American Citizen travel to Turkey, through Greece
 

I will be visiting Greece in August and plan to go to Turkey for a day. Will I need a special visa to travel to Turkey?

If you will not stay overnight, you do not need a visa. You do not say which part of Turkey; the 2 most common day excursions are from Samos to Ephesus and back, and from Rhodes Old Town to Marmaris and back. I have done the Ephesus excursion and it can be quite worthwhile (although VERY hot in August; take hat, water, snacks) ... I have heard from others that Marmaris is mainly a junky market full of trinkets for tourists; I am willing to be corrected.

If it is Ephesus, the ISTA agency at the dock in Vathy, Samos can handle everything. The Turkey officials hold your passport at the dock (don't panic! It is done every day! Nobody loses their passport!), and return it at the end of your visit. This is done in order to keep people from using the excursion and then "disappearing" into Turkey. If one wants to stay overnight, this also can be done, but more paperwork, and you pay a hefty extra fee -- back in 2002 it was equivalent of $45, probably more in 2010.

20 Usd now for US citizens if you want to stay overnight....

Happy Travelling,
Murat

<<If one wants to stay overnight, this also can be done, but more paperwork, and you pay a hefty extra fee -- back in 2002 it was equivalent of $45, probably more in 2010.>>

I paid $20 for a visa at the airport in Istanbul, no paperwork, just collect the stamp and go through immigration with my passport and visa stamp.

Is it different if you're entering from a port?

No paperwork, Jan is mistaken. Just pay $20 at Passport Control and you will get an entry stamp in your passport good for 90 days.

Thanks! Not sure if we are flying yet, or enter a port closest to Istanbul. Plan on visiting the market, Ayia Sofia and experiencing a turkish bath. Any suggestions including a hotel?