Istanbul Local Custom Tips by mavi-tr

Bargaining to get discounts is an established custom and can get you quite far.

Don't be mean though on very cheap items.

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Turkey is a secular European republic.

Women are free to wear whatever they want here.

A minority of women wear headscarves, but most of those wear modern ones which they mix with jeans and shirts like anyone else.

If you wear a headscarf, please remember that you won't be allowed to enter certain places such as universities and public offices.

Men dress as in Europe.. Nothing is different here.

If you see women wearing a full black veil (very rare), then they are often Arabs.

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Well, the Turkish kitchen is a rich and diverse one, and your stomach will thank you for bring you here!

People in Istanbul like to eat late, in common with Greece, Spain and Italy. There is an emerging cafe culture here and you can get a bit to eat at anytime of the day.

Turkish food consists of a mixture of many things.. kebabs, mezzes, lahmacun, pasteries, you name it.. It's all here and it's wonderful. Turkish ice cream (go to MADO CAFES!) is great too, plus the abundance of local sweets.. Delicious!

Turkish breakfast is continental style, usually with bread, olives, cheese, fruits etc.

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In Istanbul people listen to all kinds of music, from rock to pop to jazz to metal to electronica, you name it and there's probably a club for it.

Every year there is an International Jazz Festival, A Music Festival and concerts from local and foreign acts.

Turkish music is as varied as foreign music with many styles.

Turkish CDs are an absolute bargain if you happen to get into it.

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