Sometimes we read comments on Reddit or Facebook that people didn’t like their trip to Turkey — some say it was too chaotic, some ended up at a tourist trap restaurant, or the classic (and all-too-unsurprising) “everything was way more expensive than I expected.”
Nine times out of ten, it’s not because Turkey is bad — it’s because they didn’t know a few secret hacks that would’ve made their trip much easier!
(Yes, our soul cries a little when we read these “I hated Turkey” posts, but that’s beside the point :’))
So, what better way to set the record straight than to put together a list of actually useful Turkey travel tips?
These travel hacks aren’t your usual “try the local food” or “don’t drink tap water in Istanbul” tips.
Oh no, we’re taking this to the next level with the tips we wish every traveler knew before landing in Istanbul, Cappadocia, or traveling along the Turquoise Coast.
These 11 underrated Turkey travel hacks will save you time, money, and energy, making your adventure smooth and enjoyable. Let’s check them out!
This Trick Will Save You From 2-Hour Lines at the Ticket Booth…
A little life hack right from the start 🙂
Imagine arriving at Topkapi Palace, excited to explore the Harem and see the beautiful tiled rooms (or for fans of Magnificent Century, bumping into Hurrem and Sultan Suleiman!)
But then… you see the queue. It wraps around the courtyard. People are sweating, fanning themselves with guidebooks, and arguing over who’s supposed to go stand in line.
Eugh, no thanks. 🥵
Here’s our life hack: skip-the-line tickets.
Here’s how it works: You book your ticket online in advance (we’ll link our favorite ones below), then meet your guide just outside the entrance. From there, they escort your group through the special guided tour entrance, which is a separate and much faster line.
The guide gives you a short introduction tour (usually 20 minutes or so), which is super helpful for first-timers. Then you’re free to wander at your own pace — palace courtyards, relics, Ottoman treasures, Harem drama and all.
This isn’t just for Topkapı either: this little loophole works for other big attractions like Dolmabahçe Palace and Ephesus, where lines can get just as long, especially in the summer or during cruise ship days!)
Here are examples of skip-the-line tickets:
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You skip the brutal ticket queue (at Topkapı, Dolmabahçe, or Ephesus), get VIP-style entry, and start exploring immediately — without the sunburn or stress!
Don’t Trust That Menu From 2021…
Speaking of Reddit stories… we once came across a post from a tourist who was furious that a simple Turkish breakfast had cost 400 TL. Why? Because they’d read a blog post from 2021 claiming it should only cost around 80 TL.
Another time, someone wrote a negative Google review because they saw that a lahmacun should have cost him 100 TL instead of 200 TL (but forgot to mention that the menu was from 2 years ago).
Unfortunately, Turkey is knee-deep in inflation, and those old menus and prices from a few years ago are basically useless (although we really do wish Turkish tea would cost 10 TL like the good ol’ days 🥲).
We’re not saying Turkey is expensive (it’s still not bad compared to some other destinations), but don’t go in expecting 2019-era prices. It will just lead to disappointment and arguments with waiters over “why the Google menu is different.”
Instead, we recommend the following tips:
📍 Want to check what locals actually pay? Try Yemeksepeti or Trendyol Go — just know that delivery apps often have a 10–20% markup compared to dine-in prices
📍 Look at menus on Google Maps — just make sure they’re from the last 3 or 5 months
📍 Ask your hotel or guesthouse host for current average prices
📍 Tipping isn’t a requirement in Turkey
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: Knowing that prices have practically doubled since 2022 helps you avoid sticker shock and adjust your budget.
Why Overpay For a SIM Card When You Can Do This Instead?
One of the most important things about any trip is staying connected, whether that’s using the internet to get directions, translating a menu on-the-go, or staying in touch with friends and family back home.
So that leaves you with two options: buy a Turkish SIM card or rely on public WiFi.
Unfortunately, public WiFi in Turkey kind of sucks — we know because we live here and have to deal with it every time we work from a cafe. 😬 Even in major cities like Istanbul (where we live), most networks are either locked behind a login screen or require you to input a Turkish phone number to receive a code. Which you obviously can’t do if you don’t have a Turkish number yet. *facepalm* 🤦
On top of that, the SIM card kiosks at the airport are notorious for charging inflated tourist prices — we’re talking $30–50+ for something that usually costs much less if you buy it locally.
Our advice is to set up a Turkish eSIM before you land. eSIMs like Maya or Yesim let you install a local data plan directly onto your phone, which means no waiting in line, no getting overcharged, and no need to hand over your passport.
(Just be sure to check if your phone is eSIM compatible before you do so! This guide is helpful and tells you which phones are eSIM compatible)
Likewise, may we suggest our Ultimate Guide to SIM & eSIM Cards in Turkey blog post? We cover the best eSIM and SIM cards, which companies are the best, overall coverage, and more. →
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: The convenience starts when you arrive at the airport, since you won’t need to wait in line to buy a SIM (all you do is turn on your network and voila!).
Why “Last-Minute Booking” is a Rookie Mistake in Turkey
This tip is for our spontaneous readers — while we love the sentiment, Turkey unfortunately doesn’t. 😅
Here’s the thing: Booking.com doesn’t technically “work” when you’re inside Turkey, but ironically, it still has the best selection and the best prices… as long as you book ahead while you’re outside the country.
Likewise, the best hotels get snatched up fast, especially during peak season. Booking early not only secures your spot, it usually means better prices too! You could end up overpaying for a mediocre room or, worse, scrambling to find anything at all.
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You’ll lock in better hotels at lower prices and avoid showing up in Kaş or Cappadocia with zero availability during peak season.
Outsmart Crowds Like a Pro
This genius tip comes courtesy of a friend who lives near a major cruise hub (Kotor, Montenegro) — and we loved it so much that we had to include it!
If you’re visiting places like Istanbul’s Galataport/Karaköy, Kuşadası, Bodrum, Marmaris, or Antalya, here’s the secret: Check the cruise ship schedule before planning your sightseeing days.
We like Cruise Timetables because it tells you the exact days a ship will arrive, how many ships, how many passengers, and even when they arrive and depart.
This info is pure gold during the summer when thousands of people can flood into a city just from one ship. Knowing the schedule helps you plan efficiently. For example, stay in town when it’s quiet, take a day trip when it’s packed, or even make dinner reservations if a ship stays overnight.
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: Less crowds, smoother sightseeing, and zero surprise stampedes of cruise passengers.
If You Only Pre-Book One Thing, Make It This
As soon as you know your travel dates, book your hot air balloon ride. The best companies get reserved weeks in advance (or even months in advance if it’s during holidays or peak season 😄).
Here’s the part most tourists don’t know: If your balloon gets cancelled due to wind (which happens more often than you’d think!), the company will automatically rebook existing customers for the next day.
That means if you were planning to book “as soon as you arrive in Cappadocia,” well, you might run into a little problem: there might not be any availability left because of all the rebooked passengers from the night before!
If a hot air balloon ride is on your bucket list, it’s best to reserve your spot as soon as you’ve locked in your travel dates — just to be safe.
🎈 We recommend this top-rated hot air balloon tour, which includes hotel pickup, light breakfast, and champagne post-flight (oh, and it has over 700 five-star reviews from travelers!) →
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You won’t miss out on Cappadocia’s most iconic experience, even if flights get pushed to the next day.
“Wait… This Isn’t My Airport!”
This tip is short and sweet: Make sure you know what airport you’re flying to (or from!)
There are two major airports in Istanbul:
📍 IST (Istanbul Airport) — used by most national and international airlines
📍 SAW (Sabiha Gökçen Airport) — often used by domestic and budget airlines
But here’s the kicker: it’s not always that simple.
On a recent trip from Doha, we flew on Qatar Airways. You might expect this huge international airline (actually, the national airline of Qatar) to land in Istanbul Airport (IST) … but nope! It was actually arriving in Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) instead. Thankfully we planned it that way when we bought tickets. 😊
Actually, we’ve seen a few TikToks of travelers panicking in the back of a taxi, frantically trying to make it across the Bosphorus to the other (correct!) airport before their flight takes off.
(Spoiler: it’s not a short drive)
This is your friendly reminder to double-check your flight confirmation and the actual airport code, especially if you’re booking transfers or accommodations nearby. That one little detail can save you from a chaotic (and expensive) Istanbul-wide airport dash!
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You’ll avoid mix-ups, missed flights, and high taxi fares. Smooth sailing from takeoff to touchdown.
Figure Out How You’ll Get to Your Hotel (Before You Arrive!)
While we’re on the topic of airports and ✨glamorous air travel…✨
Arriving in Istanbul (or anywhere in Turkey) will probably mean you’ll be jet lagged, tired, and hungry (*ahem* as someone who’s been to 60+ countries, this is Ms. Kedi’s biggest gripe about travel).
All you’ll want to do is get to your hotel, take that long-awaited shower, and sink into the fluffiest pillow available… but wait! How do you actually get to your hotel?
You might find yourself trying to catch a faint Wi-Fi signal at the airport to pull up directions (which, like we mentioned, might not work without a local SIM or eSIM 😅).
Or maybe you’re staring nervously at Google Maps and wondering, “Wait, what’s the M4? Is that a highway? A metro line? A space ship?!”
(Psst… it’s the metro line from SAW to Kadikoy)
To avoid the stress and chaos, you’ll want to come up with an “arrival plan” in advance, whether that’s taking public transportation, booking a transfer, or looking at shuttle options. Trust us, your future self will thank you!
If you’ve got luggage, are traveling with kids, or just want a smooth ride from point A to B, our recommendation is to book a private airport transfer with companies like Welcome Pickups (our favorite!!) or KiwiTaxi. They’re affordable, work in major cities across Turkey, and show up with your name on a sign. What’s not to love?
On that note: don’t just hop in a random taxi outside the airport — there are too many scams! You can read our Turkey Taxi Scams blog post here to get an idea of what might happen.
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: Stress-free arrival, no scams, and no deciphering metro maps while sleep-deprived.
This Overlooked Detail Could Throw Off Your Whole Itinerary
Every city or country has its own “closed days” for museums, tourist landmarks, and attractions to take a break. For example, museums in Rome are closed on Mondays, the Louvre in Paris is shut on Tuesdays, and some art galleries in Zurich are closed on Wednesdays…
…And Turkey is no different!
Most major museums and cultural sites in Turkey are closed on Mondays, including Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, the Mardin Museum in Mardin, the Odunpazari Modern Art Museum in Eskişehir, and the Türkpusat Traditional Weapons Museum in Ankara.
(Interestingly, Topkapi Palace, the residence of sultans for more than 400 years, is closed on Tuesdays!)
Some smaller galleries, religious sites, and even hamams may also have their own rest days or shortened hours, so it’s always smart to check before planning your itinerary.
To illustrate this point, we’ll leave you with a little personal story. Two years ago, Ms. Kedi’s parents flew in for a springtime trip around Istanbul.
She crafted the perfect day, which included taking a ferry from Emirgan Park (hello tulips!) to Anadolu Hisarı, one of Istanbul’s most scenic old fortresses… only to be met with a closed gate and shattered hopes. 🥲
Even though we’ve been living in Istanbul for a few years at this point, it still slipped our mind that this lesser-known Istanbul attraction was closed!
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: Nobody likes a wasted travel day or showing up to a closed door, right?
It’s Not About Speaking Perfect Turkish, It’s About Trying
You don’t need to speak fluent Turkish to make connections. Locals absolutely love it when visitors make an effort, even if it’s just a few words like merhaba or kolay gelsin (our favorite phrase!)
Mr. Kedi taught his mom just two phrases before her first trip: “teşekkür ederim” (thank you) and “iyi günler” (good day).
And guess what? Practically every shopkeeper, waiter, and street vendor lit up with a smile every time she said them.
It wasn’t about pronunciation or grammar (although to be honest, she does have a cute accent). Like the title of this tip says, it’s not about being perfect — it’s about showing that you care enough to try!
Want to learn a few phrases before your trip? Check out our 200+ Essential Turkish Travel Phrases for Tourists post here (including pronunciation!) →
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: A little Turkish goes a long way!
Watch Out For These Common Scams
Turkey is a safe country… but like any popular tourist destination, it’s not immune to the occasional scammer (especially in big cities like Istanbul, Antalya, or Cappadocia).
Here are some of the usual suspects:
👹 Taxi scams (no meter, “broken” card machine, wrong change)
👹 Restaurant bait-and-switch (they say one price, charge another)
👹 Fake shoe shiners or overly-friendly strangers
But don’t worry — we’ve got you covered with these two posts:
👉 20 Common Tourist Scams in Istanbul & Turkey (And How to Avoid Them!)
👉 10 Common Taxi Scams in Turkey
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You’ll spot shady behavior from a mile away, avoid getting overcharged, and travel with more confidence.
(Bonus!) Read our blog posts! 😉
We don’t like to brag, but our blog is packed with helpful guides, personal tips, and local travel advice (we live in Turkey, after all!)
From navigating public transport to understanding how domestic flights work, we’ve been there and done that.
Here are some of our most popular travel planning blog posts:
📍 How to Plan a Trip to Turkey: Everything You Need to Know
📍 30 Major Travel Mistakes in Turkey
📍 20 Essential Apps for Traveling in Türkiye
📍 How to Dine in Istanbul Like a Local
We also run a friendly Facebook group for travelers in Turkey! You can:
✅ Ask questions before or during your trip
✅ Get real-time advice from other travelers
✅ Share your trip report and help others too
Click here to join the Facebook group →
✨ Why Your Trip Will be Easier: You’ll have expert-level support in your pocket, whether it’s from our blog, our Facebook group, or fellow travelers.
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