Turkey Travel Facts for Yachts

Fact File for Turkey

Cruising eastwards along the Turquoise Coast, from Bodrum towards Antalya, you embrace some of the most pristine and historical cruising waters in the world. From ancient forts to tranquil seaside villages, dense pine forests to arid, rocky mountains and deserted bays, there’s breathtaking natural beauty and sites so old that make you realize how young we are!

COORDINATES: 39º00N, 35º00E

LANGUAGE: Turkish

REGION'S CAPITAL: Antalya

WEATHER: Average temperatures during cruising season are 23-26C (73-79F). The Meltemi thermal wind (May to October) peaks in July/August. Daily breezes are generally stronger in the afternoon and drop to complete stillness at night. Winds are usually W-NW, 10-20 knots.

BEST TIME TO CHARTER: Mid-May to October

AIRPORTS: Izmir International Airport (ADB), Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV), Dalaman Airport (DLM)

TIME: UTC+2 (winter), UTC+3 (summer)

CURRENCY: New Turkish Lira (YTL), many establishments and resort areas accept Euros; Visa is the most popular credit card followed by MasterCard. AmEx can be rejected in smaller establishments. ATMs are found in many urban areas.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V, 50 Hz

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

1 Jan - New Years Day
23 Apr - National Sovereignty and Children's Day
1 May - Labor and Solidarity Day
19 May - Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day
30 Aug - Victory Day
29 Oct - Republic Day

MAIN PORTS AND MARINAS: Fethiye, Göcek, Marmaris, Datça, Bodrum, Kuşadasi, Ҫeşme

RECOMMENDED BEACHES: Ölüdeniz, Iztuzu Beach, Bodrum, Marmaris, Loryma Peninsula

CULTURAL: Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable but beachwear is restricted to beach or poolside. Smoking is widely acceptable but prohibited in cinemas, theatres and buses. When visiting a mosque, women should cover their hair and wear long-sleeve tops, and both men and women should wear longer pants. Knowing a couple of basic words in Turkish will be appreciated (merhaba=hello, günaydın=good morning, teşekkür ederim=thank you).