Türkiye FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: While use of an agent to clear into the country is not mandatory, it may smooth the way. Be sure to appoint an agent prior to departing for Türkiye. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: Some countries do need a visa to enter Türkiye. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? There are an abundance of Ports of Entry (see Explore Türkiye+anchor symbol), however some are more yacht-friendly with more reasonable fees, than others.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? Sample cost using an agency for a 10-15m yacht including Transit Log and Vessel Tax: 200€ (on a week day). See Fees for more details.
What security concerns should I know about? Türkiye’s coast and islands are a safe cruising destination and reports of crime are rare. See Security for more info.
Türkiye Facts for Sailors
- Türkiye is a transcontinental country located mainly on the peninsula of Anatolia in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It shares borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The capital city is Ankara, while its largest city and financial centre is Istanbul.
- Türkiye has a population of 83,614,362.
- Türkiye's official language is Turkish, but English is the second widest-spoken language and you will easily find English speakers in the major cities and holiday resorts.
- Türkiye's currency is the Turkish Lira. For specifics see General Info.
- Turkish Time (TRT) is UTC+03:00 year-round.
- Türkiye is a large country with diverse terrain and the climate varies greatly from one region to another. Spring is the best season to visit Turkey as the weather is moderate throughout the country and the days are long. In the Summer it is quite hot and dry on the coast. See Weather below for more details.
- Türkiye has more coastline than any other Mediterranean country - some 8400 km (5219 miles). There are so many bays and coves, one can almost always pick a pretty anchorage within minutes of deciding to drop the anchor. Its diverse terrain covers nearly 800,000 square kilometers and shares borders with Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
- Marinas are generally first class with technical support and repair and haul-out facilities. Istanbul and Marmaris offer the most extensive technical support, though technical service is available almost everywhere. Some of the finest marinas are Park Kemer, Gocek, Bodrum, and Atakoy with prices to match. Marina prices continue to rise every year.
- There are many pretty small harbors, such as Kalkan, where one can Med-moor to a quay or jetty with electricity and water. Overnight fees tend to be much more reasonable than those at marinas. A cruising guide such as Turkish Waters and Cyprus Pilot by Rod Heikell is essential to make the best of this country.
- In recent years there has been a considerable easing of formalities for yachts, however, three-month visa restrictions, difficulty with residency in Türkiye and rising prices have deterred many long-term cruisers from spending long in Türkiye.
- Most cruising yachts sail in the southwest of the country, along with the Mediterranean coast and the Aegean Sea, although the Sea of Marmara is also worth exploring and sail through the heart of Istanbul is an exhilarating experience.
- Türkiye's history spans almost 10,000 years. Along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, there are acres of ancient remains - many world-renowned - from the ruins of Greek cities to sunken Roman harbors and crusader castles.
- Although the Black Sea coast of Türkiye lacks natural harbors, there are several sheltered ports while the spectacular coast can be enjoyed when day sailing from one such port to the next. Some of these Türkiye's coast is to be found in the RCC guide, The Black Sea. See Publications section for the details.
- Discharge of waste regulations now applies to all the Turkish coastline. See Restrictions for more details.
