Best Istanbul Travel Guide for Your Trip
The rich and complicated heritage of Istanbul is enough to raise one’s curiosity regarding the place. Having seen a multitude of empires ever since its inception, the city that lies on two continents presents a wonderful opportunity for history lovers to visit its many monuments and awe-inspiring pieces of architecture. In addition to its magnificent landscapes, there is also the scrumptious food one gets to taste when they book our Turkey tour packages. The hospitality experienced from the side of the Turkish people simply adds to the charm of the holiday. If you’re on the hunt for the best Istanbul travel guide that will provide you with enough information about the city prior to your trip, then we have concocted just the right one for you to peruse.
Travel Tips Before You Visit Istanbul
The following are some of the things to know as you plan your trip to Istanbul using our Turkey holiday packages:
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall are the seasons when tourists usually prefer to go to Istanbul, with spring being regarded as the best time to visit Istanbul. March to May is considered springtime in the city, and this is when you can also catch the popular Tulip Festival. The fall months of September and October are also ideal to visit Istanbul because this is when the temperature goes down and so does the humidity, making it comfortable and warm enough for tourists to go about their day of sightseeing.
Summer lasts in Istanbul between June to August and the days are quite humid and sticky during this period. Although it isn’t the ideal time to visit Istanbul, the city still remains crowded during this particular season, perhaps due to the summer vacations that allow families to travel. The wintertime is when you might want to avoid visiting Istanbul unless you’re comfortable walking around in low temperatures with the weather being gloomy and rainy.
How to Get Around Istanbul
Getting around Istanbul becomes easier due to the many types of public transportation systems prevalent in the city. There is the metro line known as Marmaray which makes its way under the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the metro system on the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. Tourists can also make use of the ferry that helps them travel between Europe and Asia as there are numerous ferry lines that run between stations every day on a regular basis.
One can utilize the IstanbulKart to avail the metro, buses, and ferries. Most of the regions, especially the touristy areas, have plenty of taxis available that can take you around the city.
Culture and Customs
Even though Turkey is a secular country, most of the people who visit Turkey or Istanbul characterize it as being quite conservative in certain departments. Islam is the predominant religion in the country and it’s common to see practicing Muslims praying five times every day.
While modern or casual clothing is a common sight in most places in Istanbul, there are some areas where revealing clothes are frowned upon. One should be especially careful while visiting the holy places in Istanbul as it’s best to be completely covered up. Carry a shawl or scarf with you whenever you’re out so that you can conveniently wrap it around your body whenever required.
Turkish people have a unique way of saying “no” wherein they throw their heads slightly backward while raising their eyebrows and muttering “tsk”. It’s considered unclean and rude to shake someone’s hand with your left hand, and tourists should remember not to be extremely sarcastic while having conversations with the locals. Avoiding religion and politics in conversations is advised as well.
Eating Out in Istanbul
If you’re a foodie, then you’re absolutely going to love exploring Istanbul as its cuisine is a potpourri of the dishes found in the nearby regions. In case you have a sweet tooth, you must try tasting the Turkish delights, baklavas, and the rock candies known as akide sekeri.
The street food of Istanbul presents a wide array of options to travelers, such as roasted corn or chestnut, stuffed mussels, fish sandwiches, and pilafs. Be prepared to be served Turkish tea several times throughout the day, and there is also the presence of Turkish coffee which often makes an appearance at the end of meals.
Contact us to discover our Turkey trip packages and select the one that aligns with your needs. Stay updated with our latest offerings by visiting our Instagram page.