voraczech;

Being in Istanbul, Türkiye (Turkey) 2026

• 4 min read •
Istanbul view in the morning

Before - buy an e-sim

Before going to Türkiye, buy an e-sim. It is much cheaper than roaming or a local offer. Use my tip from travel tips to get an e-sim. Also, for free Wi-Fi you need to register with your phone number, which does not work every time.

Hotel is your friend, Airbnb may not be

I had a bad experience with Airbnb in Türkiye in the past. There are definitely good ones, but a hotel is always a safe choice in this country if you travel for vacation.

Water is not drinkable potable (unless otherwise stated)

The best water you can buy is from a Bim shop. There is also a service providing water delivery to your door.

Turkish toilets are not a thing

At the airport they are present, but newly (in 2026) there are pictograms on the doors. No need to discover it the hard way anymore. The "normal" toilets are the standard; sometimes there is a toilet shower as well.

ATMs can be both your friend and an enemy

Many banks charge a huge fee (even an 8% surcharge is common) and/or offer DCC (dynamic currency conversion) — you should always decline it (Decline is mostly on the left).

You can check the fees at Wikivoyage. Ziraat Bankası is a PRETTY safe choice, no added fees, you can decline DCC. Except for the fact it sometimes swallows a card. Use Halkbank — no fees, decline DCC (select Other options and you have declined).

How to keep your card safe

It is more common than I thought that an ATM swallows your card. The ways it happens are different, so here comes the list of tips:

  • Go to ATMs at the bank since it is easier for them to help you (but they can retrieve a card from any of their ATMs).
  • If the ATM switches to Turkish, start pressing Cancel (the physical red button) or hayır (means no) on the screen — this cancels the process and the card is returned.
  • If the card is stuck inside, calling the ATM's customer support won't help; just freeze your card (do not block it permanently).
  • Go to the bank's branch — the bigger the better, since there is a chance they will be competent and English-speaking.
    • This branch works for Ziraat Bankası (for any of their ATMs); go to the teller.
    • You should have your passport and, most importantly, your card details.
    • They can submit a return request — they have 15 days to process it; in my case they did it in 10.

Hafiz Mustafa is expensive but worth it

Anything with pistachio (fıstık) will be worth your money — either baklava or The Story of Istanbul (a cake).

Istanbulkart is the biggest unknown

You never know how much your ride will cost. You may be unsure whether you should buy the blue one or the red one (I have the red one and I think it is a good choice).

I am not sure what the most cost-efficient option is for topping up money Top up with a 200 lira bill with a fixed 2 lira fee at the vending machines for cash payments. For some reason you can always top up with only one bill at a time.

You can top up for free at a Migros shop — use cash and go to a cashier; the self-service does not have this option.

Itinerary

  • Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern (can be done in half a day)
  • Asian side (another half day)
  • Grand Bazaar (half a day, but take your time — it's better to spend a full day, including breaks)
  • Dolmabahçe, Galata, Taksim (half a day, or a full day if you take your time)
  • Grand Çamlıca Mosque
  • hammam

Eat

  • falafel
  • pilav
  • lahmacun
  • pide
  • börek
  • kebab — Urfa, Adana, Iskender (top), şiş
  • tantuni (with yogurt)

Sweets

  • baklava
  • lokum
  • künefe
  • puddings
  • sütlaç
  • helva

Drink

  • Turkish tea
  • Turkish coffee
  • ayran
  • salep
  • şalgam
  • boza

A few words to know

  • merhaba = hello
  • teşekkürler = thank you
  • evet = yes
  • yok = no
  • su = water
  • çay = tea
  • kahve = coffee
  • et = meat
  • tavuk = chicken
  • balık = fish
  • şeker = sugar
  • pamuk = cotton
  • indirim = discount
  • deniz = sea

Buy

  • Turkish tea
  • Turkish coffee
  • clothes
  • perfumes
  • pharmacy
  • baklava
  • a nice haircut

Shops

  • Hafiz Mustafa
  • Kahve Dünyası
  • Tudors
  • Sansiro Perfume (no experience)

History to know

  • 1453 — Fall of Constantinople
  • Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — founder of the Republic of Turkey, first president, and national hero. He is known for his reforms that modernized Turkey and his efforts to create a secular state.