To ask you about Istanbul?

[IstanbulBaby]

I know I am but I'm not getting responses in Holidays
We're going to Istanbul at the end of June. Two DC aged 8 and 3.
All recommendations welcome.
What clothes should we wear?

Apologies for the poll.
I suppose the q would be
Aibu to look for holiday advice in aibu
Yabu - not a suitable topic.
Yanbu - it gets the most views so why not

I love Istanbul and I have been several times. This has mostly been single parent with DD. It is both one of our favorite places and we feel safe, welcomed and respected. It is a cosmopolitan and vibrant city and I have never felt a second class citizen as a woman, Turkey actually is quite a secular country in many ways.

Of course there are certain customs which should be respectively followed if visiting mosques for BOTH men and women. But this is just like on churches, cathedrals, synagogues or any religious/spiritual spaces.

The food, atmosphere and sights are amazing. A proper turkish breakfast is amazing (we stay at the Seven Hills Palace and their sister hotel overlooking the Blue Mosque does a good one). Take some comfy shoes as it is a lovely city to wander in using the trams and boats.

One thing we have started to notice on the flight home is the number of people with bandages following cosmetic procedures and last time had the people in the seats behind us comparing notes. Also, if your hotel does not have a pool, there are some beach clubs on the Princes Islands for some down time.

Has arse handed to them - leaves thread!

Have a fab time OP - it’s on my bucket list for the time I’m child/mortgage free and can do more lone travel!

Just to add it's a great entertainment to sit outside in the evening watching the driving....

Some women seem to think that being blonde automatically elevates them to sex-goddess status, the object of every male’s desire.
Hm..okay Emily from the admin department, you are not exactly Marilyn..🙄

But that is the same when you are visiting most religious buildings of whatever faith. Many churches in Italy have rules around covering up - generally shoulders and shorts not too short - and this applies to both sexes. I think that if people are visiting places of worship as a means of entertainment then it is only polite to adhere to the dress codes of the religion whose building they are entering. Nobody is being forced to visit these buildings.

The Uffizi Museum in Florence has a dress code! For both men and women
Those who feel shamed by wearing, say trousers instead of shorts, need not visit.

Could I ask, of people who have been there, do they supply wraps for a man who is wearing (long) shorts on a hot day or would he need to wear trousers in general?

Also, what is the position around alcohol being served - can you get a beer with your lunch easily? What are rules in shops around this?

Agree let’s please spend our holiday money somewhere better

What are you talking about - what disguised views? Oh I think I can guess. Bore off love. I've apologised to the OP for derailment and she graciously accepted my apology. I already stated there are parts of the deep South of America I wouldn't venture into either. Not everything is about racism but it's interesting that's the first thought people jumped to. 🤔

Why they changed it I can't say 🤷🏻‍♀️
People just liked it better that way

If there was a rash on MN today......

I thought it was lovely - amazing culture, food and friendly people. I did wear a hijab (just a scarf wrapped round my face and neck) about half the time and found this actually really improved our experience (less people hassling us as tourists / comments about that being respectful). But honestly, we loved it there and found it very welcoming and inclusive xx

You have to cover up to visit a lot of Christian religious buildings - try queuing for the Basilica San Marco in Venice wearing shorts and they'll tell you to go away. Similarly ANY orthodox building (church or monastery) in Greece. If you want to get in - you'll have to cover up.

Istanbul is a beautiful city. The public transport is very good. Make sure to travel across the Bosphorus by ferry.
July will be hot, so loose summer clothes, I like to cover shoulders and knees but you don't have to walking around the city, only if you enter the mosque.

I know and it's all outdated. I had to cover up in Goza, Malta. I wouldn't do it again, now.

For the same reason I imagine nudists are fine covering up in places that don’t allow them to be naked and I am fine keeping my top on on non topless beaches. Some societies have more conservative dress codes (for women and men) so I happy to adopt a “when in Rome” approach. I prefer not standing out.

As for covering up in religious buildings - their buildings, their rules.

Honestly you're coming over as really disrespectful now. Maybe stick to visiting USA where you don't have to cover up and can just ignore their terrible record on women and human rights in general. I didn't think so before but now I do think racism has something to do with this the more you post.

There aren’t. Not compared to number of Turks in Istanbul and not compared to non-Turks in Paris.

But the point is France is not a muslim country. So as an example it’s moronic.

This.

That’s ruling out most of the world - you do get that ?

Most people have said the covering up is for mosques. And people are happy to comply for the same reason I was happy to comply with the dress code when visiting St Peter’s basilica in Vatican city.

Actually places of worship have rules for men and their attire too. Do you bother researching before commenting?

So the men have to cover up too. That's where their compliance gets left at the mosques doors. Shame same can't be said about the women.

I absolutely recommend the Rahmi M Koc industrial museum. I went with my husband who was in heaven, but there were multiple school trips there with kids of all ages. Lots of fun things to see without excessive bits to read.

Women dress as they wish in Istanbul and mosques have dress codes that apply to both sexes.

Apparently that’s an issue.