Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

A Note that Turkey uses the standard GSM network operating on 900MHz or 1800MHz, so not all US and Canadian phones work here.

Time İstanbul time is Eastern European Time (EET), three hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC, alias GMT). The Turkish government decided in September 2016 to retain daylight-saving (summer) time year-round. Turks use the 24-hour clock. Toilets Most public toilets are of the Western sit-down variety; those in mosques are exceptions and are mainly squat style. Toilets near transport hubs and stations and in and around major sights usually charge a fee of ₺ 1. There are handy public toilets in the Grand Bazaar, on the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, and in the underpasses next to the ferry docks at Eminönü and Karaköy. Tourist Information The Ministry of Culture & Tourism (www.turizm.gov.tr) currently operates three tourist information offices or booths in the city and has booths at both international airports. In our experience, the Sirkeci office is the most helpful and the Sultanahmet office is the least helpful. Tourist Office – İstanbul Airport ( % 0212-891 6205; İstanbul Airport, Arnavutköy; h 9am 11pm) Tourist Office – Sabiha Gökçen International Airport ( % 0216-588 8794; h 8am-7pm) Tourist Office – Sirkeci Train Station ( MAP ; % 0555 675 2674, 0212-511 5888; Sirkeci Gar, Ankara Caddesi, Sirkeci; h 9.30am-6pm mid-Apr–Sep, 9am-5.30pm Oct–mid-Apr; j Sirkeci) Tourist Office – Sultanahmet ( MAP ; % 0212-518 8754; Hippodrome, Sultanahmet; h 8.30am 6.30pm mid-Apr–Sep, 9am-5.30pm Oct–mid-Apr; j Sultanahmet) Tourist Office – Taksim ( MAP ; % 0212-233 0592; www.kulturturizm.gov.tr; ground fl, Seyran Apartmanı, Mete Caddesi, Taksim; h 9.30am-6pm mid-Apr–Sep, 9am-5.30pm Oct–mid-Apr; m Taksim)