Question 1

Do I need a visa for Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

US, UK, Canadian and Australian passports need an e-Visa (around $50, ten minutes online, instant approval). EU passports enter visa-free for 90 days. The e-Visa is multi-entry within its 180-day window. Apply through the official portal, not the look-alike sites that charge a markup.

Question 2

Cards or cash in Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

Cards work in Istanbul, the resort coast and the cave hotels of Cappadocia. The bazaar still bargains in lira (and increasingly euros and dollars at the gold counters). Carry TRY 2,000–3,000 per day. The lira's volatility means most prices in tourist areas are quoted in euros now — check the rate before you commit.

Question 3

How does tipping work in Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

10% in restaurants if not on the bill. Round up taxi fares, TRY 20–50 per bag for porters. Hammam staff: 15–20% on the treatment price. Bazaar shopkeepers don't expect tips but will pour endless apple tea — buying a small thing is the polite reciprocation if you've taken twenty minutes of their time.

Question 4

How do I get around Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

Turkish Airlines and Pegasus run cheap, frequent domestic hops — Istanbul to Cappadocia (Kayseri or Nevşehir) is 90 minutes. Inside Istanbul, the new metro lines beat traffic comprehensively. For the Lycian coast, gulet charters out of Bodrum, Göcek or Marmaris are the right move from May through October.

Question 5

When should I avoid Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

The southwest coast and the Aegean from mid-July through August — 38°C+, packed beaches, gulet rates at peak. Cappadocia in winter (December–February) sometimes loses balloon flights to weather for days at a time. Istanbul during Ramadan is perfectly travellable but the rhythm of restaurants and bazaars shifts; non-Muslim travellers should eat discreetly during daylight hours.

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