Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

Emergency

% 112 % 110 % 155

Ambulance

Fire

Police

Insurance It’s sensible to organise travel insurance, including health cover, before arriving. Worldwide travel insurance is available at www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-insurance. You can buy, extend and claim online anytime – even if you’re already on the road. Internet Access As is the case elsewhere in Europe, the proliferation of personal communications devices has led to internet cafes becoming a dying breed. Wi-fi connections are ubiquitous in hotels and hostels, and common in cafes, bars and restaurants. The Turkish government has a well-documented track record in blocking access to social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook during and immediately after security situations such as terrorist attacks. Many locals get around this by using VPNs. If using a local computer, you may have to use a Turkish keyboard. When doing so, be aware that Turkish has two ‘i’s: the familiar dotted ‘i’ and the less familiar dotless ‘ı’. Unfortunately the one in the usual place is the dotless ‘ı’ on a Turkish keyboard; you will need to make sure you use the correct dotted ‘i’ when typing in a web or email address. To create the @ symbol, hold down the ‘q’ and the right-hand ALT keys at the same time. Legal Matters A The age of consent in Turkey is 18, as is the legal age for voting, driving and drinking. A Technically, you should carry your passport at all times. Many travellers choose to carry a photocopy and leave the actual document in their hotel safe. A It is illegal to take antiquities out of the country.