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Layover guideIstanbul · IST

Local laws that catch crew out in Istanbul

Carry photo ID at all times, keep opinions about Turkey off your phone, and treat antiquities and cheap spirits as the two quiet ways to ruin a trip.

Blogtrepreneur / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
All of Istanbul

It is illegal not to carry some form of photographic ID in Turkey. Always carry your passport or residence permit.

It is illegal to insult the Turkish nation or the national flag. The FCDO warns these laws can also apply to comments or images online no matter where you were or when you posted them, so an old social media post travels with you.

Two offences carry long prison sentences: possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs (expect 4 to 24 years and heavy fines), and buying or exporting antiquities illegally (a fine and 5 to 12 years).

Alcohol is sold openly, but the FCDO warns that people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol, and that even small amounts of methanol can kill. It also warns that food and drink offered by strangers could be spiked: buy your own drinks and always keep sight of them.

  1. UK FCDO: Turkey travel advice, safety and security · checked 2026-08-17
  2. UK FCDO: Turkey travel advice, health · checked 2026-08-17

The rest of Istanbul

The whole guide
Getting out of the airportMetered taxis run 24 hours from the arrivals floor, the airport metro station is inside the terminal, and the city publishes every fare on the line.Ride-hailingiTaksi is the city council's own app, it dispatches taxis registered to the system, and the only pickup points the airport publishes are the taxi ranks.Staying connectedA handset brought from abroad works on a Turkish network for 120 days from your date of entry, then the regulator cuts it off unless the device is registered.WeatherMild marine climate: warm dry summers (~25C), cool wet winters (~7C) with occasional snow; December is the wettest month.Eating near the crew hotelsWaterfront street food at Eminonu/Karakoy and Ortakoy, late-night eats around Taksim, and Kadikoy across the water; lokantas are the cheap fixed-price feed.What to buyGrand Bazaar for jewelry, carpets and leather (haggle, always), Spice Bazaar for edibles; VAT refund at Tax Free shops, claimed at IST or SAW before departure.TippingNot obligatory but appreciated; around 10-15% in restaurants, round up taxis, and tip in cash since cards usually cannot carry the tip.