Visitor Information

Everyone's first stop for comprehensive information on Turkey as well as visa requirements should be the Turkish Embassy website specific to your country (www.turkey.org or www.tourismturkey.org in the U.S., www.turkishembassy.com in Canada, www.turkishembassy.org.au in Australia, and www.gototurkey.co.uk in the U.K.). The embassy also administers a "consulate online" in English at www.trconsulate.org providing up-to-date information and, although completely unnecessary, visas in advance of arrival.

The Turkish Ministry of Culture (www.kultur.gov.tr) has an excellent website that contains cultural information, events, regional resources, and current-events articles. Two other great sites for current information are www.gatetoturkey.com, which also puts out The Gate magazine available in Istanbul airports, and www.mymerhaba.com, created by expats for expats living in Turkey.

In the U.S., the Turkish Government Tourist Office has a presence in both New York and Washington, D.C.: 821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212/687-2195) and 2525 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 306, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/612-6800), where you can stock up on maps, brochures, ferry schedules to Greece, and access to practical information via an interactive computer database.

Turkish Embassies & Consulates

In the U.S. -- For residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and The Bahamas: Turkish Embassy, 2525 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202/612-6700, fax 202/612-6744; Consular Section: tel. 202/612-6741; fax 202/319-1639; www.turkey.org).

For residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas: Turkish Consulate, 1990 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77056 (tel. 713/622-5849; fax 713/623-6639).

For residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington State, Wyoming, and the Pacific Islands: Turkish Consulate, 6300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2010, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (tel. 323/655-8832; fax 323/655-8681; www.trconsulate.org).

For residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin: Turkish Consulate, 360 Michigan Ave., Suite 1405, Chicago, IL 60601 (tel. 312/263-0644; fax 312/263-1449).

For residents of Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Puerto Rico: Turkish Consulate, 821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212/949-0160; fax 212/983-1293).

In Canada -- Turkish Embassy, 197 Wurtemburg St., Ottawa, ON K1N 8L9 (tel. 613/789-4044; fax 613/789-3442; www.turkishembassy.com). Also, Turkish Embassy Tourism Section, 360 Albert St., Suite 801, Ottawa, ON K1N 8L9 (tel. 613/789-4044; fax 613/789-3442).

In Australia & New Zealand -- Turkish Embassy, Canberra, 6 Moona Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600 (tel. 02/6234-0000; fax 02/6273-6592; www.turkishembassy.org.au).

In the U.K. -- Turkish Embassy, 43 Belgrave Sq., London SW1X 8PA (tel. 020/7393-0202; fax 020/7393-0066; www.turkishembassylondon.org). The Turkish Consulate General is at Rutland Lodge, Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge SW7 1BW (tel. 020/7589-0360; fax 020/7584-6235; www.turkishconsulate.org.uk). The Turkish Culture and Tourism Office is at 170-173 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EJ (tel. 020/7629-7771; fax 020/7491-0773; www.gototurkey.co.uk).

Entry Requirements

Visas

An entry visa for Turkey is required for citizens of the U.S. (US$20 for a single entry for stays up to 3 months), Canada (US$60 or 45€ on arrival, valid for 90 days and multiple entries), the U.K. (£10 on entry; £50 in advance for multiple entries up to 3 months), and Australia (A$68 on arrival), while a valid passport is sufficient for citizens of New Zealand.

There is no need to acquire an entry visa prior to departure, because obtaining one on arrival is a no-brainer. While it is standard practice for consulates to provide visas in advance, obtaining a visa at the airport will actually be less of a hassle than applying for a visa in your home country. Upon arrival, go to the visa window next to and before clearing Customs and fork over the required cash. Actually, in many cases it will be more expensive if you apply for a visa in advance.

Consulates in Istanbul -- The United States, Istinye Mah., Kaplicalar Mevkii 2 (tel. 0212/335-9000); Canada, Istiklal Cad. 373/5 (tel. 0212/251-9838); United Kingdom, 34 Mesrutiyet Cad., Tepebasi (tel. 0212/334-6500); Australia, Askerocagi Cad. 15, Sisli (tel. 0212/243-1333).

Customs

On Entry -- The Turkish government has established a list of items that may be brought into the country duty-free. In addition to personal effects, travelers are permitted one video player; one laptop computer; one portable radio/tape player; one pair of binoculars (no night vision allowed); one camera and five rolls of film; one typewriter; personal sporting equipment; necessary medical items; gifts not exceeding $300; spare car parts; and various other relatively improbable items for the average tourist. (A complete list is available through the Turkish Embassy website.) Sharp instruments and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission (diving and camping knives included). Obviously, the importation, buying, selling, and consumption of marijuana and other narcotics is strictly forbidden. You shouldn't need to watch Midnight Express to figure that one out.

On Exit -- For valuables purchased during your stay, be prepared to provide receipts or other proof of purchase -- particularly for that 4*6 prize silk Hereke -- to avoid problems with Turkish Customs when you leave and to aid in declarations in your home country. Forget about having your carpet salesman lie on the official Certificate of Origin, because the U.S. immigration police are prepared to consult their little carpet blue book if you try to slip through without paying up. Be aware that the authentic 16th-century porcelain soup tureen that you bought or those authentic ancient coins attached to your new necklace are either fake or unable to make the journey with you; it is illegal to take antiquities or anything of historical value out of the country. To enforce this, the Turkish government requires that anything dating to the end of the 19th century be authenticated by a museum official before its exportation can even be considered. It is also illegal to carry out tobacco seeds and plants, or hides, skins, or clothing made from wild animals. For items dating prior to the 20th century, permission plus a certificate of authenticity from a museum official is needed. Minerals require special documentation obtainable from the General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research in Ankara (tel. 0312/287-3430; www.mta.gov.tr).