Istanbul, Turkey Hotels and City Guide

Istanbul - Travel Tips

When to visit Istanbul

Spring and fall bring both warm, moderate temperatures and hordes of visitors to Istanbul. The months of April, May, September, and October are ideal because the humidity is much lower and the temperatures are neither too cool nor too hot yet. It is a perfect time to come and walk the city. July through August is considered the peak tourist season in Istanbul when many come to enjoy the area near the Bosphorus Strait. As Turkey, particularly Istanbul, experiences a boom in their tourism industries, you will see prices climb during these times, but it is also when a great many events are taking place and the city is most alive.

Local Holidays (2009)

New Year’s Day (January 1)
National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (April 23)
May Day Public Holiday (May 1)
Commemoration of Ataturk and Youth and Sports Day (May 19)
Victory Day (August 30)
End of Ramadan (September 19-22)
Republic Day (October 28-29)
Kurban Bayrami (Feast of the Sacrifice) (November 27-30)

Note: Muslim holidays, such as Ramadan, change each year because they are determined according to the lunar cycle. During Ramadan, you may find that restaurants and businesses are not open during the same hours. The city will also be much busier, so if visiting during this month, book your accommodations early.

Visas and Passports

Visitors from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Norway, and Switzerland do not have to have a visa if they are staying in Turkey for less than three months. Those from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, and Spain can enter with a valid passport and purchase a visa sticker upon arrival in Turkey if they are staying for less than three months.

Visitors from Norway, Hungary, and many Eastern European and Central Asian countries can enter for one month with a valid passport and a visa sticker purchased in Turkey. You may travel in Turkey with a single-entry visa for three months. With a multiple-entry visa, you can travel for three-month blocks in a single year. If your stay is longer than three months, you may be able to get an extension or you can jet to neighboring Greece, spend the night, and then return with a new three-month stamp.

All foreign nationals must have passports, and these must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from Turkey. For any questions concerning passports and visas, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Local Customs & Language (including Tipping)

Customs: Istanbul is a bustling city, and it can be overwhelming for visitors unaccustomed to haggling and other such “niceties” of the culture. While it can be intimidating, most Turks are very welcoming and will help you with directions, suggestions for places to eat, and other such matters.  In return, it is helpful to be respectful and know a few key Turkish phrases, like “Thank You,” (Sag olun), “I’m lost,” (Kayboldum), “Can you help me?” (Bana yardim edebilir misiniz?), and “How much is this?” (Bunun fiyati ne kadar?) – very useful for the bazaars. Be aware that many citizens pray five times a day, so do not plan to visit mosques during these times. Common courtesy goes a very long way in Istanbul.

Language: Ninety percent of Turks speak Turkish as their first language. Other languages you may hear include Kurdish and Arabic, and most Arabic speakers also speak Turkish. You will also find sprinklings of Armenian, Greek, Circassian, and Judezmo.

Tipping Advice: It is customary to tip wait staff, hotel staff, and others in the service industry. In Istanbul, a waiter or waitress should receive about a ten percent tip on top of a service charge. This is usually given in cash. Others, like hotel staff, baggage carries, hairdressers, and valets receive TL 2. A bathhouse attendant receives a 25 percent tip – don’t neglect the hamam attendant! Turkish drivers, though, are not usually tipped unless they help you with your bags. Then a small tip of TL 2 is warranted. Otherwise, Turks usually round up the fare and forgo the change.

Health and Security

The old warning, “Don’t drink the water,” applies here. While the tap water may be clean, storage tanks may not be. If you can possibly avoid it, it is better to drink bottled water during your stay in Istanbul, even at restaurants. Avoid things for sale that can go bad quickly in the heat, such as oysters or firin sutlac, a rice pudding dish. Overall, the ingredients used by restaurants are fresh and perfectly safe, though many foreigners may not be used to the spices or combinations. In some people, this may cause diarrhea or vomiting. If this is so, stay hydrated and stick to a bland diet until you recover.

It is a good idea to have an updated tetnus/diphtheria shot, and typhoid fever and hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended if you are going into more remote areas of Turkey. If you are going to stay in Turkey for a month or longer, get a rabies shot. While the threat from rabid dogs has been lessened by an increased effort to vaccinate dogs, it might be worth it to protect yourself.

As always when traveling, protect yourself, your money, and your travel documents. Pickpockets are not uncommon, so always be careful in crowds. If you can, keep your wallet in your front pocket where it is more noticeable if someone is trying to take it. It is also important to take other common precautions. For instance, many bars and clubs restrict Turkish women from entering. There are no such restrictions for foreign women, but if you are a woman, it is not advisable to enter theses places by yourself. It is better to be accompanied by a man if possible. Old fashioned, maybe, but it is also much safer.

Like any other large city, Istanbul has its share of con artists who prey on tourists. Being aware of the scams will help you avoid them. In one scam, clubs charge exorbitant (and unadvertised) prices. When visitors cannot pay the enormous bills, they are threatened and intimidated. Often, they will end up paying less than the bill – but still many, many times what it should be. Do not allow other people to say they will buy you drinks, as this is a prelude to this scam. Another common one involves exchanging money at small hotels. They will quote the prices in lira and then claim after that they quoted the prices in Euros. Do not stay at places that tell you it is possible to pay when you leave. Get quotes in liras – be explicit - and pay up front. If you use a credit card, check your statement and be sure you were charged in Turkish lira.

Taxi drivers also often target tourists by charging exorbitant fees, refusing to turn on the meter, and taking longer-than-necessary routes.

This should not deter you from visiting this beautiful city, but it should persuade you to exercise caution so you can enjoy your stay. If you do experience a scam or have had important documents or money stolen, you can contact the Istanbul Police Department’s Tourism Police. The address is: Yerebatan Caddesi 6, Sultanahmet (between Hagia Sophia and the entrance of Basilica Cistern) and the phone number is +90.212.527.4503.

Disabled Travelers

Istanbul is in the process of improving handicap accessibility within the city. Some buses have a low floor and ramp to allow access, but it may be hard to board during peak travel hours. Trams are wheelchair accessible from station platforms. Getting onto the platform itself may be difficult, however, as many are down in underground passages or above in overpasses. Stations are announced in writing and by voice. The metro is also accessible and some stations have elevators. For assistance, ask a security guard at the station. The metros are announced in writing and by voice as well.
Istanbul lags behind other first world countries in its accessibility, but is improving. Many of the mosques will not allow wheelchairs, and some attractions cannot be reached easily. For more information, consult Turkey Travel Planner, Apparelyzed, and Turkey Explorers.

Tax Refunds

An 18 percent tax will be placed on most goods and services, but this is refundable upon your departure from Turkey. At shops with the Global Refund sign, ask for a refund receipt, and do not sign it! Read everything you are given carefully so you can get your refund at the airport. Near the Customs area, go to the Global Refund booth with your receipts and travel documents to claim your refund. This will be given in Turkish lira or as a credit on your chosen credit card.

Hotels in Istanbul, Turkey