A popular choice among international tourists, Istanbul can be an awesome place to go to for a nice vacation experience. In case you are planning to visit this city, you may be in need of some good Istanbul travel tips. From practical tips to tips regarding the experiences to have in this city, there are numerous Istanbul travel tips to know about. On this blog post we will share some great tips for Istanbul travel that can be worth checking out! If you are ready, let’s start with the first tip we have.
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Consider Learning About the City and Planning Your Travel Beforehand
The first one among the Istanbul travel tips that we have on this post is about travel planning. Istanbul is a very big city that has a lot to offer for tourists. So, trying to explore this city without a good plan can feel like an overwhelming experience. In order to avoid that, you may want to create your travel plan for this city beforehand. Before visiting Istanbul, you can learn about this city and plan your travel accordingly. For learning about Istanbul, it can be a great idea to check out our website for more tips for İstanbul and info about this city.
Learning Some Basic Turkish is One of the Istanbul Travel Tips
When you visit a city in a foreign country, one of the important things can be your ability to speak the local language. Communication with the locals can be a significant part of being able to explore a city fully. For some foreign cities, only being able to speak English may be just fine. But for visiting Istanbul, speaking a bit of Turkish can be very helpful. This is because in Istanbul, you may not always find an English speaker. So if you want to visit Istanbul, consider learning some Turkish or have a plan for quick translations.
Be Aware of the Possibility of Getting Scammed and Pickpocketed
Another important one among tips for Istanbul that we should definitely mention is to be careful about your safety. Although Istanbul can be regarded as a fairly safe city for the most part, there can be various risks. Criminals may target tourists and visitors may be a victim of crimes such as scamming, fraud, pickpocketing and so on… So it can be a good idea to be aware of these, as well as other possible criminal activity. Be vigilant about potential dangers in the city, try your best to stay safe and take all the necessary precautions!
Carry Your Documents with You While Exploring the City
This one is another important one among tips for Istanbul travel. While travelling, it can be important to keep your documents with you at all times, as much as possible. Although it may be tempting to be a bit too relaxed about such practical matters, it may be a good idea to be careful. Just like in many other cities, you may be asked to provide documents like your passport by the authorities while visiting Istanbul. So during your Istanbul trip, make sure to carry such documents with you in case they are needed.
Explore the Historical and Natural Attractions of Istanbul
On this post we already talked about numerous practical Istanbul travel tips. So at this point, you may be feeling a bit intimidated about visiting this city. However, tips for Istanbul travel don’t have to be just about practical matters. Another tip we have is this: don’t forget to check out the historical and natural sights of Istanbul, as there are many amazing ones… In Istanbul, there are a variety of popular historical places of interest, such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and Topkapı Palace. Moreover, there are numerous natural spots like Gülhane Park and Belgrad Forest.
Try Turkish Foods and Drinks
In case you are looking for Istanbul travel tips, we should definitely talk about the local foods and drinks in this city. When visiting Istanbul, there can be a lot of activities to do. One of the enjoyable activities to do in this city can be exploring the local cuisine. There are many delicious dishes in Turkish cuisine that you can try in Istanbul, like kebabs, kokoreç, midye dolma, mantı, lahmacun and many others… Once you are done with tasting savory dishes and start looking for dessert, there are lots of choices, as well, like baklava and künefe. In terms of drinks, don’t forget to try ayran, Turkish tea and Turkish coffee.
Also Read: Istanbul Famous Food Choices: 7 Amazing Foods to Eat in Istanbul
If You are Looking to Escape the Hustle and Bustle, Visit the Princes’ Islands
Istanbul can be an amazing place to visit, with lots of places of interest and a lot to do… However, the hustle and bustle in the city, as well as the crowds, can be overwhelming, too. So when visiting Istanbul, you may find yourself needing to get away from the crowds and go to a place that is more tranquil. When you feel like this, visiting the Princes’ Islands can surely be an amazing idea. In the Princes’ Islands, you can experience a side of Istanbul that is calmer. Also, there are lots of amazing places to explore in the Princes’ Islands…
Also Read: 9 Istanbul Bosphorus Cruises: Prices & Online Booking
When the Weather is Nice for That, Check out Some Beaches in Istanbul
Are you a fan of swimming and sunbathing? If so, another one of the tips for Istanbul that can be worth mentioning is: check out the beaches in Istanbul. Although for many people, Istanbul is famous for its historical structures, bazaars and streets, there are beaches in this city, as well. When the weather is good for it, consider visiting some beaches in Istanbul to have some amazing time! In case you are looking to visit some beaches in this city, going to areas like Kilyos and Şile can be a good idea.
Also Read: Istanbul Attractions: Top 9 Places You Shouldn’t Miss in This City
Don’t Forget to Get Some Souvenirs
Getting some souvenirs while visiting this city is another one of the tips for Istanbul that we have. An Istanbul trip can certainly be a wonderful experience. You can fill this travel journey with many enjoyable activities and visit lots of amazing spots. After your trip is finished, you may remember this journey with fond memories. To help you remember about this trip every time you see this item, you can consider getting some souvenirs during your Istanbul trip. For getting souvenirs in Istanbul, you can check out historical bazaars, as well as other shops in this city.
Also Read: Istanbul Souvenirs (That You Can Buy for Your Loved Ones)
Make Sure to Take Some Nice Photos During Your Trip
The purpose of this one among our tips for Istanbul travel is quite similar to the one that we had about souvenirs. After you finish your Istanbul trip, you may want to have some souvenirs with you, as well as some photos of your travel, to help you remember this journey and the memories you created during it. Whether it is with a professional or amateur camera, or simply with your smartphone, you may take photos of places you visited, activities you enjoyed, foods you tried and many other things while exploring this city…
Enjoy the Nightlife of the City
One of other Istanbul travel tips that can be worth mentioning may be to enjoy the nightlife of this city. Istanbul has a very vibrant and active nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs to check out. So if you like to have some drinks, listen to some music and dance the night away, Istanbul can be an awesome city for that! If you want to enjoy the nightlife of Istanbul, make sure to find good spots for this and get ready to have so much fun.
Also Read: Top 10 Night Clubs in Istanbul: Discover Some Great Options
Private Boat Tours in Istanbul Can Offer an Enjoyable Experience
Enjoying a nice private cruise experience can be an amazing activity choice in Istanbul. So another one of the Istanbul travel tips that we have on this post is to consider having a private boat tour in this city. When visiting Istanbul, you can do things like sightseeing, exploring the streets of this city, as well as having fun in Istanbul’s bars and clubs. All these activities may be quite tiring and you may want to have some leisurely time. For this, an excellent idea can be to enjoy a nice private cruise in Istanbul and relax.
Also Read: Istanbul Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise Tours
How About Going on a Day Trip from Istanbul?
Have you been looking for Istanbul travel tips? Here’s the last one among the tips for Istanbul that we have on this post: consider going on a day trip from Istanbul, if you have enough time for that. Depending on how much of the city you want to explore, the time needed for visiting Istanbul may vary. But if you are confident that you have sufficient time for a day trip from Istanbul, there can be numerous awesome choices for that, such as a Cappadocia day trip or a Pamukkale day trip from Istanbul.