Facts about Turkey

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and there are 81 provinces.

The provinces of Turkey are organized into 7 census-defined regions. (Aegean Region, Black Sea Region, Central Anatolia Region, Eastern Anatolia Region, Marmara Region, Mediterranean Region, Southeastern Anatolia Region)

Turkey extends both on the European and on the Asian sides of the Bosphorus, and İstanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents.

The president is Abdullah Gül and the Premier Minister is Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The population of Turkey is 73,914,000 as a last population census in 2008.

With nearly 13 million people, İstanbul is the most populous city of Turkey.

There are some five million Turks working and living in EU countries—most in Germany.

Tourist attractions from Istanbul:

Please find more about places to visit in Istanbul (PDF - 5Mb)

Ethnicity of Turkey:

According to a 2008 report prepared for the National Security Council of Turkey by academics of three Turkish universities in eastern Anatolia, there were approximately 50 to 55 million ethnic Turks, 12,5 million Kurds (including 3 million Zazas), 2,5 million Circassians (Adyghe), 2 million Bosniaks, 1,3 million Albanians, 1 million Georgians, 870,000 Arabs, 700,000 Roma, 600,000 Pomaks, 80,000 Laz, 60,000 Armenians, 20,000 Jews, 15,000 Greeks and 13,000 Hemshins living in Turkey.

Climate of Turkey:

Because of Turkey's geographical conditions, one can not speak about a general overall climate. In İstanbul and around the Sea of Marmara (Marmara region) the climate is moderate (winter 4 deg.C and summer 27 deg.C); in winter the temperature can drop below zero. In Western Anatolia (Aegean region) there is a mild Mediterranean climate with average temperatures of 9 deg.C in winter and 29 deg.C in summer. On the southern coast of Anatolia (Mediterranean region) the same climate can be found. The climate of the Anatolian Plateau (Central Anatolian region) is a steppe climate (there is a great temperature difference between day and night). Rainfall is low and there is more snow. The average temperature is 23 deg.C in summer and -2 deg.C in winter. The climate in the Black Sea area (Black Sea region) is wet, warm and humid (summer 23 deg.C, winter 7 deg.C). In Eastern Anatolia and South-Eastern Anatolia there is a long hard winter, where year after year snow lies on the ground from November until the end of April (the average temperature in winter is -13 deg.C and in summer 17 deg.C).

The Average High Temperature is 19 C with a historical range of 13 C to 25 C

The Average Low Temperature is 14 C with a historical range of 10 C to 18 C

To check the current weather conditions in Turkey, please visit http://www.dmi.gov.tr

Transportation in İstanbul

Bus: Transportation by bus is available across the city. Tickets are required for boarding and can be purchased from the ticket sales points at the bus stations. The fare is equivalent to $1.

Taxi: Round-the-clock taxi service is available in the city. Taxis operate by the meter. A 50% surcharge is applied between the hours of 12:01am and 6:00am.

The taxi prices (approximately);

From İstanbul Ataturk Airport to

• Sultanahmet (Old City) : 30 TL (15 Euro)
• Gayrettepe or Şişli : 50 TL (25 Euro)
• Meeting venue (Beşiktaş or Ortaköy: 50 TL (25 Euro)
• Taksim (City Center): 50 TL (25 Euro)
• From Taksim to Bahçeşehir University: 10 TL (5 Euro)

Boat : Ferry boats and fast catamarans operate between the two shores of İstanbul - Europe and Asia. The boat landings on the European side of the city are at Beşiktaş Kabataş, Karaköy, Eminönü and are at Üsküdar, Kadıköy, Bostancı (near the meeting venue) on the Asian side. Boat fares are about $1 and can be obtained from the landing sites.

Tramway Service: Modern tramways operate in the European suburbs of İstanbul, mainly in the old city.

Metro: Underground metro system is available between Taksim Square and Maslak. In addition, light rail service operates between Kabatas and İstanbul Ataturk Airport.

Secure Drive: Secure drive service is a comfortable and secure transportation for passengers. To check prices and for reservation, visit http://www.securedrive.com.tr

Currency

The Turkish Lira (TL) is the currency of Turkey. Cash can be exchanged at banks and foreign exchange offices during office hours. The official exchange rate is listed daily at banks and exchange offices. All major credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and stores.

Warning

İstanbul is generally a safe city. Nevertheless, you should always be aware of cheating by cab drivers and of pickpockets, particularly in trams and metro. It is advisable to ask for the hotel to call a taxi for you.

Emergency Numbers in Turkey

• Ambulance 112
• Police 155