Please RVSP by January 31st, 2025.
The wedding will be outdoors. The average temperature in Istanbul at the end of June is 72-80F. We will be by the water, so expect some light wind throughout the event.
We recommend coming in at least 2 days before the wedding, so arriving on Friday at the latest. There is a 7-hour time difference compared to the East Coast, so jet lag can get brutal the first couple of days.
Istanbul is historic with lots of sightseeing opportunities and it is also a pretty large city, so we recommend at least giving it 3 full days (more if you have the flexibility) to explore the city. The historical peninsula alone (Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace) takes a full day. There is a lot more Turkey has to offer. Cappadocia is a popular destination for tourists and only a 2-hour flight away from Istanbul. It is recommended that people stay 2-3 days there to explore everything. It will be summertime, so for those who are interested, Turkey's southern and western coasts (Turkish Riviera) are highly recommended. Feel free to reach out to Merve for recommendations on other Turkish destinations!
Turkish Lira or TL. You won't find anywhere that will accept USD in cash. Most locations accept credit cards but it is recommended that you bring some cash with you in case it is needed (street vendors etc.). It’s best to do the currency exchange in the U.S., but you can also do it in Turkey. Beware of the higher conversion rates in the touristic areas!
Yes, you will need a Type C or Type F plug.
Turkish. Due to the high volume of tourists, you will find many people who speak English. That being said, having access to a translator for certain situations could be beneficial.
In general, it is relatively a safe city. Istanbul is a crowded city and gets up to 22 million tourists a year. It is always a good idea to be cautious and city-smart.