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Muslim business traveller's guide
Istanbul is one of the most comfortable cities in the world for a Muslim traveller. Türkiye is Muslim-majority, so halal food is the norm, the call to prayer sounds across the city, and historic mosques — the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye, Hagia Sophia — double as living places of worship. Straddling Europe and Asia, the city is served by metro, trams and ferries, all on a single Istanbulkart.
Getting in
Istanbul Airport (IST)
• M11 Metro — ~35-45 min toward the city (cheapest; change for central lines)
• Havaist airport bus — ~60-90 min (direct coaches to Taksim/Sultanahmet)
• Taxi / iTaksi — 45-75 min (traffic-dependent)
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Asian side) (SAW)
• Havabüs / metro — ~60-90 min (mainly low-cost carriers)
• Taxi — 45-75 min
Getting around
A dense network of metro, tram, funicular, Marmaray cross-Bosphorus rail and ferries connects both continents.
A single Istanbulkart works on metro, tram, bus, Marmaray and ferries.
Use BiTaksi/iTaksi or insist on the meter (taksimetre); have your destination written down.
Visa & entry
Money
Turkish Lira · TRY
Cards and contactless are widely accepted; carry some cash for bazaars and small eateries.
A tip of around 10% is customary in restaurants.
Connectivity
Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom tourist SIMs at IST/SAW arrivals
eSIM: Airalo and similar eSIMs cover Türkiye
Plug: Type C / F (European 2-pin) · 230V / 50Hz
Emergency
General: 112
Fire: 112
Safety
Sultanahmet & Eminönü
Fatih (old city) · $$
halal
Kebab houses, pide, baklava and the Spice Bazaar — overwhelmingly halal.
Fatih & Çarşamba
Fatih · $
halal
Conservative neighbourhoods with abundant traditional halal eateries.
Citywide
all districts · $-$$$
halal by default
In a Muslim-majority city, restaurants are halal unless they specifically serve alcohol/pork — easy to spot.
Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque
Sultanahmet
Active mosque; visitors welcome outside prayer times, modest dress required.
Süleymaniye & New Mosque
Fatih / Eminönü
Grand Ottoman mosques open for prayer across the old city.
Mosques & prayer rooms everywhere
citywide
Mosques in every neighbourhood; prayer rooms (mescit) at the airports, malls and transport hubs.
Hagia Sophia & Topkapı Palace
Sultanahmet
The great Byzantine-Ottoman monument (now a mosque) and the imperial palace.
Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
Fatih
Historic covered markets — carpets, lanterns, sweets and spices.
Bosphorus ferry
Eminönü / Karaköy
Cross between Europe and Asia by public ferry for the classic skyline view.
Sources: https://goturkiye.com · https://www.evisa.gov.tr · https://www.istanbul-airport.com