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. 

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.

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.

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).

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).

Phaselis

Located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, this ancient Lycian city is famous with the sun-seekers for its clear blue waters and sandy beaches.

Phaselis has three harbours - the Northern Harbour, the Battle Harbour, and the Protected (Sun) Harbour which made the area into a popular stopping off point for yachts. Phaselis and the other ancient towns around the shore can also be easily accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours. The remains that can still be seen in some areas within Phaselis are the scattered ruins of old public places such as the Roman baths, agoras, aqueducts, theaters and an acropolis.

There are also ruins of shops and stores scattered along the sides of the 24-metre-wide ancient street (see photo above) which runs through the middle of the city.

Perge

Situated just about 18 kms from Antalya on the southwestern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, the ancient city known as Perge (Perga) can easily be recognized by its age-old lofty towers, theatre, and old baths flanking around its city gate. 

Perge - one of Pamphylia's foremost cities was founded on a wide plain between two hills just a few kilometers away from the Kestros (Aksu) river. This ancient city was also visited by St. Paul during his missionary journeys. Perge was one of the richest and most beautiful cities during the Hellenistic period and was also known for the famous temple of the Anatolian goddess called the Temple of Artemis.

Demre

Demre is a district of Antalya located on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The ancient city of Myra is what makes Demre - a Lycian town famous for its connection with St. Nicholas. 

Formerly known as Kale, Demre was the home of St. Nicholas who once was a bishop in this ancient town during the 4th century. Today, St. Nicholas' church is the focus of the annual ceremony which takes place in the area to commemorate him on or around his feast day of 6th December. It is well worth seeing the Roman theatre which remains here, overlooked by spectacular rock tombs which dates back from the 4th century BC.

Aspendos

Situated just about 50 km east of Antalya is Aspendos which once was an ancient Greco-Roman city more popularly known for having the best preserved and stunning theater of antiquity - the Aspendos Theater. 

Built during 162 A.D, this 15,000 seater ancient theater has been well-preserved throughout thousands of years and has become one of the most visited and attractive historical sites to visit in Turkey. 

Until today, the Aspendos Theater of Antalya still hosts some of the province’s major festivals, concerts and other events every year such as the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival usually held in the months of June and July.

Aspendos is also one of the earliest cities to mint coins. It began issuing coinage around 500 B.C

Tourism Offices

LIST OF TOURISM OFFICES OF TURKEY & CONTACT INFORMATION WORLDWIDE

AUSTRIA
Singerstrasse 2/8 A-1010 Wien / AUSTRIA
Tel: 43 1 512 21 28 - 29 Fax: 43 1 513 83 26
Email: office@turkinfo.at wien@goturkey.com
Web: http://www.turkinfo.at  

Foreign Consulates

FOREIGN CONSULATES IN TURKEY

Consulate General of AUSTRIA 
Address : Koybasi Caddesi 46, 80870 Yenikoy Istanbul
Phone : (212) 262 93 15, 262 49 84, 262 49 88
Fax : (212) 262 26 22
E-Mail :  

Turkish Embassies Worldwide

CONTACT INFORMATION OF TURKISH EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE

The Turkish Embassies located worldwide is where you can obtain information regarding Turkish Visa Requirements, Visa Application forms for Turkey, telephone area codes, travel and tourist information about Turkey.  Below is a list of all the Turkish Embassies around the world (in alphabetical order) with their corresponding addresses and contact information.  

Pamukkale

Turkey's Cotton Castle, a breathtaking natural wonder.

The cascading snowy white limestones and natural springs of thermal water in this famous world heritage site known as Pamukkale is undeniably one of Turkey’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. 

Pamukkale, which literaly means "cotton castle" in Turkish is one of the world’s natural wonders.  Located in the inner Aegean region of Turkey in the province of Denizli, the city is rich with natural hot springs, travertines, and stunning terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.

Kusadasi

Turkey's Bird Island

Known as one of the most attractive tourist spots in the Aegean Region of Turkey, Kusadası which literally means “bird island” is a resort town which boasts many of its sun-kissed sandy beaches, clear blue waters, authentic seafood and kebab restaurants, active nightlife, and other forms of recreation and entertainment for holidaymakers.

Fethiye

Submerge yourself in one of nature’s most breathtaking scenery. 

Beautifully located on Turkey’s Mediterranean coastline, Fethiye boasts of an extraordinary natural beauty and a perfect climate which makes it an ideal holiday destination.  For those who haven't yet visited this coastal city,  Fethiye is one of the most famous holiday destinations in Turkey in the district of Muğla Province with about 68,000 inhabitants.

Cappadocia

The Land of Fairy Chimneys & Ancient Underground Cities

For those who love to explore the earth’s natural beauty unfolded by stunning rock formations, ancient underground cities and dwellings, subterranean churches, and other worldly rock formations which include the mystical Fairy Chimneys, then you shouldn't miss to visit Cappadocia.

Bodrum

A favorite holiday destination for yachting enthusiasts.

In the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey lies a beautiful port town in the province of Muğla known as Bodrum.  Formerly known as Halicarnassus in ancient Greek or Halikarnas in Turkish, Bodrum is a very popular resort and a favorite holiday destination in Turkey for yachting enthusiasts.  It has a Mediterranean climate with usually hot, humid summers and mild winters.