Hello everybody welcome back to one more
video. In today's video we're gonna share with you the dont's of Istanbul. We totally know
that maybe many of these things might sound quite obvious for some of you but let's
remember that not all people have the same experience as others of traveling to
other countries and maybe some of them might be the first time traveling abroad and visiting
Turkiye so that is why this video will be very useful especially for those people who might
be traveling abroad for the very first time. But before we start with our video, we invite you
to check our two digital booklets: The Best of Istanbul and Capatokia and The Best of Turkey where
you'll find useful information on where to stay, where to eat, how to move from city to city,
and other suggestions that we do not share on our social media, you may find the links
in the description box and pinned comment. Don't eat only in the main touristy areas and we
are saying this because of course the closer the restaurant is to the main attractions, the
more expensive it is gonna be so this is why we we want to encourage you to go explore some other
local areas where you can have very good dishes just as locals do and for a better price. Don't eat
only the most popular dishes. We already know that in Turkiye one of the most famous dishes is kebap
but trust me here in this country you will find many other different dishes to choose from and
not only meat also you can find many vegetable main dishes and these are vegan and vegetarian
friendly so don't focus only on eating kebap. Don't focus only on the main touristy attractions,
of course when we are traveling the first places that we want to visit are the main
monuments, for example in Istanbul, which ones are those? Well, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the Grand
Bazaar but also we want to recommend you that if you can, spend one or two extra days in the
city in order to visit some other local areas and local neighborhoods, for example on the Asian
side, that even nowadays it started to have more tourists but still there are so many other places
to explore and to discover and that way you will be able to find the different contrast of the city.
Don't rent a bike or scooter in the city and we are saying this because nowadays there are many
scooters or bikes that you can rent in the city but trust me, Istanbul is not bike-friendly or
even scooter-friendly there are many cars around or also motorbikes even riding on the sidewalks
and of course, many areas are so crowded that it's very difficult to move around with a scooter or
a bike. For that, we recommend you instead, going to the seaside, for example, on the Asian side it's
very easy to find good places for riding a bike or a scooter especially in Kadikoy, Moda, Caddebostan, or
Maltepe, or if you want something in the European side you can do it around Bebek, Arnavutkoy or
many areas around the Rumeli Fortress, those are great places to do so. Maybe this one will sound a
bit funny for you but really, don't get scammed and I am saying this because I know many of us
where ever we go it's not just in Turkiye but everywhere we go we tend to be more alert but
some people just feel like "okay, nothing is going to happen to me", so this one is especially
for that type of people that are still thinking like "no, this is impossible, nothing is gonna happen
to me" but trust me Istanbul just as in any other big city things happen as well so just keep
an eye open. In case that you don't know what type of scams are very common in Istanbul, then
we will invite you to watch another video after you finish watching this one about the most common
scams in Istanbul and of course how to avoid them, so just pay attention and don't get scammed. Don't
cross the streets without double-checking because in Istanbul and any other city in Turkiye this is
very common, the culture here is very different from many other countries in Europe or even from the U.S
or even from Mexico. Usually when you're crossing the streets here in Istanbul, the drivers will not
stop for you, so please do not cross the streets without double-checking. Don't confuse Turks with
Arabs. Many people have the misconception that Turkiye is an Arab country but it is not. The only
thing that Turkiye and Arabic countries have in common is the religion that here in Turkiye there
is a majority is not a hundred percent but the majority are muslims, so this is the only thing in
common that we have, even the official language of Turkiye is Turkish it is not Arabic and yeah it is
true that in some areas like Fatih for example, you will find many shops and even restaurants
in Arabic but that doesn't mean that we speak Arabic in Turkiye. Don't expect that everybody will speak
English, yeah, actually in the most touristy areas you will find people who speak very well English
and even Spanish especially if you are in the Grand Bazaar or at any shop around Sultanamet
area but that doesn't mean that in all Turkiye or in all of Istanbul every person
will speak English, yeah, it is true that nowadays especially the young generations they speak very
well English and maybe they might be able to understand you very well. If you can just learn the
most common and maybe basic words trust me that will make Turkish people very happy even if you can
learn for example "ne kadar" which means how much is it, "merhaba" "teşekkürler" which is thank you and these
little easy words you will put a big smile on Turkish faces. Do not drive in Istanbul. Some of our
followers, sometimes send us messages asking us if it's a good idea renting a car in the
city and the only thing that I can tell them is no, do not do it, and this is because besides that
the city has a lot of traffic in peak hours also you will not be able to find a lot of parking lots
especially in the historic peninsula or in other areas like Beyoglu where Taksim area is and you will
struggle a lot also many of the streets especially in the old peninsula are very very narrow so
it is very difficult to really drive on them I wouldn't even dare drive a car in that area
so I wouldn't suggest driving a car in Istanbul but if you want to rent a car for going from city
to city then it's a great idea but not in Istanbul. Don't listen to any people who has never been in
Turkiye because more likely those people will have a lot of stereotypes about the country and as a
personal experience as well before moving to this country when I was telling my friends or some
of my family members, they immediately were shocked and they were telling me things that were
not real at all and of course they have never traveled before to this country so that is why
I am telling you that if you want real and good advice, just ask people who have really been in
Turkiye and not those that have never been here but have been watching only from the western media
things, just don't do that. Do not drink tap water here in Turkiye it's not like in many European
countries where you can easily drink tap water but here we suggest not to do it. Instead you can go to the market and buy some bottles it will be much better for you. Do not mistreat
animals and if you have never been in Istanbul and in general Turkiye, you will realize once you come
here that in general most people have a big respect
towards animals especially cats and doggies so that is why if you come here, you will
realize as well that most cats and dogs are very friendly to people and that is why we
tell you not to mistreat them, instead, you can bring some cat or dog food and when it whenever
you're walking somewhere and if you see a furry friend you can just leave that food to them. Do not
stand on the left side of an escalator and this one also might sound very obvious for many of you
but trust me also we can find that type of people that are not paying attention a lot especially
when they are traveling, so please do not do this because let's remember that also there are many
local people living in that city who are going to work or from work to home so please,
do not stand on the left side of an escalator just stand on the right side while you are going up
and down and leave that left side free for the people who are in a rush. Another one and this
is something that I still remember and that it happened to me a lot of times so this is why i
want to tell you this especially if you're not used to drinking çay do not drink your chai or
tea right away because trust me it is boiling hot so if you don't want to suffer from small blisters
in your mouth and tongue just wait a little until it gets a bit cold and then you can enjoy it
as much as you want but just don't don't drink it right away. Do not pay at shops or restaurants in a
foreign currency and this means in U.S. dollars or Euro, pay only in the local currency which
is the Turkish Lira, we already know that the Turkish Lira is crashing against these main
currencies but we suggest you to instead use Turkish lira. If you want to find some of the
best exchange rates in Istanbul, then we highly suggest you do it inside the Grand Bazaar and
pay attention, INSIDE the Grand Bazaar. Avoid at all costs doing it at the airport or at
any exchange office near the tram line in Sultanahmet area or even Taksim, they have really bad exchange
rates and you want to take care of your wallet. Also you have the option of just withdrawing
some cash from any atm and you can do it in the local currency or just the easiest
way is to pay directly with your debit or credit card that will be much better than paying
in us dollars or in euro in any shop or restaurant. Another thing and this really bothers me a
lot, and not only me but also many other people, do not mess with the gardens and flowers especially
at the tulip festival in Istanbul, you have no idea how many videos and photographs we have seen
online of many people just messing with the tulips and going inside there and breaking them
and taking them just for a photo for Instagram please, do not do this because also instead
of having these beautiful gardens for longer we are just having them for one or two
weeks at most because after that time everybody is just destroying them taking flowers and so
on so please do not do this, respect the gardens and the places that we have so everybody can
enjoy them for a longer time. Do not waste your money only on taxis, use the public transportation
and let's remember that in Istanbul we have very good transportation system and it is quite
affordable, you can move from place to place very easily which is connecting the main touristy
areas and you don't really need to use only taxis. If you want to use the public transportation,
then you are going to need to buy only the Istanbulkart which is about 20 liras right now
per person and you can use it for up to 6 people and you can use that one for ferries, metro, buses,
the marmaray, even the public toilets, and many other places. Do not call the Bosphorus a river,
the Bosphorus is not a river, the Bosphorus is a strait, it is a natural strait which is
connecting two main seas, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, so please do not call
it the Bosphorus river because it is not a river! Do not buy things without bargaining first,
and wait, for this I'm not saying to go to the first shopping mall or to big brand shops
and bargain because there you will not be able to do it and do not do it but for example if
you are visiting the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, even the Eminonu shops or the local markets,
there you can do it because this bargaining is part of Turkish culture and you can easily do it.
do not be loud in public transportation, inside mosques, and any sacred place because for example
when we are hooping into the Marmaray or the tram that are connecting the main touristy areas
usually, we hear very loud people and speaking loudly and some of the locals, not everybody of
course, but some people might feel uncomfortable with that, so just keep that that in mind, of
course we are not saying do not speak at all, no, because we all speak just try to maintain a
low level so you will not bother other people and also at mosques, remember that you are in a
sacred place and also many people are praying while we are visiting the place it doesn't
matter that it is not praying time so also let's be respectful with that and just keep a low
voice when visiting that type of places as well. Do not take photos in the middle of every place
and this is not just in Turkiye this is in general. In every country or city we are visiting we know
that we are also excited about taking the perfect photo for our social media but please just think
about it that also there are many locals that are going to work that are going home and they are
in a rush and it is not cool just that you are walking and all of a sudden the person in front
of you stops just to take a photo, that is really so uncomfortable so just that keep in mind,
be more mindful of those situations. Do not go souvenir shopping in Istanbul on a Sunday
and we are telling you this because on Sundays especially the shops in Eminonu where you can find
affordable souvenirs of every kind are closed on Sundays of course you can still shop at the Grand
Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and even on Istiklal street but on those places you will find a bit higher
prices that normally are so if you want to really find the best prices, much more
affordable, and also where local people buy, then go to Eminonu shops but not on a Sunday, you can go from
Monday to Saturday and everything will be open. Do not start your day late in Istanbul especially
in peak season and we are telling you this because even though it is not peak season in Istanbul
we have seen the main touristic attractions especially in Sultanament area and Galata area that
are super super crowded and there are huge lines to enter, and another huge line to go through the
checkpoints, and another huge line just to buy your tickets, so if you really want to enjoy the main
places, for example the Topkapi palace, or Hagia Sofia. we recommend you start your day as early
as you can, as soon as the doors open to visit those places and the last don't and this is the
most important so pay attention to this one, please do not skip our videos if you really want to enjoy
Istanbul and Turkiye in a different way, as a local way, so if you are new to our channel, we highly
recommend you go check our other videos where you will find a lot of information about Istanbul
and Turkiye such as where to eat, where to stay, everything, where to buy souvenirs, everything that
you're looking for you will find it on our channel. Hopefully you have enjoyed this video of dont's
in Istanbul and if you really liked the video and if you found it useful, please don't forget to give
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