Istanbul: Tips

Entry Requirements Entrance to Turkey requires a passport and visa. Obtain visas from the U.S. Turkish consulate (202-612-6700; www.turkey.org), or purchase one at the Istanbul airport for $20 – bring cash, credit cards aren’t accepted and there are no airport ATMs.

Phrase it Right Master a few basic Turkish phrases. Although many Turks speak at least some English, you’ll bring a smile to people’s lips and earn a chance at better service if you approach them in their language.

Wardrobe Wise Istanbul may be Turkey’s least conservative city, but it’s still wise to pack some less revealing outfits, especially for visiting mosques. Scarves – required for women entering mosques – can be picked up here (the Sultanahmet Mosque lends them out free).

Second Hand Smoke Be prepared: most Turks are smokers. Few restaurants, let alone hotels, have no-smoking areas. One exception is the smoke-free city-center public transportation.

Say No Some vendors in the Grand Bazaar (and, unfortunately, on the street) can be very persistent. If you’re not interested, look them in the eye and in a strong, no-nonsense tone tell them no in Turkish: hayır or yok.

Get Your Bearings Istanbul is vast and spread out – take a short tour of the main sights via a hop-on, hop-off bus tour to get your bearings before diving into sightseeing. Inquire with Plan Tours at Sultanahmet Square.

Akbil If you plan on staying more than a few days, it's worth picking up an Akbil “electronic purse” to pay quickly, conveniently and at a discount for public transportation. Obtain one from booths marked Akbil Satis Noktasi all over town.