Practical Türkiye Travel Tips

 

Even if you’re already an experienced European traveler, it’s worth your time to get familiar with some practical, everyday info for Türkiye before taking your first trip to this incredible destination. The country is a mix of well-heeled, high-rise society and luxurious Mediterranean resorts along with quaint villages and an ancient history of empire and trade that has left an indelible mark on the whole Balkan region and influenced everyday traditions.

 

First-time visitors are often surprised by just how modern the big-city infrastructure can be, and just how welcome they feel throughout the country.

 

Photo by Mathias Reding on Pexels

 

 

Let’s go over the travel basics – making purchases, getting around efficiently, what to pack, etc. – to make sure you have a stress-free adventure in Türkiye!

 

 

Paying & Tipping
 

Currency:

The official currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). These days there is still rising inflation, so Türkiye is not quite the budget travel destination it used to be, but your dollars will still take you far.

 

Photo by omid armin on Unsplash

 

 

ATMs & Exchange counters:

It’s best to use your card for most purchases and withdraw some Turkish lira at an ATM upon arrival to have cash at hand. ATMs are readily available in cities and touristic areas.

 

Whatever you do, don’t exchange money at the airport. Most likely, you’ll be starting out in the city of Istanbul, which has plenty of currency exchange offices that typically offer a good rate, and you could even compare a few in the center to find the best one.

 

Cash & Cards:

You can get away with using just your card in most places a tourist would go. Contactless payments are very common. It’s still a good idea to have some cash in your pocket, especially for rural areas, small vendors, toilets and tips. The majority of taxis do accept cards, and you can always ask before you ride if you don’t have cash.

 

Tipping:

It is customary to tip for good service, although not as mandatory as it is in the US. Due to Türkiye’s economic crisis, many restaurants have started automatically including a tip on the bill. Don’t be afraid to ask up front if the service is already included.

 

Generally, it’s expected to give small tips to the hotel service staff, your chauffeur, and private guide. In a taxi, it’s common to round up the fare, but the drivers don’t necessarily expect tips.

 

 

Photo by Gül Işık on Pexels

 

 

Travel Essentials

 

Comfortable shoes: The number one item you’ll want to invest in for your trip! Chances are you’ll be doing a lot of walking up and down the hills and stairways of Istanbul, along cobblestone streets in small villages and old quarters, and around archaeological sites with uneven stones.

 

Photo by Joshua Kettle on Unsplash

 

 

Reusable water bottle: You won’t want to drink the tap water in Türkiye. It’s a good idea to bring your own reusable water bottle, which you may be able to fill up at your accommodation, so you can avoid too many plastic bottles. Or you can purchase water in a glass bottle and give that a few uses.

 

Sun protection: It’s always recommended to pack sun protection – sunglasses, hat, sunscreen. Türkiye is a Mediterranean country after all, and if you’re traveling in the summer months it gets hot no matter where you are – in the north, on the coast and inland, not to mention the roasting southern beaches.

 

Photo by Kate Mishchankova on Unsplash

 

Bug spray: Along with protection from the sun, the summertime also calls for bug spray, particularly when dining alfresco and spending time outdoors.

 

Universal travel plug adapter: Don’t forget your universal power adapter (Türkiye uses Type F and Type C plugs, 230V, consistent with European outlets).

 

Portable power bank: There’s nothing worse than running out of charge when you’re visiting once-in-a-lifetime sites and trying to capture memories. Or maybe you’re using your map or Uber app to help you get around. A slim portable power bank can keep you and your travel companions re-charged throughout the day without having to hunt for a coffee shop and an outlet.

 

Photo by Said on Pexels

 

Travel documents: Make sure that your passport is valid for 60 days beyond the dates of your intended stay in Türkiye (this is an entry requirement). North American passport holders do not need a visa to be in the country (up to 90 days).

 

Travel insurance: Especially in the current climate, it’s a good idea to cover your trip investment with travel insurance! A good comprehensive policy will cover trip cancellation (due to illness, etc.), trip interruption or delay plus medical and evacuation coverage. Normally, you should purchase insurance within 2 to 3 weeks of your initial deposit to have it cover ‘pre-existing’ conditions.

 

Useful extras: Whether it’s a day in the city or a sightseeing road trip, there are a few little extras you could always have on hand. Tissues and wet wipes or hand sanitizer will be your friend in cities that are teeming with bodies. There’s a good chance you’ll need to use a public restroom in a heavily trafficked zone, and there’s a good chance that facility is out of toilet paper. Also, you could try carrying a small pack of wet or dry cat food in your bag – feeding our street friends (cats and dogs) is sure to brighten your day.

 

Photo by Michael Fischer on Unsplash

 

Apps for your phone: Even before you travel, you can have your phone set up with a few applications to help make your trip much smoother! All of these apps are free to download to your phone.

 

• Airalo: First of all, using an e-SIM is a great way to have mobile data if your wireless contract doesn’t already have an international travel plan. Gone are the days of purchasing physical SIM cards – now, all you have to do is download an app that lets you buy mobile data coverage based on how many GB you want and where you’re traveling, and you simply use a QR code to activate your purchase. We’ve tried and tested Airalo in several countries, and it has a great reputation. Download Airalo to your phone before you leave, and when you get to Türkiye you can go ahead and purchase the amount of data you want and activate.

 

• WhatsApp: This is a super popular messaging service in Europe and Türkiye. Many businesses have a WhatsApp number, if you don’t want to use your phone to call a foreign number, you can try this instead. We give our travelers local contacts for help and emergencies, and you’ll be able to easily communicate with them using WhatsApp. Chances are you can get your guide’s WhatsApp contact as well.

 

Photo by Dimitri Karastelev on Unsplash

 

• BiTaksi: You may already have Uber on your phone, so this will work for you in Istanbul, Izmir or Ankara. BiTaksi is another easy way to call a reliable taxi without worrying about the occasional driver who might take advantage of foreigners (see below).

 

• Google Translate: This popular translation app can be super handy when traveling abroad. It allows you to type, speak, draw on the screen, or use your camera (great for translating labels) to get a translation in writing (and often audio). Translations sometimes come out odd, but it does seem to get better and better over time. Before your trip, go ahead and download the translation pack for Turkish so you can use it even when your phone is offline.

 

 

What to Wear

 

European style: First-time visitors often have an idea of Türkiye as very conservative and rigid when it comes to dressing, like its neighbors in the Middle East. The truth is that you’ll find a wide mix of both modern and straight-laced fashions, with urban areas such as Istanbul, Izmir and Bodrum quite relaxed. Young people follow the latest fashion trends much like any other big metropolis, so you might see more skin than you’d expect depending on the season. Turkish people typically take great care with their wardrobe and appearance, so you can feel free to bring some fashion-forward pieces and get a blowout at the salon while you’re there!

 

Essentially, you can pack what you would for any other European getaway, like Lisbon or Rome. To be flexible with the weather and your itinerary, layers are always a good idea.

 

Photo by Emre Bilgiç on Pexels

 

 

Modest moments:

For visiting mosques – and you should certainly see the inside of a mosque or two! – both men and women should avoid shorts and sleeveless clothing, and women will need a head covering (not a hat – you can simply use a neck scarf over your head). If you fail to meet these requirements, popular attractions like the Blue Mosque do provide robes and scarfs for your visit. Slip-on shoes are also an advantage here, as you will need to take your shoes off before entering any mosque.

 

Photo by Julia Volk on Pexels

 

 

Health & Safety

 

Be aware:

Türkiye is generally a safe country for tourists, but you should always follow universal safety practices like being aware of your surroundings, wearing a crossbody bag to deter pickpockets, and sticking to well-lit places at night.

 

Photo by Hilmi Işılak on Pexels

 

 

Avoid money scams:

Most Turks are genuinely welcoming and ready to help visitors, but unfortunately there are some common scams to look out for so you can navigate situations more confidently.
 

Taxi drivers might spot a tourist and try out some tricks, like not turning on the meter, taking the ‘scenic’ route, and deftly swapping out larger bills for smaller ones (like a 50 for a 5) to say that you underpaid. Make sure the meter is on when you get in and carry smaller bills or use your card to pay in taxis. Even more foolproof, you can use an app such as BiTaksi (which calls taxi drivers connected to the system) or Uber.

 

Photo by Daka on Pexels

 

 

Other money scams involve ‘helpful’ people who pop up to offer their services and then charge you an exorbitant fee. Maybe it’s a shoe shine man who drops his brush and then offers to shine your sandals after you’ve picked it up for him, or a person in traditional costume who wants you to take a photo with them, or a hospitable ‘guide’ who offers to show you around a site and then takes you to a seller where you’re pressured to buy something or give a tip. Official guides wear an ID on a lanyard. Again, there are instances of sincere consideration, but if you ever feel uncomfortable, just decline firmly and walk away.

 

 

Getting Around

 

Istanbul’s public transport is an experience:

Istanbul is the major hub for travelers to Türkiye, so you’ll likely be spending at least a few days here. Istanbul’s public transport system is clean and efficient. There are modern trams around the historic center, several metro lines, and ferries that go up, down and across the Bosphorus – the best way to travel!

 

You can buy an Istanbulkart and top up the credit to use for your fare on all public transport – ferries, buses, metrobuses, subways, trams, and even your ride from the Istanbul Airport to the city center. The card may be scanned more than once per ride to be used for up to 5 people. You can also scan the card to enter some public toilets.

 

 

Photo by Fatih on Unsplash

 

 

Take domestic flights:

When traveling between the country’s regions – like Istanbul to Cappadocia to Ephesus to Bodrum – domestic flights are the fastest way to go. All of our itineraries include flights between regions, or comfortable private transfers when the distance is not so great, or there’s something you want to see in between – such as a stop in Dalyan on the way to Bodrum.

 

Hop over to the Greek isles:

Did you know that from the Turkish coast you can also easily take ferries to the Greek isles? You could even just take a day trip to a Greek island. The most popular routes include: Çeşme to Chios, Bodrum to Kos or Kalymnos, Ayvalık to Lesvos, Kuşadası to Samos, and Kaş to Kastellorizo.

 

 

 

 

Shopping & Bargaining

 

Save time to shop:

Türkiye is a shopper’s paradise, from bustling bazaars to boutique stores offering unique handmade goods. If you need advice on what to buy in Türkiye, check out our complete Istanbul shopping guide.

 

Grand Bazaar:

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, and visitors enjoy going for the experience of wandering its endless halls packed with calling sellers and their colorful wares. It’s fantastic for taking photographs rich with color and texture – piled carpets, jewel-toned lanterns and patterned ceramics, and also for feeling connected to the ancient traditions with the art of bargaining.

 

There are over 3,000 shops in this 15^th century warren of commerce and trade, and after a while it can seem like you’re just seeing the same things on repeat. There are a lot of items of cheaper quality, but you can find some treasures if you know what you’re looking for.

 

 

Photo by Ashley Trethowan on Unsplash

 

 

Get ready to bargain:

First, go in with a list of what you’d like to buy to reduce the overwhelm. Do a little research about prices beforehand, so you can better know your price when bargaining. You’ll also want to have a good handle on the exchange rate conversion – no shame in using your phone calculator on the spot, a good bargain shouldn’t be rushed. Make sure to insist that the seller names their price before you do. Then, act like you’re not really sure you want the item, and come in at a price under what you’re willing to pay. If you start to walk away and they give you a counter offer, the game is on.

 

Between bargains, it’s fun to explore, looking for artisans at work or one of the arched doorways that leads into a quiet han (courtyard) for a tea break on a squat little stool.

 

Spice Market:

Not far away, the Spice Market is another must-see covered bazaar. Inside the covered portion, and in the spider web of streets spanning out from the 17^th century structure into the Eminönü district, you’ll find thousands of vendors selling spices, dried nuts and fruits, and pretty much anything you could want for your kitchen, home, garden, electronics and more.

 

 

Photo by Linus Mimietz on Unsplash

 

 

Check out local shops:

Outside of the Old City bazaars, there’s plenty of excellent shopping at independent artisan workshops and boutiques in neighborhoods like Galata, Nışantaşı, Karaköy and Kadiköy. Haggling is common in the Grand Bazaar, but not in regular shops.

 

Street bazaars:

Shopping locally and seasonally is just conventional wisdom in Türkiye. No matter where you are, a trip to the weekly street market is a real delight.

 

Be sure to check out the colorful greengrocer stalls – don’t be surprised if you find a food you’ve never seen! The local diet is in tune with the seasons, so in the spring and summer you’ll discover all kinds of exotic produce such as peeled artichoke bottoms, golden loquats, soft apricots, juicy white nectarines, sour green plums, fresh figs, and unripened fuzzy almonds. In cooler months, the harvest brings forth ruby-red pomegranates, fat chestnuts and walnuts, plump persimmons and tart quince.

 

 

Photo by esrageziyor on Pexels

 

Weekly markets can also have a variety of other straight-from-the-producer goodies, like honey, pomegranate molasses, cheeses, olives, tomato and pepper paste, dried herbs, and tarhana (a powder of dried and fermented ingredients that is reconstituted into a comforting soup). Don’t be afraid to ask for a taste to see if you like something. The sellers are proud to share their products, and offers of samples are plentiful as you walk through any market.
 

When you’re ready to buy, remember that you’ll be purchasing most food goods bagged by the kilo. For example, you could get a half kilo of cherries for snacking, a kilo of nuts (a generous size, perfect for a gift when vacuum sealed!), 200 grams of olives that might last you a few breakfasts depending on how Turkish you are, or maybe 100 grams of a spice. Don’t barter on food items, but for clothing and other non-perishable wares, a bit of haggling is normal.
 

Photo by Fahrad Norouzi on Unsplash

 

 

With these practical tips, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy your journey through Türkiye with confidence! And of course, when you want an expert by your side, we’re ready to help you plan the ultimate Turkish adventure with recommended hotels, tours, guides, drivers and more.

 

In fact, why not get started planning your custom-designed trip right now?