Travelling Istanbul in 2021

It's now spring of 2021. Many couldn't wait for 2020 to end, somehow they thought that COVID-19 would just decide to pack it in and call it a day. While some countries like the United States have started to bounce back and rebuild others like India are taking on the next wave and feeling the pressure. With travel restrictions lifting in some parts of the world and being imposed in others, here is some insight if you are thinking about planning a trip to Turkey this Spring / Summer season and some information on what has been happening here the last couple months.

I have been in Turkey, more accurately Istanbul Province since the New Year. At the time of writing this I am living through another lockdown imposed by the Turkish Government to help curb the COVID-19 virus. When I arrived there was a lockdown measure in place shortly after for the New Years holiday and it really is very likely another one may come around. So what does that mean if you are a tourist? Is it worth making a trip to the Golden Horn to risk having a lockdown put into place while you are here?

So far when Turkey imposes a lockdown international tourists are exempt. That means that even though residents are to stay home they can still head out into cities like Istanbul and see the historical and famous places around the city and soak in some culture.

Being exempt does not mean things are completely normal for travelers however. First and foremost not all the attractions are open. During this spring lockdown most of the museums are closed. Theme parks and other points of interest like the Basilica Cistern and Maidens Tower are also closed with no indication on when they may open. Not everything is closed however. You can still go to Saltanahmet Square, visit Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and walk the area once occupied by the Hippodrome of Constantinople. You can still visit the Grand Mosques and the Column of Constantine and you certainly can take a walk on the shores of Karaköy and Üsküdar during day, evening and night. You may be stopped by the police but they are quite good about letting tourists be and on their way. Just carry your passport with you. If you are considering buying a museum card that allows you to visit multiple attractions for a set price, you may want to do some research before making the purchase. At the time of writing this article it would be a complete waste of money. Places like the Museum of Illusion are not open. Hagia Sophia is free of charge and so are the other mosques around the city.

If you are staying in a hotel and can't prepare your own meals you are able to get food from most restaurants in the form of take-away. You are also allowed to eat at the hotel restaurant. So if you are worried about eating it is not that difficult to find food however until the lockdown restrictions are lifted you can not eat in the restaurants unless they are part of your hotel. There are some places that defy the order and you can take your chances if you like by sitting down to a meal behind barriers of chairs or windows covered by dark materials BUT if the police happen to come by the consequences could be a fine and or having your visa revoked. There are a couple apps that allow you to order food in and it is a great way to grab a meal but you need to understand what it is you are ordering. Most of the menus are in Turkish and not all of the restaurants have images of their food. Renting an apartment for your stay is generally a good way to go if you are concerned about a lockdown being enforced during your trip.

Major chain markets are open from 10 am until 5 pm each day. During this version of lockdown they are closed on Sundays. Smaller markets are open 7 days a week and most of the ones I have walked past in the evenings stay open until sunset or later. Shopping malls and other non-essential shops are supposed to be closed. For the most part they are but you can find a few that are open from time to time. If you are coming to Turkey to shop, this could be a deterrent. If you are here and the government needs to put a lockdown in effect these stores and shops tend to follow the rules.

The Metro and public transportation is still running, sometimes at a limited capacity. This means you can still take a bus, ferry, street car or subway around the city. Many of the trains that run between cities however have been halted. The high speed trains are still running but if you wanted to take a train across the country side it is not possible to do this as you normally would. Before making a plan to travel by train you should verify the service you would like to use is running at that time.

HES codes are something Turkey has been using for months now to help trace where COVID infected people have been. Everyone even tourists should have one if they want to take public transportation, visit museums or large shopping centers. To get a code you will need a Turkish phone number or if you have no interest in getting a SIM card you can request customer service to assist you in getting one at a major shopping center. If you plan to take the Metro once you arrive in Turkey you will need this code. You have to purchase a Metro pass and link it online to the HES code before it will work. If you plan on landing in a city like Istanbul and grabbing a train, plan to get a SIM card once you land at the airport and arrange to have a metro pass available for pickup when you arrive. You can have a metro pass waiting for you free of charge and it will save you some hassle if you are prepared as soon as you arrive.

The general consensus from the Turkish people I am seeing on Facebook groups is that "Everyone wants to come to Turkey". This is not the first country I have been in and witnessed this delusion. As a result websites like Air B'n'B are becoming more and more overpriced. If you are planning a trip and are thinking to use a site where you rent an apartment keep an eye on the prices. They tend to go up and down quite frequently. The reality is that there are not enough tourists here to fill all the apartments and after a place sits empty for a while the cost will come down. Then it will rent right away. Hotels on the other hand are feeling the crunch of the pandemic and good deals can be found. For a hotel I would recommend walking around after you arrive and pay in cash. They are more likely to negotiate and there will be no additional fees tacked on because they have to pay out a percentage to a booking site.

So is Turkey worth visiting in 2021? If a lockdown is put into place will it spoil your holiday? That depends on why you are coming, where you would like to stay and what restrictions you face when you return home. If you are coming to do some shopping and eat at cafes it may be a little too risky. If you are planning to do some urban exploring or lay on a beach, stay in a resort and dine at a hotel, a lockdown won't really effect you. If you want to see a place like Istanbul with no lines, no crowds and few vendors annoying you by trying to sell you knock off cologne and over priced rugs, it really is a great time to visit.

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