Istanbul Travel Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Unlike several of its regional neighbors, Turkey doesn't offer blanket visa-free entry to most Western travelers — citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries need to apply for an e-Visa online before arrival, a straightforward process through Turkey's official e-Visa portal that typically takes minutes and is approved almost immediately by email. Fees vary by nationality, generally landing somewhere in the USD 20-90 range, and an approved e-Visa is usually valid for 180 days from issue with a maximum stay of 30 to 90 days depending on passport.

Apply only through the official government e-Visa site — a long list of third-party sites charge a markup for the same service, and some citizens of certain countries can only get the e-Visa if they already hold a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa, so check your specific nationality's requirement rather than assuming the general rule applies.

The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the local currency, and Turkey has run through a stretch of significant inflation in recent years, which means prices in lira can look large and shift quickly — many tour operators and hotels quote in USD or EUR specifically to sidestep this. Cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants and most shops, but the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and smaller vendors often prefer or only take cash, and having some lira on hand smooths over haggling in the bazaars in a way a card transaction doesn't.

ATMs are everywhere and generally reliable, but Turkey's dynamic currency conversion prompts (being asked whether to charge in your home currency instead of lira) almost always carry a worse exchange rate — always choose to be charged in Turkish Lira when given the option.

Istanbul's public transit — metro, tram, bus, funicular and ferry — is extensive and genuinely essential given how spread out the city is across two continents, and the Istanbulkart, a rechargeable contactless card, covers all of it at a meaningful discount over single-journey tickets, with free or discounted transfers within a set window. Istanbul Airport, the main international gateway on the European side, connects to the city center by metro or the cheaper, slower bus.

A few everyday notes that matter more than most guides mention: tipping (10% or rounding up) is appreciated but not strictly mandatory at restaurants; Turkish tea (çay), not coffee, is the default social drink offered constantly in shops and bazaars; and Istanbul's call to prayer, sounded five times daily from minarets across the city, is a normal part of the soundscape rather than something to be alarmed by.