34 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Istanbul

I bought dates at the Egyptian Spice Market. They were filled with maggots.

Podrías haber visto los miles de videos iguales que este para saber lo mismo que dices que no sabías.

Thank you for both videos. Very helpful

Did anybody else's engergy bill go down from $150 to $50 after watching this video??

Can you use contactless credit card for transport (likely to make under 10 trips) really don’t like the idea of topping up/having to monitor credit etc

Still possible to get 15% off on Airalo?

Using Uber does not "protect" you. Driver can still take you to a remote, intimidating locale and extort you into paying more than the stated fare. Reporting that driver didn't result in any compensation for me.

I found Istanbul a shit. Honestly. Everyone tries try to lie you. And people smell so bad... i liked the Shopia church, the best, but careful, they also cheat you with the prices.

Just came back 2 weeks ago...all points true. Bargained and bought 2 leather vests from Grand Bazaar...great experience.

I wonder why westerners are so delighted when stuff becomes cashless and turn into card or app based transactions.

The fees are sure 1 -2%. But that adds up throughout the year.

Just a friendly correction: You used "barter" when you meant bargain, which you also used. Barter refers to an exchange of goods or services, not cash or money.

Recommend any other places to visit in Turkey?

Hi. I will be coming in the month of October..take my family with infant...3 N Istanbul 2 N Cappadocia 2 N Antalya....hope this schedule works as a family according to you

Thanks!

So buses are not a part of the public transportation?

Is it safe for a woman to roam around freely? Also till what time is the citylife alive?

thank you so much for the wonderful insider tips, we wish to go in this wonderful country by september. i hope our tourist visa gets approved. viewer from Philippines <3

I need a recommendation for 2 or 3 bedroom hotel in Istanbul Europen side

I want to go back so bad. It's already been 10 years. I found the people to be very nice and friendly. Except there is about 20% that hate Westerners, they will yell at you, just yell back. Some vendors may not sell to you and say nasty things about you in Turkish to other customers. Many uppity Arab tourist, if they give you trouble just find Turks to help you as the Turks really dislike Arabs. The nicest people I interacted with were Palestinian and Syrian refuges. Don't go to any places someone approaches you on the street. Some sort of bar or for dancing girls. Don't go or you may be held against your will until you pay them a high price. Be wary of those strangers trying to help you. For the most the people are trustworthy. part. Also it's one of the best places to buy clothes. So many bargains on sale on the main drag for stores. Awesome food and coffee! I recommend The Tower of Galeta, Blue Mosque, and the ferry rides as mentioned above, The Spice Market. Also there is this underground Basilica Cistern. That was one of my favorite stops, it was stunning beautiful. Go in the heat of a hot day, it is so cool down there, but busy. Damn I want to go back!

Please do do a tell-all exposé.

This video is really very helpful for someone like me who plans to travel in Istanbul. Thanks a lot

Great info, but you skip the titles too quick, I need to go back everytime to write the title down

duuuuude whats the fish taco place? didnt mention name and from the video i dont even know how to find it

Government Turkey make scam when the charge visa with 250 USD & asking to have Travel Insurance cost over ,150 USD, I can say it's Robbery

It is my 3rd day in Istanbul and I was shocked by the number of establishment who tried to rip me off my money. I would understand if it is from street vendors but for establishments to try to take advantage of tourists, that just turned me off. I have been to more than 80 big cities in more than 35 countries but Istanbul is the only place where I have experienced these much skimming (sweet shop intentionally putting too much more than what you asker for, restaurant swapping menus, coffee shops charging you more than what you ordered etc.) Even Hagia Sophia Management is a disappointment. I paid $80 plus Canadian for a single ticket and we were only allowed to see it from the second floor. Imagine 1200 Lira. What a scam! I was in a coffee shop and a group from Chichago was saying the same thing. It is so sad that Istambul and Turkey is being known as a place where tourists cannot trust establishments like these. I know there are kind and trustworthy people here. Unfortunately, tourists will have a hard time encountering them. We will remember Turkey as a place of scam and we have to warn people who intend to come here. So disappointing.

We've just returned from Istanbul and the biggest rip off is the 2 euros they charge (on top of the entry fee of 25 euros!) at the Hagia Sophia for a tiny compressed paper scarf for women who haven't brought their own. Ironic (though perhaps to be expected, based on experiences across the globe) that the only time we felt scammed, it was by the government! They should either include the existing 'scarf' in the entry price or provide something more substantial and more appropriate to the price. To top it off, it was supplied in a single use plastic bag and I'm not convinced the scarf itself was recyclable either.
In complete contrast, all the people we met or interacted with - shopkeepers, hotel staff, restaurant owners, police, metro workers and even the one taxi driver (booked through Uber, by the way) - were, at the very least, helpful and polite and more often than not lovely.

thanks for the tips. headed over for a month in september.

Can you send me link for this apartment please

Hi, your video is very useful even for me which I spend a lot of time in Istanbul per year. But my question is did you find a really delicious doner (sometimes with cheese inside) because this is the only thing which I cannot find.

If I have a museum pass, do I get to skip the line?

If I’m very allergic to cats, does this mean I can’t visit Istanbul?? 😞

Hey thank you for these videos. We are going to Istanbul later this year and we've been binge watching your videos. Are you available by email with some questions? Wondering the best way to carry cash to avoid pick pocketing. Can we also discuss proper attire to not look too much like a tourist? Just trying not to stand out like a sore thumb. This will be our first trip there - nervous and excited at the same time.

Fantastic tips! We stayed a week in Istanbul in October 2024 and loved it (in the most amazing little hotel called Empress Zoe, in Sultanahmet). I had been in istanbul in the mid 2000's and was curious how much had changed in the meantime. Which seems not that much, it still oozes with the same charm and noise and smells and exoticism. Loved it so much that we're going back for another week, this upcoming fall and we booked a beautiful apartment in Cihangir this time. Love your videos and will definitely follow some of your tips. Not just the great breakfast places in Cihangir, but also taking the ferry to Kadıköy and maybe the Princes Islands. We loved strolling around, taking the tram to different neighborhoods, visiting the markets (we were too polite to bargain in the Egyptian market and ended up with a bag of black tea for 80 euros and a great story of the vendor, aiii....). And the cats of course. Big cat lover and brought/bought many bags of cat treats to hand out to the cats left right and center, day and night. They are literally everywhere and very well looked after. Be prepared to have cats sitting with you even in cafe's. And be prepared to climb staircases with your luggage in many hotels and apartments, and climb hills in town also. All the calories burned can be repleted with the delicious food and baklava. Oh and the people are so friendly. We loved it.

This was so helpful and I look forward to watching your first video on Istanbul. I will be visiting for the first time with October and if all goes well I will come back for 2 or 3 months 2026. I did reach out to the Airbnb you stayed at and home I can stay there. Thank you, Robbie

My sister and I are planning to go this June, God willing, but we're going on with a catholic pilgrimage tour. Which it includes everything paid already, and it was cheaper. For 2 of us was like $9, 798 dollars.

Can I post spices from Turkey to Canada?

Whats the most budget friendly and comfortable place to stay?

I just tried to book the AirBnb you recommended, and they require a 100-night stay! I'm looking in January 2026

Having my first visit there in May, sailing from Istanbul to Athens

Should we buy princess island ferry ticket in advance ? Or on travel day ?

Well people think they just trying to scam only tourists but here’s the fact for you mate ; they even trying to scam their own people….Scammers will scam! Nothing personal , don’t get offended x enjoy the food and beautiful men and women there! You can always make more money but the experiences you will need for the rest of your life x

Love your vids but on this one, the airbnb you suggested requires 100 days minimum to book it, :(

Good info