Frequently asked questions
Do Brazilians need a visa for Türkiye?
For short tourist stays, a Brazilian passport enters Türkiye without a visa. The passport needs enough remaining validity for the travel dates.
Entry rules change without notice and the ones that count are those in force on the day you fly, not the day you read this — always confirm on the consulate's official page before buying a ticket.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to October: long days, walking weather, and shorter queues than July and August.
Summer is hot and crowded. Winter is cold and wet, but Istanbul under snow is one of the best things the city does — and prices drop.
What currency is used, and where do I change money?
The currency is the Turkish lira (TL). Cards are taken almost everywhere — restaurants, museums, shops, taxis.
Cash is for markets, the bazaar, tips and public toilets. Exchange offices in town usually beat the airport rate; change just enough to arrive, and the rest later.
How should I dress to enter a mosque?
Shoulders and knees covered, everyone. Women cover their hair with a scarf — the visited mosques lend them, but a light scarf in your bag works better.
Shoes come off at the door and go in a bag. At prayer times mosques close to visitors for about half an hour, and longer at Friday midday; the day's route already works around that.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Private: you and whoever is travelling with you. The pace is yours, not that of a forty-seat coach that has to leave at eleven.
It changes the whole day: you can stay longer where you liked it, skip what doesn't interest you, and eat when you got hungry.
How does getting around Istanbul work?
Everything — metro, tram, bus, ferry, funicular — runs on the same card, the İstanbulkart, bought and topped up at the machines in the stations.
The ferry is public transport, not a sightseeing cruise, and it is the fastest and the most beautiful way across the Bosphorus. Driving at rush hour is the opposite of both.
What languages are the tours run in?
Portuguese, Spanish, English and Turkish. The site is in all four because the reply to your message will be too.
How many days do I need in Istanbul?
Three days cover the historic centre and the Bosphorus without rushing. Four or five make room for the Asian side, Balat and the Princes' Islands.
Two days are still well worth it, as long as the plan drops early whatever will not fit. The itineraries on this page are exactly that arithmetic, already done.