Almost on a daily basis I get emails from people about to take a cruise liner to Istanbul. Trying to plan their trip, they have questions like “Where is the cruise port in Istanbul?”, “How far is it from the cruise ship pier in Istanbul to Sultanahmet?” or “What are the transportation options from the cruise ship dock to the main sightseeing spots?” In this post I’ll try to answer these very common questions, and much more.

Where Is the Istanbul Cruise Ship Dock Located?

Location of the cruise ship dock.

Cruise ships dock at the passenger terminal (Yolcu Salonu) in Karaköy. And as a passenger, you couldn’t have dreamt of a more central location to set foot on Istanbul soil. Karaköy is loacted exactly where the Golden Horn flows into the Bosphorus. It is centrally located because it takes about as much time to travel over the Galata Bridge to Eminönü and Sultanahmet (the historical part of Istanbul) as it would take you to reach Taksim (the modern part of Istanbul).

In case Istanbul is the end or start of your international cruise, a taxi between Karaköy and the Atatürk International Airport would set you back for about TL 30 during the daytime.

Do I Need a Visa to Leave the Ship?

Foreigners who arrive in Turkey by cruise liner and sleep on the ship are allowed to enter Turkey without a visa for a maximum period of 72 hours, with the permission given by the local security authorities as soon as you set foot ashore. If you stay longer or stay in Istanbul (or Turkey for that matter) before or after your cruise, you are obliged to obtain a visa.

How To Reach the Various Sightseeing Spots?

• Eminönü – to reach Eminönü, home to the Spice Bazaar, just make a left once leave the passenger terminal (Yolcu Salonu), walk along the boardwalk until you reach the Galata Bridge, and cross it. It shouldn’t be more than a 10 minute stroll. Although Istanbul is among the safest world cities, after sundown and certainly when not accompanied by a man, play safe and take a taxi or the tramway (see below).
• Sultanahmet – you can still walk to Sultanahmet. I would recommend it if you’re in relatively good shape and are not pressed for time. Just cross the Galata Bridge, make a left at the end, cross the pedestrian bridge about 200 meters further and follow the tram rails up the fairly steep hill until you reach Sultanahmet.
  Alternatively, you can walk to the tram stop in Karaköy by making a left once you leave the passenger terminal (Yolcu Salonu) and walk along the boardwalk until you reach the Galata Bridge. Look for a place that says jeton gişesi to buy a TL 1,5 token, and board the tram in the direction of Zeytinburnu. The first stop is Eminönü, the second is Sirkeci Station, the third is Gülhane (Park) and the next one is Sultanahmet. This ride shouldn’t take longer than 5 to 7 minutes.
  A taxi ride, assuming the taxi driver is not hustling you, will cost around TL 7. How long it will take you to get there of course depends on traffic (jams).
• Taksim – again a few options are available. Walking is one of them, but I don’t recommend it. Climbing the steep hill is not only time consuming, it will definately make you sweat in summertime. You can take a taxi, which will set you back for about TL 5. Alternatively you can walk to the Galata Bridge and take either the tramway to Kabataş (the final stop) and connect to Taksim Square via the funicular. Another option is to take Tünel, and find yourself at the end of İstiklal Caddesi, ideal if you want to visit the Galata Tower.
• Princes’ Islands or Asia – if you can’t get enough of sailing and are in for a trip to either the Princes’ Islands or the Asian shore of Istanbul, then take the tramway to Kabataş and use the (quick) ferries or sea buses to reach your destination.

Any Other Questions You May Have

Upon docking in Istanbul, there will be some kind of official welcoming party waiting for you. These people are there to facilitate your stay in Istanbul. You can address them with any questions that may spring to your mind. For example, if you plan to buy some valuables (leather, electronic goods, etc.) you can get a VAT refund. They will tell you what paper to obtain while purchasing your goods, and how to get the tax paid back to you prior to your departure.

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With most Istanbul sightseeing spots only open from 09:00 till 17:00, you of course want to make most of the day and not waste any time by having a timely lunch. Luckily, eating on the street is very much a part of local life. You can’t walk from corner to corner on a street, cross a bridge, enter a square or park without coming across one or more snack shops, street stalls (büfe) or street vendors. Most of the snacks on display are delicious, cheap and innocent. But there are a few you may want to stay clear of to avoid the Sultan’s revenge (diarrhea).

Street Vendors

Street vendors are omnipresent on Istanbul’s street. They display their goods in a variety of ways, going from a plain upside down box used as a table to a more professional glass-fronted push-car. Here’s a sample of what they have to offer.

• 

  Street vendor selling simit and açma.

  Simit – A crisp, ring-shaped, savory roll covered with sesame seeds. Delicious when fresh and preferably washed down with ayran (salty liquid yoghurt).

• Açma – This doughnut lookalike is ring-shaped just like the simit, but doesn’t have a crust. It’s soft and oilier, hence less dry.
• Poğaça – A flaky, savory pastry. They come in different versions: plain (sade) or stuffed with pieces of cheese (peynirli), mince (kıymalı) or olives (zeytinli).
• Mısır – During the summer, you can find street sellers offering freshly boiled or grilled corn (mısır) on the cob. Unless you want it generously sprinkled with salt, make sure to tell the seller in time to go easy on it.
• Kestane – Street vendors selling corn in the summer, mostly shift to roasted chestnuts in winter time.
• Su – Water. With temperatures well above 30 C all summer long, you can’t go long without it. It’s perfectly safe to drink the bottles they offer, as long as you make sure the cap has never been opened before.

Street Stalls (Büfe)

Near busy public transportation hubs or in popular (tourist) areas, you’ll find plenty of small kiosks on street corners. These büfes typically sell cigarettes, phone-cards and non-alcoholic cold drinks in cans or small bottles, but most of them also sell inexpensive, tasteful thin roasted sandwiches (tost) and hot dogs (sosili sandviç). Do try out the kaşarlı tost, a sandwich with melted cheese.

Pastry Shops (Börekçi)

Plate of börek

These too are excellent places for a quick breakfast or lunch, although you normally don’t enjoy it while standing in the street. A börekçi is usually a tiny shop, with only a handful of chairs and tables, offering tea, coffee or a small selection of cold drinks and börek.

Börek is a flaky pastry existing of several thin layers. There are different kinds, based on their shape, filling and cooking method. You may want to try out the juicy su böreği (something in between a pastry and a lasagna), peynirli börek (with cheese filling), patatesli börek (with potato filling), ıspanaklı börek (with spinach filling) or kıymalı börek (filled with minced meat).

Most of these shops also sell pide which is a pita like baked dough with the same filling options as börek.

Kebap, Köfte and Döner

These typical Turkish cheap but delicious eateries couldn’t be left out of this list. Here you’ll find an overview of the different kinds of kebap and 14 types of köfte. In the Sultanahmet area, you simply must check out Sultanahmet Köftecisi.
If you’re wandering around in Taksim, try out Çılgın Dürüm – my favorite döner eatery at the beginning of Istiklal Caddesi. Try out their excellent dürüm, a thin roasted sheet of bread, stuffed with döner, salad, a (hot) tomato sauce and french fries. You can have it spicy (acı) or not too spicy (orta).

Fish Sandwiches (Balık ekmek)

Fish sandwiches being prepared on a boat

Balık ekmek is another typical Istanbul snack, and pretty tasteful and safe when prepared fresh. It’s pretty straightforward – a grilled or fried fresh fish inside a large piece of bread. The best way to explore this snack is in Eminönü, left from the Galata Bridge.
You’ll see them prepare the sandwiches on the nicely lined up boats, after which they hand them to customers on the shore.

Street Food to Stay Clear Of

Unless you want to have an army of bacteria for lunch, pass for the following major offenders:

• 

  Street vendor selling midye dolma

  Midye dolma – These are stuffed muscles. Nothing wrong with them and even delicious, but a huge risk when bought on the (sunny) streets. If you really want to try them, order them as a starter for dinner in a respected restaurant.

• Çiğ köfte – This is raw meat, kneaded by hand for hours, seasoned with plenty of spices. A delicacy, but not when sold on the streets. No matter how long you kneed it, it still stays raw meat exposed to high summer temperatures.
• Kokoreç – Lamb intestines cooked with herbs and spices, roasted horizontally on a skewer. Maybe not so much a bacteria heaven, but still… intestines?

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The akbil electronic travel pass is definitely the best feature of the constantly improving Istanbul public transportation network. Akbil is short for ‘akıllı bilet‘, which means intelligent ticket. And that’s exactly what it is. It’s a basically a small stainless steel button in a plastic holder, together not bigger in size than any key on your keychain. Akbil serves as computerized fare tag which you can use for all public transportation except on a dolmuş or minibus. Although the akbil is slowly being phased out in favor of the new Istanbul Kart, it will remain popular for a long time and will save you both money and time.

The Benefits of Akbil

For starters it’s very convenient and easy to carry around since it fits on your keychain. It will save you time while getting on buses, trams, metros or ferries since you won’t have to look for a token or ticket sales office and stand in line to buy a jeton or bilet prior to hopping on the public transportation vehicle.

Secondly, it will also save you money. Not only do you get a 10% discount by using your akbil, the next five transits you make within a 120 minute period you get a 50% discount.

If you’re traveling with a party of two or more, there is technically no need to get more than one akbil. However, keep in mind that while everybody will still benefit from the basic 10% fare discount, only one will get the 50% transit fare discount. If you want to take the full advantage of akbil, it’s better to get one for every person.

Where and How to Get Akbil

Akbil sales point on Taksim Square

With the new Istanbul Kart surfacing, the amount of Akbil Sales Points (Akbil Satış Noktası) has unfortunately been dramatically reduced. The easiest way to obtain an electronic travel pass is to buy it at the busy bus stop on Taksim Square. Look for the blue and white kiosk that has the İETT logo and the text Akbil Satış Gişesi on top of it. You can’t miss really.

Once it’s your turn, hand the clerk TL 6 as the deposit and say akbil almak istiyorum (I would like to buy an akbil). He will hand you the travel pass and a receipt. Keep the receipt if you intend to return the akbil at the end of your stay in order to reclaim your deposit. That’s it, no forms or paperwork to be filled in. You of course still have to load it before you can use it.

How to Load and Recharge Your Akbil

Akbil Recharger

There are two ways to load or recharge your electronic travel pass: either at a akbil/ticket sales point, or by using one of the many akbil recharge machines located at most of the transit points. They come in different shapes and sizes.

The ones that recharge akbil or Istanbul Kart are most of the time built-in into a wall, while the rechargers that serve both travel passes and also provide tokens (jeton) are stand-alone rectangular machines.

Fortunately, the procedure to load your electronic travel pass is the same:

1. press your akbil firmly on the socket
2. insert a TL 10 or TL 20 banknote in the machine
3. once the money has been accepted, press your akbil again firmly on the socket to add the respective credits

How to Use Akbil

Typical turnstile

Prior to boarding a tram, metro, funicular, ferry or sea-bus you have to pass turnstiles. At the right-hand side of every turnstile, you’ll find a socket just underneath a small display. Press your akbil firmly on the socket until you hear a double beep sound and the screen shows your destination and the fare that has been deducted. At this point the turnstile will allow you to pass through. Repeat this process for as many people travel with you on the same travel pass.

If you’re using a bus or the nostalgic tram, then look for an orange machine with a socket and display. It is mostly located next to the driver seat and press your akbil firmly on the socket for every passenger in your party.

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The brand new Istanbul Card (İstanbul Kart) was proudly introduced in the spring of 2009 by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality as a card with which you will be able to pay for all your Istanbul transportation, cultural and entertainment activities. In a first phase, the İstanbul Kart will replace the currently used akbil as a pre-paid public transportation pass. However, don’t rush to go get such a card, since the implementation doesn’t go as smooth as expected.

What Is the Istanbul Card?

The İstanbul Kart is a RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card which fits perfectly in your wallet since it has the dimensions of a regular credit card. It is a pre-paid and rechargeable card, which can be used to cover fares and entrance fees. At first it will enable you to cover any kind of transportation fees, including bus, tram, metro, funicular, ferry and sea-bus fares – yes, even your taxi and parking expenses.

You can also look at the İstanbul Kart as an electronic ticket. In the future the card will also pay for the entrance fees of movie theaters, cultural venues and/or museums. The latter is of course unnecessary is you have a Müzekart.

How Does the Istanbul Card Work?

Istanbul Kart with the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

You obtain an Istanbul Card (see below) and make sure there is enough money on it. Remember, it’s a pre-paid card, not a credit card. When you have to pay a fee of some kind for your transportation or leisure activities, you place it in the proximity of a fare point, and the amount due is automatically deducted from your card. In ideal circumstances you don’t even have to take the card out of your wallet. And for transportation purposes you will pay the same reduced rate as you currently do with your akbil.

Where Can I Get an Istanbul Card?

Currently you can only obtain an Istanbul Card at the IETT Akbil/Ticket sales point in Mecidiyeköy. No clue where that is? No need to worry! Just keep on reading and I’ll explain why.

Why You Should Keep Your Akbil!

Although not new, the idea to have one card to pay for the majority of your Istanbul transportation, cultural or leisure expenses is brilliant. However, the wide-spread implementation of the technology to deduct the fees due automatically has proven to be a painfully slow process. The municpality implements it route by route. With hundreds of public transportation lines throughout the city of Istanbul, this may take a while.

So for the time being, I strongly suggest you to stick or obtain an akbil to cover your public transportation fares and leave the Istanbul Card for what it is until all transportation means and lines are equipped to handle it.

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People often ask me if booking a hotel online is safe. And if so, whether I can provide links to hotel booking sites that are trustworthy and/or offer hotel rooms at the lowest prices available. Since I’m merely running a blog about Istanbul (and not a travel agency), this has always been a tough question to answer, up until recently!

Is Booking A Hotel Room Online Safe?

Recently my good friend Darren from Travel-Rants wrote a post on lack of credit card security when booking hotels online. In short, booking online via an established third-party hotel booking website is secure, if you follow the following internet safety basics:

1. stick to the bigger, well-known hotel booking websites
2. before entering personal and/or credit card information, make sure the webpage is on a secure (https://…) server
3. check if the bottom of your browser shows a padlock

Luckily, the majority of the established hotel booking websites has implemented these security measures. The only thing you can never be sure of is human carelessness after all your details have been wired to the hotel of your choice. Hotel staff writing down your credit card numbers on a piece of paper or in a spreadsheet may always occur, regardless weather you booked online or in person after arrival. Unless you carry/pay cash, but then of course other security concerns surface.

Best Price Guaranteed

So yes, in my experience booking online via well-known hotel websites is not only safe, it can also result in a fair hotel price discount. The question remains of course, what third-party hotel booking website to use.

Already back in August last year, to serve my readers better, I conducted a little research on this topic. I reviewed a handful of the most-known hotel booking websites, and decided to promote Booking.com for the following reasons:

• they have a very user-friendly and clear website
• hotels I had already previously recommended to friends are in their 220 Istanbul hotel list
• they provide detailed and accurate information about every hotel
• they offer extensive customer reviews with pros and cons about every hotel
• booking a hotel is easy and hassle-free
• you can view the website in the language and currency of your choice

Moreover, since 2009 Booking.com also added a Best Price Guarantee. You can find the full details here, but in short they promise the following:

“Booking.com wants you to pay the lowest price possible for your hotel. Should you find your hotel room, with the same booking conditions, at a lower rate on the internet after you have booked, we’ll match it. Just contact us within 24 hours of booking, with details of the website.”

This new Booking.com Best Price Guarantee policy just confirmed that I already back in August 2008 chose the right hotel booking website to advice to my readers!

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The release of the 2009 entrance fees for Istanbul’s tourist attractions by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism didn’t go unnoticed.

Via emails and in forums people complain that doubling some of these fees is not done, and that the current entrance fees are exuberantly high. So I took a closer look at them to check if these accusations are correct.

Entrance Fees on Istanbul Trails Are Up-to-date

Let’s start with the good news. All entrance fees of the sightseeing spots mentioned here on Istanbul Trails are up to date. The same goes for the opening hours and closing days of Istanbul’s tourist attractions. I personally called all the venues one by one. Also worth mentioning is that, except some price changes, most places are no longer closed on official and/or national holidays.

Most Entrance Fees Went Up

Let’s not beat around the bush, most entrance fees went up. Some even doubled in price. I’m not going to publish a list of movers and shakers here, but I will mention some of the most important ones. For good reference, I put the price in Euro between brackets using today’s rate of 2,217 TL for 1 Euro.

• Archaeology Museums – from TL 5 to TL 10 (€ 4,5)
• Topkapi Palace – from TL 10 to TL 20 (€ 9)
• The Harem – from TL 10 to TL 15 (€ 7)
• Hagia Sophia – from TL 10 to TL 20 (€ 9)

To end on a positive note – Dolmabahçe Palace (TL 15 – € 7), the Bosphorus Scenic Tour (TL 15 – € 7), the Galata Tower (TL 10 – € 5), and the Basilica Cistern (TL 10 – € 5) entrance fees remained the same. Mosques are of course still free of charge.

Are These Entrance Fees Excessively High?

This leaves the question whether the current entrance fees are too expensive as some people claim. I therefore checked the prices of some famous landmarks in other world cities.

• Paris, Boat Tour of the Seine River (~ Bosphorus Tour) – € 10
• Paris, Eiffel Tower ( ~ +/- Galata Tower) – € 4-12
• London, Buckingham Palace ( ~Dolmabahçe Palace) – € 16,5
• London, London Eye and River Cruise (~ Bosphorus Tour) – € 30
• London, Tower of London ( ~ Topkapi Palace) – € 15
• Athens, National Archaeological Museum – € 7
• New York, Ferry to Statue of Liberty – € 9,2
• New York, Empire State Building – € 14,5
• Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia – € 8-10

This list can of course go on and on, but these are attractions I once visited and sprung to my mind. For the last three attractions I didn’t mention an Istanbul equivalent. The first two give a scenic view of the city (albeit higher than the Galata Tower) and the last one does the same but is basically still under construction. It’s gorgeous from the outside but has very little to offer inside.

So, when you compare these prices, do you (still) think Istanbul’s top tourist attraction entrance fees are unreasonably steep, rather cheap or right on the mark?

[Photo Credit: svilen001]

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In June 2008 the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry in cooperation with the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) introduced the Museum Card (Müzekart) of Turkey. The holder of such a card (TL 20) has unlimited access to over 300 museums and ancient sites or ruins spread all over Turkey.

Why the Introduction of the Turkish Museum Card?

The Museum Card is one of the key elements in an attempt to increase social awareness among the Turkish citizens of the country’s rich cultural heritage, hence help to protect this millennia-old heritage. The obvious way to achieve this is by making visits to Turkey’s various museums more attractive and cheaper.

Normally the entrance fees of the various museums range between 1 and 20 TL, per person. But  now, with the introduction of the Müzekart, you pay an annual fee of TL 20 and obtain unlimited free access to over 300 museum nationwide.

How to Obtain the Müze Kart?

People can apply for the Museum Card online or at the following locations in Istanbul:

• Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
• Archaeology Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
• Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi)

Can Foreigners Buy a Turkish Museum Card?

I have good and bad news. Let me start with the bad news. Until further notice, the Museum Card is only available to Turkish citizens.
However, the good news is that when I called the Ministry of Turkish Culture and Tourism today, the spokesperson said that it would be made available to tourists in the near future as well. Unfortunately she couldn’t confirm whether this would happen before this summer.

I of course will let you know the moment foreigners can apply for the Turkish Museum Card as well.

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When planning a city trip to Istanbul, you may want to take a look at the opening hours of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions so you don’t find yourself standing in front of a closed door.

Sightseeing spots such as the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace and its Harem, Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace and the Basilica Cistern all have their own closing days and slightly different operating hours.

Please also consult the list of National, Official and Religious holidays in Turkey. Especially religious holidays vary from year to year.

Below you’ll find an overview (in alphabetical order) of what is open when and how long.

• Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 17.00, no entrance after 16.00
  Closed: Monday, and until 12.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 17.30
  Closed: until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Big Palace Mosaic Museum (Büyük Saray Çinileri Müzesi)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 16.30
  Closed: Monday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
  Open: daily from 09.00 till dusk
  Closed: 30 min before until 30 min after prayer time, 2 hours during Friday noon prayer
• Çadır Pavilion (Çadır Köşkü)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 22.00
  Closed: no closing days
• Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 16.00
  Closed: Monday, Thursday, January 1st and the first days of religious holidays
• Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
  Open: daily from 08.00 – 19.00
  Closed: Sunday, October 29th and the full duration of religious holidays
• Fethiye Museum (Fethiye Müzesi)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 16.30
  Closed: Wednesday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Fortress of Europe (Rumeli Hisarı)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 16.30, no entrance after 16.00
  Closed: Wednesday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Fortress of Seven Towers (Yedikule Hisarı)
  Open: daily from 08.00 – 16.00
  Closed: no closing days
• Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 20.00
  Closed: no closing days
• Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
  Open: daily from 08.30 – 19.00
  Closed: Sunday, October 29th and the full duration of religious holidays
• Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Müzesi)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 17.00
  Closed: Monday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Harem (Harem)
  Open: daily from 09.30 – 17.00, lunch break from 12.00 – 12.30
  Closed: Tuesday, and until 12.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Imperial Porcelain Factory (Yıldız Porselen Fabrikası)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 12.00 and 13.00 – 17.00
  Closed: Saturday, Sunday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 16.30
  Closed: Wednesday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Malta Pavilion (Malta Köşkü)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 22.00
  Closed: no closing days
• Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 17.30
  Closed: during prayer time
  Note: due to restoration, till 2010 only a small part of the mosque is open
• Şale Pavilion (Şale Köşkü)
  Open: daily from 10.00 – 16.00
  Closed: Monday and Thursday
• Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
  Open: daily from 09.00 – 17.00
  Closed: Tuesday, and until 12.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Turkish & Islamic Art Museum (Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi)
  Open: daily from 09.30 – 16.30
  Closed: Monday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Tünel (Tünel)
  Open: daily from 07.00 – 21.00
  Closed: no closing days
• Yıldız Palace (Yıldız Sarayı)
  Open: daily from 09.30 – 16.30
  Closed: Tuesday, and until 13.00 on the first day of religious holidays
• Yıldız Park (Yıldız Korusu)
  Open: day and night
  Closed: no closing days

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Istanbul continuously confirms its status as one of the world’s metropolitans. First there was fierce voting to get Istanbul included in the first Global Monopoly board game.
And recently, EarthTV has installed a brand new camera to give you ‘live’ daily impressions of the bridge between Europe and Asia.

The Earth television network was founded in 1998. Its main objective is to bring the world together LIVE on television and via the web as it evolves day by day, hour by hour – in all of its diversity and beauty. With currently more than 70 cameras on 6 continents, earthTV captures the world at its daily pulse.

Recently they have put a camera on top of the Marmara Hotel in Taksim. This camera records a small movie of mostly the Bosphorus, three times per day at seemingly random intervals.

Of course there are better pictures of the Bosphorus available, but this little gadget may give you a ‘live’ impression of what the weather is like at your future destination.

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After passing the border control and being let into the country, you normally go look for your luggage and head for the exit. But hold your horses, there is still a small surprise ahead. At the Atatürk International Airport of Istanbul, you can also buy duty-free goods upon arrival. Although you can experience this opportunity in more airports around the globe these days, it was a first for me in 2001. And the surprise didn’t stop there!

Not only can you buy tax-free items upon arrival, some of the goods you purchase on Turkish soil don’t count for the normal duty-free allowance. Let me give you an overview.

Normal Duty-Free Allowance

The following goods may be imported into Turkey without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars or 200g of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers or 50g of chewing tobacco or 200g of pipe tobacco or 200g of snuff tobacco.
• Five bottles (of 1 liter each) or seven bottles ( of 700 ml each) of wine and/or spirits.
• Reasonable amounts of coffee and tea.
• Five bottles (up to 120 ml each) of perfume.
• Gifts up to a value of € 255 (or equivalent).
• Electronic articles up to a value of € 255 (or equivalent)

Extra Duty-Free Allowance

If purchased upon arrival at one of the duty-free shops in the airport, an extra 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars and 500g of pipe tobacco may be imported. I don’t know whether this rule has been invented because Turks are still among the world’s heaviest smokers, but you can abuse it if you want. And in case you forgot or had no time to purchase duty-free goods when departing, you can still catch up on your shopping here.

Prohibited Items

Drugs, soft or hard! Turkey has strict laws against the use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs. If you are convicted of any of these offences, you can expect to receive a severe fine and/or a prison sentence up to 24 years. So make sure you keep a close eye on your luggage at all times!

Furthermore, sharp implements and weapons are also prohibited, but that goes without saying. You probably won’t even make it to the airplane anyway.

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