Clothing Advice to Layover Tour Travelers

If you are planning a visit the rich and cultural city of Istanbul during your layover time at Istanbul Airport, odds are that you might be frantically thinking of what type of clothing to pack for the short trip.  Since the weather might be very hot at your final destination of your trip in Southern Hemisphere, the weather in Istanbul will be likely opposite, which is located in northern hemisphere.

Other aspect of right dressing type during a layover tour in Istanbul is religious requirements. You may ask yourself “Do I have to wear hijab or niqab?”. Most people think that since Turkey is a Muslim state, you’ll be required to dress conservatively. However, all the cities of this beautiful country, especially Istanbul, encourage a liberal dress code where travelers can wear absolutely anything they want.  

Common Clothing for Istanbul Layover Tours

In Istanbul layover, travelers typically appear sporting shorts and T-shirts for optimum comfort. Another casual option that visitors opt for is short-sleeved shirts paired up with long skirts.

On the other hand, men go for short-sleeved shirts with long trousers/jeans. When it comes to footwear, anything that screams comfort is the go-to choice for most tourists; this typically includes flats or sneakers.

However, the type of clothing for Istanbul travelers drastically changes when visiting mosques or other similar places. Inappropriate clothing that may be revealing is prohibited, such as sleeveless tops, shorts, short skirts, etc. One needs to be fully covered from head to toe to abide by the etiquettes inscribed by mosques. If you wouldn’t have any scarves to cover yourself, in most of the religious sites such as Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque, headscarves and long skirts are provided for free at the kiosks before entrance.  

Clothing for Different Weather Conditions

As daytime layover tours of Istanbul consist of moderate distance of outdoor walking, except for driving from /to Istanbul airport, it would beneficial to dress properly up to the season. It is better to consider seasonal temperature differences too be able to enjoy your transit tour in Istanbul.

• Spring (March – April- early May) and autumn (Late September – October – early November) are pleasant seasons and tourists may experience rain and cool air. If you are traveling during these months, don’t forget to bring along a light jacket or sweater.
• Summers (June- July- August) are the hottest, so light cotton dresses, sunglasses, hats and sun cream are a must-have.
• Unlike other cities in Turkey, Istanbul doesn’t experience very harsh winters with biting wind so warm – light weight jackets, sweaters with warm, comfy boots and maybe hats gloves will surely do.

Dress appropriately when touring in Istanbul during a layover tour from Istanbul airport and make your trip to Turkey comfortable, and memorable one!