COVID-19, travels bans, and a volatile economy towards the end of the year; many people are wondering, what is it like to Travel in Turkey in 2020? The answer, probably just as great as it’s ever been. However there are some marked changes around the cities. Here are some of my experiences from living and moving around Istanbul during this time. If you would like a more up to date take on this topic; check out my article here, simply about the new state of post-COVID-19 travel.
Personal Space, It’s Confusing.
Many restaurants, shops and hotels now enforce social distancing protocols for their patrons. Hotel staff will kindly advise you to take the next elevator, if the maximum amount of people are already present. As I have mentioned before, in my new norms of Malaysia article, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Having enough room to breathe around you in an elevator is a blessing, many of us were oblivious to pre-COVID.
When my wife and I went to the Istanbul Toy Museum, we had to wait outside as the ticketing booth was too full. It was a little confusing at the beginning because we don’t understand Turkish, but we figured things out eventually. Again not too much of an inconvenience; I’m always happy to give and receive more personal space when in a queue. If you’d like to read more about the Istanbul Toy Museum, as well as other unique museums, check out my post here!
Now these are the places that enforce social distancing protocols, are there any that don’t? Well yes, the rule is to keep everyone a safe 1.5 metres away from each other. However, in a city as populous as Istanbul, it really isn’t possible. Public places and public transport are notoriously hard to monitor.
We have ridden on the train, bus, ferry, and tramway; all of them can get pretty packed. Probably not to the same degree as before COVID-19 but definitely enough to send social distancing alarm bells ringing. The town square at Uskudar, where the Metro train station and ferry stations are also incredibly busy. One afternoon we were essentially walking side by side people and bumping into one another as we made our way to the ferry. If you need to catch public transport at this time, then do so with caution. Try to time your trips either before or after the peak hour rush.
Masks Everywhere
At the time of writing this, masks are still compulsory to wear on the streets of Istanbul. There’s a 900TL fine if you are caught. Many hotels uphold very high standards of hygiene, requiring guests to wear them in public areas like the breakfast buffet. Supermarkets and large shopping malls also enforce the same rule, even small shops are doing it. If you somehow don’t have any spares, you will find them for sale at shops or in the streets. Hotels will often have masks free for guests. This is not the time for you to justify why you think it’s appropriate for you not to wear a mask. If you’re travelling in a foreign country, best to just observe the rules set by the government and the spaces you are entering, and wear a mask.
Sanitiser in a lot of places
Before COVID-19 I never really thought to bring hand sanitiser around with me on my journeys. I might even have mocked people who did. However my opinion has definitely changed and it’s a habit I will bring with me in post-COVID times (which hopefully comes soon, finger crossed) too!
Bring either some liquid or spray hand sanitiser for when you’ve had a little bit too much surface contact. I’m really impressed with the amount of sanitiser in public spaces. In most places, you can find bottles in the front of shops. You will receive sanitary hand wipes at restaurants, with your cutlery as well as after a meal. When preparing to travel your luggage space is premium, I have an article here about balancing what to bring with you and what to simply buy on arrival. I’m glad to see so many hand sanitising stations in Istanbul, but I would still recommend bringing a small bottle with you; especially for train and taxi rides.
It was an Ottoman tradition to give guests to your house or shop some ‘Kolonya’ for their hands. It’s essentially a lemon or otherwise scented alcohol-based hand rub. You put some on your hands and they end up smelling great. The solution is also around 80% alcohol-based, so in theory, it should get rid of quite a lot of germs too. If someone ever offers you some in a shop or taxi, just cup your hands and let them drizzle our spray some Kolonya on your hands. It’s a sign of good hospitality and just another safety precaution in these times. You can also pick up your own bottle of Kolonya at a Pharmacy or Supermarket.
Temperature Checks
Similar to the presence of hand sanitisers at every shop front, many malls and large shopping areas will have guards scanning peoples’ temperatures. It wasn’t as frequent as in Malaysia, which had inescapable temperature scans at every shop entry point. I believe all shops needed to specifically purchase a temperature scanner.
If you feel uncomfortable about the number of head scans they do you can just as easily stick your wrist out and the person will scan your temperature from there. Most of the time the guards are pretty well-read on where and how to scan your temperature. As an added security measure, potentially after their last failed coup here, many malls have security checks. You need to scane your bags on entry and walk through a metal detector; some even have face scanners. All my liberal arts studies told me this was an invasion of privacy, however, it’s something you get used to pretty quickly. It’s just another thing that everyone lives with here. The systems already in place also allow for good synthesis with current COVID measures as many of the security scanners also double as temperature checkers.
Any negatives?
Obviously, with the affected flow of foot traffic within this great city, many shops have been put under a lot of pressure. Some small tea houses and restaurants I have noticed have still not opened. This is either as a result of complying with social distancing protocols, or worse, inability to continue operations with lack of sales. It is sad to think that there will be many shops heavily affected by the COVID situation. Those that have stayed open need to do all they can to stay relevant. One of the ways they do this is through positive reviews online. Don’t be surprised if you are approached by waiters or bellboys for a review on Google or Tripadvisor.
Likewise, you might find that beggars, street pedlars, and sellers are more aggressive and in your face than you have been lead to believe. The Coronavirus hasn’t spared anyone, and those who rely on tourist foot traffic might become more desparate. You might find it harder to bargain down with sellers, it might be more expensive to travel by taxi, and you will need to be even more aware of scams. I wrote a post about some scams and tricks I have experienced here myself. Take the necessary precautions and be prepared for this when you arrive as well.
