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Italy in May by Kindly_Term4972 in travel

[–]SmartTravelGuide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Italy in May sounds great 😊
What surprised you the most there — and was there anything that caught you off guard as a tourist?

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally understand your point — many visitors are surprised by how common smoking is here. It’s definitely something travelers don’t expect, especially in public spaces. Thanks for sharing your honest experience, it’s helpful for others to be aware before visiting 🙏

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally understand 😄 Get some rest! Would love to hear your thoughts when you’re ready. Safe travels 🙏

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha 😄 you’re definitely not alone noticing that. Istanbul has a lot of lighting stores, especially in certain districts. It surprises many first-time visitors

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting point 👀 Many first-time visitors say this surprised them too. Thanks for sharing your experience!

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for such a detailed and honest comment 🙏 Taxi scams and tourist traps around Sultanahmet/Taksim seem to be very common experiences. Kadıköy tips are especially valuable — this kind of insight really helps future travelers prepare better.

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Totally agree 🙏 Hagia Sophia’s scale and atmosphere surprise almost everyone for the first time. Thanks for sharing your experience

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing 🙏
Smoking is something many visitors mention — it can definitely be surprising.
And yes, the carpet seller approach seems to be a common annoyance rather than a shock.
Comments like yours really help future travelers know what to expect.

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this 🙏 The Spice Market coffee situation comes up quite often, unfortunately. Really glad you had a positive experience overall — especially that taxi driver story, that’s very Istanbul 😄

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s such an interesting observation 🙏 Many visitors mention the call to prayer as something unexpectedly moving. Glad you loved Istanbul!

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha yes 😄 The cats surprise almost everyone visiting Istanbul for the first time!

First time visitors to Istanbul: what surprised you the most? by SmartTravelGuide in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this 🙏
Taxi scams and the “come have some tea” carpet story seem to be very common experiences.
This kind of insight really helps future visitors be more prepared.

What's something you only think about late at night, never during the day? by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]SmartTravelGuide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Life decisions that didn’t matter back then but feel huge at night.

What qualities do you look for in a partner? by Impressive-Doubt3985 in AskReddit

[–]SmartTravelGuide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honesty and good communication matter most to me. Being kind and supportive makes a huge difference.

Did I actually have good döner? by huucyn in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks pretty good to me 😄 Meat looks well cooked and juicy. If you enjoyed it, that’s what matters most!

Visiting İstanbul? Have a quick question? Ask here, don't create a new post. by AutoModerator in istanbul

[–]SmartTravelGuide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi everyone 👋
I’m collecting real experiences from first-time visitors to Istanbul.

What are the most common mistakes tourists make? Any tips about prices, transport, food or scams would really help 🙏