Evil Eye
This small glass charm of concentric blue circles is most often worn as jewelry and meant to protect against “the evil eye.”  It widely available from very expensive to cheap items and is a perfect memento from Istanbul.

Getting around the city
Taxis are the most convenient way to travel around Istanbul; they are generally abundant, especially at the major hotels, and fares are inexpensive compared with Europe or the United States.  All taxis are metered but, to be safe, always check that the meter is on.   Don’t hail a cab at night.  There will be cabs at the hotel to take you to dinner or your evening destination.  Ask the restaurant to call a cab for your return to the hotel.

Money
The currency is the Turkish Lira (TRL) though prices are sometimes shown in euros.  Banks and hotels exchange foreign currency and Turkish lira can be obtained at the numerous ATMs throughout Istanbul.

Private Guides
A private guide with a car is the most efficient way to tour Istanbul in a short period of time; a guide can be booked through your hotel.  You can also hire a private guide at nearly all the major sites though beware of carpet salesmen posing as guides.

Telephone
When calling from outside Turkey, the country code is 90 and the Istanbul city code is 212. If you are calling within Istanbul, you must dial 0212.

Tipping
At many restaurants, the menu or the bill will contain the words “servis ve KDV dahilidir”, which means service and tax are included.  In this case, the appropriate tip for the waiter is 10 percent.  If service is not included, a 15 percent tip is considered appropriate.  Also, be prepared to leave a cash tip when paying with a credit card, since credit card slips in Turkey often do not have space to leave a tip.  In a taxi, round-up the cab fare to the nearest 100,000 lira or so.

Traffic
Traffic in Istanbul is ghastly.  It is always very heavy so leave plenty of time wherever you go, no kidding.

VISA Requirements
A tourist visa is required for citizens of many countries to enter Turkey, but it can be purchased at the airport or border-crossing point. Before you go through customs, there is a designated area to purchase a visa.  You need your passport and the fee in cash; the fee for U.S. citizens is approximately $20; for UK Citizens it’s; £15.   If you’re traveling with your family, only one person need stand in line (with everyone’s passport) to buy all the visas while the others are waiting in the immigration line.  Passports should be valid for at least six months from your arrival date in Turkey.  The visa is valid for 90 days.

Water
It’s advisable to drink bottled water during your visit to Istanbul.