Approximately 86 million people live in Turkey, 15.6 million call Istanbul home. That being said, the sprawling capital city is by far the most populous metropolis in the entire country.
It should come at no surprise that he most widely spoken language in Istanbul is Turkish. English, Kurdish, and Arabic are also widely spoken here. Many residents and Turkish people even speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Azerbaijani, and other Turkic languages.
During the month of September, Istanbul falls within the time zone of CEST- Central Europe Summer Time (GMT +3).
The most common operational hours for retail shops in the city are Monday -Saturday (sometimes Sunday) from 9am - 8pm. In touristic areas, the shops can have more flexible schedules and be open even longer.
During the month of September, the average temperature tends to be between 21°C and 25°C and it typically rains three to eight days in total.
Here you can find the current weather forecast for September:
The local currency is the Turkish Lira (TR
There are numerous ATMs in Istanbul where you can take out local currency (two of which are very close to our hotel). Contactless or card payments are also widely accepted in Istanbul, so if you have a Visa or Master Card, you usually won’t need to worry when it comes time to pay. However, we do suggest you bring a small amount of local currency in case something you wish to purchase can’t be bought with plastic.
You can check the current exchange rate here:
Istanbul has 230V, 50Hz power outlets and uses Type F and Type C sockets. Depending on your device you might need a power converter in addition to the adapter.
Technically, you can wear whatever you want in Istanbul - there are no official rules. As parts of the city tend to be slightly more conservative than others, many women often feel more comfortable covering their legs (at least past the knees), chest/cleavage, and stomach. At the same time, men are better received when clothed, be it at least with a t-shirt and shorts.
When visiting a mosque, it's important to remember that both men and women should remove their shoes upon entering. You can either carry them in a plastic bag or leave them on the shoe rack. Additionally, it's necessary to dress appropriately by covering your knees, shoulders, and upper arms. Women are also expected to cover their hair.
It’s usually wisest to respect the cultural norms of a destination so that you can be welcomed with open arms at all times…when in Rome, right?
As we mentioned the weather before, just make sure to pack clothing that will allow you to enjoy all activities even if we don’t have consistent blue skies and sunshine.
Closer to the travel date, we will also inform you of any other particular President’s Club event dress codes.
Tipping in Turkey, as with most of Europe, is a generally modest practice. Although it’s preferable to tip in Turkish Lira, any major currency is accepted. As always, tip only where you believe it’s warranted. It’s always difficult to know exactly how much to give. A basic guideline is suggested below:
· Local Guides: 20/40 USD for a half/full day tour
· Housekeeping: 1-2 USD per day
· Porters/Bell hops: 1 USD per bag
· Taxis: Simply round the fare upwards to the most convenient amount
· Restaurants: smaller restaurants expect less, luxury restaurants are more used to North American tipping practices
· Turkish Bath: at the end of services, attendants may gather to say “goodbye” and collect their tips, patrons typically tip 10-15% of the service to be shared between employees.
