Turquie : à savoir avant de partir
L’essentiel
- Carry your passport (or residence card) at all times: not carrying photo ID is an offence and police checks are common in Istanbul.
- Insulting the Turkish nation, flag, President or Atatürk is a crime, including online posts and defacing banknotes.
- Drug penalties are very harsh (4–24 years in prison), including cannabis and in airport transit.
- Only one personal vape device plus a small amount of liquid may be brought in; vapes are not legally sold in Turkey, excess is seized.
- Turkish lira worth over USD 5,000 cannot be taken out; banks and exchangers may refuse USD 50/100 notes because of counterfeits.
Entrée et visas
Most Western, CIS and Gulf visitors enter visa-free for up to 90 days in 180 (Russians up to 60 days, Belarusians 30 days per visit). Chinese citizens are visa-free from 2 January 2026. Indians need a visa, or a one-month e-Visa if they hold a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa/residence permit. E-visas only via the official evisa.gov.tr site.
Validité du passeport: At least 150 days beyond arrival date, with at least one blank page.
À la frontière, on peut vous demander
- Check the entry stamp is dated, especially at land borders.
- Expect frequent ID checks; keep your passport with you.
Douane
- Alcohol (18+): 1 L over 22% plus 2 L up to 22%; cigarettes: 600.
- Vapes: one device in use plus limited consumables (about 30 ml liquid or up to 10 disposables); excess is held or destroyed.
- Carry prescription medicines in reasonable quantities with a prescription; ask in advance about controlled drugs.
- Exporting antiques without a museum permit is a serious crime — keep receipts for any old-looking items, carpets included.
- Declare foreign currency over USD 5,000 equivalent when leaving; lira export capped at USD 5,000 equivalent.
Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: mfa.gov.tr ↗, evisa.gov.tr ↗, gov.uk ↗, ticaret.gov.tr ↗
Argent
Espèces et cartes sont courantes. Cartes acceptées presque partout.
Réseaux de paiement : Visa, Mastercard, Amex
Apple Pay — fonctionne · Google Pay — fonctionne
Où changer de l’argent
- Exchange offices (döviz) in city centres and bazaars, comparing buy/sell spreads
- Paying by card in lira and choosing to be charged in TRY
Où éviter de changer
- Airport and hotel exchange desks
- Strangers offering to change money
- Dynamic currency conversion (paying in your home currency) at terminals and ATMs
Distributeurs: Turkish bank ATMs often add a withdrawal fee for foreign cards — read the on-screen fee and decline conversion. Independent ATMs in tourist areas are usually the most expensive.
Pourboires: Around 5–10% in restaurants if service isn't included; round up taxis; small tips for hotel porters and hammam attendants.
- Russian Mir cards are not accepted by Turkish banks (since 2022).
- Lira is volatile: prices in tourist areas are often quoted in EUR/USD — pay in lira when you can.
- Carry clean, undamaged notes; worn or large USD notes may be refused.
Règles et interdictions
Interdit
- Insulting the nation, flag, President or Atatürk (incl. online) — up to 3 years in prison
- Defacing Turkish banknotes
- Possession or use of any drugs, including cannabis
- Photographing military or official installations
- Buying or exporting antiquities without permits
- Selling or importing vapes beyond a personal allowance
Lois que les visiteurs enfreignent sans le savoir
- Carry photo ID at all times.
- Smoking is banned in enclosed public places and public transport.
- Drinking alcohol in public streets may be restricted locally; alcohol sales in shops are banned 22:00–06:00.
- Counterfeit spirits have caused methanol poisoning — buy drinks from reputable venues.
Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: gov.uk ↗
Culture et tenue
Religion: Mostly Sunni Muslim, secular state; alcohol is widely available in cities and resorts.
Tenue: Relaxed in cities and resorts. For mosques women cover hair, shoulders and knees; men wear long trousers. Scarves are usually provided at major mosques. Dress more modestly in conservative eastern areas.
Savoir-vivre
- Remove shoes before entering a mosque and avoid visiting during prayer times.
- During Ramadan avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daytime in conservative areas.
- Bargaining is expected in bazaars, not in shops with fixed prices.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women.
- Public displays of affection may draw attention outside resorts.
Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: gov.uk ↗
Climat
Mediterranean on the Aegean/Mediterranean coasts (hot dry summers, mild wet winters), cooler and wetter in Istanbul, continental in central Anatolia (Cappadocia: cold snowy winters, hot summers).
Mois par mois
- janvier: Jan: cool/rainy; Istanbul ~5–9°C, Antalya ~6–15°C
- février: Feb: cool, wet; snow possible inland
- mars: Mar: mild, changeable
- avril: Apr: pleasant, ~12–20°C; tulip season Istanbul
- mai: May: warm and sunny, great for touring
- juin: Jun: hot on the coast, sea warming up
- juillet: Jul: very hot, Antalya often 35°C+
- août: Aug: peak heat and crowds
- septembre: Sep: hot, warm sea, fewer crowds
- octobre: Oct: warm, pleasant; first rains
- novembre: Nov: mild, rainy spells
- décembre: Dec: cool and wet; snow inland
Meilleure saison : April–June and September–October; July–August for beaches only.
Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: en.wikipedia.org ↗
À emporter
- Passport (always carried)
- Scarf and long trousers/skirt for mosques
- Comfortable walking shoes for hills and cobbles
- Sunscreen and hat (summer)
- Prescription copies for any medicines
- Euro/USD notes in good condition
À ne pas emporter / interdit à l’importation
- More than one vape device or large stocks of liquid
- Any cannabis or CBD products
- Drones without prior permission
- Offensive clothing slogans about Turkey or Atatürk
Pratique
Prises: Type C/F, 230 V, 50 Hz
Eau: Tap water is chlorinated but most people drink bottled water; use bottled or filtered.
Circulation: à droite
Mobile et eSIM: Tourist SIMs are available from Turkish operators; check registration requirements. Access to some eSIM services is restricted: confirm availability with your provider before departure.
Applications: BiTaksi, Uber, Getir, Yemeksepeti, Google Maps, Istanbulkart
Internet: Some websites are blocked and social networks can be throttled during major events; a VPN helps.
Santé: No compulsory vaccinations. Routine vaccines up to date; hepatitis A advised. Good private hospitals in big cities.
Assurance: Not required for most visa-free visitors; travel medical insurance strongly recommended.
Urgences: 112 — all emergencies (police, ambulance, fire)
Vérifié le 29 octobre 2026 · Sources: gov.uk ↗, travelhealthpro.org.uk ↗
Les règles d’entrée changent. Avant le voyage, consultez le site de l’ambassade ou du service d’immigration du pays.