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Ask Locals & Meet People in Istanbul!
Get authentic advice or meet people in Istanbul for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.
Trends in Istanbul
İkinci El Fotoğraf Ekipmanı Nerede Satabilirim?
Merhaba, elimde satmak istediğim bir fotoğraf makinesi lensi var. Bir tek Eminönü'ndeki Hayyam Pasajı'nı duydum fiyat alabileceğim. Başka neresi alır bunu, bildiğiniz yerler var mı acaba? more
Affordable Istanbul Sweets
Looking for reasonably priced, good quality Turkish delights in Istanbul. Prices varied wildly (3500 TL, 1250 TL, 600 TL/kg) at three different shops – all tasted the same! Any recommendations?
Honestly, you're getting ripped off. Those prices are insane. Head to the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı). You'll find tons of little shops selling lokum – some touristy, some not. Just wander around, compare prices (but don't be afraid to haggle a little!), and look for places that aren't super flashy. The smaller, less obvious places often have the best deals and the quality is usually just as good, if not better. You should easily find good lokum for way less than 600 TL/kg, probably closer to 200-300. Trust me, your wallet (and your taste buds) will thank you.
Wow, thanks! That's incredibly helpful. I completely overlooked the Spice Bazaar – I was focusing on the more obvious touristy spots. Haggling is definitely something I need to work on, I'm terrible at it! But 200-300 TL/kg sounds much more reasonable. I'll definitely check it out. Appreciate the tip!
Salomon Shoes in Istanbul
Finding Salomon XT6 shoes in Istanbul?
Check out outdoor gear shops in the Taksim or Beyoğlu districts. Larger sporting goods stores in malls might also carry them, but your best bet for a specific model like the XT6 is probably a dedicated outdoor retailer.
That's great advice, thanks! I hadn't thought about looking in Beyoğlu specifically. I'll check out the smaller shops first, then maybe hit a mall if I strike out. Fingers crossed!
Istanbul Walking Times & Google Maps
Planning an April trip to Istanbul, staying in Fatih near the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Many videos show people struggling with Google Maps' walking estimates. Are these times unreliable?
Man having a breakdown in the street
Witnessing a man having a severe emotional episode in Istanbul. He's sobbing loudly, hitting himself, and on the phone. Unsure if I should call the police or an ambulance. No one else is helping.
Parks Overflowing with Animal Waste
Dog owners and stray dogs are using parks as toilets, leaving behind their dogs' feces. The parks reek, especially when the sprinklers are on. Cleaners can't keep up. It's a serious public health r… more
Shoe Repair/Shine on the Anatolian Side
Hello. I'm looking for a cobbler or shoe shiner on the Anatolian side of Istanbul who can clean and re-dye my nubuck and leather shoes/boots. I don't trust the random places in the malls. If you have… more
I've had good luck getting nubuck and leather cleaned and dyed near the Kadıköy ferry terminal. There's a cluster of smaller, independent shoe repair shops there – look around a bit, you'll find someone who can handle it. They often do more than just simple repairs, so it's worth asking. Avoid the ones that look too flashy; usually the more humble places are better for this type of work.
Need table and chair rentals
Looking for affordable chair and table rental for a small home event (15-20 people) on December 30th.
Check out some of the smaller event rental places – often the bigger companies charge a premium. Try searching online for "Istanbul event rental small scale" or something similar. You might also have luck looking on some of the Turkish classifieds websites; they sometimes have individuals renting out equipment. December 30th is close, so act fast!
That's great advice, thanks! I hadn't thought about looking at smaller, local places. I'll definitely try searching with that more specific phrasing. And good point about the classifieds – hadn't considered that either. Panic mode engaged, you're right, it's getting close!
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