If I haven’t proven to you by now what a beautiful place Turkey is and why it’s worth visiting, I will never convince you. I guess the delicious food, friendly people and historical landmarks aren’t for everyone. But if you are thinking about visiting Turkey, I want to answer some questions that have been asked of me since I started planning my trip over a year ago and continued since I’ve been back.
Many of these questions and answers could be adapted to multiple destinations. I’ve done my best to answer these questions, but if you have any more, please leave them below in the comments.
Do I need to cover up or wear a hajib/burqa/head scarf?
Yes and no. In most parts of the country, especially modern Istanbul, you won’t be expected to cover your head or face unless you are visiting an active mosque. This is seen as a sign of respect in many religions, not just Islam. For the most part, the headscarf and full veil have been outlawed under Turkey’s secular regime.
In terms of wearing a full covering, Turkey isn’t a strict Islamic country like Saudi Arabia. You may see local women covered up in that way, but generally tourists aren’t expected to follow suit.
In terms of what you should wear, dress slightly more conservatively than you might at home. In Istanbul, you can get away with more, as there’s a large population of young people, and on the Mediterranean coast you can wear swimsuits and dresses.
But the further you go eastwards, the more conservative the people are. Keep this in mind when packing for your trip to Turkey. For more on how to dress, see this post on Turkey Travel Planner.
Will I get harassed by men?
Unfortunately, foreign women in Turkey have a reputation, more from the media than real life experience, of being promiscuous. In spite of this, I would say that 90% of the Turkish men I encountered were nothing but kind, respectful and hospitable.
The driver on my overnight bus knew I didn’t speak the language, so he waved at me when the bus was leaving from rest stops. Even the young men who ran my sailing trip around the Mediterranean were friendly and only wanted to help. I did have an uneasy encounter with a tout in the Grand Bazaar, but that’s almost to be expected in such a tourist-centric attraction.
I’ve been harassed in many different places, mostly in the United States, and the best advice I can give is to ignore the catcalls and comments. It’s annoying more than threatening, but if you feel that your safety is at risk, get out of there immediately.
I’ve started traveling with an electronic whistle for this reason, which can scare off both people and animals who are getting too close for comfort.
Should I book only private rooms?
I stayed in both private rooms and shared rooms on my trip and wasn’t worried about my safety in either. This question is more about your personal preferences when traveling, as I stay in hostels to meet others, but you can stay in hotels if you like having your own space.
Should you decide that you want to stay in private rooms due to safety concerns, carry around a business card or piece of paper that has the address of your hotel on it. Rubber door stops are another item that keep solo travelers safe.
Should I book tours rather than traveling independently by rail or bus?
I traveled by tour, bus and plane during my trip to Turkey, but the country is also well serviced by rail. Tours are a great and economical way to see the country, but you have more flexibility traveling independently. The buses and trains are very easy to use and cost very little.
My bus trip from Fethiye to Göreme cost about 60 lira ($30 USD) and included all the snacks and drinks I could want for the 12 hour journey. Seats are also separated for males and females unless you are traveling together, which can put the female traveler at ease.
What if I don’t speak the language?
Most people in major cities like Istanbul and the British-inhabited areas like Fethiye will speak English, but the further away you get from these places, the less likely you are to find someone who will.
For example, on my overnight bus from Fethiye to Cappadoccia, no one spoke English, but I was able to communicate with my seat mate through gestures. It may be smart to learn a few phrases like “yes,” “no” and “thank you.” Signs are sometimes in both English and Turkish, but even in Turkish the letters are the same, just with extra accents.
But what about protests, the murdered female in Istanbul, the bombing in Ankara, and violence at the Syrian border?
In terms of the protests that have been going on in Istanbul on and off since May 2013, these protests indeed have been violent at times, but if you know what areas they are in, you can easily avoid them. The protestors are standing up against the government and have no reason to harm tourists, but you could get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you sign up for email alerts from your country’s embassy, it can also tell you where planned demonstrations and protests will be taking place. Taksim Square was the center of protest activity a few months before my trip, but seemed relatively quiet when I arrived, as you can see from the image above.
But once I saw a group of riot police, I turned on my heel and back to my hostel. Be safe in these situations, even if you are curious. Things can turn at any moment.
Unless you’ve had your passport stolen or some other emergency has come up, you won’t need to visit the embassy or consulate. As an American, I realize that our diplomatic offices are especially at risk for attack, as the case was with the bombing in Ankara last year.
While I would typically say that in most countries your embassy is a safe haven, for some, it may be a place you could be at risk.
We all heard about the shocking death of Sarai Sierra, a mother from New York who was traveling alone in Istanbul and was later found dead. I don’t want to make any assumptions about what she was doing or if she put herself in unnecessary harm.
For lack of a better statement, sometimes these things happen. We can do everything right to keep ourselves safe and something random and terrible will happen. It could have happened anywhere, including New York, but just so happened to take place in Turkey. I wouldn’t let this sad event take away from an otherwise beautiful place.
Turkey shares a border with Syria and during my trip there was violence at the border. Syrian refugees have fled to this part of Turkey, so there has been tension between the two countries for months.
Recently, Syrian rebels took over a town near the border and Turkish authorities shot down a Syrian plane over its airspace. While there are some beautiful places to see in eastern Turkey, which I hope to visit next time, now may not be the best time to go there.
What if I’m female, LGBT, Christian or American?
Different groups may worry about making themselves targets in Middle Eastern or Islamic countries, but this is where Turkey differs. Women aren’t necessarily more susceptible to crime or harassment than in their home countries. Travelers of different religions, including Christianity, shouldn’t worry either, as Turkey is a secular nation.
While the majority (99%) of the population is some form of Muslim (Sunni and Alevis), there is a small population of Christians, including Greek Orthodox, and Jews. As you may recall, Turkey was once an important place for Christianity, as the Hagia Sophia was first a church and many biblical sites are located nearby.
Some may also worry about what it is like for LGBT travelers in Turkey. Cities like Istanbul and Ankara have their own Pride celebrations, so the once conservative country is starting to ease in discriminations against same-sex couples.
While there is no law that supports marriage and benefits between LGBT couples, there is also no law against the relationships. There are still cases of discrimination, but usually not with tourists. Kissing between men is a way of showing friendship here, so don’t confuse the gesture.
If you are an American, as I am, you are subject to Anti-American statements nearly everywhere you go, so this is no different in Turkey. I was never treated rudely by Turks because I was Americans, but quite the opposite. I had many people telling me they had family in the US.
But for every friendly person, there is at least one person who resents Americans. You may be spoken to about your country’s diplomatic relations or policies, but shouldn’t be physically threatened because of your nationality. After all, you are not a representative for your leaders.
How can I stay safe when I solo travel in Turkey?
Use your common sense in Turkey as you would at home. Stay aware in crowded places like the Grand Bazaar, the only place I was almost scammed during my trip. Don’t overindulge alone or make yourself vulnerable by leaving your drink unattended.
Don’t walk alone through certain neighborhoods at night. And certainly don’t dress provocatively or showcase your expensive belongings like electronics or jewelry. Register with your embassy before you go so that if there was an emergency, they would be able to help you get out. They can also send you email updates about areas to watch out for.
Naomi says
I’m unfortunately not planning to go to Turkey anytime soon, purely down to financial constraints, but I have to say there were certain assumptions I had before reading this that were proven to be untrue. It’s made me want to go to Turkey even more now!