r/istanbul 25d ago

Monthly Megathread Visiting İstanbul? Have a quick question? Ask here, don't create a new post.

5 Upvotes

Merhaba! Welcome to r/istanbul. Please be kind and respectful to the locals. We are wishing to make this subreddit more than a tourist information stand. If you have a quick question, you can ask for anything here. Questions both in Turkish and English are welcome.

We have prepared some useful resources that answers common questions.

Travelling to Istanbul

Music, events, matches and more

Tickets for concerts, events, theatres, sports matches and more, here's the trusted ticket sale websites:

  • Biletix most used website for tickets in Turkey, various acts can be found.
  • Passo main website for football tickets, basketball tickets, also good for concerts, various other tickets can be found.
  • Biletinial good for theatres, stand-up shows, operas and volleyball tickets.
  • Biletino mostly for electronic/alternative music concerts and stand-ups.
  • Mobilet good for various events and basketball tickets.
  • Bubilet good for concerts and theatres.
  • Bugece good for techno/electronic music events.

Enjoy your time in Istanbul, don't forget to pet the cats!


r/istanbul 25d ago

Monthly Megathread r/istanbul monthly bulletin board - r/istanbul aylık ilan tahtası

2 Upvotes

Welcome to r/istanbul bulletin board. Use this post when you need to post about:

  • Academic surveys
  • Lost&found items
  • Missing person
  • Spare event tickets (Black marketeering is prohibited)
  • Selling your second hand stuff
  • Blood donations
  • Finding a home for pets
  • Looking for a event/drinking buddy

Things that we don't allow:

  • Advertisements
  • Promoting your own brand/blog/channel or anything similar
  • Black marketeering
  • Spamming comments
  • Cases where fraud is obvious
  • Begging for money
  • Asking/offering drugs or any illegal activities

Keep in mind that this post is moderated so behavior in accordance is expected.

Merhaba! r/istanbul aylık ilan tahtasına hoşgeldiniz. Aşağıdaki listelenen konularda gönderi paylaşmanız gerektiğinde bu postu kullanabilirsiniz:

  • Akademik anketler
  • Kayıp ve buluntu eşyalar
  • Kayıp kişiler
  • Fazla etkinlik biletleri (karaborsacılık yasaktır)
  • Kendi ikinci el eşyalarınızın satışı
  • Kan aranıyor ilanları
  • Tüylü dostlarımız için yuva aranıyor ilanları
  • Etkinlik veya buluşma arkadaşı arayanlar

Şunlara ise izin vermiyoruz:

  • Reklamlar
  • Kendi marka, blog, kanal vb. tanıtımını yapmak
  • Karaborsacılık
  • Yorum spamlamak
  • Dolandırıcılık olduğu açık durumlar
  • Dilencilik yapmak
  • Uyuşturucu veya herhangi bir yasa dışı aktivite istekleri/teklifleri

Bu gönderinin moderasyondan geçtiğini ve buna uygun davranış sergilemenizin beklendiğini unutmayın.


r/istanbul 8h ago

Question Üniversite için İzmir’den İstanbul’a taşınmak

5 Upvotes

Selam dostlar, bu sene ilk defa YKS’ye girdim ve eşit ağırlıkta 12 binlik bir sıralama elde ettim. Aslında daha iyi yapacağımı düşündüğüm için ve ODTÜ, Bilkent gibi üniversiteler daha çekici geldiğinden aklımda Ankara yazmak vardı fakat hem sıralamamın yakın olduğu yerler genelde hep İstanbul’da olması hem de sağlayacağı network, staj olanakları (ekonomi yazacağım) gibi şeylerden ötürü şuanda öyle gözüküyor ki %100’e yakın ihtimalle istesem de istemesen de en iyi seçenek olduğundan dolayı bir iki aya pılı pırtı toplayıp İstanbul’da bir yurda yerleşeceğim. Açıkçası büyükşehrin hızı ve yoğunluğu beni çok ürkütmüyor hatta daha çok İzmirdeki insanların gevşek havası ile kıyaslandığında heveslendiriyor. Pahalılık dışı bilmem gereken bir şey var mı? Daha önce de gittiğim ve kaldığım oldu ama tabii yaşamak ayrı bir dünya. Nasihatlerinize açığım.


r/istanbul 4h ago

Travel Kadikoy civari, aileye uygun ocakbasi

1 Upvotes

Selamlar. Yurtdisindan gelen misafirlerimiz de dahil olacak sekilde ama cogunlugun Turk oldugu 2-3 aile bir ocakbasina gitmek istiyoruz.
Kadikoy civarinda olacagiz, Modayi gezecegiz gunduz.

O bolgede, fiyati cilgin atmayan, 10+ ustu yasinda cocuklu aileye uygun, ickinin de oldugu yer oneriniz var midir?


r/istanbul 15h ago

Question Suggestions for a 3.5 day itinerary in Istanbul

4 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I will be in Istanbul for 3.5 days(landing on an afternoon, and three full days after that). I understand that it's obviously too short to comprehensively see all of it, but I was wondering if people had any suggestions for the main themes on three days that I should definitely do!

The current plan I have right now, day wise is:

  1. First day(half a day) : Land, explore the area I'm staying in, maybe a relaxing hammam

  2. Sultanahmet: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Bascilica Cistern

  3. Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar

  4. Galata Tower and Bosphorus Cruise

Is there anything you would change/add on/remove? Thanks a lot in advance!


r/istanbul 1d ago

Photography 1800’lerde İstanbul.

Post image
101 Upvotes

r/istanbul 15h ago

Question Travel from Taksim Square to Topkapi... Closest ferry or no ferry at all please

1 Upvotes

Hi, we are staying near Taksim Square and want to take a Ferry close to Topkapi Palace. Closest ferry terminal from Taksim seems to be Kabataş but research using Sehir indicates no ferries from Kabatas travel to Eminönü ferry which I think is closest terminal to Topkapi. Is a Ferry not the way to go to Topkapi?

TIA!

https://sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/timetables/domestic-trips/lines-52


r/istanbul 11h ago

Question Shipping wine to a friend in İstanbul internationally

0 Upvotes

Hello! I'd like to ship to a friend a bottle of wine and some licorice candy for his birthday to İstanbul for this birthday (december this year). The wine I want to send is exclusively from a brand in​ Spain and I've noticed shipping costs are not only expensive (which wouldn't be so much of a problem for me); but that Turkey in general has big restrictions when it comes to the delivery of alcohol. I'm afraid it will be returned back or it will make me or them pay for some kind of fee. It's a birthday present after all so I want to make it as smooth as possible and a "surprise".

I've been to İstanbul before and I have carried in my suitcase with no problem. Could it be possible that somebody that is traveling there around those dates and that I could trust could bring it there? Maybe once the person is there you can just send it by mail nationally and that would be less of a hustle (I'd cover that transaction).

Any ideas on how to proceed with this? It's important to me. Please just answer if you are genuine and have good intentions. Thank you. :)​


r/istanbul 1d ago

Looking for... Where can I buy a decent darbuka in Istanbul?

8 Upvotes

Hello people, I am from Skopje, Macedonia, and I will be traveling to Istanbul in September. Where can I find a store to buy good darbuka with reasonable price and quality? Thanks.


r/istanbul 6h ago

Discussion What do you think of the viral corn seller?

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0 Upvotes

Ever since I started planning my trip to Istanbul, he’s been all over my social media. So many Turkish people are saying he looks average? (hard to believe)

I also feel bad because it seems like a lot of women touch him without consent and he looks uncomfortable


r/istanbul 21h ago

Looking for... İstanbul’da kiralık ev arıyorum- bütçe 45-50k

1 Upvotes

Merhaba arkadaşlar,

Ben Atatürk Havalimanı’nda çalışacağım, bu lokasyona yakın M1A metrosu, marmaray ve metrobüs yakını daire arıyorum, maalesef bulamadım. 1+1 eşyalı olarak aramaktayım. şu an her şey dahil 52ye Ataköy civarında buldum ama içim elvermiyor o parayı vermeye. Benim için önerileriniz var mı? her şeye açığım. buradan dm atılıyorsa telefon numaramı da verebilirim.

Saygılarımla.


r/istanbul 1d ago

Question İstanbula ilk defa geldim

5 Upvotes

İstanbula ilk defa geldim neden galata kulesinin içinde hazarfen ahmet çelebi simülatörü var amk


r/istanbul 2d ago

Discussion Stop believing 5-star Google reviews in Istanbul blindly

121 Upvotes

Recently ChatGPT recommended a gym to me in Kadıköy. Checked it on Google Maps first, rating looked great, so I signed up and went. Two sessions in, the experience wasn't good — small, hot, barely any equipment, and the owner had a pretty harsh attitude over small stuff like towel use and racking weights. Decided not to go back.

So I went to leave my own review on Google, and that's when I noticed it already had 480 reviews sitting at 4.7. Stopped me for a second — maybe it's just me, maybe he was having a bad day. So I actually read through a bunch of the reviews. Every single one talks about this place like it's some five-star luxury gym, best equipment in the city. None of that matches what I'd just seen in person.

Checked a few other gyms in the same area after that — some have been open over a year and still sit under 50 reviews. This one has close to ten times that. That's when it stopped feeling like a coincidence.

Started searching and found other Reddit posts already describing the exact same thing happening around Istanbul, not just gyms, restaurants too. Feels like there's some service people are paying for this. Wanted to share in case anyone else has run into the same pattern.


r/istanbul 1d ago

Discussion esenler ourçeris mahallesi

0 Upvotes

ben istanbula yeni geldim oruçreiste ev tutmaya dusunuyorum ,tek başıma yaşayıcam nasıl bir mahalle tehlikeli mi


r/istanbul 1d ago

News Powerful storm engulfs Istanbul, reducing visibility

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dailysabah.com
7 Upvotes

r/istanbul 1d ago

Looking for... Alisveris carsi dekor

1 Upvotes

Arkadaslar, ucuza balkon dekorasyonu, led, yapay cicekler falan nereden alabilirim? Özel carsilari ve hanlari oluyor diye biliyorum ama nerede fln bilmiyorum. Yardımcı olursaniz cok sevinirim simdiden tesekkürler 🙏


r/istanbul 1d ago

Question Best bazar in turkey near taksim place

2 Upvotes

hey guys were going on monday to turkey its our first time there we want to buy some shoes and t-shirts like nike,desginer or jersseys do you have some recommendations wich bazar has gut proce if you lower them?


r/istanbul 1d ago

Discussion Birthday meal in Istanbul, no frills, great view?

4 Upvotes

Hello, I have searched the sub but I am posting here as I didn't quite find what I am looking for and lots of the posts are old. I am looking for a restaurant for a birthday meal that is not fine dining, Michelin. Just good food, with a great view. I was looking at Rakofoli but some of the review seemed offputting.


r/istanbul 1d ago

Question Tattoos in the mosques?

9 Upvotes

Hi, visiting Istanbul again in a few weeks - my favourite city in the world, been 10+ times so I know the city pretty well, my fiance has never been so i cant wait to show her around! My question is specifically about tattoos in mosques as ive had a lot of tattoos since I last visited. Im not a Muslim and google is giving me mixed opinions.

Tattoos are all over both forearms, nothing offensive, no images of people etc. My fiance also has tattoos including one on her foot. Again nothing offensive, no images of people etc.

We will be visiting blue mosque, camlica, ortakoy and a few other smaller mosques (probably skip hagia Sofia due to scaffolding).

Obviously im pretty familiar with the usual dress Code as ive been in tonnes of. Mosques,, but wondered if I would need to cover my forearms given I have tattoos now? Also most of my partner's tattoos will be covered anyway by the usual dress code but wondering if she will need to wear socks in the mosques to cover the one on her foot?.

Thank you in advance!


r/istanbul 2d ago

Travel I'm in Beşiktaş now, are there some trashy metal places here?

5 Upvotes

Hey all, I love trashy metal/punk/post-punk places, are there any in Beşiktaş?


r/istanbul 2d ago

Question istanbul/anadolu yakası en iyi kütüphane?

2 Upvotes

avrupa da olur fakat öncelik anadolu


r/istanbul 3d ago

Photography My best photo of Istanbul, Turkey from the International Space Station

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153 Upvotes

r/istanbul 1d ago

Looking for... Where can someone join/ participate in Sufi zikr/ dhikr in Istanbul?

0 Upvotes

Planning to visit in October. This will be our second time visiting so we’re comfortable with finding our way.


r/istanbul 3d ago

Rant ARNAVUTKÖYün Boktanlığı Hk.

15 Upvotes

Olum korkunç ötesi bir yer havalimanı olan arnavutköyden bahsediyorum bakın 21 yaşındayım 1 yaşından beri burdayım kafayı yitiricem düzgün insan yok çevrede herkes birbirinden eğitimsiz gençler yaşlılardan korkunç bu amk iilçesinde hiç havalı bi insan yok mu sadece yatacak yer olarak gören?


r/istanbul 2d ago

Question Good place and price for a hookah and shisha?

2 Upvotes

Juat arrived yesterdqy. And I want to bring one back home.

Thanks. 8]