Useful Info – Italy-Turkey ferries

DOCUMENTS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD
To enter Turkey (for a maximum period of three months without having to request a visa), all Italian citizens without vehicles need merely present a municipal ID card valid for travel abroad or a valid passport. Those driving a motor vehicle that they own must present a valid passport. Drivers of vehicles that are not her own property must also have a notarised authorisation from the owner. It should be remembered that the Italian State requires citizens departing for Turkey to present a valid passport.
LANGUAGE
The official language is the Ural-Altic version of the Turkish language (in some respects very similar to the Hungarian-Finnish languages), and it is written Latin characters.
CURRENCY
The official currency is the Turkish Lira, or TL, which is constantly varied and updated. There is no set limit for the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Turkey, though we suggest that no more than € 5,000 per person be brought in. Once you arrive in Turkey, you can change money into Turkish Lira at banks, post offices and currency-exchange offices (we suggest that you keep the exchange receipts, which you might be asked to show when you return home or change the Turkish Lira back into your currency) and then change it back on your return. All credit cards on the international circuit are widely accepted. There is no problem with using Euro-cheques and/or Travellers’ cheques either, assuming the appropriate documentation is presented. The Turkish Lira is a currency with both coins and bills: the coins come in denominations of 25,000 TL, 50,000 TL and 100,000 TL. The bills in denominations of 250,000 TL, 500,000 TL, 1,000,000 TL, 5,000,000 TL 10,000,000 TL and 20,000,000 TL.
ELECTRICAL CURRENT
The electrical current is normally supplied at 220 volt.
TELEPHONE
For calls from Italy to Turkey, you must dial the international code 0090, followed by the local area code without the first zero (Ankara 312, Antalya 242 European Istanbul 212, Asian Istanbul 216) and, finally, the number being called. To call from Turkey to Italy, dial the international code 0039, followed by the area code of the city, complete with the zero, and the number being called (leave the zero off the area code in the case of mobile phones).
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN CROATIA
110 Fire fighters - 112 Emergencies - 114 International operator-assisted calls – Requests for telephone numbers - 131 International operator-assisted calls - 135 Wake-up - 153 Municipal Police - 154 Highway Police - 155 Police Headquarters - 156 Gendarme Police - 158 Coastguard - 177 forest fire emergencies - 184 medical info.
CUSTOMS
Tourists may bring into Turkey, without having to pay customs duties, their personal belongings, plus food and anything else that falls within the normal travelling items of a tourist, within quantities fitting for normal personal needs (for example, 1 movie camera, 1 CD reader, 1 TV, foodstuffs, 200 cigarettes etc.). Personal objects of significant value (jewels, cars, motorcycles) must be registered on the owner’s passport upon entering Turkey, so that it can be controlled that they leave the country at the moment of departure. No firearms may be brought in (unless a special authorisation is issued, nor may any type of drugs be introduced into the country).
CLIMATE
The climate in Turkey varies, given the vast reach of its territory. The climate of the coast that faces onto the Aegean and the Mediterranean Seas is potentially mild in Spring and hotter in summer. We recommend cotton clothing for the daytime hours and heavier clothing for night, and we urge warmer garments in the event that you travel to the interior or at higher altitudes.
TURKISH CUISINES
Turkish cuisine is famed throughout the world for its excellence, thanks to genuine ingredients such as rice, mutton and beef, fish, fruit and produce, all served with fine wine or local beers. At the end of a meal, be sure not to forget the "Raki", a distilled spirit with a strong taste of aniseth and the famous Turkish coffee.
MARITIME CONNECTIONS
Highly developed in Turkey, being run by both private companies and government enterprises, they represent a valid alternative to land connections along the lengthy coasts of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas. Obviously, they are the only choice for reaching the islands.
THE ROADWAY NETWORK
Turkey has a satisfactory roadway network that is constantly being updated. For those arriving by land from Europe, the crossing is quick and charming (Bosphorus Istanbul), and an excellent highway makes it possible to continue on to Izmir (South) or Ankara. The roadway signs and markings follow internationals standards, as do the speed limits of 50 km/h in inhabited areas and 90 km/h on extra-urban roads.
BUSINESS HOURS
In government offices 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm (closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). Banks operate from 8:30 am to noon and from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm (closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). Stores, apart from the necessary exceptions in tourist locales, are open non-stop from 9:30 am to 7:00 pm (closed Sundays and, in some cases, on Saturdays as well). Museums and historic buildings are open non-stop, except Mondays, but it is best to check on the spot.
TIME ZONE
The time is always one hour behind, both during daylight savings time and standard time.
EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
Italian Embassy in Ankara, Ataturk Bulv, 118 Kavaklidere Tel 0 312 4265460 Fax 4265800. There are consulates in: Antalya Tel. 0 242 2445313 Fax 3234365, Bursa Tel 0 224 2349682 Fax 2355514, Iskenderun Fax 0 326 6130364 Istanbul Tel 0 212 2431024 Fax 2525879, Izmir Tel 0 232 4636676 Fax 4212512.