Travel tips · Istanbul · Turkey
Istanbul travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Istanbul is a modern, largely secular-feeling metropolis in its central districts, but it is also a city of active mosques and conservative neighbourhoods. Hospitality is central: shopkeepers offer tea, strangers give directions, and meals are shared and unhurried. Showing respect in religious spaces and dressing modestly outside the nightlife districts goes a long way.
Key facts
- Language
- Turkish
- Currency
- TRY
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated, but most residents drink bottled or filtered water…
- Emergency
- 112 (general emergency number)
Things to know
- Remove shoes before entering a mosque; women should cover their hair and everyone should cover shoulders and knees.
- Avoid visiting mosques during prayer times, especially Friday midday prayers, and do not walk in front of people praying.
- Accepting a glass of tea from a shopkeeper is polite and does not oblige you to buy anything.
- Bargaining is expected in the bazaars and with carpet dealers, but not in supermarkets, restaurants or shops with fixed prices.
- Public displays of affection are fine in Beyoğlu and Kadıköy but frowned upon in conservative districts such as Fatih and Üsküdar.
- Use your right hand when handing over money or food, and stand up for older passengers on trams and buses.
- Book Hagia Sophia ahead: Queues for the visitor entrance build quickly in summer; arrive early in the morning or buy the ticket online where offered.
- Book Topkapı Palace ahead: Buying the ticket online or arriving at opening time avoids the longest ticket queues in summer.
- Turkish lira prices change quickly with inflation; check current prices locally and pay in lira rather than euros, which usually costs more.
Tipping
In restaurants, leaving about 5–10% in cash for good service is normal if service is not already added. Round up taxi fares, and tip hammam attendants a little directly at the end of the treatment.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Merhaba | Hello |
| Teşekkür ederim | Thank you |
| Lütfen | Please |
| Hesap, lütfen | The bill, please |
| Ne kadar? | How much? |
| Afiyet olsun | Enjoy your meal |
What to wear
Dress is relaxed in Beyoğlu, Karaköy and Kadıköy, but carry a scarf and long trousers or a long skirt for mosque visits and conservative districts such as Fatih, Balat and Eyüp.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated, but most residents drink bottled or filtered water; bottled water is sold everywhere.
- Emergency number
- 112 (general emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Hotels and cafés widely offer Wi-Fi; visitors commonly buy a tourist SIM at the airport or use an eSIM data plan.
- Time zone
- Europe/Istanbul
Pickpocketing happens on crowded trams and around Istiklal Avenue and the bazaars. Common scams include the dropped shoe-brush trick, inflated bills at bars recommended by friendly strangers and taxis that avoid the meter. Traffic is fast; cross roads carefully.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Turkey's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Istanbul?
In restaurants, leaving about 5–10% in cash for good service is normal if service is not already added. Round up taxi fares, and tip hammam attendants a little directly at the end of the treatment.
+Can you drink the tap water in Istanbul?
Tap water is treated, but most residents drink bottled or filtered water; bottled water is sold everywhere.
+What plugs are used in Istanbul?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Istanbul?
Turkish.