When you visit Istanbul it is inevitable that you will hear the call for prayer five times a day. The minarets of the mosques all around the city are equipped with loudspeakers to invite and remind the community that it's time for prayer. During your stay you are also most likely to visit one or more mosques such as the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii) or my personal favorite, … [Read more...]
What (Not) to Do In a Mosque
Visiting a mosque should be on your Istanbul sightseeing list. Muslims must follow certain rules inside the mosques. But even as a non-Muslim, you are expected to respect some rules during your visit. Here is an overview of the mosque etiquette.Closed During Prayer Time During the prayer hours/periods you are not allowed to be inside the mosque. But in between two … [Read more...]
Public, National and Religious Holidays in Turkey
It's always a good idea to check out Turkey's and Istanbul's official, public, national, regional and religious holidays before planning a trip or a sightseeing excursion. To make it easier for you I created this nice overview. Please pay special attention to the religious holidays since they change yearly.Most popular tourist atrractions and shops open their doors … [Read more...]
The Jewish Community and Notable Synagogues in Istanbul
The vast majority of the Jewish community in Turkey (currently estimated at around 26.000 people) lives in Istanbul. This is only a fraction of the 500.000 Jews that once lived in Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire -- a time when Jews and Christians made up 40% of Istanbul's population. Read on for a short history about the Jewish community and an overview of notable synagogues … [Read more...]