Customs
Travelers are not required to pay duty on an appropriate amount of items for their personal use during their visit. In addition, the following duty-free allowances apply: no more than 5 100cc bottles of wine or alcohol; and 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco.
Currency Exchange
Banks are generally open from 8:30 or 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays. All banks change cash and travelers checks, but commissions vary. Money can also be changed at the PTT, the postal and telephone office. The Turkish lira is weaker than most currencies, so be conservative when buying lira. Be sure to keep your money exchange receipts, as you will need them to reconvert your currency upon departure. Credit cards are accepted for limited services and mostly in urban areas. ATM machines are more common in cities and resort destinations.
Tipping
A 10-15 percent service charge is included in the bill at most restaurants. But that money does not always go to the waiter, so an additional tip of 5 percent (in top restaurants, up to 10 percent) is customary. Hotel porters expect between US$2-US$5, and housekeepers, about US$2 a day. For taxi drivers, round off the fare to the nearest 5,000 TL. At Turkish baths, give the staff a shared tip of 30 to 35 percent of the bill.
General Business Hours
Museums: Typical hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, although some museums close for lunch and most are closed Mondays. Restaurants: Lunchtime is from noon to 3 p.m. and dinnertime from 7 to 10 -- hours more rigorously observed outside the big cities, where one can find a place to eat virtually anytime. Shopping: Normal hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but expect variations. Some shops stay open as long as customers keep coming; some close Friday evenings for religious observances; many stores are open on Sunday.
Value Added Tax
18%
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