About Istanbul
Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents, and it wears that duality in everything — the call to prayer echoing over Byzantine mosaics, the fish sandwiches on the Galata Bridge next to the Süleymaniye Mosque, the tram rattling through the Grand Bazaar's shadow. The Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace are genuinely unmissable, but the real Istanbul is in the neighbourhoods: Karaköy's galleries and meyhanes, Balat's crumbling Ottoman houses painted pastel, Kadıköy across the Bosphorus where locals actually live and eat. The food culture is deep and serious — do not leave without a proper Turkish breakfast, a bowl of kokoreç, and tea drunk from tulip-shaped glasses overlooking the water.
Highlights
Hagia Sophia at opening — arrive at 8:30am before tour groups, the scale is overwhelming Grand Bazaar on a Tuesday morning — 4,000 shops, cooler and quieter mid-week Bosphorus ferry from Eminönü to Kadıköy — 25 minutes, best €1 view in Europe Karaköy breakfast — börek, menemen, bal-kaymak, and several glasses of tea Balat neighbourhood — Ottoman Jewish quarter turned street art hub, the city's most photogenic streets Spice Bazaar and Galata Bridge fish sandwiches — lunch eaten on the water, mandatory
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Neighbourhoods
Practical Info
EU/UK/US citizens can enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY), with roughly 30 TRY to 1 USD (check current rates). Cards are widely accepted, but carry cash for small vendors and markets.
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; round up taxi fares, leave 5-10% in restaurants, and tip hotel staff 10-20 TRY for good service.
Istanbul is generally safe, but be cautious of pickpockets and scams in crowded tourist areas like the Grand Bazaar and Taksim Square.
Buy a local Turkcell or Vodafone SIM at the airport or shops for around 200-300 TRY (10-15 USD) with generous data.
Turkish is the official language, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas but less so in residential neighborhoods.
27 Local Tips
Rakı is not a shot drink — sipping it slowly with cold meze and good conversation is the entire point of the evening for most locals. If you throw it back like a spirit, people will absolutely notice and quietly judge you.
Beyoğlu is the obvious choice but locals have quietly migrated to the neighborhoods further up the hill where things feel more relaxed and less performative. Follow the sound of live music spilling out of doorways rather than the Instagram crowds.
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