Preparing for Istanbul: Tips & Hints

1. Before photographing local people, you should definitely ask them for permission. Remember you cannot make shots of women dressed in black capes.

2. When you enter a home or a mosque, you should definitely take your shoes off. You should be very careful while selecting clothes before visiting religious sites of Istanbul. Short skirts, shorts and open tops are not suitable for observations of the city.

3. You can drink alcohol in specially designated areas only.

4. Tips in local cafes and restaurants make up about 10% of the total amount of the order. Leaving tips in taxi is not common.

5. Don’t forget to bargain on markets and bazaars - sometimes sellers increase the price several times, counting on the ignorance of tourists.

6. Do not drink tap water. It is not dangerous to health, but contains a lot of chlorine.

7. Buses are the best way to move on the city. This is also the most economical form of transport. As a rule, the fare is increased at night.

8. Buses and taxis (dolmush) ride in the city from 6:00 am until late evening (23:00 - 24:00). When you plan a ride to the city’s suburbs, you should remember that public transport can stop its rides a bit earlier (20:00 - 21:00).

9. Shopping malls are the best place to acquire expensive products. Not all products you see on open markets are of a high quality. It should be noted that the prices for clothing and jewelry in malls and markets do not differ significantly.

10. During some religious holidays restaurants and cafes of the city can stop selling alcoholic beverages. Going to a dinner at some restaurant, you should definitely ask about the availability of a wine list.

Other articles about Istanbul:
Traditions and lifestyle
Istanbul sightseeing
Best restaurants and cuisine
Istanbul attractions and leisure
Istanbul cityguide
Photogallery of Istanbul