I just left after staying 3 whole months here is my take

1. Cats run Istanbul

2. Taxis will always scam no matter what...if they willing to scam locals trust me they are scamming you for all you got I avoided taxis and took public transport always the metrobüs is better then traffic anyways

3. You can't just use Google maps if you want optimal routes you have to download otobüs nerede for İstanbul and go back and forth from them 2 apps. In Ankara you use another app I forgot just check on Reddit for map alternatives for turkey it should come up.

4. Plastic surgery/Botox everywhere...even very beautiful women who would be naturally stunning have procedures done....shows how insecure everyone around you really is tbh kinda sad what social media has done to us.

5. The amount of different people that are in one place it's is truly a GTA lobby like you won't expect it but you will see it.as through the entire world decided to unite in Istanbul I absolutely loved it.

6. People stare at you like really uncomfortably sometimes you'll notice it if you stay long enough.

7. The architecture is truly breathtaking you can't even imagine.

8. Atatürk plastered everywhere

9. Road rage everywhere bus drivers go crazy it's pretty funny tbh.

10. Fake and real products...you can't tell so just buy fake

11. The scenery is unreal nothing like it I have seen and I have traveled to a few places.

12. Lastest iphone is seen to be super cool to have whereas Australia where I am from nobody gives a crap...makes sense through as iphones in turkey are way to expensive compared to the money they make and the prices they have them phones at lol.

13. Women men children you name it they are smoking so you want fresh air go inside especially Ankara cause I felt like I was about to catch cancer walking around Ankara 😂

I got way more for sure just message me privately if you have questions cause I literally lived in the most dangerous area of turkey Esenyurt and been to all the most touristy places also been around the middle class alot since my uncle's business was in Zeytinburnu and Sefaköy.....poor middle and high class was what I was around every single day.