First timer to Turkey

[Doggymummy86]

Hello 🙂
I’m visiting Antalya, Turkey for the first time in August and I was wondering if I could get some peoples past experiences, what’s the best currency to take lira or euros ? And what’s the best thing to see around that area ??

🇹🇷 🍹

I've not been to Antalya but I have been going to Turkey for many years and I used to live out there.

The best thing to do re: money is take a small amount of lira with you for the first day and then either take sterling and exchange out there or withdraw cash from the ATMs. There is no point in taking euro as you would lose out on exchanging. They do price a lot of things in euros in Antalya as a lot of people form Europe visit but it's best to use lira.

I'm sure you are going to love Turkey!

Thank you so much 🙂 there’s so many people saying different things and I don’t want to be stuck over there 😁 I can’t wait to go ... is it true you need to take you passport and visas if you are visiting outside the resort ?

We used euros in the hotel and lira when out and about

I've been the last 4 years in a row and yes, you should carry your passport and visas at all times. The police stopped the dolmus we were on more than once to check people documents.

I've been turkey many a time it's beautiful but I tend to go to Oludeniz. I love everything about Turkey and it's so cheap! Have fun :)
Oh and I always change money when I get there not this end.

Thank you so much 🙂 that really helps I was just getting conflicting “ideas”
Can’t wait to go, let’s hope I’m converted 🇹🇷🍹🌅

Take whatever your own currency is and exchange it in Turkey as you'll get a better rate of exchange there.Have a great time.

Yes, you need to carry your passport and a paper copy of your visa with you at all times.

I've never taken my passport out and I've been three times. Off again in a few weeks so I'll see. My brother and wife live in Fethiye and never take theirs out either.

Sootica - been to Turkey many times and just had a complete brain storm when doing visa application and stupidly put London down on ds's visa application rather than the area of London he was born in and which is on his passport (eg put London down instead of Wandsworth).

I need to do it again, don't I? And spend another $20.55.... or do you think the nice Passport & Visa stampers won't care...??? How many of these have I done over the years....??? Can't believe I didn't notice.

Mimble - Well it should match exactly what it says on the passport so I think it would be safer to do it again :(

Tillynoodles, i have been going to Turkey for nearly 30 years and I have never been asked either but it is the law and if you are stopped and don't have it you could be taken down to the police station and fined!

I have heard of a lot of people being asked this year so I won't be taking a chance. Turkish people have to, by law, carry their ID cards.

Been to Antalya the last 4 years and never taken my passport out and about with me.

Take Lira, but you'll be told everything in Euros. The knock off shops (hundreds of them) are open to bartering if you're shopping, but don't take the piss. I love Lara Beach and Side around there.

Just ensure you have more modest clothing if you want to visit the lest resort type areas. Dress code isn't that strict but a below knee dress and a shirt to put over your arms protects you from the sun too (headscarves only needed in religious buildings). Turkey welcomes tourists but remember they are an Islamic country so public drunkenness and displays of affection are frowned upon - I know too many young people who have fallen foul of the authorities there

We went to Antalya a couple of years ago, the old town is beautiful! we took Lira for going out but used Euros in the hotel and the nearby shops. Also, prepare for delays coming back because their airport is a nightmare! There are numerous body scanners, bag checks and all our belongings (including the boarding pass given at the airport), stomach, hands, passport etc were drugs swabbed when we went to the gate.

We went earlier this year. We took lira. Went out loads of times and never took passports and visas. Loved it there! Definitely going to go again.

Yes, Soot, I've reconciled myself to doing it again. I didn't fancy a discussion about it at the airport and my ds would be less than impressed if he was sent home especially as we're meeting up with Turkish family we haven't seen for a while. I don't know what came over me - I've done this visa thing so many times!

Ho hum.

Have a look at Revolut banking app.

Do you still apply for a visa in terms airport, or before you travel?

Do it online before you travel. I'm not sure how to do it as my husband did it but I think it does save time and hassle on the other side.

We’ve just got our visas via the government website ... be careful going through any other website, one tried to charge us £76 per visa !!!! Looking forward to going 😃

Get visas before you go. They cost $20 from the govt. site. Don’t fall for the sites that charge more as Doggy says. Total rip off merchants.