10 things you cannot do in Istanbul

While enjoying your rest in Turkey you should not forget this is a unique country, very unlike to any other. It is secular but at the same time with Muslim customs and traditions. You won’t need thorough knowledge of them, but some basic rules and regulations are still worth to be studied. So...

1

Respect the Islamic sanctuaries and mosques. Nobody forces you to kneel when you go to the mosque: tourists in Turkey are allowed to enter the temples. But you should cover bare shoulders (for women) and remove your shoes (both for men and women). They can give kerchieves to the ladies directly at the entrance.

2

Do not spit. In Turkey it is considered as bad manners to spit on the street.

3

Do not point the finger at someone. And in general do not point your finger at anything.

4

Do not sit so that the other person could see the soles of your shoes. This is considered to be a deliberate desire to offend. It is clear they won’t express a claim to tourists - knowing that you’ve made a tactless action by chance - but it is still tactless.

5

Turkish people, especially from Istanbul, are very friendly. If you ask permission to photograph them, they are unlikely to refuse. But you should better ask for permission. This is especially true of those who intend to take a picture of a woman.

6

Respect the country you are in. The Turks are full of pride about Ataturk (the founder of the Turkish Republic), so do not criticize him or try to offend - it is considered a crime in Turkey.

7

Do not drink alcohol from the bottle in the streets. In the last case, if you desire to do this, put the bottle in the paper bag.

8

Do not take free gifts that are worth more than five or ten dollars. This may simply be a trick - the seller who "gave" you a handbag, may cry and make you pay ten times more. Also, do not take gifts if you’re a girl. This may be considered as a veiled harassment.

9

Do not carry a lot of small items. There is almost no criminality in Istanbul, the only one refers to petty theft just of those very small items.

10

If you’ve been invited to visit the Turks, never enter the house with your shoes on. Take them off at the entrance.

Also, let me add a few more interesting points:
It is better to refrain from visiting the mosques during the Mohammedan prayer;
Do not shoot those who pray and do not pass in front of them creating an obstacle for them facing Mecca;
Do not contact the traditionally-dressed women in the streets with questions;