Istanbul is a city that never ceases to amaze—its rich history, vibrant streets, and diverse flavors create an unforgettable experience. However, like any popular destination, it has its share of tourist traps that can catch even the savviest traveler off guard.
Having been born and raised here, and spending over a decade guiding visitors through this incredible city, I’ve seen these traps time and again. Some are pretty obvious, while others present themselves as “authentic local experiences,” and a few are so cleverly disguised that you only realize you’ve been duped when it’s too late.
In this article, I’ll take you through the genuine tourist traps in Istanbul—the ones that really matter, not the recycled myths you might have come across in clickbait articles. My aim is straightforward: to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to spot these traps, allowing you to focus less on potential scams and more on enjoying the true wonders that Istanbul has to offer.
I’ll be sharp as knife and drop the all masks in Istanbuls tourism industry by exposing all the tourist traps in Istanbul. Let’s get started!
Online Tourist Traps
Yes! The traps are all set on your way, even before you set foot in Istanbul. Although it’s such a deep and complicated subject, I’ll ensure you are clearly aware of such frauds.
Traps from most well-known websites
You’re automatically trusting websites such as Tripadvisor or GetYourGuide, but you should not. Let me explain why:
These websites work with local partners who offer nothing more than scams. Most of them cheat on their product or service descriptions, and bury their trap in fine print so you do not read it and fall for them blind.
They do this in the most naive ways; excluding the entry fees from their final prices. You simply show up at their meeting point, and either they say the tour didn’t include entrance, or worse, they ask for money for your entrance fee. These companies choose low-profile, barely English-speaking tour guides to gain your sympathy.
At the beginning, I thought these online websites that create reliable profiles were not aware of such service providers and were doing their best to avoid these scams. But the reality is different! They’re perfectly aware of such scams — in fact they are an instrument or tool for such criminals to earn profits by charging commissions up to 30 percent, and on some websites even more.
How do I know it? Because I was also partnered with some of them, and actually still partner with GetYourGuide on paper until the end of this year. (The reason why I cannot cut my connections immediately is simply they are charging me their commissions from every single booking that I currently have. That’s why I scheduled my calendar until the end of this year, and I have no intention to return to them at any cost! I do not honestly plan on such a partnership with organisations that are part of these crimes.)
Do I have proof for such acquisitions? You asked for it.
Over the past few years, I did try to fix their issues and sent them more than a couple of mails. I’m not going to share them all in here but the one that I’ve picked will drop the curtain.
My Mail to platform:
‘Dear GetYourGuide Support Team, I am writing to formally report a highly suspicious and likely fraudulent activity currently listed on your platform that claims to offer a Basilica Cistern visit for only €10. As of today, the official entry fee for the Basilica Cistern is 1300 Turkish Liras (~€30 per person).
Therefore, it is impossible for any listing to offer this experience at a lower price without incurring a violation of your platform’s standards and local regulations. The reasons for immediate removal are as follows:
Violation of Supplier Policy 3.3 – Prices The listing advertises a final price that does not include all Required Fees, which is clearly against your platform’s pricing rules. As your policy states: “The Retail Price must include all Required Fees, and Supplier may not collect (or attempt to collect) from Customers any Required Fees that are not disclosed in the Product Offer or included in the Retail Price.”
Deceptive and potentially fraudulent business practice The activity description instructs customers to meet at a specific location — a place already in use by a verified partner who legitimately operates Basilica Cistern tours. This behavior raises serious concerns, as it appears that:
- The fraudulent supplier may be using your platform to sell a service they are not authorized or able to deliver,
- And is potentially leaving guests to join tours provided by another official supplier at the same meeting point, without consent or cooperation. This is not only misleading for customers but also damages the integrity of your marketplace and the trust between suppliers and guests.
Our request: We strongly urge GetYourGuide to take immediate action and remove this listing from the platform to prevent further customer deception and platform abuse. Please confirm once the listing has been reviewed and removed.’
My mail responded briefly asking valid link, Supplier ID or Product ID, and I shared them right away. The service was listed on their platform as €10 per person, and jumped to €40 at the checkout page.
Their respond:
‘Thank you for your reply.
Please note that the 10 EUR displayed on their page is their lower possible price. It is probably a temporary special offer, as most of their princing ranges between 40 and 50 EUR. In light of these details, we have no reason to suspect fraud is at play here. If you have more details to provide, feel free to do so.
Thank you for your patience and your understanding.
—
Kind regards,
Hiding the nickname (just incase might be the real name)
GetYourGuide Supplier Experience Team’
My respond:
‘Dear
Name Hidden,
Lower possible price? Could find me some seats for the lower possible prices? I want to book them all because I do operate tours to same Cistern daily, so I’d not mind to ‘Lower’ my expenses. Please share the details given and your Lower Possible Price explanation to department whose responsible for such act.
And please explain to me how can even this be possible to cheat some reliable platform like GetYourGuide? Let me also lower all of my activities which over 60-70 €.’
And following respond from platform:
‘Thank you for your reply.
Please note that the price displayed on your activity is automatically updated to the lowest price you offer for any given activity. This is a feature of the system, made to attract customers, but it does not have to reflect every possible price offered for your activity, as it is not an average.
Feel free to let me know if you need anything else.
—
Kind regards,
Name Hidden
GetYourGuide Supplier Experience Team’
So long story short, my efforts were denied. I was hallucinating and they’re just “attract customers”.
I feel terribly sorry to keep this so long, but I had to. I do not want to keep this longer than it should be; however, their sins continue with selling tickets to free attractions like the Blue Mosque, offering “skip the ticket line” or “skipping the lines” at Blue Mosque (which is not possible at all), or offering trash audio guides full of mistakes and inaccurate information. So long as all these platforms run such policies that intentionally ruin your visit in Istanbul, I’ll lay their real faces before your attention.
Traps from Unknown Websites
For almost 2 years now, other (local) actors have come up with a brilliant idea. They’re buying domain names (website addresses) with the names of the most visited museums in Istanbul, and saying, or implying, that these websites are official (or even funnier: official ticket partners) of Istanbul’s main museums. Since I noticed that move, I also bought a couple of domains for the same attractions to save travelers in Istanbul from these dirty hands.
Wake up people! It’s time. None of these museums like Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, or Basilica Cistern—including the Blue Mosque (which even has free admission)—sell their tickets online. The only official tickets (as if there were unofficial tickets) are sold at the ticket vendors of the museums, at their offices.
Eventually, tourists who made bookings from such websites are cheated, misled, and they have no one on their side to listen to their complaints or fix the issues of those platforms.
These tourists ended up joining tours that waited at security checks for hours, joined groups of more than 45 participants in the same group, and even had services without headsets to hear those limited tour guides.
I could continue all day long (with city passes, etc.), yet I have to cover other subjects.
Face to Face Actions
I can hear you saying: “What do you mean by that?” Here’s the truth:
Tourism all across the globe, including Istanbul, makes its earnings either from the services provided or by selling other actors’ services for commissions. There’s nothing to hide or be ashamed of…
What I’m trying to emphasize here is that some of these commission agents are highly aggressive. They’re not simply trying to hook you with services so you can find what you’re looking for. They’re salesmen at the airport, sharing the same taxi or transportation ride with you, in your hotel lobby, or waiting for your arrival at some location in the city. I have no words for the ones who make their living honestly, yet there are many figures who will cross paths with you.
Simply, nobody is going to pull the “Shoe Shine Scam” on you. Watch out instead for the ones who show the shoe shine just to earn your trust—online or face to face.
Real Scams in Istanbul
Istanbul’s old town (the areas near Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, or Basilica Cistern) is relatively expensive compared to other parts of the city. So you won’t be overpaying for goods or services by accident.
Their rentals are astronomical, and they have no option left but to survive with high costs. Instead, you can be aware of such pricing and act more cautiously in terms of choosing where to eat or which services to book. When I did my research on other webpages, I noticed most of them are just salesmen talking. They’re pointing at a curtain and asking for your wallet. Under this article, I won’t be asking you to book my services. What I’ll do instead is reveal the real scams of my beautiful city.
Nothing is Free
Stay away from any service that offers something for free! You heard me right. If someone offers something free, either the service/product has no value or it’s nothing more than a sales tactic. (There are no free tours in Istanbul, nor free audio guides.)
Save Your Time
Do not fall for common traps like “have a Turkish Bath,” “join the Dervish Show,” or “a must-do in Istanbul is a Bosporus tour.” Focus on your own interests and save your time from activities you are not actually interested in. Nobody leaves a cruise mesmerized or a bath with lifetime relaxation.
False Advertisements
The majority of players make false advertisements. Don’t be attracted, people! It could be a social media post or an email. Everybody is tracking your online footprint and creating strategies to match your expectations. Have you ever thought—what if your expectations are not even possible to provide?
Fake Reviews
All online platforms are cheated, corrupted, and not reflecting reality. At least I can say that in my field without doubting its accuracy. Everything you read, search, or blog about is nothing more than salesmen in business.
Be Prepared or Pay
If you’re going to visit a site that has a dress code and you fail to meet it, be prepared or pay. Honestly, I don’t want you to pay. This could even include bookings you made that never covered the entry fees.
Service Cost
Be aware that the majority of restaurants now add their service cost to your bill (some 5%, some 20%). The other day, I went to have street food just to create content and I noticed the food I had included a service cost—without service at all (it was self-service). Of course, I did not pay, but since you’re a tourist, you might feel under pressure to pay. Ask the place, and save yourself from the trouble.
Unrealistic Offers
Especially city passes have been using this instrument for years now, promising to cover an endless list of attractions. Here’s your real talk: running around from one museum to another is not in your interest! Even if you could visit all the attractions promised, you’ll only leave this outstanding city without truly knowing it. Istanbul is not just Galata Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, or Basilica Cistern. It is an entire city with a highly promising profile. Keep reminding yourself of this.
Fake Goods With Real Prices
This could be a bag you’re considering buying or a service that looks extremely solid. Nobody, except honest sellers, will say out loud that the promised service or bag is fake. They’ll highlight some of its benefits and leave the rest to your free will. Be aware of fakes and act accordingly.
Turkish Delight
Some of the main tourist traps revolve around Turkish Delight. After being affected by high inflation, some shop owners choose cheap suppliers and factories to provide these products. The problem is that some of them don’t even use real sugar. The use of artificial sweeteners, colorings, and low-quality nuts has become quite widespread. Don’t chase price or brand—chase the actual quality.
The Voice of Desperation
In any case, do not be desperate when visiting Istanbul. Make your plans wisely and do not become one of those on social media saying: “Oh my God, I was scammed by a taxi driver in Istanbul.” If you’re receiving an offer while desperate, expect no good intentions anywhere in the world. Instead of giving you bread crumbs, I gave you the golden key. Keep your arms up, and leave no room for anyone.
Conclusion
I could have taken the pitch of a salesman and written an article that would probably rank better in search results, targeting keywords like “9 Istanbul Tourist Scams To Avoid,” “Tourist Mistakes in Istanbul: Don’t Let These Things Ruin Your Trip!,” “Nightclub Hustle,” “Carpet Shop Scams,” “Taxi Scam,” “Where Is My Change?,” “Overpriced Goods and Services,” “Simit Man Scams”—or made an easy list that says “What should I be careful of in Istanbul?,” “What are the 4 most common scams?,” “How safe is Istanbul right now?,” “What to do if you are scammed in Turkey?,” “What is the most common crime in Istanbul?” But all of that would miss the point!
What I did instead is share my professional opinion—as someone who owns a travel agency, an officially licensed tour guide with over 10 years of experience, and a local born and raised in Istanbul. I am not funded by any organization or person. I make my humble living from guiding.
The things I’ve shared with you have never been published anywhere on the internet (until now). I am still concerned about the future of my own field, and I addressed most of my concerns here without a filter.
Everything you’ve read comes from my own experience and the things I have personally witnessed in Istanbul. I tried to keep it as informative as possible, but you’ll be the ultimate judge of how right I was.
At the end of the day, Istanbul is a city that truly deserves your full attention. Sure, it has its share of tourist traps—just like any popular destination—but once you learn to recognize them, they lose their grip on your experience. What remains is the authentic Istanbul: the delicious food that tastes even better when you know the right spots, the vibrant neighborhoods that come alive when you wander through them, and the unforgettable stories that linger long after you’ve returned home.
Don’t let minor scams or overpriced distractions overshadow your journey. Instead, view them for what they are—just background noise in a city that has so much more to offer. Travel wisely, trust your gut, and let Istanbul reveal its true essence to you. That’s where the real magic has always been, and always will be.
In the future, there will be upcoming news and updates on all of my platforms and socials. Stay with Istanbul, friends.
