12 Essential Turkey Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
If you’re planning your first trip to Turkey (Türkiye), this guide covers everything you need to know before you go. From the bustling bazaars and majestic mosques of Istanbul to the natural wonders of Cappadocia and the turquoise waters of the Turquoise Coast, Türkiye is a country that offers rich culture, history, and scenery at every turn.
To help you make the most of your journey, here are 12 essential tips for first-time visitors that we picked up on our recent trip to Türkiye.
12 Essential Turkey Travel Tips
1. Türkiye uses the Turkish Lira (₺) 💸
The local currency is the Turkish lira (TRY). Credit cards are accepted in tourist hotels and in larger restaurants and shops but cash is still king in smaller towns, markets, and taxis.
✔️ To avoid high fees, withdraw cash from ATMs attached to banks.
✔️ Always choose to pay in local currency (TRY) instead of your home currency when using a card.
💡 Tip: Carry small notes for tips, street food, public toilets, and local transport.
2. A Visa May Be Required Before Arrival 🛂
Many nationalities need to get an e-visa before entering Türkiye but it’s quick and easy to apply online. At the time of writing, citizens from the U.S and U.K do not need an e-visa for trips of up to 90 days.
✔️ Visit the official Turkish government website evisa.gov.tr to apply.
✔️ You’ll need a passport which is valid for 2 months after you leave Turkey.
✔️ Don’t rely on a visa-on-arrival unless you’ve confirmed eligibility. Citizens of some countries are not eligible for visas on arrival.
💡 Tip: Apply at least a week before your trip and print a copy of your visa just in case.
3. Learn a Few Turkish Phrases 🗣️
We found that English was spoken in most tourist areas, but learning a few Turkish words will go a long way in making connections with local people.
✔️ “Merhaba” = Hello
✔️ “Teşekkür ederim” = Thank you
✔️ “Lütfen” = Please
✔️ “Evet” = Yes / “Hayır” = No
💡 Tip: Locals really appreciate your effort in speaking their language — especially in smaller towns or markets.
4. Respect Local Customs and Dress Modestly 👗🕌
Türkiye is a secular society but it’s culturally conservative in many areas, especially outside the big cities. It’s essential to follow local customs and etiquette when travelling around Turkey.
✔️ Wear modest clothing when visiting mosques. Both genders should cover shoulders and knees and avoid wearing any clothes with graphic images or offensive slogans.
✔️ Women should carry a scarf to cover their heads at religious sites.
💡 Tip: Shoes must be removed before entering mosques so pack a pair of socks when sightseeing!
5. Public Transport Is Great But Traffic Can Be Bad 🚋🚌
Cities like Istanbul and Ankara have excellent public transport networks including metros, trams, buses, and even ferries. However, traffic can be heavy so we recommend avoiding driving in Turkish cities.
✔️ Get an Istanbulkart to use across all modes of transport in Istanbul. The pre-loaded smart card will save time, stress and money (it’s 50% cheaper than pay-as-you-go fares).
✔️ The Istanbulkart includes ferries which are not only scenic but are also often faster than taxis.
✔️Pick up a card at the airport, supermarkets or at transport hubs. Cards can be used by individuals or shared amongst a group or family.
💡 Tip: Avoid taxis during rush hour and always make sure the meter is on.
6. Turkish Cuisine Is a Highlight 🍽️
We found the food in Türkiye flavourful, fresh, and varied; it was one of the highlights of our trip. There’s much more to Turkish cuisine than just kebabs!
✔️ Try meze (small plates), menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs) and kumpir (stuffed baked potato). If you have a sweet tooth you’ll love baklava.
✔️ Street food like simit (sesame bread rings) and midye dolma (stuffed mussels) are local favourites and are great for food-on-the-go.
💡 Tip: Turkish breakfasts are varied and plentiful but may be different to what you’re used to. Expect cheese, olives, eggs, bread, honey, and tea!
7. Tipping Is Expected (But Modest) 💰
Tipping is common and is appreciated in Türkiye, though it’s not always required.
✔️ If service is not already included, tip 5 – 10% in restaurants.
✔️ Round up taxi fares and tip hotel porters and tour guides a few lira.
💡 Tip: Carry small notes for tipping.
8. Bring Comfortable Shoes As There’s a Lot of Walking 🏛️
From exploring ancient ruins to hiking countryside trails or wandering through historic cities and climbing up scenic viewpoints, Turkey is a place best explored on foot (especially when traffic is congested!).
✔️ You’ll encounter cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, and stairs so wear good gripping supportive footwear for sightseeing (not flip flops!).
💡 Tip: In Istanbul, long distances and the occasional hill between sights mean supportive footwear is essential!
9. Drinking Tap Water Isn’t Recommended 🚱
Although tap water in major Turkish cities is treated, it’s still best to stick to bottled or filtered water.
✔️ Bottled water is cheap and widely available.
✔️ Many locals also use water dispensers or filter jugs.
💡 Tip: Help the environment by packing a reusable bottle and refill it from safe water sources when possible.
10. Be Aware of Prayer Times ⏰🕌
Türkiye has a strong Islamic heritage, and the call to prayer echoes five times a day in most cities, towns and villages.
✔️ Mosques close to non-Muslims during prayer times so always check schedules before visiting.
💡 Tip: Early morning and late afternoon are great times to visit mosques when they are quieter.
11. Haggling Is Expected in Bazaars 🛍️
Türkiye is a shopper’s paradise, and in markets like the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar, bargaining is part of the experience.
✔️ Start by offering the vendor half of the asking price. Always negotiate respectfully and fairly: this is someone’s livelihood.
✔️ If you don’t want to haggle, shop in fixed-price stores.
💡 Tip: Always smile when haggling and keep it friendly!
12. Book Popular Attractions and Tours in Advance 🎟️
Türkiye is a popular destination, and we discovered that top sights and tours fill up quickly especially in peak season.
✔️ Pre-book skip-the-line tickets for key attractions like Hagia Sophia or Topkapi Palace.
✔️ If you’re dreaming of a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, you’ll need to book weeks in advance.
💡 Tip: For the best photo opportunities and for the smallest crowds, arrive early at popular attractions especially at sunrise in Cappadocia or at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
Final Thoughts
Türkiye is a richly rewarding destination for first-time visitors. We enjoyed its ancient history, welcoming locals, spectacular landscapes, and incredible food on our trip.
From bustling Istanbul to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia and the sparkling coastlines of the south, this is a country you’ll want to return to again and again. We felt we only scratched the surface of Turkey and hope to return for an in-depth visit very soon.
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