Practicalities

Visas for New Zealanders

New Zealand citizens who intend to travel to Turkey for tourism-related reasons for up to 90 days do not require a visa in advance of travel to Turkey. Provided they can show sufficient funds to support themselves and onward travel bookings, they are usually granted entry to Turkey for a period of 90 days.

Embassies and consulates

New Zealand has an embassy in Ankara and an honorary consulate in Istanbul.

Local language

Turkish is the local language and if you try speaking a little bit of Turkish you can expect a warm reaction. English is Turkey’s second most widely spoken language and you will easily find English speakers in the major cities and holiday resorts. Restaurant menus and other information for foreigners are often printed in English.

Currency

The Turkish unit of currency is the lira.

Bank cards and ATMs

ATMs can be found everywhere in Turkish cities, airports, and even in most small towns, they operate in Turkish and English, however keep some cash on hand for place where there are no ATMs - or the machines are out of order. Because bank card fraud is a big problem in Turkey, there is a chance that your home bank may limit or deny use of your ATM/cash debit card in Turkey.

Credit cards

You can use your major credit card to pay for many purchases including hotels, rental cars, airline tickets and meals in more expensive restaurants. If you make a reservation and pay in advance online with a credit card for some travel services such as airline flights or rental cars, you may be required to provide the exact same credit card in person.

Mobile phones

Reception is good almost everywhere in Turkey. You can easily buy a local SIM to use in your own phone from home – but the network bars foreign phones within two to four weeks. To avoid this, simply register your phone when you buy your Turkish SIM. You will need to show your passport, fill out a form and pay a small fee.

Internet access

Almost all accommodation options in Turkey have wi-fi. You’ll also find wi-fi at travel agencies, bus stations, ferry terminals and many other places. There are a number of internet cafes – and most have fast connection speeds.