Byzantium, the Ottomans, mosque etiquette and how to be a respectful, well-informed guest.
Understanding a little of Istanbul's layered history changes how every sight in the Do department reads. These seven guides are the starting point — more on Ottoman daily life and the Republic-era city are being added.
1,600 years of imperial capital, compressed into what you actually need to know before sightseeing.
Read the guide →Dress code, timing and behaviour — the practical rules for visiting any working mosque respectfully.
Read the guide →What actually happens in a traditional hammam, and how to pick between a tourist and a local one.
Read the guide →What actually changes in the city during Ramadan, and why it's a striking, not a difficult, time to visit.
Read the guide →The Mevlevi Sufi order's ceremony, what it actually means, and how to see a respectful, non-touristy performance.
Read the guide →What actually makes a carpet valuable, and how to navigate a shop's sales pitch honestly.
Read the guide →Istanbul's Greek, Armenian and Jewish communities — where their heritage is still visible today.
Read the guide →
