Property in Turkey

A breathtaking country of contradictions.

With its wonderful climate, friendly, hospitable people, world class cuisine, great service and reasonable prices, Turkey is just about the perfect place to buy a property. Straddling time as well as continents, this giant of a nation stands at the crossroads of three of the world’s great geographical regions: Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

But don’t be deceived: it’s not all whirling dervishes and smoky bazaars. Rather, Turkey knocks loudly at the door of modern Europe whilst managing to retain a tight grip on its rich and extraordinarily diverse history. Home to 13 successive civilisations spanning 10,000 years, Turkey is rightly known as the cradle of civilisation: beneath one vast mound, archeologists found Catalhoyuk, the world’s oldest city, from about 7000BC. The remains of great cultures ­ including the Hittites, Phrigians and Achaeans - have been unearthed in countless excavations from every corner of this fascinating country.

Turkey exudes an air of the exotic and the marvellous. Where else can you scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of one of Turkey’s famous beaches? Whether you choose to explore Turkey’s 5,000 miles of coastline, indulge your interest in archaeology, or simply shop ‘til you drop’, Turkey has it all and, thanks to a massive increase in exposure over the past few years, the country is thriving. And while costs are rising, Turkey remains one of the Mediterranean's bargain-basement destinations, offering real value for money. This bustling, energetic piece of paradise is undergoing huge changes, looking forward into the future and the potential of EU membership. Now is an exciting and optimistic time to immerse yourself in the Turkish experience.

You can get to and around Turkey by air, sea, rail and bus.

There are international airports at İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and some of the Mediterranean resorts. Turkish Airlines has direct flights from İstanbul to three dozen European cities and New York, as well as the Middle East, North Africa, Bangkok, Karachi, Singapore and Tokyo. It also links all major cities internally.

By train, the daily Bosfor Ekspresi links Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade and Sofia to İstanbul. The popular overnight Dostluk Ekspresi links İstanbul to Thessaloniki. You can travel by train and bus to Syria and Iran, and by bus to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Private ferries run between Turkey's Aegean coast and the Greek islands.

Buses are probably the most popular option within Turkey, going everywhere, cheaply and comfortably. Unless you are a supremely confident driver, don’t bother driving long distances and driving in Turkey’s cities is definitely not recommended. Dolmuses or shared taxis are a good choice if making short trips.

Nationals of the following countries can enter Turkey with a valid passport but a visa is required:

• Up to 3 Months:
• Germany, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Morocco, Fiji, Finland, France, Granada, Iran, Switzerland, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Canada, Qatar, Kenya, Kuwait, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Norway, Oman, St. Lucia, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Trinidad, Tobago, Tunisia, Vatican City, New Zealand, Greece, Ecuador, Sweden, Israel, South Korea, Uruguay.
• Up to 2 Months:
• The Republic of Croatia, The Republic of Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rumania, Macedonia, Indonesia.
• Up to 1 Month:
• Bolivia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, The Republic of South Africa.

Note: For the countries mentioned above and Bulgaria, a transit visa is not required.

Nationals of the following countries require a visa:

• Up to 3 Months:
• U.S.A., Austria, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and Portugal can obtain a sticker visa at border gates .
• Up to 1 Month:
• Azerbaijan, White Russia, Armenia, Moldavia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tadzhikistan Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Taiwan can obtain a sticker visa at border gates .
• Nationals of Guatemala can obtain a visa for up to 15 days at border gates.
• Nationals of Jordan, up to 30 days.

Nationals of all other countries require a visa, which can be obtained from the nearest Turkish embassy or consulate.

Note: Citizens of Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, and Greece may enter Turkey with the proper identity cards in lieu of a passport.

The Turkish currency is the New Turkish Lira (YTL), which comes in notes of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. The New Kurus (YKr) comes in coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and one New Turkish Lira. One hundred New Kurus equals one New Turkish Lira. With a cash machine on every corner, it's perfectly possible to get around Turkey with nothing else but a credit or debit card. It is easy to change major currencies in exchange offices, and many post offices (PTTs), shops and hotels. Banks, however, are not a good choice and cashing even major travellers cheques can be a hassle. There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than 55,000 worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country. When you convert foreign currency into Turkish lira, keep your exchange receipts, as you may need to show them when reconverting your Turkish lira back into foreign currency, and when taking souvenirs out of the country.

Tipping

In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a service charge is added to your bill, you're expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d'. Porters expect a couple of YTL; in taxis you might like to round up the bill; in other situations, for example, helpful tour guides or the hamam masseur, use your discretion.

Turkey’s fabulous climate and hugely varied landscape combine perfectly with its unique blend of ancient and modern: this means that not only is year-round outdoor living a real possibility but also that you’ll be hard pressed to get bored. You can go hot air ballooning over the Cappadocia mountain range in central Anatolia, probably the most stunning landscape in the whole of Turkey. You can paraglide over the Dead Sea, enjoy superb skiing in Uludag, scuba dive in Antalya, go mountaineering in mount Ararat and rafting on the River Coruh, readily acknowledged as one of the world’s top ten rivers. You can also go fishing, play golf, explore caves, visit hot springs and spas and hamams or relax on one of the infamous Blue Voyage yacht cruises along the Aegean or Mediterranean coastline. For those wanting a little less activity, opportunities for shopping abound, whether you’re after brand name clothing or the spices of the bazaar.

Turkey does has seasons but with much better temperatures than the UK. In winter, you'll find the temperatures by the south coast ranging between 5 and 15 degrees, in spring it warms up to 25 degrees. The summer is usually dry and hot from May through to September peaking at 45 degrees, cooling again as we move into autumn back down from 25 to 15 degrees.

Telephones

Country Dialing Code: 00 + 90 + local area code.

Public telephones have three different systems: Phonecards, tokens and credit cards. Phonecards and tokens (jeton) are sold at Turkish Telecom offices.
Turkish phone numbers consist of two sections: the area code (3 digits) and the number itself (7 digits). Calls are cheaper on week days from 18:00 to 06:00 and at weekends.
Mobile phones are freely available.

Post Offices

All post offices in Turkey bear the yellow PTT or Telekom sign. Larger and central offices are open from 08:00-24:00.

Internet

Internet cafes are everywhere, especially in touristic areas.

Turkey’s fabulous climate and hugely varied landscape combine perfectly with its unique blend of ancient and modern: this means that not only is year-round outdoor living a real possibility but also that you’ll be hard pressed to get bored. You can go hot air ballooning over the Cappadocia mountain range in central Anatolia, probably the most stunning landscape in the whole of Turkey. You can paraglide over the Dead Sea, enjoy superb skiing in Uludag, scuba dive in Antalya, go mountaineering in mount Ararat and rafting on the River Coruh, readily acknowledged as one of the world’s top ten rivers. You can also go fishing, play golf, explore caves, visit hot springs and spas and hamams or relax on one of the infamous Blue Voyage yacht cruises along the Aegean or Mediterranean coastline. For those wanting a little less activity, opportunities for shopping abound, whether you’re after brand name clothing or the spices of the bazaar

Turkey’s incredible history has resulted in a thriving arts and cultural scene which is uniquely Turkish in its manner and expression, despite or rather because of its wide variety of influences. Forbidden by Islam to portray human and animal forms in art, early Turkish artists turned their creative talents to music, poetry, choreography, weaving, architecture, wood and metal working, ceramics, glassblowing and jewellery. The republic’s founder, Atatürk, was an avid supporter of the arts, and actively encouraged participation in and development of theater, music and ballet, prompting the foundation of many state institutions. Literature too plays a vital role in Turkish cultural life, reflecting the history of the people, their legends, their mysticism, and the political and social changes and wranglings that have affected the country over many hundred of years. Turkey today boasts a thriving arts scene as well as a flourishing film industry. The country enjoys numerous arts festivals throughout the year, the most prestigious of which is the Istanbul Film Festival.

Turkish cuisine enjoys and rightly deserves a great reputation primarily due to its variety of healthy recipes and its distinctive tastes. Meat and fish play a large part in the average meal but vegetarians will find plenty to satisfy, even if a Turkish vegetarian is about as rare as a hen’s tooth. Main meals typically consist of meze (numerous small dishes of starters to share), followed by meat or fish, then fruit or a small sweet and coffee. Olive oil is one of the most frequently used ingredients.

• Dolma: vegetables such as vine leaves, green peppers and aubergines are stuffed with rice and spices and sometimes meat. Served hot or cold.
• Kasar: one of many popular cheeses. White and smooth, the Turkish cheddar.
• Simit: chewy sesame bread.
• Börek: cheese or mince filled flaky pastry.
• Lahmacun: a thin round bread with spicy minced meat topping.

More than 100 types of fish inhabit the seas surrounding three sides of the Anatolian peninsula. Having decided on what you fancy, you can proceed to grilled (izgara) or panfried (tava) fish, served with lemon wedges, fresh mixed salad and homemade chips. In Turkey, sauces served with fish are not very common. A perfect dish is always accompanied by a glass of raki, the main alcoholic drink of Turkey, made from grapes and anise. Turkish coffee, drunk after each meal and on every possible occasion, is unique in its preparation and taste. Strong and made specifically to the drinker’s taste, whatever you do, don’t drink the ‘sand’ in the bottom of the tiny cup!

Healthcare is complicated in Turkey. Public hospitals serve alongside deluxe private institutions. Most public hospitals are basic in the services they offer, even in the major cities, but the private care available is often rated as amongst the best in the world. Prices vary so ensure you are aware of fees should the need for medical attention arise. Services in dentistry and ophthalmology are superb.

No inoculations are needed, although care should be taken if travelling to endemic malaria areas in the south east. That said, mosquitoes can still be an irritation in summer. Help prevent mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers in the evening; use mosquito repellents on exposed areas

Most tap water in the larger towns and cities has been chlorinated, but bottled water is still recommended for drinking.

On entry

Personal effects of the tourist.

• One TV, one colour pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
• One video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector.
• One pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette - keyboard).
• One transistor radio and portable radio - tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
• Binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
• Harmonica, mandolin, flageole, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments).
• Personal sports equipment.
• Necessary medical items.
• Bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
• 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
• 200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff (In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
• 1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea. 1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets.
• 5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
• Five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
• One portable typewriter.
• One camera with 5 rolls of film.
• First aid, and spare parts for the car.

Other items necessary during the journey.

Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000 must be registered in the owner's passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner's passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
Sharp instruments (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year.
Note: Cellular Telephones entering the country must be accompanied by a certification form showing ownership. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit.
For more information contact the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate at
Tel: (312) 212 35 72 - 212 60 10 (10 lines)
Fax: (312) 221 32 26
Write to: Ulastirma Bakanligi Telsiz Gn. Md. Emek - Ankara.

On exit

Gifts and souvenirs:

Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
for a new carpet, a proof of purchase;
for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary.

Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner's passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.

Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the
MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research). Etüdler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
Tel: (312) 287 34 30 / 16 22
Fax: (312) 285 42 71

With the right people assisting you, purchasing an overseas property can be an enjoyable and rewarding affair ... one, we at PCI Turkey are familiar with. If you still have questions having read this section, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Some of the information in the information sections has been supplied by third parties, and PCI Turkey and its associated companies cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Professional advice should always be sought at the time of purchase.