Up-to-date information about tourism in Istanbul (17.03.2021)
Turkey is divided into different zones according to the level of epidemiological danger, specifically Istanbul is now in the red zone. In fact, for a tourist, Istanbul is no different from the time when there was no epidemic, but there are minor nuances.
There are different rules for tourists and locals.
If you are a tourist:
1. Before traveling to Turkey, you need to fill out an online form and get a HES code.
2. Before traveling to Turkey, you need to have a negative PCR test, which must be done within a maximum of 72 hours. It will be checked during boarding the plane, it can be done electronically. We rented at Nikolab for 770 UAH per person. Passed at 8 am, the result came at 18:30.
3.24-hour restaurants are open in the Sultan Ahmet area, you can eat inside.
4. By law, masks must be worn everywhere, if the police see you with a mask on your chin, they will politely ask you to put it on your nose. But only if the police themselves are wearing a mask at that moment. In fact, the tourist spends most of the day without a mask (breaking the law).
5. The curfew does not apply to tourists, you can be outside around the clock, including Sundays, when the locals have a curfew.
6. On Sundays, just like on other days, public transport runs, including public ferries to the Princes' Islands.
7. On Sunday, restaurants on the Princes' Islands were open only for take-out, perhaps it was the same in Istanbul.
8. To use transport, you must have an Istanbul card for each person, to which the HES code is attached. If the code is not linked, the Istanbul card will not be allowed into transport. You can bind it on this website and you can immediately use the map.
9. The HES code must be stored as a QR code on your phone and must be presented to enter some restaurants and shopping malls.
10. State control is deep enough, Istanbul will know all your movements (the Istanbul card to which the HES code is linked will tell about this) and even how many times you went to the toilet, since public toilets can also be paid for by Istanbul card.
11. Tulips have been planted in the parks, it will be quite beautiful soon.
12. Cats are still cute and their number has increased significantly.
As a result:
Movement is not limited, restaurants are open, museums are open, the mask regime is not strict, spring has come.
