What to Wear in Istanbul

What to Wear
Istanbul is a genuinely modern, cosmopolitan city, and everyday dress in most neighbourhoods runs no different from anywhere else in Southern Europe — smart casual works fine in restaurants, shops and most tourist areas, with no particular restrictions on ordinary Western clothing.

Mosque visits are the real exception, and the rules are specific. The Blue Mosque and other working mosques require shoulders and knees covered for everyone, and women need their hair covered with a headscarf. Most major mosques provide free coverings at the entrance for visitors who arrive without one, similar to what you’d find at other major Islamic sites — so don’t stress if you show up unprepared.

Comfortable walking shoes matter a lot here, given how much ground the old city covers and how uneven the cobblestone streets around the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet district can get. You’ll also be removing your shoes at every mosque entrance, so slip-on shoes save real hassle over the course of a day.

Istanbul does get genuine seasonal swings — warm, dry summers and cooler, wetter winters — so check the season before you pack. Spring and autumn sit comfortably in between and call for a light layer rather than anything heavy.