6 common tourist scams in Istanbul and how to avoid them

Most people you meet in Istanbul are simply friendly. But like any big tourist city, it has a few tricks aimed at first-time visitors. Two Turkish phrases will help you with almost all of them: Ne kadar? means “How much?” and Hayır, teşekkürler means “No, thank you.”

Use the first before you agree to anything, and the second when the answer, or the situation, doesn’t feel right.

1. The dropped shoe brush

A shoe shiner walks past you and drops a brush. You pick it up and hand it back, and to say thank you he offers to clean your shoes. Once he’s started, he asks for money, sometimes much more than you would ever have agreed to.

Handing the brush back is a kind thing to do. You can still say Hayır, teşekkürler and keep walking. If you actually want a shoe shine, agree on the total price before you put your foot on the box.

2. The taxi with a “broken” meter

Before getting into a street taxi, show the driver your destination on a map and ask Taksimetreyi açar mısınız? (“Could you turn on the meter, please?”). If the driver says the meter is broken or offers a fixed price you didn’t ask for, choose another taxi before you load your bags.

During the ride, follow the route on your phone, especially on the way to an airport or when crossing between the European and Asian sides. Traffic in Istanbul can make a detour reasonable, so if the route changes, simply ask why. If your trip uses a toll bridge or tunnel, ask about the toll before you set off.

At the end, check the meter before you pay. If you pay by card, check the amount on the card machine too. If there’s a disagreement, ask for a receipt and note the taxi’s licence plate.

To avoid the problem altogether, ask your hotel to call a taxi for you or to point you to a taxi rank. Have the hotel’s full street address ready, as some hotel names appear more than once on the map.

3. The “let’s have a drink” invitation

This is the scam to take most seriously. Someone friendly starts chatting with you, often around Sultanahmet or on İstiklal Avenue, and after a while suggests going for a drink at a bar they know. Inside, drinks arrive that you didn’t order, sometimes along with other “guests”, and at the end you’re handed an enormous bill. Staff may pressure you to pay.

If you’d like to keep talking, suggest a café that you choose. If the other person insists on a particular place or tries to hurry you, end the conversation there. Wherever you sit down, look at the menu with prices, order for yourself and don’t let drinks be ordered on your behalf.

If anyone threatens you or stops you from leaving, your safety comes first. Get to a busy public place if you can, and call 112, Türkiye’s emergency number, if you’re in danger. Keep any receipt or card notification as a record.

4. The restaurant without clear prices

In busy areas such as Eminönü or Karaköy, you may be choosing between many restaurants. Look for a menu with prices before you sit down. If a waiter offers the fish of the day or brings over a tray of meze, ask what each item costs before you choose.

Fish is often priced by weight. Point to the fish you’re being offered and ask Bunun toplam fiyatı ne kadar? (“What’s the total price for this one?”) before it goes to the kitchen. If bread, water or starters arrive without you ordering them, it’s fine to ask whether they’re charged before you start eating. If you can’t get a clear answer, walk on and try another menu.

If the final bill surprises you, ask for an itemised bill, point to the line you don’t recognise and ask Bu ücret ne için? (“What is this charge for?”). For places I’d send a friend, see What to Do in İstanbul.

5. The “free” guide who changes the terms

Some walking tours are clearly advertised as tip-based and explain how it works up front. The problem is the stranger who offers to show you around “for free” and then asks for a fee, leads you into a carpet or jewellery shop, or pressures you to pay for things you never agreed to.

A related trick: someone near a sight tells you it’s closed today and offers to take you somewhere else instead. Before believing it, walk to the official entrance and check the posted notice or ask the staff there.

If you hire a guide, ask before you set off what the price includes, where the tour ends, which sights you’ll enter and which you’ll only see from outside, and whether there are any shopping stops. Licensed tour guides in Türkiye carry an official guide card, and it’s perfectly normal to ask to see it. You can read about how I work and my tours before you book.

6. The currency switch at the card machine or ATM

When you pay by card, the machine may offer to charge you in your home currency instead of Turkish lira. This is called dynamic currency conversion, and the exchange rate is usually worse than your own bank’s. Read both the amount and the currency before you confirm, and choose TRY or Turkish lira. Your own bank may still charge its normal foreign transaction fee.

At an ATM, the same offer may appear. Declining the conversion is usually the better deal, but it doesn’t remove any fee the ATM itself charges, so read the screen carefully. At an exchange office, ask how many lira you’ll receive after commission, then count the cash before you leave and keep the receipt.

When paying in cash in a busy shop, say the value of the note out loud as you hand it over, for example “two hundred”, and count your change at the counter. It’s much easier to sort out a mistake while you and the cashier are still looking at the same money.

My tip

Before saying yes to anything, be clear on three things: what you’re getting, what it costs, and which currency you’re paying in. If those answers keep changing, Hayır, teşekkürler is all you need to say. Then carry on enjoying your day.