Phone Information
As it belongs to two continents in Istanbul
there are two geographical regions : European and Asian sides. The
local telephone code of European side is 212 and the one of the Asian
side is 216. The national telephone code of Turkey is 90. All of the
telephone numbers consist of 7 digits. For example telephone number of
Galatasaray University is 2274480 and the code of the European side is
212. So if you want to call Galatasaray University from Asian side the
number transforms into 0212 2274480. If you want to call the same
number from abroad it transforms into 00902122274480. There are
prepayed telephone cards of Turkish Telecom specially designed for
calling abroad.
Currency
The currency in Turkey is New Turkish Lira
(TRY). Actually 1 US $ = 1.65 TRY and 1 Euro = 2.15 TRY (January 25,
2009).
Bank Services
In general Banks are open between 8,30 - 17,30
from Monday to Friday.
Electricity
The electricity supply is 220 V, 50 Hz, with
the type of sockets which are standard in most European countries.
Shopping
Almost all of the shopping centers are open
every day until 22.00 hours.
Drinking water
Although it is safe to drink tap water, it is
recommended to buy bottled drink water which can be found almost
everywhere at stores. There are several supermarkets in Besiktas which
is 15 minutes on walk from GS University. You can safely brush your
teeth with tap water.
Time Zone
The time zone is 1 hour later from Central
European Time Zone, 2 hours later from the Greenwich Mean Time.
Safety
Beware of dangerous and inconsiderate driving,
especially when crossing roads. Even if you are on a pedestrian
crossing, look carefully before crossing. Turkey is a comparatively
safe country as far as crime is concerned, but it is best to take
reasonable precautions against pickpockets in crowded areas.
Language
In Turkey the official language is Turkish.
The Turkish language comes from Central Asian Languages Family and very
different from the european languages. The Turkish alphabet is based on
the latin alphabet. In general, in Istanbul many people talk English
and you can easily communicate with other people. As Istanbul is a
touristic city you can find many tourism offices.
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