Before this question can be answered, one must first determine which species of turtle you are talking about. There are aquatic turtles, semi-aquatic turtles, and terrestrial turtles! Obviously, care requirements vary tremendously between them.
There are a few basic things that ALL turtles need, to get you started:
A clean, secure enclosure with enough room for them to move around and feel unstressed. How large and what type, obviously, depends on the species.
A UVB producing light. For turtles, one of the UVB mercury-vapor reptile lights is the best choice, as they provide both heat and UVB for 3 years, but a fluorescent UVB light will work as well, so long as it is situated no more than 6 inches above the animal, and is replaced every 6 months.
A heat source. Being reptiles, turtles regulate their body temperature by seeking warmth, or avoiding it. The vast majority of turtles are diurnal (awake during the day), and rely on sunlight for heat, so provide a heat lamp. Use a thermometer to determine the temperature under the lamp, and raise or lower the light to provide the correct temperature for the species you have.
A quality diet--turtle pellets alone, live fish alone, or lettuce, just aren't going to cut it. Calcium supplements are recommended for most species.
Water turtles require a lot more equipment than terrestrial turtles, of course. Seek out books and care sheets for the individual species you're interested in keeping. Turtles are not low-maintenance pets.
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