Europe
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
Prepare these before applying
Applied for Turkey e-Visa twice, both using a valid Schengen visa: 1. 2022 — Applied online, received immediately. USD 25. 2. 2025 — Transit stop while returning from Switzerland to UAE. Required e-Visa due to different PNR between connecting flights. Same process, USD 25.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
| S.No | Date | Details (Notes) | Category | Unit | Cost / Unit | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | Plane | — | — | — | — | 12,600.00 |
| 2 | — | — | Visa | — | — | — | — | 3,960.00 |
| 3 | — | — | Bus from airport to centre | — | — | — | — | 111.80 |
| 4 | — | — | Hotel room | — | — | — | — | 218.01 |
| 5 | — | — | Breakfast | — | — | — | — | 279.50 |
| 6 | — | — | Doner kebab | — | — | — | — | 184.47 |
| 7 | — | — | Bus tkt | — | — | — | — | 36.34 |
| 8 | — | — | Sim card | — | — | — | — | 1,341.60 |
| 9 | — | — | Water bottle | — | — | — | — | 22.36 |
| 10 | — | — | Taxi to room | — | — | — | — | 167.70 |
| 11 | — | — | Juice | — | — | — | — | 16.77 |
| 12 | — | — | Mask | — | — | — | — | 41.93 |
| 13 | — | — | Bag | — | — | — | — | 50.31 |
| 14 | — | — | Doner kebab | — | — | — | — | 145.34 |
| 15 | — | — | Bus ticket | — | — | — | — | 36.34 |
| 16 | — | — | Pizza | — | — | — | — | 245.96 |
| 17 | — | — | Metro to bus stand | — | — | — | — | 39.13 |
| 18 | — | — | Dinner | — | — | — | — | 218.01 |
| 19 | — | — | Bus to Istanbul | — | — | — | — | 670.80 |
| 20 | — | — | Bus fare to Ankara bus terminal | — | — | — | — | 39.13 |
| 21 | — | — | Istanbul bus stand to hostel | — | — | — | — | 475.15 |
| 22 | — | — | Food Istanbul | — | — | — | — | 111.80 |
| 23 | — | — | Hostel | — | — | — | — | 1,050.00 |
| 24 | — | — | Lock in hostel | — | — | — | — | 210.00 |
| 25 | — | — | Water supermarket | — | — | — | — | 13.98 |
| 26 | — | — | Baklava 250gm | — | — | — | — | 279.50 |
| 27 | — | — | Makai (Roasted Corn) | — | — | — | — | 55.90 |
| 28 | — | — | Galata tower fee | — | — | — | — | 559.00 |
| 29 | — | — | Beer ik pub | — | — | — | — | 279.50 |
| 30 | — | — | Water banana | — | — | — | — | 78.26 |
| 31 | — | — | Bus tour | — | — | — | — | 3,074.50 |
| 32 | — | — | Nepali food | — | — | — | — | 670.80 |
| 33 | — | — | Taxi Nepali restaurant to hotel | — | — | — | — | 178.88 |
| 34 | — | — | Hotel | — | — | — | — | 4,256.00 |
| 35 | — | — | Food | — | — | — | — | 167.70 |
| 36 | — | — | Boat trip | — | — | — | — | 335.40 |
| 37 | — | — | Water bottle | — | — | — | — | 27.95 |
| 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32,249.80 |
| Total | 64,499.62 |
Last updated 5 days ago
Turkey uses the Turkish Lira (TRY). Withdraw Lira from ATMs upon arrival for the best rates. Always decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) at ATMs and choose to be charged in TRY. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, and shops. Taxis, street vendors, and small shops often require cash.
In Istanbul, buy an Istanbulkart (rechargeable transport card) for seamless travel on trams, metros, buses, and ferries. It saves money compared to single tickets. Reload it at machines in metro stations. The card also works on the Bosphorus public ferries, one of the cheapest and best ways to see the city.
Tip 10-15% in restaurants if service charge is not included. Always tip in Turkish Lira rather than foreign currency. For taxis, rounding up to the nearest Lira is common. Tour guides typically receive 10% of the tour cost. Leave small change for hotel housekeeping.
Many nationalities need an e-visa, which can be obtained online at evisa.gov.tr before arrival. The process is quick and typically costs around USD 50. Some nationalities can enter visa-free. Apply through the official government portal only to avoid scam websites.
Bargaining is expected at the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market in Istanbul. Start at about 50% of the asking price and negotiate from there. Be prepared to walk away; vendors often call you back with a better offer. Fixed-price shops usually display a sign saying so.
Turkey uses Type C and F plugs with 230V/50Hz, the same as continental Europe. Travelers from the US, UK, or Asia will need a plug adapter.
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the best weather and fewer crowds. Istanbul is pleasant year-round. Cappadocia balloon rides are best in spring and autumn with calmer winds. Summer is peak season on the Mediterranean coast with hot temperatures.
Last updated 5 days ago
📍 Istanbul
Visit Hagia Sophia, the architectural marvel that served as church, mosque, and museum over 1,500 years, then cross the gardens to the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and cascade of domes. Explore Topkapi Palace, the Ottoman sultans' residence housing the Spoonmaker's Diamond and Prophet Muhammad's relics. Take a public ferry across the Bosphorus from Eminonu to Kadikoy on the Asian side for fresh balik ekmek (fish sandwich) and Turkish tea.
📍 Istanbul
Spend the morning navigating the Grand Bazaar's 4,000 shops across 61 covered streets, bargaining for Turkish ceramics, lanterns, and leather goods. Walk to the Egyptian Spice Bazaar for Turkish delight, dried fruits, and freshly ground coffee. In the afternoon, descend into the Basilica Cistern to see the subterranean columns reflected in the water, then catch sunset from Galata Tower overlooking the Golden Horn.
📍 Cappadocia
Fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir and transfer to Goreme, where an optional sunrise hot air balloon ride offers views over hundreds of fairy chimneys and rock-cut churches. Explore the Goreme Open-Air Museum with its Byzantine frescoed cave churches, then descend into Derinkuyu Underground City, an 8-level subterranean complex that sheltered 20,000 people. Watch sunset from the Rose Valley, where the rock formations glow pink and orange.
📍 Pamukkale / Ephesus
Fly or drive to Denizli and visit Pamukkale's surreal white travertine terraces formed by calcium-rich thermal waters cascading down the hillside. Walk barefoot through the shallow warm pools and explore the adjacent ruins of ancient Hierapolis, including its well-preserved Roman theater and necropolis. Continue to Selcuk to visit the ruins of Ephesus, walking down marble-paved streets past the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre that once seated 25,000.
📍 Antalya
Explore Kaleici, Antalya's charming old town with narrow Ottoman-era streets, Hadrian's Gate built in 130 AD, and the Yivli Minaret. Visit the Antalya Museum, one of Turkey's best, with its collection of Roman-era sarcophagi and statues from Perge and Aspendos. Enjoy lahmacun (Turkish flatbread with spiced meat), manti (Turkish dumplings), and baklava at a restaurant overlooking the turquoise Mediterranean waters of the old harbor.
📍 Konya
Head inland to Konya to explore Seljuk architecture and the Mevlana Museum, home of Rumi's legacy. Visit old caravanserai routes that once linked Europe and Asia, then enjoy a calm evening with traditional Anatolian cuisine before departure.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
Grilled meat prepared in countless regional styles, from Adana spicy to İskender with tomato and yogurt.
Paper-thin crispy flatbread topped with spiced minced meat, rolled with fresh herbs and lemon.
Tiny Turkish dumplings filled with spiced lamb, topped with garlic yogurt and chili butter.
Layers of thin phyllo pastry filled with pistachios and soaked in sweet syrup, a Turkish icon.
Circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds, sold by street vendors and eaten for breakfast.
Boat-shaped Turkish flatbread filled with cheese, egg, or minced meat, baked in a stone oven.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
No description provided.
No description provided.
No description provided.
No description provided.
No description provided.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
