Page 6 | To ask you about Istanbul?

IstanbulBaby · 2025-06-14T08:57:10+00:00

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

Zonder · 15/06/2025 16:43

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 16:25

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.

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What do you mean about compliance being left at the door?

Amiokay · 15/06/2025 20:27

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 15/06/2025 11:41

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?

We’ve just got home from our fab weekend there 😢 My husband was wearing shorts the day we visited the blue mosque because the rest of the day we were walking around outside and it was hot. He was provided with a very fetching black polyester skirt before going in - so yes they do ask men and women to cover up and provide everything you need if you want to go inside. I will note they do close the mosque to prepare around 40 minutes before prayer time so you do have to time it correctly. I also think it’s closed to visitors until 2:30pm for Friday prayers. Would recommend visiting the outside of the mosque on an evening as well as it’s stunning.

Zero issues buying any kind of alcohol - we enjoyed a late afternoon g&t every day and watched the world go by. I would say one thing we noticed is there weren’t masses of corner shops/supermarkets on the Asian side and the ones that were there were small. But there’s so many little cafes and eateries to enjoy.

Final thing is it was way hillier than I anticipated so wear comfy shoes (there is the tram/public transport but we walked a lot as there are just so many interesting little back streets and pedestrian areas to see)

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 15/06/2025 20:52

Thank you @Amiokay - That’s all really helpful 😊

nomas · 15/06/2025 20:53

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 16:25

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.

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Men have to wear trousers / long robe too.

Original poster

IstanbulBaby · 02/07/2025 10:40

Back from holidays with an update.
Holiday went very well. At no point did I feel unsafe. I went out with DH and DC and just with DC. Never on my own so can't comment on that.
People were really friendly and helpful, random person helped us buy an Istanbul card for example. Everyone loved the kids and petted their heads which was different to home but it was always done with affection.
In terms of sightseeing, it was v hot so we mainly took the metro places, ate ice cream, saw nothing and went home!
The thing I'd recommend for kids is the water park on Heybeliada (sp?) one of the islands in the Bosporus Strait. The ferry across is nice and you can use your Istanbul card.
Taxis v cheap, probably a fifth of the price so we got taxi to Boat Dock for the islands and to the metro station etc.

A good trip 😃

OP posts:

MrsSkylerWhite · 02/07/2025 10:41

Dangermoo · 14/06/2025 10:09

Wouldn't touch the place with a bargepole. Not a useful opinion. Sorry.

Neither would we, whilst the loon is in charge.

nomas · 02/07/2025 11:25

IstanbulBaby · 02/07/2025 10:40

Back from holidays with an update.
Holiday went very well. At no point did I feel unsafe. I went out with DH and DC and just with DC. Never on my own so can't comment on that.
People were really friendly and helpful, random person helped us buy an Istanbul card for example. Everyone loved the kids and petted their heads which was different to home but it was always done with affection.
In terms of sightseeing, it was v hot so we mainly took the metro places, ate ice cream, saw nothing and went home!
The thing I'd recommend for kids is the water park on Heybeliada (sp?) one of the islands in the Bosporus Strait. The ferry across is nice and you can use your Istanbul card.
Taxis v cheap, probably a fifth of the price so we got taxi to Boat Dock for the islands and to the metro station etc.

A good trip 😃

Sounds like a great trip, OP!

Glad you ignored all the haters.