Turkish culture is a fascinating blend of Eastern and Western influences, shaped by thousands of years of history. Understanding it before you go is what turns you from a tourist into a traveller.
Turkish hospitality: more than good manners
Hospitality (misafirperverlik) is one of the pillars of Turkish culture. Turks see a visitor as a gift from God. Don’t be surprised if a shopkeeper in the bazaar invites you for a çay (tea), if a stranger walks you to the place you’re looking for, or if a restaurant brings you dessert on the house “because you’re our guest”. This generosity is genuine.
Tea: a social ritual
Çay (Turkish tea) isn’t just a drink, it’s a social ritual. It comes out on every occasion: business meetings, home visits, shopping in the bazaar; even your guide will be offered one. Turning down a tea can come across as impolite. It’s served in small tulip-shaped glasses, always piping hot and usually without milk.
Religion and secularism
Türkiye is an officially secular country with an overwhelmingly Muslim population (around 99%). Religious practice, however, varies enormously: from very conservative areas in the south-east to entirely liberal neighbourhoods in Istanbul. Mosques are open to visitors outside prayer times, as long as you dress appropriately: shoulders and knees covered, and women also cover their hair. The Blue Mosque guide explains how a visit works.
Customs worth knowing
- Shoes: take them off when you enter a mosque, and in many homes and carpet shops.
- Bargaining: in bazaars and markets, haggling is part of the experience. It’s a social game, not a confrontation. See my guide to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar.
- Nazar boncuğu: the blue “evil eye” bead that is believed to ward off the evil eye. You’ll see it everywhere: on doors, in cars, on bracelets.
- Hammam: the Turkish bath is a centuries-old tradition. A scrub and foam massage in a historic hammam is a cultural experience you shouldn’t miss (more in my Turkish hammam guide).
- Greetings: close friends greet each other with a kiss on both cheeks. Between religious men and women, a greeting may be just a hand placed on the chest, so let the other person take the lead.
Arts and crafts
- Carpets: Turkish carpets are among the most famous in the world. Every region has its own patterns and colours.
- Iznik ceramics: tiles and plates with floral designs in blue, red and green. This is the art that decorates the country’s most beautiful mosques.
- Calligraphy: the art of writing in Arabic script was revered by the Ottomans as the highest of the arts.
- Music: from the mystical ceremony of the whirling dervishes in Konya to modern Turkish pop, music is part of every occasion.
Everyday life
Turks live much of their lives outdoors: two-hour breakfasts on Sundays, tea gardens along the Bosphorus, sunset strolls along the seafront. Family is at the centre of everything. A dinner can last three hours, with plate after plate of meze and plenty of conversation.
With an English-speaking private guide, you experience Turkish culture first-hand: you visit homes, join in local traditions and eat where the locals eat. Design a tailor-made cultural trip.