10 Things NOT to do in Istanbul

[@londonemski]

İstanbul is wonderful. I have been so many times including three times in 2023. The historical city is amazing but so is the modern city. People are great, food is amazing (and yes, do try the kokoreç and fried mussels) and the physical beauty of the city is stunning. The metro is actually pretty good and you should get an Istanbulkart - an integrated transport ticket you can use on the metro, bus, ferry and funiculars and the super modern Marmaray line which goes under the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia. Top it up easily with cash or your bank card at any station. If it's a nice day, just get your walking shoes on and head out. Don't be afraid to go beyond the main tourist destinations too. If you like big cities, you will love it here. I like nothing more than walking around, hopping on and off public transport, lots of stops for tea, lentil soup, lahmacun, su boreği especially if freshly made - and listening to people talking and seeing if I can understand what they're saying. Always try your Turkish: you may not understand when people reply to you in Turkish but it's smiles all round because you've had a go! Turklishle's beginners course is fantastic, by the way - I recommend. İyi yolculuklar!

[@Turkishle]

Thanks a lot for sharing!! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@katjawege6886]

Don't go to Istanbul without taking treats for the stray cats and dogs with you!!! Sitting somewhere, maybe in a nice cafe or park, feeding a stray and receiving its love and affection is such a good experiece you should not miss. ❤ I'll be back to Istanbul in July and I just can't wait!!! It's my happy place, the most beautiful city in the world. Selam from Germany ❤🐈🐈

[@miroslavasurlan7369]

hahahh I love the "tsk" 🤣🤣🤣 Feels like home 😂😂😂In Serbia, we use the same sound and facial expression which no foreigner actually understands😂😂😂

[@Turkishle]

Oh ahah interesting!

[@liviumihaipopovici5470]

@@Turkishle In Romanya its the same tsk expression!Truly an old one that nowadays the young people tend to forget using it!

[@Its_okay_to_be_human2]

Istanbul looks interesting,cant wait to go there

[@the-red-ghost]

I went in 2021 and it was gorgeous

[@Turkishle]

You should come!!

[@WhiteTulip-zd3nr]

Istanbul is amazing, I felt in love with this city I came three times and looking forward to come again and again

[@Turkishle]

You really should!!

[@tessared2394]

You are wonderful explaining the things. I love Türkiye. I want to know Istambul but also the interior of the country. Beksitas I like it. I would love to hear the Adhan all the mosques at the same time. Of course enter in all where I can and pray. Oh Allah bless you🤲 Teşekkür ederim! 😊😊

[@bellalorenzi9699]

Can,I can’t stop smiling during your whole video. I am coming to Istanbul in a week so your video is extraordinarily useful for me.❤❤❤ You guys Turkishle and Turkish people are amazing 🤩.

[@WaiWaiL_Y]

Great video. I’ve been made a fool by an ice cream vendor too, but the Turkish ice cream was delicious.

[@Turkishle]

For sure!!

[@solangemundaca1174]

Very useful, can't wait for my trip to Türkiye in March. Çok teşekkürler!!

[@Turkishle]

You are very welcome!! Glad it was helpful!

[@mkphilly]

LOVED my timd in Istanbul... especially taking all the modes of transportation and all the street eateries

[@Turkishle]

Glad it was fun!!

[@katherinewardauthor7047]

Ha ha. The asking for directions thing - so true!!

[@julierutter9390]

I absolutely ❤❤❤ your videos. They are funny and informative.

[@Turkishle]

Glad you think so!

[@Chikorvanessa]

I find this really helpful as I will be visiting Turkey soon ❤

[@DataScienceGuy]

Everyone should try balık dürüm in Istanbul!

[@MahaMondo]

The guy in Karakoy has the best 👍

[@Moemuntz]

Balık dürüm > balık ekmek

[@DataScienceGuy]

@@MahaMondo True! Going to return to Istanbul to eat it again)

[@DataScienceGuy]

@@Moemuntz indeed

[@Turkishle]

For sure!

[@LOLMAN836]

Yok artık! Sağol kardaş. Türkçe bir ay ögreniyorum. Gelecek ay İstanbul'a uçacağım.

[@pr0toncat]

Iyi eğlenceler :)

[@Turkishle]

Süper! İyi uçuşlar!

[@jyotsanasingh4514]

My 6 year old does "tsk" whenever he want to say no for something, which I am intrigued because in India we don't do such thing and my son has never seen turkish dramas. I'm sure he is bearing turkish soul from past😂

[@ukrainewarroom]

Merhaba! Cant wait to visit Istanbul again

[@the-red-ghost]

Me too

[@Turkishle]

Nice!! Have fun there!

[@Anonymouse166]

If your time is limited in Istanbul and want to see few highlights here’s what I think Visit the Sultan Ahmet/Aya Sophia, they area in front of each other, at least from the outside and streets around them Eminönü open markets. Lots and lots of interesting things shops and people From Eminönü, take a ferry to Kadikoy, on Asian side, and explore or take a one hour tour by ferry around costal sides of the Bosphorus: very cheap too Galata port is the new upgraded district. Beautiful walk along the Bosphorus and very nice restaurants, shops and at night and few streets behind there is a great nightlife scene full of cafe/bars Still have time , visit Galata tower and walk to istiklal street from there until you reach Taksim square.

[@hicbirfikrimyok1966]

Excellent and worth saving!

[@Turkishle]

Glad you liked it!

[@MahaMondo]

And have Google Maps on while in a taxi so Abi driver doesn’t take the scenic route 😅

[@yngknj]

And be careful not to pay twice: in cash and through the app. That happened to me. The Uber driver said he cancelled the trip on the app and would charge me to pay by cash. But it didn’t happened. I payed in cash and I had a debit in my card :/

[@muratsahin951]

If possible, dont take taxi

[@Turkishle]

Exactlyy!

[@lionelpinkhard6509]

Istanbul taxis are just so crazy expensive that using them is a last resort. Compared to say, Ankara, taking a taxi in Istanbul is like 30x as expensive.

[@ΕΛενη-ζξ]

I love Istanbul! I have been there many times and I can't wait to go back. But when someone asked me about something annoying and negative in Istanbul, the first thing that comes to mind is the ice cream sellers!!! 🙃 Greetings from Bulgaria, komşu! 👋

[@Turkishle]

Thanks for sharing!! You are right!

[@jimmyj1969]

"Tsk" thing is the same here in Greece (sometimes we call it "tsou!") - and it is considered rather rude! It's the first time I find any refference to it!

[@Turkishle]

Oh interesting!!

[@sharonwilkes6648]

Awww, I actually like Apple Tea! Except how it's always served boiling hot. But of course it's only served to unwary tourists who get lured into carpet shops lol (speaking from experience). I remember on our visit to Turkey, we slowly got to know our way around Istanbul a little better each time. We felt so accomplished when we managed to get our clothes to a Chamashurhane (badly spelt Turkish for Laundromat) - whilst with a tour group - because we had already used it on our previous visit. I still have a magnet on my fridge from Daisy Laundry in Kadikoy :D As a mother to a young baby at the time, I deeply appreciated good laundromats lol.

[@OwenGilmoreOG]

Very funny now that I have been to Istanbul a couple of times I can relate 😄 thanks 🙏

[@Turkishle]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@economianomada-rp3cw]

I had not seen this man in videos anymore… glad he is ok

[@runamucker]

He's not joking about not asking locals for directions. The only way to do it without a navigation app is to ask three different people separately. If they give the same answer and give it quickly, it's still not a sure thing that they're right. They really do believe that morally they must always give a stranger some directions, even if they have no idea where the place is.

[@Turkishle]

Exactlyyy

[@pixelmango2920]

Exactly, not only in Istanbul but everywhere. I live in İzmir and years ago I had an annoying experience about our people's "hospitality". I had a scholarship exam and we were outside parts of the İzmir where I don't know well as a result I didn't know where the building was too. So I came to the district and asked for directions. We simply followed the directions that the person we asked gave us and ended up wayy far away from the building. (Somewhere at the top of a hill) It was so frustrating. Fortunately I wasn't late for the exam but never asked for directions again. 🥲

[@meghanschwanke1133]

Your command of English is wonderful! So excited to go to Turkiye. Where can we learn paper marbling (ebru)?

[@saraivapaloma]

Hagia Sophia is "magniCIFENT" 😂😂😂 loved it

[@Maria.R]

Thank you for valuable advices 👌🙋

[@Turkishle]

You are very welcome!

[@berkesinanyetkin5722]

When I was in 10th grade I was out and about around Maçka with some acquaintances from my school, we eventually decided to split up and go home as we got bored. Most of them took the ferry to Bostancı whilst I improvised by deciding to take the metro back home, unbeknownst to me Beşiktaş had a match that day and Google maps led me towards the stadium as I wanted to take the shortest path possible to the Taksim station. I am not a football fan, never been to a match before and IT WAS SO FRIGHTENING! As I got closer to the coast random drunk NPCs started to spawn around me and the atmosphere around felt like as if we were yeniçeris going into battle. I'm currently studying to take the YKS exams and together with a couple of friends we made a pact to go to one of those süper lig football games as all of our first times being in such a cursed place together when high school is over.

[@nasrinvahidi5515]

❤❤❤ Man what’re you talking about! I love to have an ice cream like that. That’s the whole point. Otherwise you can go to a grocery store and get a pint, go home and pig out.

[@bozenaporebska8435]

Very interesting, thank you ❣️

[@Turkishle]

You’re welcome 😊

[@Tekukuno]

I have been in İstanbul for 5 years and I can't stop thinking the "tsk" to be rude. I can't help it, it always comes across to me as dismissive, like the person can't be bothered enough to utter an entire word like "yok." I absolutely hate it. But it's true, the steamed burgers, called ıslak burgers, are fantastic. Also, if you are in İstanbul for a little bit, check out to see if there's an opera or concert at the Ataturk Cultural Centre in Taksim Square. It's new, it's beautiful, the operas and orchestral concert offerings are superb, tickets are easy to get online even for some same-day performances, and because it's government-sponsored, tickets are ridiculously cheap, even for the best seats in the house, ranging from 150 - 300 ₺ usually (which is USD $5 to $10). Just tonight we saw the İstanbul Symphony Orchestra play selections from Dvořák and Mendelssohn, and last night we saw a wonderful performance of La Bohème. Tickets for each were 250 ₺ (about USD $8.25) and that's for tickets on the floor in about the tenth row centre. You can't beat it.

[@Turkishle]

Thanks for sharingg!

[@DoctorFr0st]

the metrobüs is my favorite moshpit 😂😂

[@Turkishle]

Aahah nice!

[@00billharris]

I want to add a Not to do, please: If you're walking on the Quai (Cay) down on the Bosphorus and see Tuvana Turkay, simply say "Hello". Her English is fluent and she'll respond back accordingly. However, do not, as Borat did, propose marriage. If so she'll karate kick you over into the Bosporus and you'll drown. Thats because her pet Bernese , Yogi, who would have otherwise instinctively jumped in to save you, has now grown to full, 120 lb size and lives with a friend on a nearby farm...

[@alishbaalam875]

I want to apply for TÖMER in istanbul university, because I'll be coming to live in turkey to study there, but i can't find the right link to apply for TÖMER in istanbul university, can someone help me.

[@usunkocaoglusegrek]

In Turkish culture it is rude to say "no" when someone asked for help. so really dont ask for direction. because if he/she doesn't know, will ask other people. suddenly you will find 2-3 people arguing how to send you to your location in the best way.

[@safiullahvakili]

Hello sir Can you tell me if you have Turkish learning classes?

[@Arthur5260]

I would love to see Istanbul! Great video.

[@anitagerke81]

Hi Can. First of all, I love your channel, and learning Turkish with you. I would like to mention a slight contradiction to something in one of your videos--I was offered elma çay numerous times, and my friends there never looked at me strangely when I asked for it specifically. Any thoughts?

[@usunkocaoglusegrek]

apple tea is a fairly new thing. so younger generation likes it(i mean literally gen z and younger). but it is unknown by even 25 year old Turkish. Cafes sell it like a traditional thing but it is not.

[@anitagerke81]

@@usunkocaoglusegrek Wow, that really makes me feel old, I'm only fifty! When I go to a friend's shop, he always sends for tea from the Cafe right in front of the Gülhane Istasyonu. Its so delicious. But if that makes me old, then so be it. Lol

[@Inkubaszi]

You before said there is always a rush time, so how to avoid it?

[@shahidanusrat6086]

May Allah SWT bless Turkey and its beautiful people from Pakistan 🙂🇵🇰🇹🇷🤩😍. Best regards from Pakistan 🙂🇵🇰🇹🇷🤩😍.

[@Turkishle]

Thanks a lot!

[@emrecanozturk-jj1zg]

Im eating allah swt as a dessert

[@willwalker2672]

Çok teşekkür ederim 👍

[@Turkishle]

Rica ederiz!

[@PositiveInspiringShorts]

I would like to sign up for the A1 + A2 + B1 Turkish Master Courses Bundle Package. But it seems expensive. Is it possible to get a some discount?

[@Turkishle]

Yes sure! Just e-mail us here and we will give you a discount: [e-mail]

[@serhatdemir3293]

"City on seven hills" is not accurate definition actually. It may be valid for old Istanbul. Today, perhaps it lays on 700 hills.

[@jannellmeagher638]

I am trying so hard to learn the turkish language. English and Spanish are so easy! I am struggling and keep giving up. The frustration is too much. I can learn the words, but my pronunciation is way off I am told. My mother speaks Turkish and she often tells me that she cannot understand me and asks if I am speaking Arabic. Help!

[@NigarIsHere]

yeah... Unless you are one of those people who are language geniuses, for normal people Turkish is unfortunately a "use and learn" kinda language. : / My friend literally learned it in 1,5 years by only speaking with locals. Her vocab is still really small but at this point she checks the word she needs if it is a new word she never used and she can instinctively adapt that word to any sentence she needs by feel.

[@usunkocaoglusegrek]

since Turkish words are mostly short(roots) and come with vowel harmony, native speakers can understand any accent. and Turkish is a language that makes any accent sound cute. Actually, bad pronunciation gonna make you a lot of friends in Turkey. Turks really enjoy hearing their language from other people. Especially African accents and European accents sound really cute.

[@viwinbaskaran9456]

Can you suggest to buy a property at Istanbul which could be a cheaper and best place.

[@zareegoraya1528]

It’s not cheap anymore, it was in COVID n pre COVID. I researched for it in 21-22, but when I went March 23 prices had increased way above my expectations. Due to earthquake and war Ukraine.. all rich Russian n Ukrainians descended on Istanbul n elsewhere in Turkey.. plus refugees.. if you have any research let me know .. 😊

[@barborajezkova8393]

these videos would be great in turkish :))

[@Turkishle]

Noted!

[@anug8643]

😂😀When you ask a waiter for "apple tea" we will probably get a "tsk".😁 By the way...we in India too say "tsk"....it also is a non verbal "no" for us...for example if someone asks us if we are hungry when we are not, we many times just "tsk" an answer.

[@Turkishle]

Hahahah yeah, it is similar!!

[@Moemuntz]

Where did the apple tea thing started? Germans? I’ve never heard of it

[@Turkishle]

We also don't know haha!

[@babyelephant4403]

And I live near the galata kulesi

[@mickkidston7344]

Another don't, don't rely on Uber, the driver will cancel if he gets a better fair on the street, even if he just drove past you. A big DO if you are in Sultanhamet is, if you want to eat out and are not concerned about having alcohol with your meal is to go to the Lokanta district, you'll save a fortune and get good local food

[@Turkishle]

Thanks for sharing!

[@zareegoraya1528]

I did that most days in Basiktas… very wholesome food.

[@babyelephant4403]

I live in Istanbul

[@Cute.puppets]

My turk boyfriend watched first then me and said I can watch too. He said first one doesn’t apply to me cause I will be with him ❤

[@rashidapathan2662]

Can Merhaba

[@ElizabethAnn77]

Our hotel in Istanbul was at the bottom of a hill. Thankfully there was a bench at the top of the hill. I was dying by the time I got to the top lol and the ladies walking up the hill in high heels… their poor leg muscles. I don’t know how the walked in the, uphill for half a mile!

[@Turkishle]

Aaww sorry to hear that!

[@K1ngq4t]

where is the like button ?

[@seyhankutas9151]

❤

[@Kebab_Muncher714]

Oh and also don’t harm the stray cats and dogs that are all over the place, they are meant to be there. Even though it may feel strange to see a dog sleeping inside a cafe, its a normal thing

[@Kebab_Muncher714]

This goes for everywhere else in Türkiye

[@Марта-й7е]

Истанбул е прекрасен град, но вече е голямо изпитание да се посещава.Тълпи и тълпи от хора, безумни цени за ресторанти, дори за улична храна, както и стоки, които не са оправдани с качество. Поради трудния начин на живот за местните жители, предизвикан от дългогодишна правителствена политика, нараства стремеж икономиката да се компенсира от туристите. Нараства и измамата при получаването на услугите на всякакво ниво. Обичам този град, който съм посещавала много пъти, но скоро няма да го посетя отново. Благодаря за видеото!❤❤

[@emrecanozturk-jj1zg]

Çok haklısın. Maalesef Türk insanı böyle. Dünyanın en güzel ülkesi olabilecek kapasiteye sahipken ülke tam bir cehenneme dönmüş durumda. Düzelecek gibi görünmüyor, her geçen gün daha da kötüye gidiyor.

[@avitalsheva]

Tsk sound we use even in Europe. I mean a born europeans with roots in europe.

[@Turkishle]

Oh nice!!

[@modo2213]

Where? I've never heard that in Europe.

[@avitalsheva]

@@modo2213 Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary sometimes Austria

[@Alpereniiki]

If you are a tourist and you are going to come to Turkey, my advice to you is not to go to Istanbul, go to Anatolia instead of Istanbul, Antalya, Konya, Ankara, these cities are much better than Istanbul. Because the local people are all clean and good-hearted people, unlike Istanbul, because there are all kinds of people in Istanbul.

[@the-red-ghost]

I was living in ankara and it was so beautiful but I would still recommend Istanbul for tourists

[@Turkishle]

That is also a good idea!

[@sasha1112]

But Istanbul has its own charm. It’s like any big cities, you gotta be vigilant.

[@Alpereniiki]

@@sasha1112 bro i mean its not safe, im Living in Turkey and everywhere is better than Istanbul for me

[@c4llmel3yla81]

I don’t really think Konya or Ankara is better than Istanbul. Maybe Izmir. I am Turkish and I live in Istanbul. I have been to Konya and Ankara. Plus a lot of cities of turkey. I suggest Istanbul. It actually depends on where you go. If you go to Taksim, you will see a lot of homeless people, scammers and not pretty clean places. But if you go to Etiler, Bebek you will find nice places.

[@isaiasramosgarcia9771]

7 colinas como Roma. Los heladeros es irritante

[@sanchoodell6789]

If you ask for an "Apple Tea" in Istanbul chances are you'll get arrested!

[@ZehraJardine]

😂😂😂

[@fietsbike99]

The most unfriendly city I have ever been to. The local won't even answer your question if you ask for direction. I have never seen that before.

[@Assia131]

And the cashier at my local market just threw money and didn't even care if it was rude or not, he didn't give me the rest of the cents

[@moon_fake]

(Don't) leave Istanbul without getting your phone number

[@Turkishle]

Goood idea!!

[@anasasasa12]

Κωνσταντινούπολη την λένε !!!

[@modo2213]

Thankfully Google has a translate to English button. The translation it provides is: "It's called Istanbul". But that's obviously not exactly what you wrote 😂 You've been corrected by machine translation, because you were wrong.

[@aboarabe7056]

How can a city that receives 15 million foreign tourists where most of its people do not speak English and a tourist coming for a few days is required to learn the Turkish language? !

[@stepk02]

Perhaps you misunderstood. Many locals speak decent English. It is just a polite thing to use few Turkish words. Turks adore and appreciate it if you speak couple words or sentences in their native language.

[@Watschelinka]

​​​​@@stepk02Yes, it's so nice to be understood in the country you're visiting. And a few words in the local language can open so many doors, especially in Istanbul. It's really a magical place ❤

[@levantenee]

Nice stolen Greek city Konstantinopolis🇬🇷🇬🇷Greeting from Armenia 🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲

[@gordonpi8674]

Apple tea !??🫣TSK, TSK,😂😢😊

[@Turkishle]

HAHAH!