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Every country or city has its own rules and regulations that are necessary to be brushed up on whenever you visit the place. This is especially true when the city in question is one that’s as culturally rich as Istanbul. With marvelous sites to boast about, the city that lies on two continents is indeed a revelation to every tourist out there. When you get the chance to explore Istanbul as a part of our Turkey tour packages, you must look up the dos and don’ts in Istanbul so as to make your trip as smooth as possible. The good news is that we have them listed all right here so that you can save yourself a lot more time and effort.
Listed below are the dos and don’ts to keep in mind while you’re out exploring in Istanbul:
While not taking off your shoes may be accepted in some parts of the world, it’s not the norm in Istanbul for sure. Instead, much like many other Asian countries, people in Istanbul expect their guests to take their shoes off when they enter their homes. This is also a way to show respect for their culture and traditions, so, remember to do this if you’re ever invited to someone’s home in Istanbul.
People in Turkey have a very lovely way of greeting one another, which is something you will experience when you visit the place by booking one of our Turkey travel packages. The informal way of greeting usually involves hugging the other person and kissing them on both sides of the face by touching their cheeks together. Men often have a different way of greeting each other and the greetings can vary from person to person, but it’s best to be aware of it beforehand.
Turkish people are extremely warm and hospitable and love to have guests over so that they can treat them well. This also involves feeding them local food and cooking for them. Any time you’re offered food in Turkey, it’s considered rude and impolite if you refuse it. Even if you’re not hungry or are too full, it’s thought of as good manners to accept at least a little bit of food whenever you’re offered some.
Although many places around Istanbul and Turkey in general are quite modern, there are also certain areas that are quite conservative and consider certain things as forbidden. One of those things is engaging in public displays of affection. So, if you’re traveling with your spouse or partner, it’s best to not indulge in those acts while you’re out in public.
Turkish people love to savor their meals and they wish for their guests and tourists to do the same when they’re in Istanbul on a vacation. So, whenever you visit a restaurant in the city, make sure to take your time and relish each and every bite and sip, regardless of whether you’re drinking Turkish coffee or biting down on a piece of succulent kebab. In fact, the eateries expect their guests to have a good time to the point where you might almost struggle to get their attention when it comes to getting your check.
Tipping isn’t too common in Turkey, but it’s kind and generous to leave a tip regardless, especially because most of the workers don’t earn much at the local restaurants. There aren’t rules regarding the tipping percentage, therefore you can decide how much to tip based on what you find is convenient.
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