Where to stay in Istanbul? Best Neighborhood to stay

Probably one of the most common questions for travelers "Which neighborhood to stay in Istanbul?". It is really difficult to decide where to stay in such big city offers  lots to see and do.

As a local person here you can find information about popular neighborhoods of Istanbul.

Sultanahmet : The most popular tourist area of Istanbul. Must seen places are step away, lots of boutique hotels and alternatives. The best for short time stays in city if you want to visit museums and join sightseeing tours of Istanbul.

Eminonu      : Still walking distance to Sultanahmet but cheaper hotel options. Lots of colourful local bazaars including fruit and veg markets in the surrounding streets; roof terrace.

Taksim/Beyoglu : Want to enjoy nightlife and real Istanbul city life? Then Taksim and Beyoglu is the area where you should stay. You can still reach Sultanahmet by tram, metro or taxi.

Besiktas/Bosphorus : Although the most expensive and elegant hotels of Istanbul located there it might be problematic for tourists to stay around due to heavy traffic. Chic hotels, restaurants and clubs are closeby. Hotel prices are usually up.

Sisli/Osmanbey : Alternative neighbourhood with lots of hotels including US Chains such as Marriott, Hilton and Radisson. Easy to reach metro and paradise for shoppers.

If you are looking for a hassle free trip to Istanbul and expert help then I would recommend you to check this Istanbul package tour offered by Turkey Vacation Specialists.

Money Exchange in Turkey

In general it is better not to exchange much money before travelling to Turkey, as you can often get a better rate there. All cities have a large number of banks and ATM machines. 

Banks are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, with most of them closing between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. for lunch. International banks HSBC and ING Bank are in Turkey, and many good Turkish banks also exist.

The easiest way to change money is at the döviz, a licensed money changer. Döviz bureaus are small, main-street premises; they are regulated and often give the best rates. Rates will be posted on boards (so compare if two or three döviz bureaus are near to each other) and the posted rate is what you get, with no extra commission. US dollars, euros, and sterling are the most widely traded foreign currencies. Most hotels will change money, but they give a worse rate than the bank or döviz. Beware of money changers on the street. At best you may get a poor rate; at worst you may end up with counterfeit notes. You can check exchange rates here

Traveler’s checks are almost impossible to exchange and attract a high commission. Credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. Visa and Mastercard are the easiest to use; often shops are not equipped to process other credit cards, or debit cards. Beware of fraud—it is best not use your card in a small backstreet outfit. Many shops and hotels accept US dollars, euros and sterling.

To be Foreigner or Tourist in Turkey

Turkish people are courteous to strangers. They are hospitable people. Turks have an expression about visitors: “Tanrı misafiri” (“God’s guest”—a visitor must be looked after as if he had been sent to you as an envoy from God). Other Turkish proverbs that reflect this attitude are “A guest comes with ten blessing, eats one and leaves nine,” and “The master of the house is the servant of the guest.” The foreigner who is the guest of a Turk will experience royal treatment.

The wealthier sections of Turkish society will have traveled, and may even have lived abroad for education or work. The rest of the nation forms their view of foreigners through Hollywood films, foreign serials shown on Turkish TV, and meeting tourists. This gives them a selective view of what life is like abroad, and foreigners are like. Many less well-educated lower-class Turks have impression that streets of Europe and America are paved with gold, and want to emigrate. They may find it hard to understand why one who has a sought-after foreign passport might wish to make the opposite journey.

While Turks believe, in general, that life abroad may be better than in Turkey, national pride means that they will not readily admit to this. In general, Europeans and Americans are considered to be well-educated, to have good business ethics, and to be strong in areas such as planning ahead. However, they are also considered to display negative qualities such as individualism and competitiveness, and to be distant or cold.

In business, many Turkish companies are eager to work in partnership with foreign firms as foreigners are seen as bringing know-how, in the form of either management practice or specialist knowledge. The Turkish partner would bring expertise in distribution, would be familiar with regulations, and would have a network of local contacts. Some of the most successful companies in Turkey are such joint ventures.

However, some ultra-nationalists believe that there should be no need for foreign goods or foreign-run companies in Turkey. When a problem arises often blame will be shifted on to “foreign provocation.”

The Role of Women in Turkey

The role of women has changed drastically over the centuries. As the level of education increases the idea that women are important only for serving men’s needs and for childbearing is diminishing. 

Topkapı Palace with its sultan’s harem is now just a tourist site. As you walk down the street you can see a mix of women, from those in headscarves projecting an image of subservience to men, to miniskirted office employees relaxing in a sushi bar after work. Women drive privately owned cars but we have yet to see a woman driving taxi, truck, or bus! They run companies. They are top models, TV presenters, and politicians. In the 1990s Turkey had female prime minister.

The civil code enacted in 1926 abolished polygamy and introduced a minimum age for marriage. It also gave equality of inheritance and made a woman’s testimony as valid as a man’s in court of law. Atatürk gave women the right to vote in 1930—earlier than in many European countries.

Promotion is often readily available on merit for women working in industry and offices. The glass ceiling so often complained of elsewhere in Europe is less in evidence in the modern Turkish company. Educated middle- and upper-class women fill many important roles in professional fields such as finance, law, and medicine.

Some Turkish women define their roles in domestic terms, as a good mother and wife. In towns, villages, or lower-class areas, many women would describe their main role as that of tension manager in the home. The mother is the person, to whom all have access, acting as mediator between father and children and generally attempting to ease the strains created by social change.

The importance of a woman maintaining her honor is crucial. It is believed that proper behavior between men and women depends most of all on the woman. Chastity is taken very seriously. In some respects, the standard for men is not same for women. Improper behavior can result in family ostracism or even more serious action, such as a decision by the family elders to appoint a male relative as summary executioner.

Although things are gradually changing, particularly for educated women, some traditional rules still apply: for example, if a woman has to live alone for any period of time, a female relative will join her or she will be invited to a relative’s home. A woman living on her own is unusual.

In general, when in public, a woman’s movements should be reserved and careful, and in social settings she should be restrained and avoid friendly smiles, eye contact, and casual friendliness in mixed company. In a work context this may vary, depending on the situation and status of the people involved.

Secularism and Social Groups in Turkey

Although Atatürk, in complete break with the past, established a secular government, Islam continues to have a pivotal role in the life and character of the nation.

Turkish society can be broadly divided into four subgroups: Atatürk supporters (secularists), Leftists, Islamic fundamentalists, and modern Islamists.

Atatürk supporters uphold links with the West and look for modernization at every opportunity. They are educated, middle-class, progressive citizens who are Muslim. They oppose Islamic law and believe it is backward and dangerous. They revere Atatürk, and often can be hard to mourn that there is no one like him today. They are fiercely loyal to the values of democracy, liberalization, and modernization stressed by him.

Atatürk supporters wear lapel pins bearing his image, visit the Anıtkabir (his mausoleum in Ankara), quote his speeches, and display his picture. His picture hangs in most buildings. Many important public places such as dams, airports, and roadways are named after him. Evidence of Kemal Atatürk is everywhere, and first time visitors to Turkey may mistakenly equate this with the leadership cult of former communist countries. However, veneration of Atatürk, while encouraged by the school system, is not imposed by the government.

The second subgroup is known as Muslim Socialist. The followers are Turks of leftist persuasion who are anti-Western and not devout Muslims. The two leftist Muslim groups are the Revolutionary Muslims and Anti-Capitalist Muslim.

The third subgroup is the Islamic fundamentalists. They are fiercely opposed to the followers of Atatürk. They wish to see the nation return to Islamic values and believe the five pillars of Islam and Islamic law should be diligently practiced. They reject the notion of a secular state and would support, to varying degrees, integration of state and religion, even to the extent of the imposition of Sharia law. They promote activities disliked by the secularists such as the wearing of headscarves and the teaching of Arabic and the Koran to children.

The fourth subgroup is modern Islamists. This recently formed grouping consists of well –educated, middle-class individuals who are Islamic rather than secular. The women wear headscarves. Modern Islamists oppose alcohol, clubs, and provocative dress such as miniskirts and low-cut party dresses. In a social setting they tend to separate men and women. Their use of language is influenced by Islamic terminology and Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, and Persian loan words. They attempting to lessen the separation of state and religion, still seeks closer links with the West.

Using Public Buses for Travelling in Turkey

Before flights became cheaper, the road network was the means of intercity travel in Turkey.

Expressways are limited; many are just divided highways. After planes, buses are the next best way to travel around the country if you have time. It is to the traveler’s advantage that there is competition between private companies. You can book a ticket or just turn up at an out-of-town bus station and hop on. Go to the office of the bus company—if you don’t know which to choose, you will be sure to be accosted by men trying to get you to use their company!

Travel between Istanbul and Ankara can takes as little as four hours. Many buses travel at night (for example, twenty hours for Istanbul to Trabzon, nine hours for Istanbul to Izmir). Some companies have a better safety record than others: Kamil Koç, Ulusoy, and Varan are regarded as the best. They target the more wealthy traveler; on some routes, on board toilets and meals are provided. On other routes there will be regular stops at service stations or bus stations. Buses are nonsmoking.

What to know about Safety in Turkey?

I know many of you concern about recent terrorist attacks in Turkey which target civilians. Only one of them targeted tourists was organized by ISIS. It was very unfortunate but aimed to harm Turkey's tourism industry. Although SouthEast Turkey, Istanbul and Ankara are main targets, the other parts of the country remain safe for tourists. It is wise to obtain up-to-date information from your government before travel. Long-term residents should register with their embassy if they live in Ankara, or consulate if they live in other large cities. The consulates provide regular updates on such matters.

What is the safety level in smaller cities? Is it safe to travel Turkey?

Travelers who dress and behave respectably are as safe in Turkey as anywhere in the world. Violent crime is not usually random; most violent crimes are crimes of passion, or retribution for a serious affront. Football games can generate violence.

Foreign women who have moved to Istanbul from large cities in the USA or Europe often say they feel safer walking in the street in the evenings in Istanbul than back home. If you are a woman traveling alone or two women late at night it is best not to attract attention to yourself. It is usually assumed that you are trying to invite male company. If you are careful you will be fine. In seaside resorts or tourist areas some Turkish men make a living by picking up Western women and showing them the town, at the women’s expense.

Western women, particularly Americans, are often misunderstood because of their openness. Honest curiosity or light conversation may be interpreted as flirtation. Turkish men generally are not used to much interaction with women they don’t know. Although mixed group activities are common at school and work, it is improper for a Turkish man to show too much interest in a woman without getting to know her through his family or social circle first. He might thing that a foreign woman is open to his advances. If you feel uncomfortable, tell another Turk in the group that he is too friendly for your liking. They will know how to deal with it and will be pleased to help.

Turkish men have a justified reputation for being Casanovas, and if you go out alone with a Turk he is likely to assume that you will be open to his amorous approaches.

Shoplifting and pickpocketing increased during the economic slump, especially in the tourist and market areas. Be careful if people try to distract you or follow you—they may be petty thieves after your wallet or cash. Sometimes a person may approach you to change money on the street. Decline—it is often counterfeit.

If you would like to travel Turkey safely you are recommended to arrange your trip with a licensed travel agent so check TSC Travel www.turkeytourspecialist.com for escorted Turkey tour programs.