To those who have been to Istanbul in the past two years, did you feel safe?

[Skyros]

[Anonymous]

The city is safe, but scammers are everywhere, especially taxi drivers. They'll try to charge you an extra 1000-1500 lira each time. You can use public transportation, but it's very crowded. And restaurants, they give tourists different menus with different prices. You should check the actual prices on their websites; I've avoided being scammed many times this way. The only restaurants without scams were those in shopping malls.

[Skyros]

Did you ever go outside of the city. Somewhere like Nikomedia?

[Skyros]

Forget the other question. What time of year did you go to Istanbul? I just need to know the best season.

[Opinion Owner]

Autumn is the best. The weather is better, not very very crowded, and hotel prices are lower.

[DryGermanGuy]

The different menus (or menus without prices) really is the standard scam.

[Skyros]

Perfect, Fall is my favorite season.

[Opinion Owner]

@DryGermanGuy The stupidest thing is that they make it so obvious. Imagine being still sh, t at what you've been doing for years.🤣 The waiter took the QR code from my table and gave me a menu. I said "sooo you don't want me to see the actual prices on the website?" he put the QR code back. The only good thing about them is that they're dumb.

[DryGermanGuy]

Yeah, because they don't even see it as a scam. For them it's justified, because "all foreigners are rich". It's so annoying.

[AviatorTom]

My wife and I were in Istanbul for a short visit in May 2023, 2 years ago. We felt totally safe. Visited most of the main tourist areas, including restaurants along the Bosporus, the Hagia Sophia and the Bazaar,

[DryGermanGuy]

I have been before the CoVid pandemic and noticed police at every second street corner. The only unsafe scenario I could think of, are pickpockets. 🤷‍♂️

[Skyros]

Well, guess I won’t be going there. Damn it!

[DryGermanGuy]

Why is that?

[Skyros]

Oh, I misread it 🤦🏻‍♂️. I see now.

[Skyros]

Thanks a lot for your answer!

[DryGermanGuy]

Yeah, no problem. I found it a really safe city. But prepare to get squeezed to death in public transportation.

[Skyros]

It’ll be worth it. Did you have to use their currency or did they take USD?

[DryGermanGuy]

You have to have TL. Even if some random store would take USD, they would screw you over by not knowing the exchange rate. And don’t exchange money in the street, use one of the official booths.

[Skyros]

Got it. TL, that means lira right?

[DryGermanGuy]

Yes.

[Skyros]

I take it cash is still used there? Some countries have banned it. I don’t mean to keep questioning you. It’s just I know the cities history, but almost nothing it’s present day.

[DryGermanGuy]

I paid only in cash.

[Skyros]

Great

[Dargil]

I'm thinking a paleface like me may be a mark.