Official Name: Republic of Turkey
Date of Foundation: October 29, 1923
Capital: Ankara
Largest Cities: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya
Area: 814.578 km2
Geographical Coordinates: Eastern Meridians 26° and 45° and Northern Parallels 36° and 42°
Coastal Borders: Mediterranean Sea in the south, Aegean Sea in the west and Black Sea in the north
Language: The official language is Turkish. English is widely spoken in major cities.
Currency: TL (Turkish Lira) 1 Euro approximately equals to 2, 30 Turkish Liras.
Time Zone: GMT+2; CET +1; and EST (US -East) +7
Business Hours: The workweek in Turkey runs from Monday to Friday. Banks, government offices and majority of corporate offices open at 9 AM and close at 5 PM.
Public Holidays: There are two types of public holiday in Turkey: Those fall on the same day each year; and the religious festivals which change according to the lunar calendar and, therefore, fall on different dates each year. 1 January, 23 April, 1 May, 19 May, 30 August, 28 & 29 October Eid (Ramadan): 8-11 September 2010 Greater Eid: 15-19 November 2010
Visas: Visas are easily obtained upon arrival to the airport and are required for citizens of most countries.
Electricity: 220V. European standard round two-pin sockets.
Health Services: Cities and major touristic towns have a selection of private international and public hospitals with good standards.
Food: As with many Mediterranean nations Turkish food is very healthy, fresh and enjoyable.
Water: Tap water is chlorinated and, therefore, safe to drink. However, it is recommended that you consume bottled water, which is readily and cheaply available
Communications: Turkey has three GSM operators, with all of them offering 3G services and almost over 95% coverage over the country. Internet service is available all around the country.
International Dial Code: +90