Top 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Istanbul, Turkey
#1 - Women Have to Cover Their Heads Before Entering a Mosque
Some people don’t realise this when visiting Istanbul, but women have to cover their heads before entering a mosque. This includes women who are not Islamic. You must also cover your shoulders and knees. The dress code is taken very seriously. You will usually go through a dress check before entering the mosque and encouraged to be respectful. All shoes must come off before entering the mosque (we suggest you wear socks) and do not enter the main floor that is only welcome to practicing men of the Islamic religion. If you do not have a scarf to cover your head, you can buy one ahead of time or take a free temporary one at the entrance.
#2 - You May Have Heard of the Cats Everywhere, But Did You Know There are Many Stray Dogs, Too?
One thing I was excited to see were all the cats in Istanbul. Most of them look very healthy and taken care of. They are very sweet and welcoming of people, as they are exposed to people their whole lives. What we did not expect were all the stray dogs wandering the streets. We saw many of them were diseased and docile. None of them looked like they were in good shape or taken care of. It was a shock for us coming for the first time.
#3 - Istanbul is Very Hilly
Not sure why we thought Istanbul was going to be mostly flat land, but that was definitely not the case. Most of the time, you are walking up or down steep hills and stairs. A lot of hotels are not immune to this either, so be prepared for your glutes to be on fire! Much of the pathways are broken and worn down, so it’s best to wear trainers or hiking shoes when walking around the streets of Istanbul.
#4 - Istanbul is an Affordable City to Visit
Istanbul is attractive to many tourists, with one of the most common reason being an affordable travel destination. As of October 2023, it is approximately 28 Turkish Lira to 1 US Dollar. Most accommodations are very reasonable (our rented apartment was just $124 for 4 nights in the Old Town city centre). Food is also reasonable, as it can range anywhere between $2-$30 for a meal. We personally ate at a restaurant that was featured in the Michelin Guide and came out under $35 for both of us. You can also find good deals in souvenirs, but it’s always best to get a little out of the main tourist attractions to find the best prices for the same gifts.
#5 - It’s Not Worth it to Pay to Skip the Lines
If you really insist on paying to skip the lines to the attractions, go for it. But, you’ll end up wasting your money for just an additional 15 minutes of waiting in line. The lines to some of these attractions, like mosques, the Basilica Cistern, and Topkapi Palace, may look intimidating, but they move VERY quickly. We ended up paying to skip the line for the Basilica Cistern and lost $20 by getting in just a few minutes before the couple we would have been behind. It’s not worth your money unless you are really cramped for time.
#6 - Don’t Get Scammed
Istanbul is a very safe city to visit; however, there are instances of petty crime and thievery. I had heard that these people target kids, but I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes. A kind English couple was treating their child to a Turkish ice cream (if you don’t know about that cool experience, check it out!). The worker told the child it was 50 lira for a small cone. When he got up to pay, the other worker told him it was 100 lira. The family was confused and tried to pay the 50 lira. Unfortunately, the workers got hostile and told them they had to pay double, even though they were told otherwise. These kinds of things happen all the time, especially to kids who won’t question or complain. It’s a sad reality, but you will need to be careful you don’t get taken advantage of. It also happens in places you would not think, like in a museum. The image above is from the Topkapi Palace. We were asked some very personal questions by someone who then wanted to get us to buy something. Kind of frustrating when you’re trying to take in the beauty of these palaces and museums.
#7 - Security is Everywhere
Here’s something that can either make you feel really safe or really unsafe depending on how you look at it. You will have to go through A LOT of security in Istanbul. We’re talking a few rounds at the airport, in museums, and even before you enter the Grand Bizarre. You may also find a lot of police everywhere with guns, making sure everyone maintains order in the city. It can be a bit spooky at times, but we never saw anything to make us feel unsafe.
#8 - Istanbul is a Very Religious City
Turkey’s constitution does not recognise a particular religion, so the people of Turkey have freedom in however they wish to worship. That being said, around 90 percent of the city identifies as Muslim. There are countless mosques that anyone may choose to visit, but you must be respectful and follow the dress code (mentioned at the beginning of this blog). You will hear pieces of the Quran being projected on speakers throughout the entire city along with followers stopping what they’re doing and practicing their rituals. Regardless of one’s beliefs, it is very eye-opening to see so many devoted to their religion. It helps those to understand religious differences and commonalities to better understand one another. To me, that is one of the best parts of travel!
#9 - You Will Need to Get A Travel Visa Ahead of Your Visit
Turkey is one country that requires a travel visa upon entering. This is a very easy and simply application that literally just takes about an hour. It costs about $50 a person. Technically, you can wait and get it when you show up to Turkey, but we strongly advise doing it ahead of time so you don’t have to wait at the airport several more hours. To find more information on the travel visa application process, go to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
#10 - Get the Istanbul Rail Card
Lastly, we highly recommend getting the Istanbul card. This card can be purchased at the airport and surrounding rail or underground stations. Istanbul is a very large city that is difficult to get around. It is one of the most populous cities in the world, with just under 16 million people who call it home… and there’s millions more who visit Istanbul each year. With it being split up in different sections, many people walking around, and the area being hilly, it makes sense to save your feet and take public transport. It costs just 6 liras (about 20 cents) to get the card, and you can add money to the card as you travel. It’s a very easy way to get around the city that provides less stress and headaches!
