Ask for your Turkish contacts’ mobile phone numbers, since this is the preferred mode of communication within the city. If people have more mobile phones ask which one has the same provider as yours.

To get a feel for where you are located, climb the Galata Tower or go, for lunch or dinner, to Mikla (in the Marmara Pera Hotel, Beyoglu) or Sunroof (in Sun Plaza, Maslak) because the views from these heights will help you get oriented. At the top of the Sapphire skyscraper in Levent you should definitely visit the rotating restaurant on top.

The Bosporus is not only the best way to see the waterside monuments and experience the beauty of the city, but travelling over water is also the best travel option to ensure you avoid rush hour traffic.
When visiting a mosque keep in mind that books lying in the windowsills are probably Korans and it is best not to touch these. The reason for this is that  Muslims normally wash their hands and ritually kiss the book before reading it out of respect for Gods word.
Istanbul in the Winter is also beautiful and charming with its misty harbors and snow- covered streets. This is also the best time for great fish meals with friends.
In the heat of summer, chicken, fish and milk products can better be avoided or be consumed only in reliable or specialized restaurants with a lot of customers (high turnover of food).

Door numbers in Istanbul can have changed several times. The newest numbers are written in white on red plates. Please note that the old numbers, for example, those on  blue plates, still exist on the buildings. Therefore getting a description of how to get somewhere is usually more useful than the address itself, which might have changed.

If it says on your restaurant bill ‘servis dahil’ it means that service costs are included. If not, it means that the (recommended) ten percent you give as a ‘tip’ is actually someone’s entire salary. Please ‘tip’ your waiter.

Taxi’s often do NOT know the way, and that is not always because you’re a tourist. Your driver might just be a recent arrival in the city, trying to make ends meet in his first job. Taxi’drivers do not get tips. When you need one for a full day, make sure to bargain for a fixed price before you start your trip.

In order for you to get around comfortably, it is best to take a taxi from a taxi-stand or ask your hotel to call one for you. It is better not to take one that  is driving by if you have the choice. Taxi-stand taxis know their own neighborhood and they typically go to the district of your destination and then ask other taxi-stand drivers for further or final directions. This is normal.

Forget about using pedestrian crossing paths on roads, they are never respected by any kind of Istanbul traffic. Crossing the street works like this: you group together with other people until there are about 6 or more of you in one spot and then you force yourself in a tight group trough the traffic.

In Istanbul people cross when traffic has stopped, not when traffic and the roads are clear..

“Oh my! , Did that minibus/dolmus/taxi/… just do that ?!?!?” Yep, and they sure as hell they will do that again - without looking and in any possible situation - …