Preparation file

Preparing for Istanbul

Istanbul spreads across two continents and is a large city of hills and water; distances take longer than the map suggests. What helps before you arrive: that one card covers all transport, what is expected of you inside a mosque, and which hours of the day traffic takes your plan apart.

Last updated: 2026-08

Audio summaryA spoken run-through of the intro and section summaries

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Mosques and places of worship

All of Türkiye

Mosques are working places of worship and they welcome visitors. A few simple things are expected; observe them and the visit is straightforward and nobody has to correct you.

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Getting around

A single card covers all public transport: metro, tram, bus, funicular, the Marmaray line and the ferries. Between the two sides of the Bosphorus the ferry is often faster than the road, and it is the best view in the city.

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Weather and clothing

Summers are hot and humid, winters cool and wet, and the shoulder seasons change by the hour. Wind off the water makes it feel noticeably colder. The city is hilly, so shoes matter more than clothes.

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Money and shopping

All of Türkiye

The currency is the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted; cash is practical with small traders. Haggling is normal in the bazaars and out of place in an ordinary shop.

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Practical notes

All of Türkiye

Tap water is not recommended for drinking and bottled water is sold everywhere. Sockets follow the European standard. Pharmacies are marked "ECZANE".

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Staying safe

Day-to-day the city is safe and people are inclined to help a visitor. What to watch for is not crime so much as a few well-known routines aimed at tourists.

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In an emergency

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Emergency call: 112One number for police, ambulance and fire. In Türkiye all emergency lines have been merged into 112.
Tourism police: A police station in the tourist areasThe unit that deals with visitors; foreign-language support is available for theft and fraud reports.
Pharmacy: The "ECZANE" signThe out-of-hours rota is posted on the door; every neighborhood has one open at night.
Lost passport: Your country's missionReport the loss to the police first, then apply to your mission. On a group tour, tell your tour leader immediately.

Checklists

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Phrases worth knowing

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