The most common Türkiye trip has two bases: see the city in Istanbul, then continue to Cappadocia.
The currency is the Turkish lira (TRY), and the time zone is UTC+3 all year.
Istanbul Airport is about 50 km from the city, connected by the M11 metro and Havaist buses.
Visa and entry requirements for Türkiye
Whether you need a visa, how long you can stay and which pre-arrival forms apply all depend on your nationality and the purpose of your trip. Check the official source below, and your own government's travel advice, before you book.
Safety advice varies by region. In one government travel advisory we checked, some southeastern provinces and the area within 10 km of the Syrian border carry higher warning levels, while Istanbul and Nevşehir (Cappadocia) were not among them. Check your own government’s travel advice before you go.
- Republic of Türkiye e-Visa (official) (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Money: Turkish lira (TRY)
- Time: UTC+3 all year
How is Türkiye divided?
In Istanbul, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace in Sultanahmet and a Bosphorus cruise each take a day. Cappadocia is about the Göreme Open-Air Museum, underground cities and valleys. The two use different airports, so check your arrival airport first when you buy tickets: Istanbul Airport (IST) for Istanbul, and Nevşehir (NAV) or Kayseri for Cappadocia.
About three nights in Istanbul gives you one pass through the city; to add Cappadocia, five nights or more is comfortable. Domestic flights and overnight buses link the two; check times and fares by date with the operator.
| Base | What to do | Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Bosphorus cruise | Istanbul Airport (IST) |
| Cappadocia | Göreme Open-Air Museum, underground cities, valleys | Nevşehir (NAV) |
Based on official airport and site information.
Continue with Istanbul (in Korean) and Cappadocia (in Korean).
Money and time
Türkiye's currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). Museum prices are given in lira or euros and change with the exchange rate. Values checked on official sources on 23 October 2026: Hagia Sophia upper gallery EUR 25, Göreme Open-Air Museum EUR 20, and Topkapı Palace Harem TRY 1,050 for foreign visitors. These change often, so treat them as items to check on site.
Türkiye keeps the same time all year (UTC+3). If you land in the morning on day one, ask your hotel about check-in time in advance.
How do I get from the airport into the city?
Istanbul Airport is about 50 km from the city. The M11 metro links the airport with Gayrettepe, where you change to the M2 for Taksim and the old city. The Havaist HVL-9 bus goes to Taksim. Late at night when the metro is closed, look at buses and taxis.
In the city, use an Istanbulkart for the metro, trams and buses. Tapping a credit card at metro gates charges a single fare, so buy a card at the airport station first. From Cappadocia's airport to Göreme, look into pre-booked transfers or hotel shuttles.
What to do in an emergency
If you lose your passport or have an accident, first move somewhere safe and tell your hotel. Write your embassy's or consulate's numbers both in your phone and on paper, so you can use them even if your battery dies. The numbers are the same whether you are in Istanbul or Cappadocia, so you only need to save them once before you leave.
What should I check before I go?
Check regional travel advice levels. A city-only trip stays in lower-risk areas, but recheck if your route passes through the southeast. If you link the two bases by domestic flight, baggage rules and arrival airports differ by airline, so check before booking. In Istanbul, Topkapı Palace is closed on Tuesdays and the Hagia Sophia upper gallery is closed to visitors at midday on Fridays, so match your days first. Cappadocia balloon flights are cancelled depending on the weather, so read the booking terms.
Istanbul's Bosphorus cruises leave from Eminönü. Under the winter timetable valid from 7 September 2026 to 27 June 2027, the short tour departs at 14:40 and takes about two hours, and the long tour departs daily at 10:35 and returns at 16:40. Timetables change by season, so check the official timetable before you go.
Pre-departure checklist
- Check regional travel advice levels
- Confirm whether you arrive in Istanbul or Cappadocia
- Check Topkapı Palace's Tuesday closure and the Hagia Sophia Friday restriction
- Check balloon cancellation terms
- Save your embassy's emergency number
Which base suits my trip?
- For the city: three nights in Istanbul, walking between monuments and the strait.
- For landscapes: in Cappadocia, center your plan on the open-air museum and sunset viewpoints.
- For both: five nights or more; check domestic flight times first.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Türkiye?
It depends on your nationality. Check the official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa site, which shows whether you need a visa and lets eligible travelers apply online.
What time zone is Türkiye in?
UTC+3, all year.
Is it safe?
Advice varies by region. Some southeastern provinces and the Syrian border area carry higher warning levels; Istanbul and Nevşehir were not among them in the advisory we checked. Check your own government’s advice.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
From Istanbul Airport, the M11 metro runs to Gayrettepe and the Havaist bus goes to Taksim.
Sources
- Republic of Türkiye e-Visa (official) · Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs · accessed 2026-10-30
- Istanbul Airport transport · DHMI (General Directorate of State Airports Authority) · accessed 2026-10-23
Information was checked against the official sources listed above. Opening hours, fees and fares can change; please confirm with the venue or operator before you visit.
