İstanbul

Visa-Free Entry: Citizens of many countries—including the US, Canada, the UK, and most EU nations—can enter Turkey visa-free for tourism or business for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

The e-Visa System: If attendees are from countries that require a visa, Turkey uses a highly efficient e-Visa system. They can apply online, pay the fee, and usually receive the visa via email within minutes.

The 150-Day Rule: Turkey strictly requires passports to be valid for at least 150 days (5 months) from the date of arrival. If an attendee's passport expires in 4 months, they will be denied entry.

The M11 Metro: The fastest way into the city from IST is the M11 Metro line, which connects the airport to Gayrettepe station in under 40 minutes. From there, attendees can transfer to the M2 line to reach popular hubs like Taksim.

Havaist Airport Buses: If they have a lot of luggage, the official Havaist buses are incredibly comfortable and offer direct routes to major tourist areas like Taksim and Beşiktaş.

Taxi Warnings: İstanbul taxis are notorious for overcharging tourists. Advise attendees to avoid hailing random cabs outside the airport or tourist spots. Instead, they should use Uber or the local app BiTaksi, which hails official yellow or turquoise taxis but locks in the route and provides a fare estimate. Always ensure the driver turns on the meter.

Currency: The Turkish Lira (TRY).

Card vs. Cash: Despite high inflation, İstanbul is very card-friendly. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, from high-end restaurants to corner stores. However, attendees should carry around 500–1,000 TRY in cash for small street food purchases, tipping, or buying an İstanbulkart (the transit card needed for ferries, trams, and buses).

Tipping Culture: A tip of about 10% is standard in restaurants. It is rarely included in the bill automatically. Unlike in some countries, you usually cannot add a tip to a credit card receipt after it's printed—you either need to tell the waiter to add the amount before they run the card, or simply leave cash on the table. For taxis, simply round up the fare.

Plugs and Voltage: Turkey uses standard European Type C and F plugs and operates on a 220V supply.

Avoid Airport SIM Cards: Buying a physical local SIM card at the airport in İstanbul is notoriously expensive due to high tourist taxes and markups (from $40-$50 USD). Tell your attendees to purchase a travel eSIM (like Airalo or Holafly) before they arrive for a fraction of the cost.

Local Culinary Highlights: The absolute must-do dining experience is a traditional Turkish Breakfast (Kahvaltı)—a sprawling, communal feast of small plates featuring cheeses, olives, honey, clotted cream (kaymak), eggs, and fresh bread. For dinner, they must try authentic kebabs and finish with baklava and strong Turkish coffee.

Dietary Restrictions: Turkey is a Muslim-majority country, so all meat is Halal and pork is practically non-existent. While the cuisine is meat-heavy, vegetarians will actually fare very well by focusing on meze (small appetizer plates) and the vast array of olive oil-based vegetable dishes (zeytinyağlılar).

Tap Water Safety: Do not drink the tap water in İstanbul. It is heavily chlorinated and locals exclusively drink bottled water, which is cheap and readily available everywhere.

The City Divide: İstanbul is uniquely situated on two continents. The European side is divided by the Golden Horn into the historical peninsula (Sultanahmet) and the modern/entertainment district (Beyoğlu/Taksim). The Asian side (Kadıköy) is more residential, highly walkable, and known for its vibrant cafe culture.

The "Must-Sees": Hagia Sophia & The Blue Mosque: These iconic structures sit facing each other in Sultanahmet Square. The Grand Bazaar: One of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world—a labyrinth of spices, textiles, and jewelry. A Bosphorus Ferry Ride: The cheapest and most beautiful tour in the city is simply taking a public commuter ferry between the European and Asian sides at sunset.

Mosque Etiquette: Since Hagia Sophia is an active mosque, strict dress codes apply. Both men and women must have their shoulders and knees covered, and women must cover their hair with a scarf. Shoes must be removed before stepping onto the carpets.

The Street Animals: İstanbul is famous for its street cats and dogs. They are generally very well taken care of by the municipality and locals, and most are quite friendly, but advise attendees to simply let the animals approach them rather than forcing interactions.