for my rug I did haggle… but not for a taxi to the next city 1 hr… when they were outright lying and said the bus was broken and there were no buses for the next 8 hrs.. just trying to con me and rip me off thinking i’m some dumb tourist with a wallet full of cash!
check out virtualtourist.com Ppl post up things to see/do in various places around the world. They also talk about things to watch out for and what their experiences were like.
Istanbul is great and it's very safe. Like any big city however, you have to keep your eyes open and know that if you go around at night you should avoid certain areas.
I visited for about a week last summer. I went around alone during the days to hit the turisty spots and met up with friends at night. You can get anywhere you want with taxis or metro. I had absolutely no problems and I had a wonderful experience. Istanbul is a fascinating city, full of history and beauty. I highly recommend it!!!