Club preparation file
Istanbul spreads across two continents and is a large city of hills and water; distances take longer than the map suggests. What helps before you arrive: that one card covers all transport, what is expected of you inside a mosque, and which hours of the day traffic takes your plan apart.
Last updated: 2026-08
A single card covers all public transport: metro, tram, bus, funicular, the Marmaray line and the ferries. Between the two sides of the Bosphorus the ferry is often faster than the road, and it is the best view in the city.
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Day-to-day the city is safe and people are inclined to help a visitor. What to watch for is not crime so much as a few well-known routines aimed at tourists.
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Summers are hot and humid, winters cool and wet, and the shoulder seasons change by the hour. Wind off the water makes it feel noticeably colder. The city is hilly, so shoes matter more than clothes.
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Mosques are working places of worship and they welcome visitors. A few simple things are expected; observe them and the visit is straightforward and nobody has to correct you.
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The currency is the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted; cash is practical with small traders. Haggling is normal in places like the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, and out of place in an ordinary shop.
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Tap water is not recommended for drinking and bottled water is sold everywhere. Sockets follow the European standard. Pharmacies are marked "ECZANE".
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