I’ve lived in Istanbul for more than 12 years, and this city of nearly 18 million people can sometimes feel like a wild, etiquette-free zone—where people crowd you on the metro and treat traffic lights as mere suggestions. It’s a sprawling, dynamic metropolis with every kind of person imaginable, both Turkish and foreign, from the deeply religious to the fiercely secular, from lifelong urbanists to recent arrivals from rural areas.
Despite the bustle, Istanbul operates according to its own unique rhythm and that’s what makes this city so special. For a visitor, it can be overwhelming to figure out what those unwritten rules are. My biggest tip for travelers is to be respectful of your surroundings and aware of how they shift across neighborhoods in a city this large and diverse.
While Turkey is a majority-Muslim country, it is officially secular. Women are not expected to cover their heads outside of mosques, and in many places, doing so without religious reasons might even seem out of place. That said, social norms vary significantly depending on the area.
Take Kadikoy, for example—a youthful, vibrant neighborhood on the “Asia side” of Istanbul. Its streets are lined with cafes, bars, and tattoo parlors, reflecting its liberal, countercultural vibe. At night, parts of Kadikoy feel like a giant open-air house party, with people drinking, smoking, and socializing into the early hours. How you dress, drink, and behave here might look different from what’s expected in more conservative districts like Fatih, where public drunkenness or loud behavior would likely be frowned upon. In such neighborhoods, you might instead find locals enjoying a quiet evening in a tea garden, sipping cay, and chatting with friends.
You can think of it the way you might navigate a city like New York: what feels normal in Brooklyn might raise eyebrows on the Upper East Side. Istanbul is no different: each neighborhood has its own rhythm, expectations, and social norms.
This ethos of knowing your setting applies to public transportation, too. Americans, in particular, have a reputation for being loud in public. And while Istanbul is no stranger to noise and energy, it’s relatively uncommon to hear people speaking loudly on public transport like the metro or buses. Still, Istanbulites are famously social, quick to coo over babies or strike up a conversation, even if they’re just inviting you into their shop. While the city is remarkably safe for a metropolis of its size, you can choose to interact with strangers … or not. It’s perfectly acceptable to decline a conversation politely, and doing so isn’t considered rude.
Ultimately, the best way to navigate the city while remaining respectful is to observe and adapt. (This is generally best practice for any city.) Remember, you’re a guest in a city that welcomes visitors warmly but is also grabbling with economic challenges, including high inflation and daily financial pressures that affect everyday life for many locals. When in doubt, ask yourself: Are the people around you drinking beer and wearing crop tops, or are they dressed more modestly? Is the neighborhood buzzing with tourists or does it feel more residential? The more attuned you are to your environment, the more comfortable you’ll feel—and the more warmly you’ll be received in this city that spans two continents and contains entire worlds within its borders.
