Good to know
Good to Know
- Turkish people are famously friendly and welcoming, and even if you make a cultural mistake, locals will usually smile and help you out.
- What works perfectly in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district might earn you uncomfortable stares in Konya's old town—Istanbul has diverse neighborhoods with varying cultural expectations.
- Istanbul traffic is severe and a common excuse for delays—build patience for delays without showing frustration.
- If someone offers you tea, accepting is a lovely gesture of friendship; if you really don't want it, a polite smile and thanks is enough—no one will be offended.
- If you ask someone out to dinner as the host, you will be paying the bill; likewise, if someone invites you, they will pay the bill—the concept of splitting the bill doesn't exist in Turkey.
Clothing
- Istanbul Urban
- In major cities like Istanbul, loose cotton shirts covering shoulders, comfortable jeans or loose pants, and maxi skirts or dresses work well, with the city maintaining a relatively relaxed atmosphere, but covering shoulders and knees simply makes daily life easier and more comfortable.
- Public Affection
- Holding hands is fine, but kissing and hugging passionately in public may attract stares.
Greetings
- Formal Address
- When addressing a Turk, the most common method is to call a man by his first name, followed by "bey" (Mr.), and a woman's first name would be followed by "hanim" (Ms.).
- Elderly Respect
- When greeting people in a gathering, you are required to start from the oldest person in the group, and if the person you are greeting is elderly and you are much younger, you are supposed to kiss the elderly's hand's back and then put it on your forehead as a sign of respect.
- General Greeting
- "Merhaba" is the universal "Hello" and can be used anywhere, anytime. For the more conservative or religious, "selamün aleyküm" (respond with "aleyküm selam") is normal.
- First Meetings Men
- When two men meet for the first time, they shake hands and sustain direct eye contact, with a reasonably firm handshake being appropriate. Among close friends and family members, hugs or gentle pats on the back are quite common, and men may even kiss each other on both cheeks.
- Same Gender Greetings
- When greeting people of the same gender it is common to kiss on the cheek, right first, then the left.
- Mixed Gender Greetings
- With the opposite gender there often is no contact in greeting unless they are more liberal or close friends.
Punctuality
- Job Interviews
- Delays of up to a half an hour are not only common but perfectly acceptable, this does not extend to job interviews, however—prospective employees should always arrive on time, even if the employer does not.
- Social Context
- While punctuality is expected in business, social meetings often start a bit later than scheduled—known as "Turkish time." If dinner is at 8:00, arriving at 8:15 is perfectly fine, however, official meetings (banks, government offices) are strict about timing—always arrive early.
- Business Context
- Turkish time means flexibility with punctuality—Turks may arrive 15-30 minutes late, however, foreigners should always arrive on time to show respect.
Sensitive Topics
- Politics
- Politics can be a passionate and potentially divisive topic in Turkey—it's advisable to approach political discussions with caution and avoid confrontational debates, especially if you are not well-informed about Turkish politics.
- Religion
- Turkey is a secular yet predominantly Muslim country, and most Turks are moderate, but respecting Islamic customs—especially during Ramadan—is important.
- Topics To Avoid
- Be mindful of cultural sensitivities and avoid topics that may be considered controversial or offensive, such as politics or religion, and respect the diversity of opinions and beliefs within Turkish society.
Business Etiquette
- Decision Making
- Be prepared for long discussions and multiple meetings—decision-making can take time, especially in large organizations where approvals pass through multiple layers of hierarchy, and patience is key since pressuring your Turkish counterpart for a quick answer may backfire.
- Negotiation Style
- Expect passionate, emotional negotiation with extensive bargaining, with Turks respecting strength and preparation—build relationships first, then negotiate firmly but respectfully.
- Meeting Preparation
- Turks like to be prepared for meetings and events well in advance—schedule meetings well in advance and brief your associates with details of who is attending, including titles, positions and responsibilities.
- Relationship Building
- First appointments are more social than business-oriented since Turks prefer to do business with people they know—small talk helps establish a rapport, and do not immediately begin discussing business.
Religious Observance
- Ramadan
- Avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during fasting hours.
- Mosque Etiquette
- When visiting mosques, remove shoes and women should carry a scarf to cover their hair.
- Dress Code Religious Sites
- Covering shoulders and knees is recommended for all travellers.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this culture & etiquette research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.theistanbulinsider.com
- 2.istanbulinvestments.com
- 3.istanbul-tourist-information.com
- 4.artofwayfaring.com
- 5.timeless.tours
- 6.restproperty.com
- 7.medium.com
- 8.commisceo-global.com
- 9.visitistanbul.com
- 10.traveldir.co
- 11.trykaiwa.com
- 12.fo-consultancy.com
- 13.businessculture.org
- 14.justlanded.com
- 15.focusaudits.eu
- 16.propertyturkey.com
- 17.turkishonline.eu
- 18.rivermate.com
- 19.employerofrecord-eor-turkey.com
- 20.tradingeconomics.com
- 21.xe.com
More About Istanbul
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.