Turkey - Istanbul

Things to do

The Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. A popular tourist site, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today; men still kneel in prayer on the mosque's lush red carpet after the call to prayer

Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 m², attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. Historic sprawling network of indoor souks & market streets peddling leather, jewellery & gifts.

Hagia Sophia Museum

Hagia Sophia is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Built in 537 AD at the beginning of the middle Ages, it was famous in particular for its massive dome. Museum with glittering mosaics of Biblical scenes in vast, domed former Byzantine church and mosque.

Topkapi Palace Museum

Historic Ottoman-era palace complex

Huge, opulent 15th-century palace, occupied by sultans for 400 years, housing Ottoman treasures.

The Topkapı Palace, or the Seraglio, is a large museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In the 15th century, it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. Construction began in 1459, ordered by Mehmed the Conqueror, six years after the conquest of Constantinople

Bosporus

The Bosporus or Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. It forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace

Landmark waterway & continental boundary

Boat tours provide visitors with unique city views from this strait separating Europe & Asia

Climate

Istanbul holidays are defined by hot summers and cold winters, so pack appropriate clothing for the time of year. During the summer months, high temperatures are accompanied by high humidity, and this may feel uncomfortable to many people who are not acclimatised to travelling in hot countries, so make sure clothing is not only light and cool, but is made of breathable fabrics. In winter, weather is largely cold and often snowy, so pack plenty of layers and thicker clothing, along with sensible cold-weather footwear.

Language

Turkish is the main language, but you'll find English widely spoken and used in things like signage and restaurant menus, too. For travellers who don't speak Turkish or English, there are also 'tourism police' in the main holiday hotspots, and they are able to help with any incidents affecting visitors from all over the world.

Currency

Turkish lira is the local currency, with bank notes from 5 to 100 TL and coins from 10 kurus to 1 TL. Scottish notes are not accepted, but English sterling can be exchanged easily at banks and hotels, and also without commission at doviz, the local bureaux de change. Travellers' cheques can be exchanged too, and there are plenty of ATMs. If you plan to use your card on holidays to Istanbul, tell your bank in advance, as it can be difficult to resolve the situation if they reject your transaction due to concerns about fraud.

Visas

You will need a visa when planning package holidays to Istanbul. However, this is typically obtained on arrival, by queueing at the visa booth at the airport. You get your visa before going through passport control, at a cost of about £10, and it will cover you for trips of up to three months. For longer stays, you can apply to extend your visa - but this should be done within a month of arrival, so don't expect to be able to extend your stay on a whim beyond three months.