Turkey - Prepare

Bring cool cottons and sunblock, a willingness to drink tea when haggling for carpets, and an empty suitcase for market souvenirs.

Cheer the two-humped stars in January's camel wrestling festivals then chill at the huge Istanbul Jazz Festival in February. Cheer on leather-clad, oil-drenched big guys at Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling (Jun), learn to appreciate men in tights at the historical amphitheatre for Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival (Jul), and get your binoculars out for migrating season at Butterfly Valley from June to September. Catch the Whirling Dervishes for their biggest show at historical Konya.

New Year's Day (1 Jan), Kurban Bayram (Feast of Sacrifice; Jan), National Sovereignty and Children's Day (23 Apr), Ataturk Commemorations and Youth Sports Day (19 May), Victory Day (30 Aug), Seker Bayram (Festival of the Breaking of the Fast; Oct), Republic Day (28/29 Oct). Based on the lunar calendar, Islamic holidays move forward approximately 10 days every Western year.

Istanbul and the Marmara region enjoy hot summers (25°C-30°C), comfortable warm autumns (16°C), and chilly, wet winters (5°C) from November to February. The Black Sea coast is cool and wet most of the year. Central Anatolia sees hot dry summers (23°C) and cold harsh winters (0°C), with parts of eastern Anatolia plummeting to -15°C in winter. The dry plains of the south-east, bordering Syria, can rise to 40°C in summer.

220V AC, 50Hz, two-pin round plugs are standard.

+90 (national).

New Turkish Lira (YTL) is the currency. This is a devalued version of the old Turkish Lira (with multiple zeros), which went out of circulation in December 2005.

+2; +3 in summertime (end March – end October).

Turkish Culture and Tourism Office website

Men greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks, although contact between the sexes is limited in public outside the cities. Most people in the country have a strong allegiance to a football club – usually an Istanbul club, so choosing a team on your arrival and buying a scarf (in winter) will make friends. Women should dress conservatively in most places, especially rural areas, covering legs and upper arms.