Insider Travel Tips

What documentation is required to travel to Türkiye?

Visitors from Canada and the United States entering Türkiye require a valid passport and are exempted from requiring a visa up to 90 days in any 180-day period. All travellers should have a passport valid for beyond six months from the time of travel.

How much does a trip to Türkiye typically cost?

In general, Türkiye is an affordable vacation destination. An individual traveller planning a one week vacation should budget $3,000, not including international airfare. Domestic flights within Türkiye are priced very reasonably, and a time saver for those looking to travel to different ends of the country. Dining is very reasonable in Türkiye, but note alcoholic beverages tend to be high in price due to taxation.

Where are some of the best places to vacation in Türkiye?

Türkiye is located where East meets West, and is known for its blend of cultures and history across the country. Given its size, traveling all of Türkiye in one trip would be hard to do. However, do start your trip in the capital city of Istanbul, layered with thousands of years of history, and iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace. Travel down to Izmir to spend time walking the open-air ancient Roman Agora of Smyrna museum, and continue on to relax at the beaches of the Çeşme Peninsula along the Aegean coast. Fly to the Cappadocia region in the middle of Türkiye to stay in a cave hotel and wake before sunrise to fly high above the Goreme National Park for a hot air balloon ride and birds eye view of the captivating mushroom-shaped fairy chimney rocks.

How do I plan a trip to Türkiye?

Plan a Türkiye vacation that caters to your exact travel needs, including your style of travel, with a recommended length of 10-14 days. Want to visit the archaeological site of Troy and the famed trojan horse, or see where chariots were once raced for massive crowds at Hippodrome Square in Istanbul? Discover freedom and flexibility while with a tailor-made itinerary for Türkiye with the help of a Goway Destination Specialist.

Is Türkiye LGBTQ+ friendly?

Türkiye lacks any legal support of the LGBTQ+ community, as there are no anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. However, same-sex relationships are not against the law in Türkiye. That said, most travellers find the country, especially in Istanbul, to be tolerant if conducting themselves in a respectful way publicly. As a predominantly Muslim country, Türkiye generally holds traditional views towards the LGBTQ+ community, especially with older generations in rural areas.

What currency is used in Türkiye?

The Turkish lira (TRY) is the official currency of Türkiye, as they are not part of the European Union. It is recommended to travel with some local currency, especially for purchases from local vendors such as at bazaars. Otherwise, you will find credit cards are widely accepted. On average $1 USD is worth 30 Turkish lira, but check the latest rate before travelling as the Turkish lira has been greatly fluctuating.

Do I need to tip in Türkiye?

In general, tipping for meals and services in Türkiye is considered customary. Plan to add a modest 10% to the bill total. You may encounter some restaurants that have already added a tip to the bill.

How do I get around Türkiye?

There are very few trains in Türkiye. However, several reputable coach services are available. Renting a car for a road trip is also an option, however major destinations are lengthy drives. Taking domestic flights within Türkiye, which are typically reasonably priced, is the simplest way to visit multiple destinations.

Can you drink the water in Türkiye?

Most tourists opt to drink readily available bottled water. Tap water is okay for brushing teeth and doing laundry, however, it’s often heavily treated with chlorine and has an unpleasant taste to most.