AIRPORT
Istanbul has two airports, the major Atatürk International Airport on the European shore of the Sea of Marmara and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the east side of the Bosphorus.
Most long-haul international flights to Turkey land at Atatürk International Airport (IST) 23 km (14 miles) west of the city center at Yesilköy. ICDEA08 Staff will meet you at the exit gate of Atatürk International Airport Terminal and help your transfer.
The modern International Terminal (Dis Hatlar Terminali) is spacious and efficient, with all the expected services including ATMs (cash machines) from which you can obtain New Turkish Liras, currency exchange offices, restaurants, cafes, shops, Emanet (Baggage Check, Left Luggage).
An underground passage (15-minute walk) connects the International Terminal with the older Domestic Terminal (Iç Hatlar Terminali) and also the Istanbul Metro, called the Hafif Metro ("Light rail system") on airport terminal signs. You can board a Metro train right from the airport and ride to Zeytinburnu, where you can transfer to the Zeytinburnu-Besiktas tram for the ride to Sultanahmet Square, Sirkeci Station, the Eminönü ferry and Sea Bus docks, the Galata Bridge, Karaköy and its ferry docks, and the Kabatas ferry docks and Füniküler to Taksim Square. A faster way to Taksim Square is by express city bus 96T, stopping at Yenikapi, Aksaray and Taksim. A taxi from the airport to Sultanahmet costs about US$18 to $25; to Taksim Square, about US$21 to $26; add 50% if you travel between 24:00 (midnight) and 06:00 am. The trip takes between 35 and 75 minutes, depending on traffic.
Havas airport buses, long the mainstay of airport-city transfers, are being phased out. Traditionally, they departed the Arrivals level of both the International and Domestic terminals. The trip to Taksim takes between 45 and 65 minutes, depending upon traffic.

TRANSPORTATION
Istanbul is a large, congested, bustling city. You'll enjoy your visit much more if you know how to get around before you arrive. Here is the link to find more about Transportation in Istanbul from the Turkey Travel Planner web site.

PASSPORT AND VISA
Most of the travelers to Turkey require a visa. For most of them visas can be obtained at the port of entry in Turkey or from the Turkish Consulate General or Turkish Diplomatic Missions of their home countries.
Sticker type visas are issued at the port of entry and allow staying in Turkey for up to 90 days.
It is advisable to have a minimum of six months validity on your passport from the date of your entry into Turkey .
For more information, please visit the consular information on web site of Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/default.en.mfa

BANKING & CURRENCY  
The currency of Turkey is New Turkish Lira (YTL) as of 1 January 2005. 1YTL equals to 100 New Kurus (YKR) Banknotes come in 1YTL, 5YTL, 10YTL, 20YTL, 50YTL & 100YTL and coins come in 1, 5YKR, 10YKR, 25YKR and 50YKR and 1YTL.
Currency exchange facilities are available in all banks, hotels and airports. 24 hour cash machines providing banking services by different banks are located at suitable points throughout the 3 terminals of Antalya Airport .
US dollars and Euro's are also widely accepted. Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most widely used being MasterCard & Visa. Please kindly note that American Express, Diners Club and JCB Cards are not commonly accepted.

BUSINESS HOURS
Banks are generally open from 09:30 – 16:00 hours Monday – Friday. General office hours are 09:00 – 17:00 Monday – Friday. Post offices operate within these hours, however stamps often available from hotels.

ELECTRICITY
Turkey operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets/points. Check your appliances before leaving home to see what you'll need to plug in when you travel in Turkey . Many appliances such as laptop computers and digital cameras with their own power adapters can be plugged into either 120-volt or 220-volt sockets/points and will adapt to the voltage automatically. But you will need a plug adaptor that can fit into the recessed wall socket/point. Read the technical stuff on your power adapter to see "INPUT: A.C. 100-240V". If it reads that way, it can operate on either 120 or 220 voltage. If it says something like "INPUT: 100-125V", then it can't run on Turkey 's 220 volts and you'll need to bring a voltage converter.

SHOPPING
Shops are usually open between 8:30 - 19:00 and usually closed on Sunday. Turkey , as a result of its geographical location, is a treasure-house of hand-made products. These range from carpets and kilims, to gold and silver jewelry, ceramics, leather and suede clothing, ornaments fashioned from alabaster, onyx, copper, and meerschaum. When purchasing carpets, jewellery or leather products, it is advisable to consult your guide or do your shopping at a reputable store rather than in the street from vendors.

TAX REFUND
All goods and services in Turkey are applicable to 18% Value Added Tax. You can receive a tax refund for the goods you purchased in Turkey . Refunds will be made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey . All goods are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered and the minimum amount of purchase that qualifies for refund is 5YTL. Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be "AUTHORIZED FOR REFUND". These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office. The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. If you prefer the refund to be made by check, a Tax-free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt. For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and or check.
There are four ways to receive your refund:
• If the retailer gives you a check, it can he cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport.
• If customer sends a copy of the receipt to the retailer showing that the goods have left the country within one month, the retailer will send a bank transfer to the purchaser's bank or credit card within ten days upon receiving the receipt.
• If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit thin one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be made directly to the purchaser.
• The refund may be made by the organization of those companies that are authorized to make tax refunds

GEOGRAPHY
The summer months in Istanbul are generally hot and quite humid. The winters can be cold and wet, although not as extreme as other areas of the country. The sea temperature is creep up to 30 degrees in June, July and August, with very little rain. Spring and autumn are popular times to visit because of the comfortable climate, good for lots of walking and sightseeing, with highs between 15 – 25 degrees C, in April, May, September and October. By the winter, the dry cold air mass from the Black Sea and cold damp front from the Balkans brings a chilly season with daytime highs of between 10 – 15 degrees C, and nights much colder. Although rarely falling to freezing point, there is the occasional light snow in the city.