Istanbul, explained before you need it
The articles our own guests read: how to get in from the airport, what a taxi should cost, when a mosque is closed, and which opening line means someone is about to sell you a carpet.
- Getting around IstanbulOne card, four kinds of transport and a city split by water. Here is how locals move, and how you can do the same from your first hour.
- From the airport into the cityIstanbul has two airports, both far from the centre. Here are the realistic options from each, what they cost roughly, and how long they actually take.
- Taxis in IstanbulMost drivers are fine. The few who are not follow a predictable script, and knowing the meter rules takes all the tension out of the ride.
- Common scams and how to sidestep themIstanbul is a safe city with a small, well-rehearsed set of tricks aimed at visitors. Once you recognise the opening line, every one of them stops working.
- Emergency numbers and helpThe four numbers to know, where to find a pharmacy at 3am, which hospitals speak your language, and how to reach your consulate.
- Mosques and museums — what to wear, when to goDress, shoes, prayer times, photography and the closed days that catch people out. Small things, and they make the difference between a good visit and a wasted morning.
- Money, cards and tippingHow to pay, where to change money without losing on the rate, and what a normal tip looks like here — including the places where nobody expects one.
- Food basicsWhat the dishes on the menu actually are, how spicy things get, what vegetarians can eat, and how to tell a fair price from a tourist one.