Mosques
Remove shoes before entering (carry them in the provided bag). Women cover their hair, shoulders and knees; scarves and wraps are usually available at the door. Men should cover knees and shoulders.
Visit outside prayer times, keep voices low, and do not walk in front of people praying. Photography is allowed in most mosques but never of worshippers without permission.
Food and drink
Tea (çay) is offered everywhere: in shops, offices, bazaars. Accepting is polite; it is a gesture, not a sales tactic.
In restaurants, tipping around 10 percent is standard. Bread is sacred: do not waste it visibly. In a meyhane, the table lingers: do not rush it.
Bargaining and daily life
Bargaining is expected in bazaars and markets, not in restaurants or fixed-price shops. Start at about two-thirds of the asking price and meet in the middle, with good humour.
The Turkish flag and Atatürk are treated with deep respect: do not deface or mock either. Public displays of affection are low-key outside the big coastal resorts.