8 useful Ramadan tips for Foreigners

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The Holy Month of Ramadan, the thirty day period when devout Muslims fast during daylight hours has started here in Turkey. As a visitor you’re exempt from fasting but life does change so here are some useful Ramadan tips to help you make the most of your travels during this special month.

While locals abstain from eating, drinking, smoking or even chewing gum, from early in the morning until the evening they also reflect on their lives, to examine whether they’ve been compassionate, generous and honest. Something even non-Muslims can engage in too.

Ramadan Tips – Don’ts

• Forget that outside of cities like Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, restaurants might be closed at lunchtime in smaller towns and villages, because not enough people are eating out. Grab a snack or a sandwich before you leave your hotel to keep you going.
• Worry about travelling during Ramazan. Businesses are open as usual so you won’t have trouble finding a hotel, getting around or going sightseeing.
• Be afraid if you wake up at 3am to loud noises. It’s just a man playing a drum called a davul, making sure everyone is up in time to prepare and eat the pre-dawn meal known as sahur.

Ramadan Tips – Do

• Remember to wish people “Iyi bayramlar”, a good or happy festival.
• Go to an evening meal to break the fast, called iftar, if you’re invited. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get together with new friends and enjoy Turkish hospitality.
• Take sweets to give to your host if you’re invited to someone’s home. Baklava is always welcome.
• Be discreet if you decide to drink water during the day, especially in summer. No one will think badly of you but imagine how thirsty any onlookers will feel!
• Do go to Sultanahmet or Eyüp in the evening. Once there, join in with the families, couples and young lovers exploring the delights of the Ramadan fairs. Sample manisa macunu, a sweet sticky paste dating back to Ottoman times, have your name written in Arabic calligraphy or laugh at the antics of the Karagöz, the Turkish shadow puppets.

The most important of the Ramadan tips for foreigners to remember is to just enjoy taking part in traditional Turkish life!

* If you want to know what it’s really like to live in Istanbul, come laugh and cry with me in my book Istanbul Dreams: Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom.

Planning to come to Istanbul or Turkey? Here are my helpful tips for planning your trip.

Before you even buy your plane ticket, check whether you need an EVISA to enter Turkey. Here’s my post on everything to know before you take off, including how to buy one from the government website so you don’t pay extra. Once you land, you’ll need to head to your hotel. I’m a big advocate of public transport, but know it’s not suitable for everyone all the time. When I need to be picked up from or get to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, I use MELON TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFERS.

Naturally you’ll want to stay connected and eSIM are the way to go, wherever you travel. I recommend Truely, an eSIM provider working with local telcos. You can buy it before or after you arrive in Turkey, a convenience other esim providers no longer offer and can opt for 1 to as many days as you need, instead of being limited to 7, 15 or 30 days. Plus you can reload as you need. Truely eSIM are straightforward to install and activate but if you have any problems their responsive Whatsapp customer service is available 24/7.

Use my code: insideoutinistanbul and get 5% off when you order through the Truely website.

Even if I never claim on it, I always take out TRAVEL INSURANCE. I recommend Visitors Coverage. If you’re travelling alone, check out this post on useful solo travel tips Turkey for women (and men).

ACCOMMODATION: When I want to find a place to stay I use Booking.com.

Now that all the serious stuff is out of the way, it’s time to have fun on CITY TOURS & DAY TRIPS. Let me guide you around Kadikoy with my audio walking tour Stepping back through Chalcedon or venture further afield with my guidebook Istanbul 50 Unsung Places. I know you’ll love visiting the lesser-known sites I’ve included. It’s based on using public transport as much as possible so you won’t be adding too much to your carbon footprint.

Browse the GetYourGuide website or Viator to find dozens of ways to experience Istanbul and Turkey with food tours, visits to the old city and evening Bosphorus cruises. If you prefer a more personal touch, I also offer bespoke author walks.

Then, back home, read about what you’ve seen and experienced in my three essay collections and memoir about moving to Istanbul permanently.

However you travel, stay safe and have fun! Iyi yolculuklar.