| Best Time to Go:
Cappadocia is generally cooler than the coastal areas
of the Mediterranean and the Aegean. April to mid June
and September to November are the best months for avoiding
the intense heat and crowds of summer.
Weather: You can check the weather
forecast for Cappadocia before coming to Turkey at www.meteor.gov.tr
This site is available also in English. Enter NEVSEHIR
as the city for Cappadocia.
Clothing/Gear: Modest, season appropriate
clothes are suggested for visits to Cappadocia. Immodest
clothing for women (shorts, short skirts, tank tops
and tight fitting clothes) still invites unwanted attention
in this conservative region, especially in the less
visited villages. Long pants are recommended for those
who want to explore cave dwellings as some crawling
may be necessary and the tufa surfaces can be quite
rough. Be sure to bring a wide brimmed hat, sun tan
lotion, comfortable shoes, flash light and rain coat
(in spring) with you.
Please do not visit the underground cities if you have
the following conditions:
- Claustrophobia.
- Asthma or heart diseases.
Tipping: At various establishments: hotels, restaurants, Turkish baths, barbers
and hairdressers, tipping at a rate of 10%-15% of the
total is common.
Taxi and "dolmus" drivers on the other hand,
do not expect tips or even rounded fares.
Local time: GMT+3 hours (April-September)
GMT+2 hours (October-March)
Same Time period for all of Turkey.
Time Differences: Argentina -5, France
-1, Australia +8, Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria
-1, Greece 0, Sweden -1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland
-1, England -2, Japan +7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EAST) -10
(WEST)
* These time differences are for the period October-March;
however, they may show variances according to each country's
own time-saving adjustments.
Transportation:
- Turkish Airlines offers frequent domestic flights
to major cities within Turkey.
- Turkish Maritime Lines connects major ports along
the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean coasts --
it takes about two days to go from Istanbul along
the Black Sea to Trabzon via Sinop -- very enjoyable.
- There is rail service connecting most European countries
to Istanbul, and there's also rail service within
Turkey (it's usually slower than bus service).
- Express bus service connects many European capitals
and large cities with Istanbul on a regular (and fairly
inexpensive) basis. Inexpensive buses and minibuses
connect most points within the country.
- Self and chauffeur-driven cars are also available
(an excellent way to visit the country). Driving is
on the right. Major highways are in good shape, but
beware of slow-moving vehicles and animals. Taxis
(shared and metered) are the best way to travel within
most cities and towns.
- Shared taxis (dolmushes) travel on fixed routes
for fixed fares.
Gasoline: Super (premium) - Unleaded
- Diesel.
Electricity: 220 volts AC/50 Hz. all
over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V) Plug: European round/
2-prong plug.
Water: Although tap water is safe
to drink since it is chlorinated, it is recommended
to get advice from the concerned authorities of the
places resided.
It is not recommended to drink tap water in big cities.
Measurements: (Metric System is used
in all Turkey)
- 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters, 1 centimeter = 0.3937
inches
- 1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards
- 1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214
miles
- 1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046
pounds
- 1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres
- 1 UK gallon = 4.546 liters, 1 liter = 0.2199 UK
gallons
- 1 US gallon = 3.7831 liters, 1 liter = 0.2643 US
gallons
Newspapers and Magazines: Foreign
newspapers and magazines are available in big cities
and tourist areas. Also there is a daily newspaper,
Turkish Daily News, published in English.
In a mosque: Before entering a mosque,
Muslims wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign
visitors should also remove their shoes and show the
respect they would in any other house of worship and avoid
visiting the mosque during prayer time. Women should
cover their heads and arms, and not wear miniskirts.
Men should not wear shorts. (In certain famous mosques,
overalls are provided for those not suitably dressed.)
You can take pictures in a mosque but, people don’t
like their pictures taken while they pray.
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