My First Day in Istanbul: A Journey of Excitement, Challenges, and a Costly Lesson

Every journey begins with excitement—the thrill of exploring a new place, the curiosity about its people, food, and culture. But sometimes, what makes a trip truly unforgettable are the unexpected twists, the small struggles, and the lessons they leave behind.

My first day in Istanbul was exactly that—a mix of wonder, confusion, kindness, and a hard lesson I won’t forget anytime soon.

Arriving in a City Full of History and Energy

As the plane descended, the sprawling lights of Istanbul stretched as far as I could see. The city felt alive even from the sky. When I finally stepped off the aircraft into Istanbul Airport, I was immediately struck by its sheer size. It was massive, easily one of the largest airports I had ever been to.

Excitement surged through me as I followed the signs toward immigration. Each step brought me closer to exploring this historic city that had been on my travel bucket list for years.

But excitement soon turned into exhaustion. The walk to immigration felt endless. Long corridors, high ceilings, and what seemed like miles of polished floors made me wonder if I had unknowingly signed up for a marathon.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the immigration counter. The officer barely glanced at me, stamped my passport, and handed it back. No questions. No small talk. Just a stamp that officially welcomed me to Turkey.

I was in Istanbul.

The Digital Blackout – No Internet, No Plan

Luggage collected, I walked toward the exit, ready to navigate my way into the city. That’s when I faced my first challenge—I had no internet.

I had planned to buy a Turkish SIM card, but the airport kiosks were charging outrageous prices. “No way I’m paying that much,” I thought. “I’ll just get one in the city for cheaper.”

Thinking I was being smart, I decided to use the airport’s free Wi-Fi. But there was a catch—the Wi-Fi required an OTP verification sent via SMS.

A message I couldn’t receive.

For the first time in years, I was completely disconnected. No Google Maps. No Uber. No translation apps. Just me, my backpack, and a city I had never set foot in before.

I took a deep breath. “People traveled before smartphones. I can do this.”

Finding My Way Like a Local

Determined not to spend unnecessarily, I searched for a way to get to my hotel without taking a taxi. That’s when I spotted the Havaist Bus Counter.

I walked up to the counter and asked for a ticket to Aksaray. The woman behind the desk smiled and handed me a ticket. Before I left, she added, “You will need an Istanbul Card for public transport. You can buy it at Aksaray.”

Noted.

The bus ride was my first real glimpse of Istanbul at night. Wide highways, the distant glow of mosques, and the occasional bridge over the Bosphorus—it felt surreal.

After about 90 minutes, we arrived in Aksaray. It was alive with energy—cars honking, people walking briskly, street vendors calling out to customers. I had finally arrived in the heart of Istanbul.

The Istanbul Card Puzzle

At the tram station, I found a ticket machine to buy the Istanbul Card, the city’s public transport pass. But there was a problem.

The machine’s instructions were entirely in Turkish.

I stood there, pressing random buttons, hoping I was doing it right. After multiple failed attempts, I finally managed to get the card. Victory!

Confidently, I walked up to the tram entrance, tapped my new card… and nothing happened.

Error.

Confused, I tried again. The machine beeped, but the gate wouldn’t open. A message popped up on the screen, but of course, it was in Turkish.

Just then, a kind tourist noticed my struggle. He smiled and asked, “Is your card new?”

“Yes,” I replied.

He nodded, pulled out his own Istanbul Card, and tapped it for me.

“This one’s on me. Welcome to Istanbul.”

It was a small gesture, but in that moment, it meant everything. A reminder that kindness exists everywhere.

A Small Mistake That Cost Me Big

Finally on the tram, I relaxed, enjoying the sights as we passed through the historic streets of Istanbul. The glow of shop lights, the distant sound of music, the scent of street food—it was a city full of life.

But in my excitement, I got off one stop too early.

Realizing my mistake, I rushed back to the station to re-enter. But there was another problem—I needed to tap my Istanbul Card again.

I tapped it. Error.

I sighed. Again?

A local man standing nearby noticed my confusion. He smiled and asked, “Problem?”

I showed him my card, explaining what happened. He nodded knowingly and pointed to a recharge machine.

Gesturing for me to place my card on the scanner, he guided me through the process. I entered my PIN by myself and confirmed the payment. The screen displayed a confirmation, and the machine beeped.

I thanked him, grateful for the help, and continued my journey.

The Scam I Didn’t See Coming

Later that night, settled into my hotel, I decided to check my bank account to track my expenses.

As I scrolled through my transactions, my heart dropped.

Instead of a small recharge, multiple transactions had gone through—totaling over 800 lira.

I had been scammed.

I sat there in disbelief. How did this happen? I had entered my PIN myself. The machine looked normal. There were no warning signs.

After some research, I discovered the scam—some public transport machines are tampered with. Scammers modify the system so that when a foreigner pays, extra transactions are added in the background.

I felt frustrated, angry at myself for being so trusting, and annoyed that my first day had ended like this.

Trying to Fix It

The next morning, I spent hours going from place to place—Grand Bazaar, Karaköy, even local transport offices—trying to get my money back.

Everywhere, the answer was the same: “Your card works fine. We cannot refund it.”

As a last attempt, I went to the Sultanahmet Police Station. The officers were kind and explained that this was a common scam, but there wasn’t much they could do.

I wasn’t getting my money back.

Lessons Learned 😅

No matter how smart you think you are, if someone is determined to cheat you, they will find a way. Even if you stay alert, double-check everything, and trust your instincts, there are moments when circumstances align in a way that you don’t even realize you’re walking into a trap.

I used to believe I was the kind of person who couldn’t be fooled—too cautious, too observant. And yet, despite all my awareness, I still found myself caught in a situation where deception slipped through the cracks. The truth is, if someone wants to cheat you, they will. It doesn’t matter how sharp or prepared you are; when the right moment arrives, you might not even see it coming.

But here’s the real takeaway: it’s not about never getting tricked—it’s about how you handle it when it happens. Because at some point, it will.

Moving Forward

Despite this rough start, I didn’t let it ruin my trip. Istanbul had so much more to offer—its historic streets, stunning mosques, and incredible food.

One bad experience didn’t define the journey. If anything, it became a story to tell, a lesson to carry forward.

Have you ever faced a similar experience while traveling? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear how you handled it!