Question 1

Are you the original Istanbul Workshops?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you are on the right page. We are the first brand under this name in Turkey. Our trademark is on file. The studio is in Üsküdar in Istanbul. Phone: +90 533 167 62 71. Site: istanbulworkshops.com.

Question 2

Do you give a certificate of completion?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on request. At the end of the session we print a simple sheet with your name, the craft, and the guide's signature. No fee; just ask before the workshop ends. Guests often add it to their trip keepsake set.

Question 3

How do I contact Istanbul Workshops?

Accepted Answer

The fast way to reach us is the contact form on our site. We reply in one work day. We also run a phone line. The line is open in studio hours. We help in English and Turkish on both routes.

Question 4

How many people are in a workshop?

Accepted Answer

Open sessions are small. Most days have a handful of guests at a calm pace. Private sessions are reserved for your group only and have a maximum based on the craft. The booking page lists the seats remaining for the day you pick.

Question 5

What is Istanbul Workshops and what do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Istanbul Workshops is a Turkish craft studio. We run hands-on sessions in small groups. A trained guide walks you through. Each session ends with a piece you take home. Our brand is on file. Site: istanbulworkshops.com.

Question 6

Can I add or change people in my booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on most days. Send a note via the contact page with your booking reference and the new head count. We confirm or propose alternatives within one work day. Last-minute changes on the day depend on seats already on the calendar.

Question 7

How do I book a workshop?

Accepted Answer

Pick a workshop on our site, choose a date, and pay online. The booking page shows the live time, language, and seats left. You get an email with the meeting point and time. Phone help: +90 533 167 62 71.

Question 8

How do I pay for my booking?

Accepted Answer

We take payment at the studio on the day of your workshop. Cash or card both work. We do not run online payment. Your booking on the site or a partner platform holds your seat at no charge until the day.

Question 9

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time at no cost. Late cancels and no-shows fall outside our refund window. Direct site bookings collect payment at the studio, so there is nothing to refund there. Phone: +90 533 167 62 71.

Question 10

How long does the perfume making workshop take?

Accepted Answer

The perfume session runs around two hours. The time covers a short scent intro, your own blend, the bottle, and a recipe card. The pace is calm. Many guests stay 10 to 15 minutes at the end for photos with the new scent.

Question 11

How long does the Turkish coffee and fortune telling workshop take?

Accepted Answer

The session runs about ninety minutes from sit-down to leaving. Brewing takes around twenty, drinking and resting fifteen, and the cup reading another twenty. The rest is open time for second cups, photos, and questions.

Question 12

How long does the Turkish mosaic lamp workshop take?

Accepted Answer

A Turkish mosaic lamp workshop runs about two to three hours. The bulk of that time is spent at the work station. A short demo and a wrap-up sit on either side of the build. You leave with the lamp you make.

Question 13

How much does the perfume making workshop cost?

Accepted Answer

The perfume making workshop is priced per person. The current rate is on the booking page. The bottle, label, base oil, and access to the full oil library are part of the rate. You take a sealed bottle of your finished perfume home.

Question 14

How much does the Turkish mosaic lamp workshop cost?

Accepted Answer

The Turkish mosaic lamp workshop is priced per person. The current rate is on the booking page. The lamp body, glass beads, brass base, grout, and bulb are all in the kit. You take the finished lamp home.

Question 15

What's included in the perfume making workshop?

Accepted Answer

The perfume workshop covers everything for one bottle. You get scent oils, a base, a glass bottle, and a label. The guide helps you with the blend. Drinks and a paper of completion are part of the price. You take the bottle home.

Question 16

What is included in the stained glass painting workshop?

Accepted Answer

You paint a traditional pattern onto a pre-cut glass piece with brushes set up at your station. The price covers the glass, paints, brushes, apron, the guide, and the finished piece wrapped for home.

Question 17

What is included in the Turkish coffee and fortune telling workshop?

Accepted Answer

You brew Turkish coffee on a cezve with us, drink it slowly, then we read the grounds. The price covers brewing materials, lokum and water, the guide for the full session, and a printed note of the reading.

Question 18

What is included in the Turkish mosaic lamp workshop?

Accepted Answer

The price covers a lamp body, the glass beads, the brass base, the soldering set, your guide, and the lit lamp you take home. Tools and materials are set up at your station. A short studio tour is part of the session.

Question 19

Can I reschedule my workshop?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Send a message via the contact page at least 48 hours before your session. We move you based on availability. Inside 48 hours, the move is harder; we still try if a seat opens up. There is no fee for a standard reschedule.

Question 20

Are the workshops suitable for children and families?

Accepted Answer

Most of our workshops welcome families. Age guidance varies by craft. Children take part with a parent at the same station. Each child still leaves with a piece they made. The booking page lists the age guidance for each workshop.

Question 21

Do I need any prior experience to join a workshop?

Accepted Answer

No, you do not need any prior experience. Each workshop is built for first-time guests. The guide walks you through every step. No drawing or art skills are needed. You leave with a piece you made yourself.

Question 22

Do you provide transport to and from the studio?

Accepted Answer

Pickup is included from our Sirkeci meeting point. The team takes you to the Üsküdar studio by ferry or metro. The way back is on you; the studio sits by the Üsküdar pier so options are easy. Direct arrivals can skip the meeting point.

Question 23

How do I get to the studio?

Accepted Answer

Our studio sits on the Asian side. The ferry is the easy way. A taxi or the M5 metro also work. The day before, your booking email has the meeting point and a map link. We meet you and walk to the studio together.

Question 24

How long does a workshop typically last?

Accepted Answer

Most workshops run two to three hours from start to finish. A short demo and a wrap-up sit on either side of the build phase. You leave with the piece you made. Add buffer for travel to the meeting point.

Question 25

What if I'm running late?

Accepted Answer

Send a message or call the studio as soon as you know. We hold your spot. If you push past the demo, the guide adjusts the pace at your station so you do not miss the core. The phone is faster than the form for same-day issues.

Question 26

What language is the workshop in?

Accepted Answer

Open sessions run in English and Turkish. The guide moves with each guest as needed. A private session can be set fully in English or fully in Turkish. Other tongues are open on request with a guide who covers them on some dates.

Question 27

What should I wear to a workshop?

Accepted Answer

Wear something casual you do not mind a small mark on. Aprons are provided for crafts that can stain. Closed shoes are best for sessions with sharp tools or glass. No formal dress code beyond that simple guidance.

Question 28

Where is the Istanbul Workshops studio located?

Accepted Answer

The main studio is in Üsküdar, on the Asian side of Istanbul. The full address is Aziz Mahmut Hüdayi, Gülfem Sk. No:15. We meet guests first at our Sirkeci meeting point. From there we travel together. Phone: +90 533 167 62 71.

Question 29

My team has people with zero craft skills

Accepted Answer

That is the most common worry we hear, and it disappears in the first twenty minutes. There is no cutting, no firing, no risk of failing. Every single participant finishes a piece they are proud of. We have hosted thousands of people who said "I am not creative" before starting.

Question 30

How much space do you need at our office?

Accepted Answer

About 70 cm of table per person, one power socket and water nearby. We bring the rest: materials, table covers, instructors and the whole setup.

Question 31

How long does setup take?

Accepted Answer

We arrive about one hour before the session and pack up within 30 minutes afterwards. Your team's day is not disrupted.

Question 32

What should I bring with me for the canoeing activity?

Accepted Answer

Since we will be out on the sea, we highly recommend bringing sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen for sun protection. To stay comfortable against water splashes, please wear quick-drying (synthetic/athletic) clothes and bring a towel along with a change of clothes just in case.

Question 33

Are your venues wheelchair accessible?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have accessible venue options. If anyone on your team has a specific need, tell us beforehand and we will set the room up the way that suits them best.

Question 34

Are there any health or age restrictions for canoeing?

Accepted Answer

Due to sea conditions and the physical effort required for paddling, this activity is not suitable for children under 16, pregnant individuals, those with back or neck conditions, and non-swimmers.

Question 35

How do invoices and purchasing work?

Accepted Answer

We are a registered Turkish company. Your purchasing team gets a proper invoice, plus the papers that go with it: tax plate, trade registry, bank details. Need a formal contract? Fine by us.

Question 36

How far in advance should we book?

Accepted Answer

Most groups book two or three weeks ahead and that is plenty. Past fifty people, or when you want labels with your own logo on them, four weeks gives everyone room to breathe. In a rush? Once the calendar even let us set a whole event up in a week.

Question 37

What if our headcount changes at the last minute?

Accepted Answer

Final numbers can be confirmed up to seven days before the event. Small changes on the day are usually fine; we always bring spare materials.

Question 38

What about contracts, insurance and data protection?

Accepted Answer

We carry event insurance and work to a written safety plan. Participant details are held under Turkish data-protection law and deleted after the event. If your procurement team sends its own contract, we sign that.

Question 39

What do we have afterwards?

Accepted Answer

Everyone leaves with the piece they made. We can also put together a professional photo and video summary of the day, and run a short satisfaction survey with the team and send you the results in writing.

Question 40

Can we see it first?

Accepted Answer

We host two people from your team at one of our open workshops, free. See the day for yourself, then decide.

Question 41

Can you run it in another language?

Accepted Answer

Turkish and English are standard. For French, Arabic or Russian, tell us early and we arrange an instructor who speaks it, or an interpreter.

Question 42

Can you customize a corporate workshop?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We adjust the brief, the take-home piece, the language, the icebreaker, and the photo set on request. The craft itself stays the same. The studio is the venue. Send a note via the contact page with your team size and goal.

Question 43

Do you offer corporate workshops and team-building events?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we host team events at our studios. We can come to your venue as well. Your office, a hotel, or any chosen place works. We bring all the gear and the team. Call +90 533 167 62 71 for a quote.

Question 44

How is corporate pricing structured?

Accepted Answer

Corporate pricing is per person plus a fixed fee for off-site setup. Volume discounts apply. The quote covers materials, the team, and on-site setup. AV and event timeline are out of scope. Reach out for a quote.

Question 45

What are the best corporate team building activities in Istanbul?

Accepted Answer

Hands-on Turkish craft is hard to beat. Mosaic, pottery, ebru and Turkish coffee suit teams of 6 to 250 and more, and all can join.

Question 46

What group sizes can you accommodate?

Accepted Answer

From small teams of 6 up to 250 people and more. Big groups split into parallel sessions.

Question 47

How long does a workshop take?

Accepted Answer

Most sessions take 2 to 4 hours, with a short chat at the end. We fit the length to your day.

Question 48

Can you run the workshop at our office?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We bring the materials, the masters and the setup to any office or hotel in Istanbul. You can also come to our studio.

Question 49

Which workshops do you offer for companies?

Accepted Answer

Mosaic, pottery, calligraphy, ebru and Turkish coffee. Tell us your goal and we pick the best fit.

Question 50

Do participants take home what they make?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each person keeps the piece they made, a lasting memory of the day.

Question 51

What is the best time of year for a corporate event in Istanbul?

Accepted Answer

Spring and autumn are lovely, but the workshops run indoors all year.

Question 52

How do we get a quote?

Accepted Answer

Fill in the short form with your team size and preferred date; our team gets back to you with a tailored proposal.

Question 53

Does the gift card cost more than booking?

Accepted Answer

No. It costs exactly what the workshop costs for the same number of people, and there is no service fee.

Question 54

What if the price changes before they book?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. The card covers the workshop for the people you paid for, whatever it costs on the day they book.

Question 55

How long is it valid?

Accepted Answer

Twelve months from purchase. The expiry date is printed on the card.

Question 56

Can it be refunded?

Accepted Answer

An unused gift card can be refunded within 14 days of purchase, in line with the Distance Sales Agreement. Write to us with the card code.

Question 57

Can they change the workshop?

Accepted Answer

Write to us and we will move it to another workshop; if the new one costs more, only the difference is paid.

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