Do not be ashamed or afraid when you see shoe spolishers in Turkey, they have been around since the dawn of time, this respectful and respected profession has endured through the centuries. Whoever has dirty shoes wants them, because shoe shiners are everywhere. In all regions, all cities, all neighborhoods. It won’t cost you much to have your shoes clean, the unique sharing you will share with the shoeshine is intense, and so fun when we don’t speak the same language. In the vast majority of cases, shoe shiners in Turkey are cheerful and welcoming.
2 kinds of shoe shiners in Turkey:
- The stay in place shoe shiners who are of a certain age, in the same place every day, and who are sure to be serious and professional.
- The walking shoe shiners who are often much younger, less experienced, and sometimes are more into the goal of begging than a job well done.
Shoe polishers in Turkey have several specialties. Their stands are a real store sometimes. They sell laces, soles, shoe polish, brushes … When a local has their shoes polished, it is common for them to talk about politics, football, family, life and that ‘s what is unique in Turkey!
You can easily see them in old districts of Beyoğlu or in Balat.
How much does it cost to polish your shoes: in a tourist area it will cost you more than in another areas, for sure, but the prices remain reasonable: Between 20 tl and 70 tl.
How long does a shoe polish last: count on average a good 20 minutes of fun.
Different way of seeing things: in Europe the view on shoe polishing is totally different from Turkey. It would be strange for a Turk to tell him that you are ashamed or dare not have access to the shoe shining service.
Indeed, this service and in the customs, it is part of the decoration, of the life in Turkey, without them, Turkey would lose its soul. Shoe polishers in Turkey are essential for our daily lives, and for this to last, we must support this tradition.