First Time in Türkiye: Practical Tips for Your Trip

A first trip to Türkiye is usually easier than people expect. Hospitality is generous, the coast is well set up for visitors, and most everyday questions have simple answers. Still, a few things work differently from home, from how you pay on the bus to what happens to your phone after four months. Here is what we tell friends before their first visit to the Bodrum Peninsula.

Entry and paperwork

Many nationalities, including most EU citizens and the UK, can visit Türkiye without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Others need an e-Visa, which you should only ever buy from the official government e-Visa website. Rules change, so check your own country’s travel advice before you book.

Make sure your passport has enough validity left; requirements vary by nationality. Keep a photo of your passport’s photo page on your phone, and carry the real thing when you take a day trip abroad, such as a ferry to Kos.

Money, cards and cash

The currency is the Turkish lira (TL or ₺). Card payments are normal almost everywhere on the peninsula, including supermarkets, most restaurants and many market stalls, and contactless is widely used. Visa and Mastercard are the safest choices; American Express is accepted less often.

You will still want some cash for small purchases, village shops, tips and the occasional place that does not take cards. Use ATMs attached to bank branches, and expect a fee for foreign cards. When a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, always choose lira instead. The conversion offered at the point of sale is almost always worse than your bank’s.

Because inflation is high, prices change quickly. Menus get reprinted often, and a price you read online last year may be well out of date.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated but voluntary. In restaurants, around 5–10 per cent is common when service has been good, and many people simply round up. In cafés, leaving small change is enough. For taxis, rounding up the fare is the norm. Hotel porters and housekeeping staff appreciate a small tip, and on a private boat trip it is customary to tip the crew if they have looked after you well.

Tips are often easier to give in cash, as not every card machine has an option to add one.

Phones, SIM cards and the 120-day rule

The easiest option for most visitors is a travel eSIM set up before you leave, or a Turkish SIM bought on arrival. Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom all have shops in Bodrum and in the larger towns, and you will need your passport to buy a SIM. Mobile coverage on the peninsula is generally good on 4.5G.

The important rule to understand is this: phones bought abroad can only be used on Turkish networks for 120 days before they must be registered. After that, the device is blocked on all Turkish networks, whatever SIM is in it. Registration requires a residence permit and a very high fee (more than 50,000 TL in 2026, and it rises every year). For a normal holiday this does not matter at all. For long stays, it is something to plan around.

Home roaming can be expensive outside the EU, so check your plan. And download offline maps before you arrive.

Mosques and dress

You are welcome to visit most mosques outside prayer times. Remove your shoes at the entrance, dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered for everyone), and women should cover their hair with a scarf. Larger mosques often lend scarves and wraps. Keep your voice low, do not walk in front of people praying, and ask before photographing anyone.

On the coast, dress is relaxed. Swimwear is for beaches and boats, though; cover up with a shirt or dress when you walk into a village shop or sit down in a restaurant.

The call to prayer sounds five times a day, including at dawn. It is part of the rhythm of every village, Gümüşlük included.

Water, food and health

Locals rarely drink tap water on the peninsula, and you should not either. Bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere; larger households use refillable 19-litre containers. Tap water is fine for brushing teeth. The peninsula has also faced water shortages in recent dry summers, so short cuts happen and it is good manners to use water carefully.

Food safety is generally good, and the produce is excellent. Pharmacies (eczane) are well stocked, pharmacists are knowledgeable, and a rota of duty pharmacies (nöbetçi eczane) covers nights and weekends.

In summer, the sun is strong. Wear a hat, drink more water than you think you need and avoid long walks between noon and 4pm. Water shoes are useful on rocky shores, where sea urchins are common.

Safety and emergencies

The Bodrum Peninsula is generally a safe place to travel, and violent crime against visitors is rare. Use the same common sense you would anywhere: watch your bag in crowded places, agree on boat or taxi prices in advance, and be wary of anyone overly keen to guide you to a particular shop.

The single emergency number for ambulance, police and fire is 112. Calls are free from any phone. For non-urgent help, your accommodation host is usually the quickest source of local advice.

A few useful words

A little Turkish goes a long way. Merhaba (hello), teşekkür ederim (thank you), lütfen (please), hesap, lütfen (the bill, please) and kolay gelsin (said to someone working, roughly “may it be easy”) will earn you smiles everywhere.

Before you go

• Check visa rules for your nationality on official government websites.
• Set up an eSIM or plan to buy a SIM on arrival, and remember the 120-day phone rule for long stays.
• Carry a card for everyday payments and some lira in cash for small things and tips.
• Buy bottled water and pack sunscreen, a hat and water shoes.
• Save 112 in your phone.
• For getting from the airport, see our guide to Bodrum Airport to Gümüşlük, and for a feel of the seasons, our Seasons page.