Turkey has so much to offer her visitors; breathtaking natural beauties, unique historical and archaeological sites, steadily improving hotel and touristic infrastructure and a tradition of hospitality and competitive prices. Therefore, it is not surprising that this country has recently become one of the world's most popular tourism destinations. Due to Turkey's diverse geography, one can experience four different climates in any one day. The rectangular shaped country is surrounded on three sides by three different seas. Its shores are laced with beaches, bays, coves, ports, islands and peninsulas. The summers are long, lasting as long as eight months in some areas. Turkey is also blessed with majestic mountains and valleys, lakes, rivers, waterfalls and grottoes perfect for winter and summer tourism and sports of all kinds.

COUNTRY PROFILE & FACTS

Official Name
Republic of Turkey 
Date of Foundation
29 October 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 holidays in Turkey: Those that 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): 30 August & 1st September 2011 
Greater Eid: 7-9 November 2011 
Visas
Visas are easily obtained upon arrival at 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, all of them offering 3G services and almost 95% coverage over the country. Internet service is available all around the country. 
International Dial Code
+90