Business hours While opening hours for banks and state-run businesses are Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm, shops and many private firms stay open until 7pm or even 8pm. Many shops are also open on Sunday.

Car hire Avis car rentals (Tel: 0212 2979610).

Office rental Hyatt Regency Business Center offers fully equipped offices with secretarial services (Tel: 0212 368 1234, Email: istanbul@hyattmtl.com).

LOCAL PRESS

The Guide is an English-language guide to the city which is published every two months and is available in many hotels and at most newsstands. It has entertainment listings, feature articles and reviews.

Time Out Istanbul is an excellent monthly city guide with listings sections for nightlife, dining and entertainment as well as reviews and features. It is also available at newsstands.

The Turkish Daily News is an English-language daily newspaper in Turkey. It covers domestic and international news and has a popular classified section. Cornucopia is a glossy English-language magazine about Turkish culture.

INTERNET

Over the past few years, internet cafés have sprung up everywhere in Istanbul.

Charges are very low—typically 1-3.50 YTL per hour—although connections can be slow. Most hotels also offer internet access in their rooms or business centres, while some have wi-fi networks set up in the lobby or communal areas. The airport has a wi-fi network with charges billed directly to your credit card.

MONEY

The New Turkish Lira (YTL) was introduced in January 2005 in place of the old Turkish Lira, whose value had been eroded by decades of runaway inflation. The old currency will be legal tender until the end of 2005, from when it will need to be exchanged in a bank. Credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants, shops and hotels, and cash can be withdrawn from ATM machines across the city with international debit and credit cards.

In some shops, such as in the Grand Bazaar, bargaining is customary. If you’ve spotted something you like, look around to get an idea of the general 'starting price’. Then you should start the bargaining proper with an offer of what you think the item is worth. Don’t expect miracles, but you may just walk away with what you consider a good deal.

TIPPING ETIQUETTE

Tipping isn’t obligatory, although it’s usual to add 10% on to a restaurant or café bill if the service was good. The attendants in Turkish baths and hairdresser generally expect a 15-25% tip. Tipping taxi drivers is not necessary.

VISAS/VACCINATIONS

Visa requirements for Turkey are complicated and it’s best to check with your local Turkish consulate to determine if you need one. For example, citizens of Denmark, Japan and New Zealand don’t need a visa and can enter for up to three months on an ordinary passport, but visitors from the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada, Australia and Portugal need a three-month tourist visa, which is available at the port of entry or in advance from a consulate. British citizens can either make an appointment at the consulate (www. turkishconsulate.org.uk) or pay £10 cash on entry to Turkey. Tourist visas do not allow for any gainful employment, for which a separate work visa is needed. There are no special vaccination requirements for Turkey.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

1st January — New Year’s Day
19th May — Youth and Sports Day
30th August — Victory Day
29th October — Republic Day

There are also religious holidays to mark the end of Ramadan and Sacrifice Day, however the exact dates change each year with the lunar calendar.

WEATHER AND CLIMATE

Istanbul’s weather is at its best in the spring and early summer when temperatures are in the high 20sC. Midsummer highs reach 30C-plus, with high humidity levels. Winters can be cold and raw with occasional snow.

SUGGESTED READING

Istanbul: the Imperial City, by John Freely, is an historical account of the city from Byzantine times to the present day. Turkey Unveiled, by Nicole Pope, offers political and social commentary on the modern state of Turkey.

Istanbul, a Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Guide, is an illustrated city guide from a best-selling series.

GETTING INTO TOWN

Airport Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport is 25kms from the centre. The journey into town takes 30-60 minutes, depending on where you’re going and the Istanbul traffic.

Taxi Airport taxis wait for passengers outside the terminal’s main exit, and are the fastest and easiest way into town. The fare is about 20 YTL to the Old City or 25 YTL to Taksim.

Car If you’re driving from the airport, following the coastal road, Kennedy Caddesi, brings you right into the historic Old City.

Bus Transfer buses operated by Havas depart every 30 minutes for Taksim Square from right outside the terminal entrance. A one-way ticket is 7 YTL.