Türkiye travel guide: what to pack, what to eat & entry rules

What to pack for Türkiye

Türkiye’s climate varies a lot by region: hot, dry summers on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, a milder and wetter Black Sea coast, and a continental interior (including Cappadocia) with hot summers and cold, sometimes snowy winters. Istanbul has warm summers and cool, damp winters.

That is the long-term pattern, not a forecast. Weather in any given week can be warmer, colder or wetter than usual, so check the forecast a few days before you leave — Wayfold does this automatically and adjusts the packing list for your actual dates.

Pack with Türkiye in mind

• Light summer clothes for the coast
• Warm layers for Cappadocia and the interior outside summer
• A scarf for women and long trousers or skirts for everyone when visiting mosques
• Comfortable shoes for hills and old-town streets

Start from a full checklist

Combine the points above with a complete list for the kind of trip you are taking:

• Beach vacation packing list · 51 items
• City break packing list · 48 items
• Carry-on only packing list · 45 items

What to eat in Türkiye

These are dishes most visitors to Türkiye will meet, with the usual recipe’s diet flags. Use them as a starting point for menus and for asking questions — not as a guarantee of what is in a particular plate.

• Adana kebap

  Spicy minced-lamb kebab grilled on a flat skewer, served with flatbread.

  Gluten

• Lahmacun

  Thin flatbread topped with spiced minced meat.

  Gluten

• Mantı

  Small dumplings with yogurt and spiced butter.

  GlutenDairyEgg

• Mercimek çorbası

  Red lentil soup with lemon.

  Vegetarian-friendly

• Menemen

  Eggs scrambled with tomatoes and green peppers.

  Vegetarian-friendlyEgg

• Simit

  Sesame-crusted bread ring sold on the street.

  Vegetarian-friendlyGlutenSesame

• Baklava

  Layers of filo with nuts and syrup.

  Vegetarian-friendlyGlutenNuts & peanutsDairy

Meal times, tipping and water

Weekend breakfast (kahvaltı) is a long, shared spread.

• Tap water is treated in cities, but most people drink bottled water.

Local chains you will see

Well-known local names — handy for a quick, predictable meal or coffee:

• Simit Sarayı — Simit, pastries and tea.
• Kahve Dünyası — Turkish coffee and chocolate.
• Köfteci Yusuf — Grilled meatball restaurants.
• HD İskender — İskender kebab restaurants.
• Baydöner — Döner restaurants.

General guidance — check locally. Recipes vary between kitchens; always ask about allergens. Checked 30 September 2026. In the app, the food guide marks which dishes fit each traveller’s diet and can show a diet and allergy card in the local language.

Entry rules for US and UK passport holders

A summary of the passport and travel-authorisation rules Wayfold reminds travellers about for Türkiye. Rules change, and your exact situation (other nationalities, long stays, work or study) may differ.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Rules change — always check the official source before you travel. Rules last reviewed 29 September 2026. For the bigger picture, read what ESTA, the UK ETA and ETIAS are.

Quick answers

Is tap water safe to drink in Türkiye?

Varies — many people drink bottled. It depends on the area and the building, so many visitors stick to bottled or filtered water. General guidance — check locally. Recipes vary between kitchens; always ask about allergens.

Do you tip in Türkiye?

Around 5–10% in restaurants is customary; check whether service is already included.

Is it easy to eat halal or vegetarian in Türkiye?

Halal food: easy to find. Vegetarian food: moderate. Vegetarian-friendly classics include Mercimek çorbası, Menemen, Simit and Baklava. Recipes vary between kitchens, so always ask.