Written by Menswear Style
in
Travel
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14th October 2025
Turkey is a place unlike any other, a bridge between East and West that can feel both intriguingly exotic and welcomingly familiar. Mosques stand alongside churches, Roman theatres and temples lie in the ruins near Hittite strongholds, and the whirl of dervishes meets the rhythm of gypsy celebrations, both an integral part of the social landscape as much as classical concerts and football matches. This constant dance between old and new is what makes Turkey not just a destination, but an experience that lingers in the memory.
We’ve amassed lesser-known travel tips that can make your journey smoother, richer, and unforgettable, so please take a moment to explore them.
April-June And September-October Are Ideal For Sightseeing & Cultural Exploration
Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara have a sultry, Balkan climate with torrid summers and cool, rainy winters. Booking ahead is a must, especially if you’re visiting during the peak season (late June and early September), because these areas get crowded. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are too hot to handle during July and August, particularly between Izmir and Antakya, where temperatures can exceed 30°C (86°F) and even reach 40-50°C (104-122°F) during heatwaves. Late October and early November welcome the “Indian summer”, also referred to as pastirma yazi, a warm, dry, and pleasant weather of late autumn.
The Best Way To Stay Connected In Turkey Is To Get An eSIM
There’s no need to buy a guidebook or subject your well-travelled friends to a barrage of questions. You can plan the perfect trip from the comfort of your sofa or even while waiting at the airport gate using your phone – all you need to do is download the right apps. Google Maps, for instance, can help you find hotels, cafés, currency exchanges, and attractions. Be sure to read the reviews because they provide first-hand accounts and user-generated photos that reveal the genuine experience of a place. In big cities like Ankara, Bursa, and Konya, it’s vital to stay online, and you can use the Turkey eSIM from Holafly for an ultra-fast connection.
The Internet is generally reliable in Turkey, especially in tourist hotspots, with good 4G and rapidly expanding 5G coverage providing speeds that are sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing or social media. You won’t have trouble making VoIP calls either. If you visit traditional villages like Ayder or Uzungöl, an eSIM has a clear edge: you can quickly switch between network providers if your primary network lacks coverage. Cheap roaming is becoming rare, so it pays to have unlimited data if you’re staying in Turkey for longer. Your regular SIM stays in your phone, so you can see who contacted you and get back to them via messenger using your eSIM data.
Dress Modestly To Show Respect For Local People And Culture
What is acceptable in terms of clothing depends on which part of the country – or even which part of a city – you’re visiting. Turkish people are conservative, even those who define themselves as progressive, and being conservative mostly comes down to valuing tradition, modesty, and self-resilience. Men’s dress is generally relaxed and modern, so jeans, chinos, polo shirts, button-downs, and t-shirts are all common. Skimpy shorts should be avoided away from tourist areas. If you venture off the beaten track, being stared at is part of the experience and isn’t considered rude. Trousers and shirts with sleeves, long or short, demonstrate respect for traditions and help foster interactions with locals.
Accepting A Glass Of Çay (Turkish Tea) Is A Sign Of Hospitality
Tea culture was introduced in Turkey via the Silk Road during the Ottoman Empire, where it was used for trade and medicinal purposes. At present, tea is one of the national drinks of Turkey, along with ayran, sahlep, boza, and Turkish coffee, and each of these beverages reflects a different dimension of Turkish culture and history. Turkish people drink tea all day long, especially at breakfast and in the evening, and it’s very common for them to serve tea to guests. When someone offers you a cup, they’re extending a gesture of welcome and connection, and declining can unintentionally come across as rejecting the host’s warmth and generosity. If you truly don’t like tea, accept it, but only sip a little.
Haggling Is Expected In Bazaars Like Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar
Several types of traditional bazaars exist in Turkey, often found in larger towns like Istanbul, Bursa, and Sanliurfa. In essence, they’re medieval Ottoman shopping malls with smaller, often open-air or covered stalls that focus on local trade and a vibrant atmosphere. The Grand Bazaar boasts over 3,000 shops and draws nearly 400,000 visitors through its doors, who are looking for far more than souvenirs. Visitors seek both tangible treasures (kilims, jewellery, spices, and talismans) and the intangible magic of being part of one of the world’s oldest marketplaces. It’s open Monday through Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Haggle if you want to buy something. Bargaining is a way of life in Turkey, so it’s perfectly acceptable to negotiate the price of souvenirs, as fixed prices are rarely shown, to get the best price. Shopkeepers adjust the initial asking price according to what they think you can or will pay, and they usually enjoy the back-and-forth. Open negotiations with a figure below what you’re prepared to spend—about half the seller’s first offer – and remember that, once a price is settled, you’re honour-bound to buy, so don’t enter the dance of haggling unless you truly want the piece.
Domestic Flights Are Cheap And Save Time
If You’re Covering Long Distances
For maximum speed, especially between major cities or distant regions like Istanbul to Cappadocia, you should take a domestic flight. They’re frequent, affordable, and save tons of hours compared to long bus rides or train journeys, but if you prefer a more scenic route, Turkey’s intercity buses are comfy, reliable, and often include Wi-Fi and refreshments. With numerous domestic airports and regular flights from carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, air travel is one of the most convenient ways to get around.