Practicalities

TRAVEL
Istanbul is within reach-infact, it's less than a three-hour flight from most European cities. It is located at the crossroads of East and West. Istanbul offers easy air connections which served by more than 50 airlines to hundreds of cities around the world. 

Istanbul's international airport is called Atatürk International Airport. It is situated in the northern part of the city and is approximately half an hour drive from the Hilton Istanbul and Taksim Square.

In addition to Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul has a second airport located on the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which is an important arrival point especially for charter and cargo flights and special events. 

TRANSPORTATION

From Atatürk International Airport to the city
Taxi: Taxis are available around the clock and operate by the meter. A 50% surcharge is applied between 00:01 am and 06:00 am hours. The trip takes between 30 and 75 minutes, depending on traffic. 

Bus: HAVAS Company operates regular shuttle bus transportation at half hourly intervals from 06:00 till 24:00 hours. The trip to Taksim takes between 45 and 75 minutes, depending on traffic.

Metro: A light metro system operates from Atatürk International Airport to Aksaray, where shuttle bus is available to Taksim. In addition, there is also a connection in Aksaray station to the tram, which operates via Sultanahmet to
Kabatas. In Kabatas is an underground metro system available to Taksim.

Private Airport transfers: Please contact the Conference Secretariat and provide the arrival details.

From Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to the city
Taxi: Taxi's are available outside the terminal. It can be quite expensive if you intend travelling all the way to central Istanbul.

Bus: HAVAS Company services departs at least hourly from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Taksim.

Private Airport transfers: Please contact the Conference Secretariat and provide the arrival details.

DRIVING LICENCE
Most international driver's licenses are recognized in Turkey. Car rental companies require a valid national or international licence. Remember to keep to the righthand side of the road and wear your seat belt at all times.

WORK HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 to12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:00. However, there are some banks which continue to serve during lunch breaks. ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) are open 24 hours and are located throughout the city and surrounding areas. Almost all ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English.

Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 to 17:30 but closed on Monday. Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursday. For specific information on museums, please visit our museums section.

Shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 19:00, but closed all day on Sunday. However most stores in shopping malls and crowded streets are open seven days a week, including lunch breaks. You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night.

CLIMATE & CLOTHING
Weather in May in Istanbul is pleasant and expected to be sunny.
The temperature is around 20 °C. It is advised to get some light dresses for day time and some jackets for the night.

To check the current weather conditions in Turkey and Istanbul, please click on
 www.dmi.gov.tr/en-US/forecast-5days.aspx

INVITATION LETTER
If requested by the participants, an official invitation letter will be sent by the Congress Secretariat. Such solicited invitations, however, will not offer any payment of expenses, such as fees, travel or hotel accommodation for the congress.

CURRENCY
The monetary unit is the Turkish Lira (TL), which comes in bank notes of; 5; 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. In Istanbul, traveller’s checks are rarely accepted. ATMs can be found in even the smallest Turkish towns. Most accept international credit cards or bank cards (a strip of logos is usually displayed above the ATM). Almost all ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English.

TIPPING
Tipping in the more expensive restaurants is expected, with around 5 to 10 percent being the usual amount. Taxi drivers do not have to be tipped. Hotel porters will expect a tip of around 2 to 3 percent of the cost of your room.

PASSPORT & VISA
Provided they have a valid passport, citizens of European countries and of the United States can obtain a visa at the point of entry. Please contact a Turkish Embassy or Consulate in your country for updated information.

Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in their country before departure.

TIME ZONE
Turkish Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2).

ELECTRICITY
The hotel's electricity is 220 volts and the socket type is European standard. Adaptors are available at the Reception Desk, Concierge Desk and Housekeeping.

VAT
Value-added tax is nearly always included in quoted prices.
Certain shops are authorized to refund the tax (just ask).

SMOKING REGULATIONS
Smoking is not permitted indoors in public buildings and other places open to the public. This also includes restaurants, pubs and clubs. In some places there are designated smoking zones.