Greetings are warm
Handshake for first meetings, cheek kisses (one or two) for friends. Older people may be greeted by kissing their hand and touching it to your forehead — a sign of deep respect.
🤝 Etiquette in Turkey
Etiquette in Turkey is mostly invisible until you break it. Greetings, gestures, dining manners and the social cues locals expect are worth learning before you arrive.
In Turkey, etiquette comes down to a few things: greetings are warm, shoes at the door, and the evil eye (nazar).
Shoes at the door
Remove shoes when entering homes. Slippers are always provided. In some traditional restaurants too. Look for the pile of shoes at the entrance as your cue.
The evil eye (nazar)
Blue glass eye charms are everywhere — not decoration, but protection. Don't mock them. Complimenting someone's baby? Add 'maşallah' to ward off the evil eye. People take this seriously.