Travelling to Turkey

Turkey is a great place to visit. It is located on the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. The country is bordered with Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The capital of Turkey is Ankara. The population is around 74 million people. The official language is Turkish.

Here are a few facts you should know before travelling to Turkey:

• Visa requirements. US citizens are required to obtain a visa. You can apply for it at any Turkish consulates. Americans also have an option of getting a tourist visa at the Turkish border gates, also known as a sticker visa.  Remember to not overstay your visa period in Turkey. If you do, you will be banned from entering the country from 3 months to 5 years, depending on the overstayed period. 
• Living necessities.
  • When traveling with your own electrical devices to another country, you should bring an adapter and a plug. Many expensive hotels in Turkey provide 120V 60Hz sockets in their rooms for US/Canada visitors’ convenience. The rest of the country use 220-240V, so you would need a travel plug adapter for your electrical devices.
  •  If you are planning to visit areas near Syria, you should get all the necessary vaccines. In these areas the biggest health threat is malaria; it is recommended to receive a dosage of prophylaxis.
• Climate. Climate in Turkey varies depending on the area. The best traveling time on Mediterranean coasts is from April to October. July and August are the hottest months, with temperatures exceeding 100F. If you are planning to go to the Black Sea coasts, then the best touring season is between April and September. For central, eastern and southeast areas, the best traveling season is between March and November.     
• Food. Turkey offers its travelers one of the most exotic foods in Europe. Turkish people take pride in their food. There are several must try dishes when traveling to Turkey: simit ( pretzel shape bread that is often sold on the streets), pide (pizza filled with various ingredients), doner kebap sandwich, kaymakli kuru kayisi (cream-stuffed apricots), and halva. If you have a stomach for exotic food, you should try some of Turkish delicacies like roasted pigeon in nut crust. 
• Sightseeing. Turkey is a beautiful place. It is rich in history sites and sea coats sites. The best way to see the Mediterranean or the Black sea coast line is to take a boat cruise.  This way you can enjoy swimming activities and see all the small cities along the coasts. If you prefer more land exploration, you should visit cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Don’t forget to visit Turkish museums and mosques to learn more about Turkish history. The most famous Turkish attractions are Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Sardis, and Aspendus.