Etiquette in Turkey
Everyday customs that visitors and newcomers often find useful in Turkey.
- Greeting Handshakes are common; friends may kiss on both cheeks. Elders are greeted first.
- Home Remove your shoes when entering a home. Hosts are generous, and refusing tea more than once may seem rude.
- Dress Cover shoulders, knees and, for women, hair in mosques. Remove shoes before entering.
- Dining Bring a small gift, such as sweets, when invited to a meal. Try a little of everything.
- Talk Take care when discussing politics and history.
These are general customs, not rules or legal advice. They differ between regions, generations and families, and they change over time. For visas, residency and legal requirements always use the destination country's official government sources.