Istambul: 15 Essential Travel Tips for a Seamless Stay

Istanbul is a mesmerizing fusion of East and West, where ancient history, vibrant culture, and modern conveniences collide. I’ve explored its bustling bazaars, stunning mosques, and scenic waterways, uncovering the best Istanbul travel tips to help you navigate this dynamic city like a pro.

Whether you're planning a short visit or a deep dive into its hidden gems, knowing how to get around Istanbul, where to stay, and what to eat can make all the difference.

First, transportation is key—skip the overpriced taxis and use the Istanbulkart for cheap and efficient travel on trams, buses, and ferries. If you’re a foodie, prepare to indulge in authentic Turkish cuisine, from sizzling kebabs to rich Turkish coffee. And let’s talk shopping—while the Grand Bazaar is iconic, head to lesser-known markets for better deals on handmade souvenirs.

For sightseeing, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Blue Mosque are must-visits, but don’t miss the Bosphorus cruise for breathtaking city views. To avoid crowds, visit major attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Safety-wise, Istanbul is generally secure, but staying aware of tourist scams and pickpockets is essential.

With the right planning, you can experience Istanbul’s rich history, stunning architecture, and warm hospitality to the fullest. Stay tuned as I break down everything you need to know for an unforgettable trip.

Essential Tips for traveling Istanbul

Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul. How much this city has lived, suffered and been through! There are few destinations in the world as interesting, and even fewer just a short flight away. Istanbul is an explosion of colours, aromas and cultures, halfway between Asia and Europe, with an overwhelming personality and endless plans for all types of travellers.

Ready to clear up your doubts? Then let's go.

1. Best time to travel to Istanbul

We went in mid-October and had very pleasant weather. So we definitely recommend travelling in autumn and spring : these are the periods when you won't experience intense heat or cold, and it's always a good idea to avoid summer because of mass tourism.

We honestly don't think that the weather is a key factor when deciding to travel to Istanbul. You just have to take into account the peculiarities of the different seasons of the year and prepare accordingly. For example, winter is quite cold and it is the rainiest season, so you will need to bring warm clothes. In summer it is hot, so pack light clothes in your backpack. In spring the temperatures are pleasant and there is a chance of a shower, so a raincoat is a good idea.

Here are some graphs with average temperatures and rainfall throughout the year:

climate in istanbul

2. Do I need a visa to travel to Istanbul?

This depends on your nationality, of course. In our case (Spanish and Italian), from March 2, 2020, a visa is NOT required and you can enter with a European ID card or a passport with at least 6 months of validity.

For most Latin American countries, a visa is not required to enter Turkey, and a passport is enough. For example, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay…

However, there are other nationalities that do need to apply for an electronic visa before travelling to Turkey, such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, the USA or Canada.

→ More info

visa to travel to Türkiye

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3. Don't travel without insurance

We always recommend traveling with travel insurance, but even more so in these times of pandemic when travel plans are even more unpredictable (go away, Covid!). Here we give you a 5% discount on Iati insurance, which is the one we have been using for a long time.

4. What to see and do in Istanbul

There are hundreds of things to do in Istanbul. To get things going, we recommend taking a look at our top 10 places to visit in Istanbul , and this other one with the 30 things to see and do in Istanbul .

But if you want some great advice, sign up for these two free tours to break the ice with the city and start immersing yourself in this exotic and immense city:

Classic free tour of Istanbul
Free tour of alternative Istanbul

And of course, don't forget to enjoy Istanbul from its terraces . Here we tell you which are the best viewpoints and views of Istanbul .

5. How many days does it take to see Istanbul?

We would say that 3 days is the minimum amount of time required to visit the must-sees of Istanbul. Although, to be honest, 5 days would be ideal , especially if you want to venture out to visit lesser-known neighborhoods, such as Balat or the Asian area.

And what about the rest of the country? Although Turkey is a country that can be visited perfectly on your own , to see everything in a short time we recommend this 7-day tour of the best of the country from Istanbul (with a guide in Spanish).

⭐ Here is our 3-day itinerary in Istanbul (warning: we've given it a go).

6. How to withdraw money without commissions, one of the best tips for traveling to Istanbul

The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira (TRY) and unless you want to avoid being hit with unwanted fees , it's best to travel with one or more cards that allow you to withdraw money abroad without charging fees . Does that exist or is it like unicorns? Well, first of all, even if you haven't seen a unicorn, it doesn't mean they don't exist, and secondly, yes, there are some cool cards like that.

We are currently using the Revolut card as our first option , one of the most reliable on the market (they also have a €10 promo for new users!) and then the N26 card . We recommend carrying both, in addition to your regular bank card, in case one fails.

Since they are all free, they are all benefits. With these cards you can save on fees both for withdrawing money from ATMs and for paying in foreign currency.

Tips for traveling to Istanbul

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7. Where to stay in Istanbul

In a city as vast and chaotic as Istanbul, knowing the best areas to stay is essential for planning a visit. Our first choice would be the Sultanahmet area , the old part of the city and the epicentre of tourism, although it may seem somewhat artificial.

Another more authentic area, with a lot of atmosphere, restaurants and trendy clubs, is Taksim , on the other side of the Galata Bridge.

⭐ We explain in more detail the areas of Istanbul where to stay and recommended hotels .

8. Where to eat in Istanbul

Dare to try street food and Turkish cuisine , which, believe us, is much more extensive than kebab and baklava. Here we recommend a few typical dishes to eat in Turkey and here are 15 restaurants where you can eat well and cheaply in Istanbul .

Take out IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here . Whatever your destination, save yourself trouble and don't take any chances.

9. Airport transfer and IstanbulKart card

The city currently has two airports and to get to the centre you will need one thing above all: patience. The traffic is crazy and, unless you arrive at odd hours, you will have to endure some serious traffic jams. Because yes, the only alternative right now is road transport (buses, private transfers or taxis).

⭐ Here we tell you in more detail how to get to the center of Istanbul from the airport .

Istanbulkart Card

To get around the city, we recommend getting an Istanbulkart . It is a rechargeable transport card that you can use on all metropolitan means of transport: metro, buses, ferries, funiculars and trams. If you are going to use the means of transport on a daily basis, it is worth it, of course. The main advantage of this card is that the trips are cheaper and, in addition, it is valid for a maximum of 5 people.

Theoretically, you can buy them from vending machines at metro stations, bus stops and kiosks, at a price of 70TL . We say theoretically because on our trip we only found them at metro stations and kiosks, but in the latter they wanted to trick us with the price.

In these same machines you can also recharge the cards with credit to use every time you get on a transport.

→ More info

If you do not want or cannot obtain the Istanbul Kart , there are other individual tickets and multi-trip passes that ARE always available in all automatic machines.

Tram transportation in Istanbul

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10. MuseumPass, should I buy it?

The MuseumPass is a tourist card that allows entry to some of Istanbul's main attractions, such as the Topkapi Palace (which alone, if you include a visit to the Harem, is worth more than half of the cost of the pass), the Galata Tower, or the Istanbul Archaeological Museums.

The MuseumPass card costs €105 and is valid for 5 days from the first visit.

Is it worth it or not? We think it depends on Topkapi Palace: if you absolutely want to visit it, we think it is worth it. But if you are not particularly interested or if you are happy to visit another palace like Dolmabahce which is cheaper… well, you can save some money and enjoy many other things that Istanbul offers for FREE.

Important: If you are traveling around the rest of Turkey, there is the Museum Pass Türkiye which costs 1,000 TL and includes more than 300 places.

→ More info

11. Bosphorus Cruise – Is It Worth It? Spoiler alert: YES.

The truth is that while we were preparing our trip to Istanbul we read in several blogs that it is not worth taking the Bosphorus cruise. We do not agree at all: it is true that it is touristy but being able to enjoy the views of the city from the Bosphorus is a luxury. In addition, you can book it directly at the Eminönü ferry port (in front of the Spice Bazaar) and it is quite cheap.

So yes, one of our tips for traveling to Istanbul (and not screwing it up) is: take the cruise without hesitation.

In addition, Nuria comments on this: “If you use the ferry to get around the different neighborhoods, you save money on tours. You simply get on at the stop you want and get off where you want. You make the same trip but without audio guides. You can get on at Eminonu or Karakoy and get off at Bebek or Arnavutkoy.” Thanks for the tip!

12. SIM card for Türkiye

If you have a Vodafone SIM from Spain , you will not need to buy another one since this company has eliminated roaming in Turkey and you will be able to use your rate as if you were in Spain.

If this is not your case, you will have two options: get a SIM card upon arrival in Turkey (at the stands at the airport or in phone shops in the city), or buy a special card before the trip so that when you arrive you already have internet on your mobile. It is a more expensive option but undoubtedly more convenient. The one we recommend is the Holafly eSIM , and remember that you have a 5% discount already applied in the link.

13. Dress code for mosques

You probably already know this, but it never hurts to refresh some ideas: you must dress appropriately in mosques. And what is this appropriate way? If you are a woman , you will have to cover your legs, shoulders and head , so remember to always carry a scarf with you. Men are also not allowed to enter wearing shorts.

And of course, no more shoes : you enter mosques barefoot, so you better have clean socks.

clothing mosques Türkiye

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14. Books for traveling to Istanbul

Here are some suggestions for books to read before traveling to Istanbul:

Istanbul from Lonely Planet
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
The Architect of the Universe by Elif Shafak
Istanbul: The City of Three Names by Bettany Hughes

15. Learn a few words in Turkish

It's not easy, we've already warned you, but that's exactly why the Turks will go crazy. Here are some words and phrases that you should learn before traveling to Istanbul and Türkiye:

Hello = Merhaba
Goodbye = Goodbye
Please = Lütfen
Thank you = Teşekkür ederim, sağol
Good morning = İyi günler
Good afternoon = İyi akşamlar
Good night = İyi geceler
Yes = Evet
No = Hayır
How are you? = Nasılsınız?
Good, thank you = İyiyim, teşekkürler
Lamb meat = Kuzu eti
Beef = Sığır eti
Beef = Dana eti
Chicken = Piliç / Tavuk
Fish = Balık
How much is it? = Ne kadar?
It 's too expensive = Bu çok pahalı

More tips for traveling to Istanbul

We're not done yet, there are still a few recommendations that will surely be very useful for you when planning your trip to Istanbul. Take good note:

Don't hesitate to haggle in the bazaars as it's part of the game.
It is normal to leave a 5-10% tip in restaurants.
Use common sense , especially in touristy places and crowded places: pickpockets are there and everywhere.
If you’re travelling on a backpacker’s budget and want to save some money, don’t go up the Galata Tower . Instead, head to the rooftop bar Galata Konak Cafe & Restaurant . Instead of the €30 to go up the tower, grab a drink for €4-6 and enjoy similar views (and, if you’re pressed, better ones, since you’ll be able to see the Tower too).
Respect the figure of Atatürk , the vast majority of Turks consider him the father of the country, so do not make fun of statues, photos, etc. To learn more about Istanbul's past, take a look at this post with our summary of the history of Turkey .
And finally, a very practical piece of advice for travelling to Istanbul: don't leave your most comfortable shoes at home . There are so many hills in the city and you'll be walking so many kilometres over the course of the day, so it's better if they're comfortable.

We have reached the end of the post, but please, if you have any questions, leave us a comment and we will try to answer you as soon as possible. We hope that you have enjoyed our tips for traveling to Istanbul and that they will help you on your trip to Istanbul.

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