19 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Istanbul

These 19 tips to know before visiting Istanbul are what I wish I knew before my trip to Istanbul, Turkey.
Hopefully these travel tips will help you from making some of my mistakes when traveling through Istanbul!
Airalo E-sim -- airalo.pxf.io/...
Where I get my travel gear -- bit.ly/Nomatic...
How I NEVER lose my bags -- amzn.to/42aoutq
My wallet (protects me from scammers) -- amzn.to/45AlwBp
The backpack I started with (Sarah's main bag) -- amzn.to/3OJ600c
How I stay organized -- amzn.to/3OHQLEA
My favorite universal adapter -- amzn.to/3N0YzAg
My quick dry travel town -- amzn.to/3IFvmIf
How I do my laundry (it has to happen) -- amzn.to/3MF95LT
DISCLAIMER: I only express my opinion based on my experience. Your experience may be different. These videos are for educational and inspirational purposes only. Links above may include affiliate commission or referrals. I'm part of an affiliate network and I receive compensation from partnering websites. This video is accurate as of the posting date but may not be accurate in the future.

[@camdendavid]

If you want a weekly travel tip and an update from where I am, feel free to follow my newsletter: bit.ly/TheTuesdayTravelTip

[@WelkinblueTours]

Will do. I just made a reservation for the Bosporus and I just want to enjoy my time in a new environment with several activities

[@KutayYavuz]

I love the fact that you accidentally called Fatih "the Faith district" because it is really one of the most religious districts in istanbul

[@camdendavid]

😂

[@StuffOffYouStuff]

Good tips thanks. But my god the music was driving me a bit mad 😂

[@camdendavid]

So sorry about that! The audio levels seemed to change after I uploaded... probably something I did wrong haha. Thanks for watching :)

[@ranaaltntas7647]

I’m Turkish, from Istanbul born and raised and NEVER EVER got shitted on by a bird. I’m sorry to say that you are extremely unlucky my guy 😸

[@camdendavid]

Hahaha glad to hear it was just me

[@nancy8219]

I don't think it's bad luck I think the animals know more than we do and I'll leave it at that

[@BASBUGAtr]

@nancy8219 Eski Türk filmlerinde üzerine kuş pisleyen kişi gidip loto oynardı :) kuş pislemesinin iyişans olduğunu inancı Türk toplumunda da var

[@patrycjaw8323]

Looool

[@ksc743]

May the Bluebird of Happiness poop on your head😅

[@northernbohemianrealist]

Kadikoy! YES! With the ferries right there, THAT'S the place to stay. I took the subway a few stops to Maltepe and was blown away. Great park!

[@camdendavid]

Couldn't agree more! Thanks for watching :)

[@CurrentlyOffliner]

Im local and can say this is pretty on point and good analysis especially in such a short time. I can also add all the places he listed relatively expensive Turkey can be much cheaper. If you are a budget tourist instead of Cihangir , Moda you can go to neighbouring areas which is way cheaper , you can even stay in same discrict but not the top spots like Moda . Fatih as well touristic spots expensive but close by areas can be way cheaper. Quality might go down little but if you look at it in price/performance perspective you gain lot.

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for this insight!

[@Managolkar9099]

Can you tell me the names of cheaper places but in Europe part?

[@cemdursun]

I was born and raised in Kadiköy and when I was in college in the European side about 20 years ago, my friends that lived in the European side wouldn’t know much about Kadiköy, they would belittle it. It’s a nice feeling now that it is earning its deserved place

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear it! Do you have any recommendations for the next time I'm in Kadiköy?

[@cemdursun]

@@camdendavid Wish I did but I haven’t been in Turkey in over 9 years so you probably have a better idea than me at the moment:)

[@glennagabin4110]

Such a great advice, thanks indeed, i am from the Philippines, base in Dubai UAE. I am travelling in Turkey next month. You made me super excited to travel in turkey more.

[@camdendavid]

So glad to hear that! Hope you have a great time!

[@Kat-V]

Great video! I've watched a lot of what's on youtube about istanbul and your videos have the most genuine and unique tips

[@camdendavid]

Thanks so much for this :) Really appreciate the support and glad you enjoyed!

[@achannel5666]

Before i start my comment i need to say, please chill the music. I can barely hear you. I couldn't focus to video cause of music so i will try to comment as i understand. As a someone lives in Istanbul, yes i'm thinking same about the Galataport it's just a place which is a money trap for tourists. About the cats and dogs and of course about their mess, i think there is not such a big deal about that. I mean i don't remember when i was see a dog poo in a busy road. About Taksim Square and why that's so crowded, it's because of the Istıklal Street and it's the busiest road in Turkey. You said there is nothing in there, but you probably didn't look the shops. There is a lot of things, like cinema, hotels, beatiful small places and more of them. And probably you aren't in Istanbul in these days, but i will say, if you loved Moda and Kadıköy, you must look the Uskudar, Beykoz and Sarıyer too, they are also beautiful with the view of Bosphour and of course with the bridges. Also these places aren't crowded as like the Galata, Karaköy or Eminönü. And if i come to the end of my comment, it's a great video, there are many useful tips. Thank you for video! Have a great day.

[@achannel5666]

Oh and i just remembered, about the mosques, i don't know about the big ones but for the small ones like Ortaköy Mosque i don't think you need a extra sock. Small ones are usually clean so you can just go with your normal sock.

[@camdendavid]

I really appreciate the kind words and support :) Sorry about the music! Not sure why that it's coming through so loud on certain devices. I'll double check that next time so thanks for the heads up. Thanks for your tips as well! Can't wait to get back and explore more. You live in a wonderful city :)

[@joannesmith6779]

Not the “Faith” area, that would be “Fatih”

[@camdendavid]

I was wondering if anyone was going to catch that 😂 Bravo to you and sorry for the error!

[@aliatack19]

The name comes from Fatih Sultan Mehmed who conquered Istanbul. It means Conqueror and the old Constantinople located in that area.

[@LindaMimoza]

@@camdendavid Fatih is a large administrative district, and the name is usually used to refer to the extremely conservative area where women wear black niqabs. The area where the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar are located is called Sultanahmet. I lived there for over 4 years, and it is the best area for tourists to stay in.

[@naimjacobs2372]

The mosques gets cleaned everyday and the carpets gets cleaned as often as possible dude

[@camdendavid]

This may be true. But Hagia Sophia still gets 25k-30k visitors every day. That's a lot of feet haha

[@naimjacobs2372]

@Camden David it is true, irrespective the number of visitors and that goes for every masjid everywhere and anywhere🤙

[@rarajiboo]

@@camdendavidand muslims wash their feet about five times a day! So yeah, DO put your socks on!

[@unskeptable]

​@@naimjacobs2372I don't think they do because it is very filthy and the smell is horrible, to the point that you want to leave in like 2 minutes.

[@haashaas2508]

​@unskeptable I have NEVER been to a Filthy smelly Mosque. I've been to "Turkiye" many times. People keep Mosques clean cause it is a place of Worship.

[@senoresmochileros]

Hey Camden, my Mexican girlfriend and I just started a travel channel in Spanish and this video appeared to me because we're in Istanbul. I personally know how good a "good comment" can feel on here haha so I just wanted to drop one saying i LOVED your video. Amazing tips, straight to the point, honest opinions, great thumbnail, I was super impressed. Well done!!

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated! Always great seeing positive comments :) Wishing you and your girlfriend all the best in your travels and youtube journey. Don't hesitate to reach out if there's ever anything I can do to help!

[@jacksonmcnuggets7488]

Had to watch this 3 times cause of the loud background music 😂😂😂 you’re welcome 😂

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@sharloutkhozam2938]

Totally agree about the music, I just said same thing.

[@SB-uu5pj]

Yes super annoying

[@neoprophet666]

omg that clapping in the background makes me go insane - way to loud

[@camdendavid]

My bad on that! Won't happen again :)

[@neoprophet666]

@@camdendavid take care!

[@camdendavid]

@@neoprophet666 you too!

[@dhanilennevald3113]

agreed

[@jodinespindler733]

Omg now that's all I hear haha

[@jennifermclean5528]

Super informative and very helpful highlights. Well done, Camden! One small thing: How about suggesting that visitors learn a few words and phrases in Turkish before visiting? It's just basic good manners and showing respect. Plus it makes any interaction more pleasant. Who agrees with me that a flight or train ride is enough time to practice hello, please, thank you, in any language? Teşekkür ederim !

[@camdendavid]

Love the suggestion! Couldn’t agree more and I appreciate the support :)

[@yourtypicalbillsfan3466]

Just was at galata port, food was great and relatively priced.

[@camdendavid]

Were you paid to say this?... Just messing with you haha. Glad you managed to have a positive experience down there!

[@yourtypicalbillsfan3466]

@@camdendavid 😀 those places can be great and bad, hopefully others can have a good experience.

[@david1george]

Hey, great video. I did a similar video a couple months ago and never heard of Airalo, so I learned something new today. I spent $60 on a Turkish Telecom tourist card for 10 days, when all I needed was Airalo for $11. 3 GB of data is more than enough for Googlemaps, Moovit, hotmail and a few address lookups. I went through a gig and a half and used the hotel's wifi for uploading. I'll probably use it on my next trip to Rome.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear it was helpful! I appreciate the support and the time you took to comment :) Hope you have a great trip to Rome!

[@ismaelvelazquez7776]

Nothing was helpful.

[@camdendavid]

Sorry to hear that @@ismaelvelazquez7776

[@camdendavid]

Turkish tea > Turkish coffee... Can we agree on this?

[@jeetudhansinghani4239]

FaTih area *

[@bulent2435]

Nope.

[@camdendavid]

Please explain haha@@bulent2435

[@user-vs6qi]

@@camdendavidpeople can have different preferences

[@camdendavid]

@@user-vs6qi 100% hahah. I'm firmly in the tea > coffee group :)

[@JamesKerwin]

I lived in Moda for 6 months. Loved it - expensive rent now though. Been in Besiktas as well (reccomended) and now live further out in Bakirkoy - also has a charm (although less bars and nightlife etc).

[@camdendavid]

Thanks! I'll have to check out Bakirkoy and Besiktas during my next visit

[@ajkula411]

Man i am in Istanbul right now! You are all right!!!!! Great tips man!!!!!! Thank you!!!!

[@camdendavid]

Glad they were helpful! I appreciate the support and hope you’re having an awesome time in Istanbul!!

[@ellissastewart7141]

Thanks so much David! This is so helpful. I'm going as a solo female in January. I will remember the spare pair of socks! Love your practical tips ☺️

[@camdendavid]

Hope you have a great time! Let me know if any questions come up before your trip :)

[@wanshah1981]

This is awesome. Thank you for the sharing and this helps a lot. Will be visiting Istanbul next coming Nov. I can't wait ☺

[@camdendavid]

Glad it was helpful. Hope you have a great trip!

[@IamYyounger]

How is the weather in November? I am thinking about going in earlier October or November.

[@mimora786]

AirAlo was a lifesaver!

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear it!

[@Geronimo2u]

I love turkey, and it’s good to know someone from there or hire a tour guide for a day or two..

[@camdendavid]

100%

[@HakimBourchachene]

Super super helpful video, thanks David !

[@camdendavid]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jaydahteaunna]

Camden, great video as always.

[@going2sleep]

I LOVED the vibe of Kadikoy / Moda. What a place and sight to see!

[@camdendavid]

Such a cool place!

[@letsgoslovenia681]

Thank you, great tips, just what we were looking for!

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for watching!

[@halimabegum8409]

Such a helpful video! Thanks so much

[@camdendavid]

You got it!

[@TheFiown]

Difficult to concentrate on the content because of the annoying music ! Sorry

[@arshed6111]

Your tips were very helpful man. Thanks a lot cuz I’m going there in September.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear that! Really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Hope you have an awesome time! Let me know if you find some other places you'd like to me to cover when I make it back

[@arshed6111]

@@camdendavid for sure I will. Thanks 🙏

[@InspiredByPri]

Very Insightful, Thank you

[@camdendavid]

Glad it was helpful! Looks like I need to reach out to you the next I'm in SA - keep up the awesome work :)

[@BurakCetinkaya-zp8sw]

As a Turkish guy my top 1 recomendation is never use Taxis. Because they're gonna want overprice from you (ok maybe not all of them but still a huge amount of them)

[@camdendavid]

Appreciate you sharing. I talked a bit about the taxis in my part 2 video. Recently left Istanbul and had some new notes on that topic

[@bisiklet11]

Tip #20: bring a plastic bag to carry your shoes inside when entering mosques. That way, you can be sure that your shoes are safe.

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for this!

[@26d8]

Thank you, it was helpful 👌🏻

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear it!

[@rizkhan8939]

Thank you so much for making it to the point. 👍

[@camdendavid]

That's the goal

[@JeevesTCW]

Great recommendation for the virtual sim wish I'd known before. Agree with almost everything on this great video but I cant agree on Kadikoy; just as expensive as everywhere else and no focal points of interest. In contrast I have enjoyed Uskudar on the Asian side for its Bosporus vibe and Mosques.

[@camdendavid]

Glad to hear the E-sim is useful for you! And I appreciate you providing the different perspective. I need to get back and spend more time in Uskudar (I only made it up there once). Thanks for the tip and for watching!

[@aandino1239]

I’ve been here one month and He nailed everything on head with exception most mosques are free but Hagia Sophia museum entry ticket as of Mid-January 2024 is $35.00 USD. And it’s true almost everywhere you stay it’s extremely loud and most Airbnb don’t have fan or a/c so you’ll have to keep windows open… no sleep 😵‍💫

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support and you taking the time to share your experience! Hope you get some rest hahah

[@BS-qu5wy]

I'm not a light sleeper but your video background music is actually disturbing.

[@camdendavid]

Whoops! Sorry about that :)

[@grantmt]

Great travel video thank you

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for watching

[@mimora786]

Istanbulkart has a top up limit of 500 TL, after which you can buy another one.

[@camdendavid]

This explains so much… wish I would have known! Thanks for the tip :)

[@chrissmith3894]

Wow thanks for the info, I've been cursing those machines on a regular basis

[@Alex.gameing]

Good that other people talks abt turkiye 😊

[@michaelz6870]

mhmmm - cukurcuma! you had me at all the street art!

[@burooj8085]

thankyou sm for this ❤

[@camdendavid]

You got it! Thanks for watching :)

[@lherfel]

thanks, great interview

[@camdendavid]

Appreciate the support

[@scotfree21]

I’m so looking forward to my trip to Iscambul and then coming home with a nervous twitch from looking out for pickpockets,Shops & restaurants trying to overcharge,Taxis doubling the fare,being befriended by a friendly stranger trying to get me in a bar where I’ll get scammed for hundreds of euros and on and on and on.

[@camdendavid]

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience but I'd encourage you to visit again -- I didn't see any of this

[@YogaladyToronto]

Did those bad things actually happen to you? Or, were you just worried that they might happen. I’m planning on going there in later September. 2024.

[@central_scrutinizr]

@@YogaladyTorontohey how was it? Hopefully you had a great time. I’m about to go next week!

[@Ali-k2e1g]

Fun Fact: In Turkey if a bird poops on you we call it as "better" luck 😂

[@camdendavid]

Lucky me :)

[@yazminclarke1474]

Same here in the UK! Even though it doesn't feel like it when it happens 😭

[@mariagracielahempel190]

Keep traveling and looking at the positive aspects of each culture. To be global a global citizen is to respect and appreciate every culture, bearing in mind that ALL countries have their good, bad ,and ugly # keep traveling

[@camdendavid]

Well said

[@darrademigod]

subway version thing, this cart 🤣🤣🤣🤣 bro it's called a tram

[@camdendavid]

Hahahah I totally spaced on this when filming 😂

[@waqarsyed6641]

ABSOLUTELY 💯 ❤ISTANBUL TURKEY 🇹🇷

[@camdendavid]

Yes

[@leakatherine7767]

Thank you for the tips😊👍 I don't think that the music is to loud. I enjoyed the video.

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support!

[@TheCourtsOfLove]

Just got back and I was surprised that there were so many nice clubs and bars from Gay Bars to Nightclubs, there's a nice big nightlife aspect to the city as a whole.

[@camdendavid]

100% - Hope you had a great trip

[@antoniomorais1503]

Hello. Since I am going to spend just 3-4 days in Istanbul I am thinking to stay in Sultahnamet. Can I find bars/restaurants/grocery stores in this area at night ? ...or should I think about Karakoy ? I believe Karakoy is more expensive than Sultanahmet ?!?!

[@superduty4606]

😂😂haha.Ob Du in İstanbul Restaurants,Clubs,bars finden kannst. İch hatte lange nicht so viel gelacht.😂

[@camdendavid]

Hmmm, that's a good question. I didn't spend a lot of time on that side during the evenings but it seemed to have plenty of restaurants and grocery stores. My best guess would be yes. Karakoy was a bit more expensive when I was looking for accommodation but not by much. The good news is you'll easily be able to walk or take the public transport to either side. Do any locals have more insight? Hope you have a great trip!

[@sanitakrumina-cc6kq]

Thank you for great tips 👍🏼

[@camdendavid]

You got it!

[@annucis1634]

Subscribed you after watching this video, only music is too loud had to listen multiple times to hear what you are saying, but nice concent.

[@camdendavid]

Appreciate the support! I'll make sure to have the music fixed for next time :)

[@Arun_Thomas]

Thank you Camden. Very informative & excellent presentation. Could you please tell me where you got the World Map ( on the background of this video)? Cheers

[@camdendavid]

Really appreciate the support! I wish I had more info on the map but it was actually in an Airbnb we were staying at. Sorry about that

[@Arun_Thomas]

@@camdendavid no worries mate. Cheers

[@AyshaA-ml2rd]

May as well be called faith 🙃 I enjoyed this video. Nicely and respectfully done. The background music however wasn’t loud enough.

[@camdendavid]

Thanks for watching! My bad on the background music. Won't happen again :)

[@soundouschannel4388]

Great video 👌

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated :)

[@dincoox1725]

I will go there in September wish me happy road trip

[@camdendavid]

Hope you have a great time!

[@michaylovaa]

Hey, thanks for the advices! Great video! Would you please explain how/from where to get the E-sim?

[@usmanmahmood4344]

I have used Airalo 4 times in Istanbul. They are a provider you buy it in your home country and activate when you land. My code gives $3 off: USMAN7515

[@camdendavid]

Sure thing! You can follow this link to Airalo's website: airalo.pxf.io/CamdenDavid From there you can see the options for each country and see if it's a good it. And if you do decide to get one, you can get 15% off by using the promo code CAMDEN15 :) Let me know if you have any other questions!

[@ryandepauw]

Wow thanks for the E-Sim rec! I gather all the haters on this thread are the boat tour company owners! Thanks for the ferry tip! 😜

[@camdendavid]

You got man! I'm sure there are some awesome boat tours but I gotta be looking out for people with limited budgets :)

[@falo98]

Very informative thank you! Just some feedback for your video as a viewer would be to lower the background music a little :)

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the feedback and will make sure it's lowered for future videos. Thanks for watching :)

[@clairedsc5807]

love your tips for the list...I don't know when we can go prob. during the colder/rainier season like Dec-Jan...But you did not cover if we need MORE cash in hand (besides the Istanbul card) vs. credit cards to pay for FOOD, Bazaar - I am guessing "YES"?! Guess depends where we'll go - def. 1st time more touristy area for 3-4 days max tho.

[@camdendavid]

Great point! I carried a bit of cash with me to pay for small things like baked goods (also to load up the Istanbul card). But I'd say 95% of my transactions were with credit card. I definitely didn't feel like I needed cash

[@clairedsc5807]

Thanks!! Have to confirm that the Istanbul card ONLY accept cash😮😮👍

[@MukeshKaushal]

Background music is very high.

[@chirazlaabidi3591]

The area is called Fatih not Faith 😅

[@camdendavid]

You are 100% correct my friend haha

[@FelipeFigueira]

Going tomorrow for 1 month in Moda and the next on in Cihangir. Good to be aligned hehe. Thanks for the video!

[@camdendavid]

Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think

[@Vikramt21]

Do post name and address where you are staying!!!

[@FelipeFigueira]

@@Vikramt21 Fazil Pasah street. Peace!

[@Vikramt21]

@@FelipeFigueira but what’s the name?

[@FelipeFigueira]

@@Vikramt21 Name of what? It's an Airbnb

[@mizanicrizmaa-]

seeing the way the car was parked at 6:53 made me nervous ngl 😂

[@camdendavid]

Nice catch haha

[@Mahigeer1]

Good tips except the low rating of Turkish coffee. It is one of the best in the world. Pronunciation could be better, but it is ok.

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate the support! My pronunciation needs A LOT of work haha

[@Mahigeer1]

@@camdendavid My friend says "the biggest room in the world is room for improvement." No one is born with knowledge. Practice makes perfect.

[@--027]

Turk here, correction for the pronunciation of cihangir (note, I couldn't find a good English allegory for the last syllable, so that'll likely point you out as a foreigner): cihangir ci-han-gir gee-HUN-gear Instead of the /î/ vowel, it's just supposed to be an /i/ vowel (written in the IPA phonetic alphabet).

[@camdendavid]

I appreciate this!

[@Skyguy_steve]

Heading to Istanbul in 10 days! I'll be in the Faith area! I googled some gyms- any recommendations?

[@camdendavid]

100% transparency -- I spend 0 time in the gym haha. Would hate to mislead you and I really don't have any recommendations. Sorry about that. But if you find a good one, feel free to drop it in the comments. I imagine you're not the only one looking for a gym over there. Hope you have a great time!

[@SupernovaSites]

Thanks for the tips! By the way, I'm finding the background music is very loud so it was hard to make out you talking.

[@camdendavid]

My bad on that! It's been fixed for all future videos :)

[@amyiyen]

Hahahha i relate to the bird shit part but it's very unlucky that you got pooped on. I have lived here 22 years and only got bird poop on me twice

[@camdendavid]

Haha glad it’s not a common experience for you

[@Kimzeeo]

Amazing thank you

[@camdendavid]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching :)

[@nickrushton2506]

Some very helpful tips, thank you. However, there was a loud radio or something playing throughout the video and it made it difficult to follow, particularly as you were talking very fast.

[@camdendavid]

Yeah my bad on that one. I screwed up a setting when exporting the video but it won’t happen again. Thanks for watching!

[@n.gokhantorlak5828]

I enjoy the instructive video recording. However, I wonder what enticed you most to pay a visit to Istanbul? Or do you habitually retain other videos for various cities worldwide? Many thanks.

[@camdendavid]

Always was curious and wanted to experience Istanbul. I move to a new country every month (have been for almost 3 years now), and am always interested in experiencing new cultures and ways of living. Lots more to see :) Hope that answers your question

[@saf9961]

The first area you mentioned is 'Fatih' not "Faith". It was the name given to Sultan Mehmed II

[@patrickmadison8061]

You are a very charismatic guy 🙂

[@camdendavid]

Much appreciated!

[@MrCS-81]

We as a Istanbul lover family superb tips Less noisy background music would be in my opinion smoother its just my opinion And hey don’t tell the Anatolian side ssssssst keep it quiet We just booked for three weeks

[@camdendavid]

Hope you have a great trip! And yeah, the music was wayyyy too loud. My mistake. I'll have new videos on Istanbul coming over the next couple of weeks for you :)

[@MrCS-81]

@@camdendavid the taxi s are a drama in Istanbul. Never again after a couple of really bad experiences with my family. I rent a car at the airport when we land and deliver it back when we go home. I hope Marti Tag will solve the taxi problem. Thank u for ure good tips And we always consider save buildings to stay in with the expectation of a big earthquake in Istanbul. Stay safe

[@user-ns7vj4tz5h]

Hi, Can we wear T-shirt in end of May or it's too cold? My family want to visit Turkey in sunny summer weather but not in too hot. What would you suggest?

[@camdendavid]

There will be days where a T-shirt is good enough but I would also bring something to layer on top. May can still have some chilly days

[@shubhangiadsare3880]

Ugggh my neck hurtss 😂😂😂

[@jnclassicalguitarist]

Thanks for the tips. The music was a little loud, though.

[@camdendavid]

Sorry about that -- I screwed up the volume during the export but have it fixed for future videos :)

[@TR-Youtube-Channel]

Thanks for sharing, but in my opinion, Galata Port is not a Tourist Trap. It is quite normal that the prices are a bit higher given the ambience. The rents are also higher.

[@camdendavid]

Appreciate you sharing a different perspective! I totally get the higher rents and nice ambience but I found the quality of food to be subpar in that area. Thanks for watching!

[@Kaizendiary]

I have lived in Istanbul for years and I was never shitted on by birds or anyone I know. Actually it means luck in our culture❤

[@camdendavid]

Lucky me hahah!

[@mimora786]

spot on about taksim :D

[@camdendavid]

Unfortunately so

[@beykozlu1453]

And the Asian side. The asian side is Klakedon(KADIKOY)

[@halybliss]

The music background is too loud 😢

[@camdendavid]

Yeah, my bad on that! Won't happen again :)

[@siding8]

I’m fairly new to traveling outside of the states. What do you mean when you say “on the European side “. What is the other side? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@camdendavid]

The other side is Asia 😄 The continents share the city and I’d highly recommend checking out both sides. Such a cool mix of cultures

[@heyyayyo]

This seems to be a great useful video. But I can't watch it due to the very very loud background music!

[@camdendavid]

Sorry about that! I made an error when uploading but it won't happen again. I'll have a few new videos on Istanbul coming out over the next 3 weeks :)

[@etaps73]

Hi. Would you recommend staying in a hotel or airbnb? I only have 2 days transit in Istanbul and I wanted to maximize my visit.

[@camdendavid]

Hmmm, I always prefer Airbnb for the local experience but there's no doubt that a hotel would likely be more convenient for a short trip. Are you an experienced Airbnb traveler or do you typically use hotels?

[@etaps73]

@@camdendavid Thanks for the quick reply. Typically use hotels, but the hotel rates in Istanbul are just too high during my travel for some reason. Also, THANK YOU for the video! Is the metro really user-friendly? I followed your instructions, and downloaded Google Maps.

[@camdendavid]

@@etaps73 Thanks for watching the video! I found the metro to be pretty user friendly but I have an advantage in navigating a new public transport system each month when I move to a new country. But most things are also very walkable in Istanbul (with the exception of having to take the ferry over to the Asian side). You should be good in an airbnb as long as you read the reviews, over-communicate with the host about check-in, and are up for a bit of an adventure 😄

[@etaps73]

Thanks!!

[@camdendavid]

@@etaps73 You got it! Hope you have a great trip 😄

[@emilyestes9160]

I want to go watch Turkiye pro women’s volleyball ..Vafikbank I think it’s called in Istanbul to see Güneş n Vargas etc play .. where do you recommend staying every time I look it up it’s in Turkish language lol

[@camdendavid]

Looks like the arena is over on the Asian side. I think Moda is a great option -- it'll be about a 30 minute commute with public transit or a 15-20 minute Uber. That'll also still give you a chance to explore the rest of Istanbul. But if you're wanting to be closer to the stadium, Üsküdar might be your best bet. Hope that helps!

[@klautzsiekmund2011]

I am not a Muslim, but Fatih is a wonderful place. I always stay in Fatih near the Fatih mosque. No tourists and friendly people. Please no racism and prejudice.

[@freeurmind2871]

Great video but background music is too loud

[@camdendavid]

Sorry about that! I'll make sure the music is set lower next time :)

[@freeurmind2871]

@@camdendavid Thank you 🙏

[@Miss_AnitaB]

Can someone please tell me how it is to stay in Zeytinburnu? Is it Family Friendly? How Safe is the area?Is it noisy or is it quiet ?

[@camdendavid]

I haven't spent any time down there but I know it's a bit further from where most of the tourism is. Hoping a local will see this and chime in :)

[@abdulfarooqi5400]

Why is the background music so loud?

[@kchoog]

😂😂spare socks. Never would have thought of that

[@camdendavid]

Always

Is epass helpful? Would you recommend any specific link to get epass?

[@camdendavid]

Couple of thoughts. 1st -- Important to note that I've never actually used the epass. 2nd -- I find that the average tourist won't have enough time/care to see the majority of attractions that the passes include. That often leads to overspending on a pass that you won't get full value from. 3rd -- If you're wanting to see quite a few of the attractions that the pass includes, AND have the time to visit all those places, then I think the pass can be a great value. It really just comes down to what type of visit you're wanting to have. Hope that helps :)

[@aandino1239]

I was always told Instanbul cheap… well with inflation felt worldwide it’s Jan 2024 I’m disappointed with high prices specially food. Most young locals know 2 words in English so have translator ready. If Cappadocia hot air balloon is a must a Turkish short flight goes for $80 USD round trip and hotels fairly cheap. Hotel schedules airport pick up for approx $20 USD

[@camdendavid]

Certainly not the cheapest place but sooooo much more affordable than most of Europe. Appreciate you sharing your experience :)

[@barbarakroos648]

I would like to go to istanbul for topkapi palace. Is it a digital city,i mean,do tourists have install all sorts of apps if they enter the country?

[@camdendavid]

Hmm, I don't remember having to install any apps to enter

[@susanwarren398]

Istanbul grand market is very expensive. Many not honest shop owners.

[@camdendavid]

Definitely some tourist traps in there but well worth a visit. I've been back in town for a few weeks and will have an updated video coming soon with some tips around the markets :)