide & Info - Going to and from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport

Going to and from Atatürk International Airport without having someone to pick you up or take you to the airport is not something that you have to seriously worry about.  In Turkey, there are several ways for you to go to and from the Ataturk International Airport. You can take either a taxi, a public bus, a metro, through your hotel's private transfers, or the airport's shuttle bus service called Havaş / Havataş.

A Havaş/Havataş aiport shuttle bus parked in front of the airport.

These air-conditioned airport shuttle service known as Havaş / Havataş buses can be a good option for passengers who are traveling alone, as well as to those who don't want to take a cab or taxi, and also to some others who don't want to pay more for a hotel' private transfers.  Depending on the hotel, private transfers can sometimes cost more, unless you are traveling with your family or with a group. Other than that, the Havaş airport shuttle buses which runs faster (non-stop) than the regular public buses in Istanbul can be a very good option.  They don't just offers good service and value for your money, but its a lot more convenient and economical for travelers and tourists who don't know so much about getting around in Istanbul.

Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport - Guide & Information

Istanbul (IST) - Atatürk International Airport or Atatürk Havalımanı in Turkish is 24km (15 miles) west of the city which takes about 30-50 minutes travel time. In order to go to and from the Atatürk airport, you can either take a taxi, a car hire, a public bus, your hotel's private transfers, or the airport's shuttle bus service. 

The airport's shuttle bus service called Havaş offers a good service and value for your money. One way fare per person for Havaş shuttle buses departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport and going to Istanbul's city centers can cost as low as 5 TL (to Bakirkoy), 10TL (to Taksim in Beyoğlu), and 17TL (to Kozyatağı in Kadikoy). Also, you can conveniently get on Havaş shuttle buses right within the Ataturk Airport as these buses run a regular non-stop service only from the airport to Istanbul's busy centers such as Taksim and Bakirkoy (Istanbul’s European side), and to Kozyatağı (Istanbul's Asian side).

Major Airports in Turkey

Turkey's international airports are located in the cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Trabzon. Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yolları - THY) is the national airline which links to all the major cities of Turkey through its domestic flights. It also has international direct flights from Istanbul to New York, other European cities, and the Middle East.

Akseki

source: akseki.gov.tr

Located in the forested and very rocky western Taurus mountains in the province of Antalya lies a beautiful town well known for its snowdrop flowers which blossom through the snow showing the early signs of spring.

Akseki - the oldest district in the province after Alanya, has a history which dates back to the Roman era. The town was used to be known as Marla (Marulya or Marulia) within Turkey’s Mediterranean region before it was conquered by the Seljuk Turks and the Ottoman Empire along with the other towns in the area. Due to its rich architectural heritage, Akseki became a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. This small historic town has been continually inhabited until today with a population of about 3,441 (according to 2010 census).