GENERAL INFORMATION

Country profile
Turkey is considered to be the gateway between Europe and Asia; it is an Eurasian country located on the Mediterranean stretching across the Anatolian peninsula in southwest Asia and the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. It is bordered by the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea, the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Official Name: Republic of Turkey
Capital: Ankara
Area: 780,580 sq. km.
Currency: New Turkish Lira (TRY) 1 USD = 1.77209 TRY
Official language: Turkish
Time zone: GMT +2
Dialing Code: +90
Internet top-level domain (TLD): .tr
Emergency services: 112
Population: ~68 million

TRANSPORT - GETTING THERE
Turkish Airlines and British Airlines (plus the low-cost easyJet) fly direct to Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir all year round. During the holiday season (May - October), cheap charter flights from operators like Thomas Cook and My Travel go to the coastal airports of Dalaman, Antalya and Bodrum.
CLIMATE
The Mediterranean Coast enjoys hot summers and relatively mild winters. The Black Sea coast is hot and humid in summer, and cold and wet in winter. The north-west and Istanbul can be balmy in summer but chilly in winter.
HEALTH
Private health insurance is essential for anyone planning to visit Turkey, no matter how short the stay.