▼ Weekend Getaways
Plan your weekend
 

Travel Guide

Travel Guide » Asia » Istanbul
Explore: The World | India
Istanbul
book a hotel
(Turkey)


Byzantium, Constantinople, İstanbul: by any name as glorious.

Straddling the Bosphorus, its skyline studded with domes and minarets, İstanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Its history tracks back from Byzantium to Constantinople to its place at the head of the Ottoman Empire. Today it hums as Turkey's cultural heart and good-time capital.


In this sprawling, continent-spanning city you can tramp the streets where crusaders and janissaries once marched; admire mosques that are the most sublime architectural expressions of Islamic piety; peer into the sultan's harem; and hunt for bargains in the Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar).

book a hotel
|
To Do & See
|
Entertainment & Night Life
|
Tips for you
Tipping

In cheaper restaurants it's not necessary to leave more than a few coins in the change plate. In more expensive restaurants, tipping is customary. Even if a 10-15% service charge is added to your bill, you're expected to give around 5% to the waiter directly and perhaps the same amount to the maitre d'. Porters expect a dollar or so; in taxis you might like to round up the bill; in other situations, for example, helpful guardians at archaeological sites, delicacy is required. Although a tip may be initially refused through politeness, you should offer the money a second and third time. After three refusals, you can safely assume they really don't want the money. In hamams you should tip 10% to 20% of the admission price to the masseuse/masseur.


Language Tips
Arabicother
Arabic
Kurdishother
Kurdish
Turkishofficial
Turkish
Lazother
Laz
Visa Info

Citizens from a long list of countries do not require a visa to enter Turkey. This list includes some South American, European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries, so it is worth checking out whether or not you will need a visa. However, travellers from Canada, the UK, the USA, Australia, Hong Kong, and a number of other countries do need a visa to enter Turkey; however, this is just a sticker bought on arrival at the airport or border post rather than at an embassy in advance (make sure to join the queue to buy your visa before the queue for immigration). Those from the UK and the USA pay

Best viewed in 1024 x 768 pixels screen resolution and IE 6.0 and above