You probably don’t give it much thought until the door clicks shut behind you. But if it’s your first time visiting Turkey, a trip to the toilet can come with a few surprises. Where does the toilet paper go? What’s the little water nozzle for? And what do you do if there’s only a squat toilet? Here’s everything you need to know - plus a few practical tips that can make your next bathroom break a lot less confusing.

Prices are rising, the city feels more controlled, and travel expectations are shifting. But Turkey in 2026 is still full of experiences - if you know how to approach it.

A narrow alley behind the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque in Fatih has long been the subject of an unusual story. According to local lore, it was once a Byzantine urinal. But how much of the tale is history, and how much is myth?

The Basilica Cistern, one of Istanbul’s most visited attractions, has been closed following a legal dispute between the Turkish state and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Many see the case as part of the growing political struggle over Turkey’s largest city.

Why is the German Fountain standing in the middle of Sultanahmet in Istanbul? The story behind the small green pavilion leads directly into Imperial Germany, the Ottoman Empire and European power politics around 1900.