Istanbul is the largest city and the economic, cultural and historical center of Turkey. Although this country is generally considered an Asian nation, Istanbul is considered a European city.
Turkey has just (April 2021) opened its doors for tourism. They do the TCR test when you get to the airport but you don’t have to quarantine. The ideal is to stay a minimum of 3 days to at least have a semblance of the city.
Is it dangerous to travel to Istanbul?
Travel to Istanbul is often thought to be dangerous, especially for single women. We didn’t get that impression. It is a very organized city. We feel it’s a safe city, even for women.
Obviously, you always have to use the security measures prescribed by common sense. For the rest, we never feel threatened or frightened there and the people are quite warm and friendly.
Stay connected
Many people in Turkey speak english language and if you master or know this language you should have no difficulty communicating in Istanbul.
But if not, buy a SIM card so you have access to the internet and download a translator application, to help you communicate. Also, with internet access you can access maps of the city, nearby tourist attractions, site ratings and websites of places you plan to visit.
Don’t miss these places to visit
Be sure to plan your walks around Istanbul. You will save time if you already have a planning of the sites you will visit. We recommend as unmissable:
Temple of Hagia Sofia, the best known emblem of the city: first Byzantine Orthodox church, Catholic Church, then mosque, then museum and now again mosque.
Topkapi Palace: palace museum and former residence of the sultans
Dolmabahçe Palace: administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, notable for its luxurious interior
Turkish bazaars: world famous and a unique opportunity to come into contact with locals and Turkish culture.
Walks on the Bosphorus by boat and on foot: to appreciate the scenic beauty of the Dardanes and Istanbul.
Something curious, if you are a lover of cats because what better than to take a walk through the city of Istanbul, it will not be difficult to run into these angels of four paws in any corner of Istanbul, in addition to being adorable and are well treated by the natives of the city.
Outside Istanbul, 10 hours by bus Pamukkale or Cotton Castle. It is a limestone hill that to climb it you must do it barefoot so as not to damage the rock. It is a beautiful site full of thermal wells.
Have a plan B. Sometimes you won’t be able to make your planned tour on a specific day. If you plan to go to an outdoor site and it turns out that it rains that day, you can go to the bazaars, for example.
Eat in restaurants
In Istanbul, you don’t need to prepare food in your accommodation or spend hours in a market. Especially if you go for a short time. The food here is inexpensive (except in the tourist sites).
Be sure to go to the places where the natives go. You will find restaurants, pubs and bars not only very cheap, but also with very delicious dishes.
Stay in Downtown
Try to get accommodation in the center. You will save a lot on transportation as many tourist attractions in Istanbul are close to one another from the center.
For more distant attractions, you can use train, metro or tram services. Calculate if your city departures or metro transfers will be frequent and then buy integrated tickets.
Travel in autumn or spring
Do not travel to Istanbul in summer. You will find the city full of tourists and the temperatures there are high in the summer months. The best time we think is autumn (September-November) or spring (March-May), with very pleasant temperatures and much fewer people.
In any case, wear clothes that protect you from showers, sweaters, jackets, in the evenings the tempreraturas usually go down.
Buy tickets in advance
If you go to museums and mosques (which we recommend) do not buy tickets at peak times when you go to enter.
Buy them in advance and you’ll save yourself the long lines. There are passes that allow you to go to three or four museums or sites to visit. But be well informed that these passes allow you full access to all the museum facilities.
It happens that there are areas in museums and palaces whose access is more exclusive (expensive) and may not be included in the regular pass.
Respect the dress code
Never go too revealingly in Istanbul. Turkey is a fairly liberal and Westernized country, but we strongly recommend women not to go with shorts, bare shoulders, pronounced necklines or miniskirts.
These for two reasons: 1. Some Turkish men consider throwing inappropriate flattery as gallantry and 2. Many people for religious and cultural reasons are sensitive to the dress code of women.
Although it is not necessary to cover your head with veils when you go through the city, it is if you enter a temple.
Airports
When you arrive at one of Istanbul’s two airports (Turkey International and Sabiha Gökçen), do not take a taxi to get to the downtown area. They are very expensive. From both airports you have three options:
- The bus line that costs 4 USD, it takes a little longer because of the traffic managed by the IETT
- The Metro
- Van services from 4 to 20 USD, and with which you get more comfortable and fast.
At Istanbul airport (and wherever you go) be early there. It is better to wait sitting quietly at the airport than to be running around the city with the risk of having your plane leave you.
As Istanbul has two currently active international airports, when you go back, check well which airport you will leave, unless they take you to the wrong one.
Conclusions
The Jewel of the Sophorus is a beautiful city, full of history where the European and the Asian come into being. East and west. The Islamic and the Christian. The ancient and the modern.
With the tips we have given here, you can be sure that your next visit to Istanbul will be an experience without waste.
An infallible tourist destination for all those who claim to be travelers. And believe us when we tell you that at the end of your trip you wish you had more time to see and you will surely be thinking about starting to plan your return to this ancient city.
