Turkey travel checklist: what to do before you go

Three months out is when the cheap seats and the good cave rooms are still available, and when a passport problem can still be fixed in time. Work through the list in order: documents first, then money, then bookings.

Book long-haul flights before domestic ones. Turkey's domestic network is dense and cheap, so Istanbul–Cappadocia or Istanbul–İzmir can wait a few weeks, but the international leg sets your dates. If your trip falls in a Bayram week, move earlier: domestic buses, flights and coastal hotels sell out and prices climb.

One month out, lock the internal plan. Book domestic flights or buses, reserve the cave hotel in Cappadocia and any gulet or balloon slot, and set a rough daily budget. Balloon flights in Cappadocia are weather-dependent and the good operators fill first, so book and keep a spare morning.

Sort money now rather than at the airport. Tell your bank you are travelling, order a small amount of lira or plan to withdraw on arrival, and check whether your card charges foreign transaction fees. Carry some cash: small notes are useful for taxis, ferries, toilets and tips.

A week before, finish the admin and pack. Print or download your e-Visa, insurance policy and first night's booking, and save them offline. Check the weather for each stop: Istanbul and the Aegean in spring and autumn can be cool at night, Cappadocia is cold at dawn even in summer, and the coast is hot in July and August.

Recheck your flight times, confirm the airport transfer, and download offline maps and a translation app. If you take regular medication, pack enough for the whole trip in hand luggage with the prescription.

On the day, carry the passport, e-Visa and insurance details on you, not in the hold. Arrive at the airport with the usual buffer, and keep a pen for any landing form. Change or withdraw a small amount of lira at the airport for the transfer, then use city ATMs or exchange offices for better rates.

On arrival, buy or top up an Istanbulkart if you start in Istanbul, and agree the taxi fare or use a metered cab or app. Save your hotel address in Turkish to show a driver. Then the trip starts: eat, walk, and keep the first day light.

Your passport is the gate. Many visitors are asked for at least 150 days of validity beyond their entry date and a blank page or two; rules differ by nationality, so confirm with your own government's travel advice before booking. If you need a new passport, start now: processing can take weeks.

Visa rules vary widely. Some nationalities enter visa-free for tourism, others buy an e-Visa online before travel, and a few need a sticker visa from a consulate. Buy the e-Visa only from the official government site, never from a lookalike agency that charges a markup. Carry a printed copy as well as the phone version.

Also worth having: travel insurance documents, your driving licence and an International Driving Permit if you plan to drive, and copies of everything in cloud storage.

Turkey runs on the lira (TRY, ₺), with notes from ₺5 to ₺200. As of September 2026 about ₺56 buys €1, but the rate moves, so treat any figure as a 2026 estimate and check on the day. Cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and chain shops; small cafés, markets, buses and rural guesthouses often want cash.

Withdraw from bank ATMs rather than airport kiosks, decline the machine's own conversion and let your bank do it, and carry a backup card kept separately. Tipping is normal: 5–10% in restaurants, round up taxis, and tip hamam staff and guides.

No special vaccines are required for Turkey for most travellers, but routine shots should be current and hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended. Rabies and hepatitis B are sometimes suggested for longer or rural trips. Check with a travel clinic four to six weeks before departure, since some courses need several doses.

Buy insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, not just cancellation. Tap water is not for drinking in most of the country; stick to sealed bottles or filtered water. Summer heat on the coast and in the south-east is a real risk, so plan around midday and carry water. Pharmacies are common and staff often speak some English.

Pack for the season and the stops, not for one climate. Layers work best: a light jacket for Aegean evenings, a warm layer for Cappadocia dawns, and sun protection for the coast. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else, because the sights are cobbled, steep or both.

Bring a modest layer for mosques, a scarf for women, and socks you can slip off. Add a universal adapter for types C and F plugs, a power bank, and a small day bag. Leave space: textiles, ceramics and coffee are easy to buy.