Rules in Turkey: These are No-Gos for Travelers

Turkey is a popular country for beach vacations and shopping tours in the markets. Travelers should, however, follow some rules to avoid trouble or even imprisonment.

Great beaches, lots of culture, and culinary adventures await you in Turkey. But before you begin your vacation, you should inform yourself about some of the country's rules - otherwise, it could become costly. The following things should be noted.

In Turkey, you can pay with euros in most tourist areas. However, if you decide to exchange money into Turkish Lira, you should definitely keep the receipt. You'll need to present it if you wish to exchange Lira back into euros.

Tip: There are travel credit cards that do not charge foreign currency fees or foreign ATM fees when withdrawing cash abroad. This can save you a lot of money and time while traveling.

As a rule, images of Kemal Atatürk must not be defiled or damaged. This rule also applies to banknotes where the founder of Turkey is depicted. Even the reverse sides of notes where he is not depicted must not be marked.

In Turkey, it is not outright banned to drink alcohol. It is allowed in hotels or restaurants. However, travelers should refrain from doing so in public: As of September 9, 2013, it is legally prohibited to drink alcohol in public squares and parks.

Important: During Ramadan, restrictions apply outside tourist areas. Eating, drinking, and smoking during daytime may not be tolerated, as the U.S. Department of State advises. Additionally, the agency cautions to be careful with alcohol in Turkey. Recently, there have been frequent fatalities due to adulterated alcohol.

In major cities like Istanbul or Antalya, it's not a problem, but in more rural areas, more conservative rules apply. There, travelers should avoid showing affection such as kissing in public. It is not forbidden but considered offensive.

Nude sunbathing and skinny dipping are prohibited. Sex on the beach is also strictly forbidden. If you are caught doing so, you could face a fine of 200 euros or two days in jail.

'Away from the tourist beaches, it is advisable to adjust behavior and clothing to local customs,' writes the U.S. Department of State.

Turkey has particularly strict laws to protect cultural and natural assets. These are considered state property. Even a stone, an old coin, or a worked pottery shard as a souvenir in your luggage can lead to a fine. The terms antiquity, cultural, and natural asset are interpreted very broadly by the Turkish police and customs.

Because it is practically impossible for travelers to determine if such an item is protected as an antiquity, they should not pack stones, coins, fossils, or antique-looking objects in their luggage without the appropriate permission from the relevant Turkish authorities.

Larger items from ancient excavations, vases, and art objects are also included. Violators may face a prison sentence of up to ten years for export. High bail payments, e.g., 9000 euros, are common practice, writes the U.S. Department of State. In September 2023, a Belgian tourist even faced prison time for having stones in her luggage that she planned to use in her aquarium.

Do not take out your camera at facilities serving security purposes. Photography is forbidden, especially at military installations.

Even in certain places, such as cemeteries, religious sites, or private properties, photography may cause negative reactions from locals and security forces, as per the U.S. Department of State's advice. Best practice: ask beforehand.

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Anyone wanting to explore the country on their own must adhere to the traffic rules like in any other country. Just like in Germany, the speed limit in built-up areas is 50 kilometers per hour for cars.

Outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 90 kilometers per hour, and on highways, it is 120 kilometers per hour. On the highway, lower speed limits apply for minibuses and off-road vehicles.

If you end up speeding and get fined, it's better to pay the fines immediately or within 15 days. Unsettled violations could lead to issues during future entries.