Turkey is considered safe to visit, but it is advised to avoid certain areas near the border with Syria due to increased risk of thefts, pickpocketing, and violent incidents. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to areas within 10km of Turkey’s border with Syria and all but essential travel to Sirnak, Hakkari, and anywhere within 10km of the Syrian Border.
The latest FCDO travel advice for Turkey includes entry requirements, safety and security, local laws and customs, and local laws and customs. Sirnak, Hakkari, and any area within 10km of the Syrian Border are marked as a level four, meaning ‘do not travel’. Most regions in Turkey are safe and tourist-friendly, but the Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria.
Terrorist attacks are more likely to occur in southeast Turkey, Ankara, and Istanbul. The first area to avoid is the far southeast of the country, which has been plagued by violence and crime in recent years. Do not travel to Sirnak province, Hakkari province, or any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Turkey/Syria border due to the continued violence and crime. Istanbul is very safe to visit, though the ambiance may be quieter during the past months. It is always recommended to avoid walking alone at night.
The US has revised the travel warning for Turkey by dropping it down to a 2 with only noteworthy warnings on the Eastern borders. The terrorism threat is a concern, and Turkey is generally considered safer than the US on a given day.
📹 10 Things NOT to do in TURKEY – MUST SEE BEFORE YOU GO!
What not to do in Turkey! *WANT TO LEARN TURKISH WITH US?* Apply for a free discovery call with one of Turkishle’s …
What are the travel risks in Turkey?
The Turkish Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory, recommending against all but essential travel within 10km of the Syrian border and to the provinces of Şırnak and Hakkari. The country is confronted with a considerable risk of terrorism and violent political demonstrations. It is recommended that travelers exercise caution and adhere to the most recent travel advice issued by the Foreign Office and local authorities. In terms of comprehensive accommodation options, Fethiye is home to a number of high-quality, all-inclusive hotels.
Is Antalya Turkey safe?
Due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Antalya remains a relatively secure destination for tourists. However, the Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory cautioning against visiting areas within 10 km of the Syrian border, as well as the provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari. Nevertheless, the Foreign Office recommends maintaining a state of vigilance in the remainder of the country, given that the conflict has not affected the city or its surrounding region.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey because of Ukraine?
Turkey has always been a safe country, with the war in Ukraine not having any relation to the country. The differences between Russian and Ukrainian people make it safe for tourists to visit. Turkey is a popular destination for tour packages, offering a variety of attractions from ancient ruins like Ephesus to the hippie-chic resort town of Bodrum and charming countryside villages. Additionally, Turkey is one of the most affordable vacation destinations, offering value that outstrips more expensive destinations.
Is Cappadocia safe?
Cappadocia has minimal major safety concerns, with pickpocketing and muggers being rare. However, there are some scams to be aware of, especially in bars. Drink spiking is not a common issue, but overcharging is a potential risk. Safety concerns are more likely to arise during activities like hiking in less-frequented areas, hot-air balloon flights, ATV buggy rides, and horse riding. It’s essential to choose a safe operator and ensure insurance coverage. For more adventurous activities, it’s not worth cutting corners to save money.
Which parts of Turkey are safe?
Turkey, located between Europe and the Middle East, is a beautiful and intriguing country known for its unique culture, friendly people, and geology. Istanbul is an epic city, while Bodrum, a beach town along the Mediterranean Sea, is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and beach activities. Turkey’s geographical placement also makes it a “gatekeeper to the west”, bordering Syria and Iraq. Despite efforts to defend its borders, the terrorist threat remains a significant concern.
Is Antalya safe at night?
Antalya, a city with a low crime rate and a high safety index of 74. 5, is a relatively safe city for both locals and tourists. Local authorities have implemented measures to ensure visitor safety, and the community is welcoming and supportive. However, it’s crucial to exercise general safety precautions, being mindful of your surroundings and potential risks. Key safety tips include staying alert, especially in crowded areas where pickpocketing can occur, and being aware of your surroundings, especially in busy tourist spots.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now in 2024?
As of August 14th, 2024, it is safe to travel to Turkey as long as you avoid the region affected by the earthquake last year. However, there is an important safety warning for female travelers and mothers with children at Istanbul Airport (IST). A recent experience at IST airport in Istanbul led to a harrowing experience for women, students, and mothers traveling alone. The mother’s daughter fell ill with a fever, and they had to take her to the hospital and a hotel. After her recovery, the mother contacted the airport to retrieve their luggage and return to their hotel.
Is it safe to travel to Russia?
The US government advises US citizens to avoid travel to Russia due to the destabilization caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In October 2022, the Russian government declared martial law in several border areas with Ukraine, including Bryansk, Kursk, Belgorod, Voronezh, Rostov, and Krasnodar. Consultations at the US Embassy Moscow and Consulate General Vladivostok are suspended, and all consular services should be contacted at the Embassy Moscow.
Where in Turkey is not safe?
Terrorist attacks are common in southeast Turkey, Ankara, and Istanbul, with attacks being indiscriminate and targeting public buildings, places of worship, airports, and large public gatherings. Recent significant attacks in Istanbul include the February 2024 armed attack on the Çağlayan courthouse by DHKP/C, January 2024 gunman attacks on the Santa Maria Catholic Church in Sariyer, and an explosion in central Istanbul in 2022. It is crucial to remain aware of your surroundings, follow local authorities’ advice, and stay informed about potential threats.
Can Turkey travel to Russia?
It is a prerequisite for travelers to obtain a visa for business or tourism in Russia. The most expedient and straightforward method for doing so is via the electronic visa (e-visa), which allows for the submission and approval of applications online. It is imperative that travelers possess a valid visa in order to board their flight. In the event that the visa is either expired or contains incorrect information regarding the passport holder, boarding will be denied. Following the submission of an eVisa application and subsequent approval, a confirmation will be sent to the applicant via electronic means.
Is not safe to travel to Turkey?
The risk of terrorist attacks in Turkey is considerable, with the majority of incidents occurring in the southeast, particularly in Ankara and Istanbul. There is a possibility that such attacks could occur at any time and in any location, including areas frequented by foreigners.
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… Tourist Scam in Turkey #4 09:25 Tourist Scams in Turkey #5 10:38 Tourist Scams in Turkey #6 11:52 Is it safe to travel to Turkey …
In 2 weeks we’ll there, in Antalya. I’m from Hungary, I’ve been to Türkiye before, but long years ago. I’m looking forward to our holiday. The Turkish – Hungarian relationship is very special. From the ancient, Asian times, later we were bitter enemies in the medieval times, during the Osman occupation. After that many of our great historical person had asylum in Türkiye, Kossuth, Rákóczi, Jozef Bem (a Polish general, who also a Hungarian national hero) and others. As for Atatürk, I read a lot about him. I think he was one of the greatest leaders of all times, many people respects him around the world for reason. Our languages, kind of long forgotten cousins, we have many loanwords from Türkçe, similar grammar etc. I even started to learn Turkish a couple of years ago, I’ll see soon if I can use my limited knowledge. Türkiye büyük ve güzel bir ülkedir!
I think you were being too kind for the first point. When I first moved to Turkey in 2002 from America, I blew my nose strongly in a small börek shop. Everybody stopped eating (“I’m full”) and got up and left the shop. I was alone with my friend Rafet. “You understand now that’s disgusting for us, right?” I surely did. He told me to take it to the restroom if I had to blow my nose again. One thing I would add, “Don’t piss off a minibus driver.” You may end up meeting Haydar!
I’m Norwegian by blood, but Turkish by heart. I have always wanted to visit the country ever since I was a kid. My mother also has friends in Ankara. Since it’s a new year, I am going to devote it to learning Turkish. So when I visit Ankara, I am going to surprise both my mom and her friends by speaking really good Turkish. I cannot wait to see how confused they are gonna look when they ask me for things in English, and I respond in Turkish. Cheers. 🇳🇴🤝🇹🇷
Earlier in 2022, I spent 40 days in Turkey. There’s only one thing that I really hated about Turkey: LEAVING!! 😢😭 After visiting over 40 countries, I found that Turkey was by far, and very far, my favorite! The kindest, most respectful and devout people I have ever seen, rich in history and gastronomy. Seni özledim Türkiye, seni seviyorum 🇹🇷 Yakında geri geleceğim 🇹🇷❤️
“Don’t treat stray animals badly” — I fell in love with the Turkish culture because of this, seeing everyone petting, feeding and taking care of medical problems with the neighborhood cats and dogs in Istanbul. Heaven to me is perusal the sunset outside a side-street pub in Istanbul with an Efes and a cat on my lap.
I am Bosnian and have lived in Sweden for almost 30 years. Just as every house has its own rules, every country has its own rules. It’s nice to know and this article was done with good intentions. These 10 rules are very familiar to me because I have been spending my summers in Turkey for 15 years and my culture and tradition are very close to Turkey. I really can’t believe that some people don’t respect that or that, God forbid, they argue about food and what belongs to whom. First of all, in my opinion, it is uncultured to come to someone’s country and house and not respect and still find faults and teach the host what is his and what is not. I think home education doesn’t allow me to do that. As for yogurt, baklava, cevap, etc. we also have that in Bosnia and many cultures have almost the same or similar recipes and that’s not a problem in my opinion. We also know that people moved, conquered and settled in different areas, so a lot of things were brought by coming to someone’s area, and that, in my opinion, is a kind of wealth. So stop arguing about such things and enjoy them and learn something new, different. Not a single day should pass without us learning something. And God created us different precisely to get to know each other and learn from each other. Greetings to all around the world. Respect each other and spread love 🌏🌎🌍🕊❤️🧿🥰
I am in love with Turkey ever since I started perusal TV series and reading its history. I would love to visit Turkey if God permits. Your Turkish language is beautiful, I am learning it and teaching my kids. I am from India. I have even started making Borek and menemen for breakfast. Hope to visit in future.
what is amazing is every shop welcomes you when you walk in, you either get called abi or abla which means brother or sister, or teze or amca which means aunty or uncle to older people, respect is a big thing in turkey, very very rare you will see younger sibling call their older sibling by first name either abi or abla, in fact, no young person will address anyone older by just name, eg will be Alyson abla or Tim abi …
I visit turkey every year 2 to 3 times, they are very polite people and they are always willing to help us around …. I’m Greek and as for the baklava I can tell you that the Turkish baklava is much much better it melts in your mouth plus the butter they use is amazing….I always eat there and always bring back home …
As someone who lived in Turkey for 3.5 years I can honestly say, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there nothing but the kindest and respectful people. Love Chi tea, and idk what food people were complaining about because I loved it, especially ekmek (flat bread) omg loved it. Once went to a restaurant and saw trout on the menu, I asked how fresh it was and the waiter said, “come here.” I followed him to a tub that had trout swimming around. I said, “That one please.”
I love Turkey so much ! I went there like 7 times and I still go back every year. Turkish people are so nice and I really feel like I prefer Turkish man over man in my country (Slovakia), but country and food and your culture is absolutely fascinating and lovely. Sending so much love from Slovakia, can´t wait to go back to Turkey ❤
Well! I have been to Turkey and live there for a year and I’m just obsessed with everything related to Turkey. Their language is so unique and beautiful and the food especially the beautiful people very friendly and respectful and very hospitable people and the place is such a heaven. Wish to visit some of my friend one day!
Classic Greek – Turkish debate: Greek coffee / Turkish coffee! 🙂 One time I almost enter a mosque in Istanbul without taking my shoes off, because we enter churches with shoes and I forgot.. But the guard was very polite, he realised I didn’t do it on purpose and politely asked me to take my shoes off… I had a nice time there, Turkish people were very nice!
Turkey is a gorgeous country! Full of unbelievable historical cites, beautiful beaches and towns, exciting tourists tours, and great food! It is a kingdom of baklava and black Turkish coffee, and most importantly they are great hosts! They make you feel so welcomed and special! Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, Cappadocia, Kas, Bodrum, etc…all beautiful on a different way! We’ve been there and planing to visit again soon!
I am Greek and I can say that baklava, kataifi, “greek” coffee, kebab, donner are 100% Turkish. I always say to my friends from Thessaloniki (I’m from Athens), that baklava is Turkish. And they say no, and I call them idiots 😂 We have those sweets too in Greece since we’ve been for 400 years under Ottoman occupation, which is logic that food would be mixed in both cultures somehow. Like imam, briam we cook these here in Greece, but are Turkish. Gyros is Greek by the way 😁All these syrupy pastries are from Arabic, Turkish or other middle east or central asian countries, I guess ‘
I was in Turkey for nearly a year, and loved every moment of it. The most loving people ever, and would do anything for you to make you feel welcomed. I never ate so well in my life. Here in Finland we argue about food, what is Swedish and what is Finnish or Russian. We all put our spin on dishes and make them our own.
I’ve stayed in TRNC which is predominantly Turkish for 7 years and I’ll be leaving real soon but I absolutely love the people, place and culture. The language (Turkish) is beautiful, the people are great, the dramas (series) are my favorite. I absolutely love it here and I’m sad that I’ll have to live. I will definitely return to visit as much as possible. Also I really love that they love cats and dogs. Not to mention how very very very beautiful the country is.
I’m a Turkish and I felt very happy when I saw comments about my country. In comments everyone ( mostly ) says that they love Turkiye. By the way, this article is completely true. Especially I hate comparing with Arabs and hearing someone insulting Atatürk. And I want to add one more. Our history isn’t only Ottoman Empire. We had lots of states before Ottoman Empire.( Asia Huns, Göktürks, Uygurs, Karahans, Gaznes, Selçuklus… ) This much from me. Take care friends. Love from Turkey to all of youuu.
I’ve wanted to visit Turkey since I was in the 6th grade. In world history we had to pick a county to do a year end report on I chose Turkey over Russia, now in 6th grade the Cold War was at its height. But that’s when I feel in love with Turkey,fast forward to 2022 I’m 53 and this fall I’m finally taking a 25 day trip thru Turkey. Maybe I’ll never leave ❤️❤️❤️
Origin of the food: Dolma: Greeks think it’s Dolmades but dolma comes from “dol-” which means to be filled. Dolma means something filled. Döner: It comes from “dön-” which means to turn. Döner means something turning. Yoğurt: It’s not greek, it comes from “yoğur-” which means to knead. Yoğurt means something kneaded. TOGETHER WE CAN STOP THE CULTURE ROBBERY. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD.
I love how they treat cats and dogs😍 I been to Türkiye 5 years ago While we were going out of a masjid in Alfatih street There were lots of birds on the ground eating seeds that were given by people My kids just spontaneously ran to catch the birds not with the intention to harm them but just childishly 😌 I will never forget the reaction of the people around us They got mad and one guy shouted to my kids in Turkish which I couldn’t understand But he was obviously angry that we disturbed the birds while eating I respect that actually and ended shouting to my kids😄
Turkiye has everything. Entertainment, nature, rooted history, rich culture, various endemic plant species, rich underground resources, 4 season climate, all kinds of vegetation, big cities, delicious food, east-west spice mix effects, friendly people, hospitality, friendly animals. It has a variety of landscapes suitable for all types of travellers; There are snow covered hills, plateaus, valleys, canyons, fairy chimneys, Kaçkar mountains, crater lakes, ancient places, historical monuments and sparkling beaches. Not to mention corners of paradise such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Antalya and Trabzon! Almost the center of the world; It is a transcontinental country that acts as a bridge connecting Asia, Europe and Africa. Turkiye, the cradle of civilization, is the most strategic and richest country in the world in terms of geography. This claim is unbeatable! Turkiye can never be compared with other overrated countries. This country is one world.
Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Arab countries, Iran, the central-asian Stans, Azerbaijan etc.. they all have similarities in the food, but they all do it in their own unique way which makes it their own kitchen. All of these kitchens may use similar preparation styles, yet be very different from each other simply because of the flavour profiles and ingredients used.
Very nice article, Can! In Brazil foreigners think we speak Spanish, because we are surrounded by countries that speak that language… So I know how you feel about that. 🤭 This change thing is the same in here also. Our prizes are always like 2,97 or 67,99 but we never get back those 3 or 1 cent. And we are so used to this that we don’t even ask anymore. 😄
Hello! I am a Turk and I would like to express my thoughts on this subject… First of all, your good opinions about Turkey made me very happy and the real ancestry of Turks comes from Central Asia and they are completely slanted-eyed Turks. Their skin color is white and their hair is between auburn and light brown. If you want, you can research this topic on the internet. But today, we have interbred with people from other countries by continuing our lineage. If you’ve read this review this far, thank you, good-hearted person!
I went to Turkey last year for the first time and I have to say it was a fantastic experience, everyone was super friendly, the streets were safe and clean, things were fairly cheap and good quality, the food was amazing and I loved seeing the cats and dogs roaming the streets – they were remarkably well looked after and clean. Amazing country.
Very good list! 😁. I’ve been living in Turkey for 20 years and both myself and my wife, who is Turkish suffer from hay fever during high pollen times, so loud nose noises can often come from both of us!! 😂. Of course when we can control it and head to the bathroom we do. Not always possible though. I agree with everything here, it’s great advice. I would add a “do”. Do try to speak a little bit of Türkçe if you can. Turks really appreciate it even if you can’t pronounce the words correctly. 🙂
I used to think Turks are Arabs and I’m sorry about that. The more I watch Turkish series, the more I have interest in the language, food, culture and people. As a matter of fact, I believe Turkish people are more Asian than European in more ways such as not entering a house with shoes, the same in the Philippines and other Asian countries because we value cleanliness. Additionally, I find the language similar to Filipino because both don’t have gender nouns. Aside from spanish, thai, korean and french, I wanna learn Turkish. ❤️❤️❤️
Excellent, helpful and informative article. Thank you. Kudos to the Turkish people for liking street animals, it shows the intelligence of the people. Similarly, not expecting tips, this is an advanced country attitude, pay for what you have at the price advised. Well done I enjoyed your great presentation too.
I love turkish culture, language and magnificient heritage, HOWEVER some bitter and ruthless comments about Arabs (showing a deep hatred towards Arabs, which we as Arabs are aware of especially when we visit Turkey as we can clearly feel unwanted), are just useless. I think I need to stop reading comments so it doesnt spoil my love for Turkey. Salam
Just back from 3 weeks in Turkey. This is a country everyone who likes to travel should prioritize as a destination. It is statistically much safer than the USA, the people are head and shoulders more helpful and polite than Americans; the country itself is stunning both from a scenic and historical perspective. Istanbul is now in my top five cities to visit and if I could afford to live there I would emigrate tomorrow. Add to the list of ‘things not to do’ is wearing shorts if you are a man. Aside from beach wear, shorts are generally not worn by men in Turkey. No-one is going to get upset if you do, but it kinda yells ‘tourist’ and I would avoid doing so. I bought lightweight REI travel pants which worked fine for touring. Especially in Istanbul but throughout Turkey, the men appear to take personal grooming very seriously – especially their hair which is, at times, genuinely both impressive and quite spectacular. I felt dowdy by comparison and would need to considerably ‘up my game’ if I lived there. What is also amazing to me was the huge cat and dog population. In most countries the strays are diseased, emaciated and often aggressive. In Turkey it’s the exact opposite. You will see Turkish people feeding, tagging and looking after these animals – I sincerely wish more people around the world would adopt the Turkish model. Food is fantastic but here is my only note of caution. Eating at places without prices on their menu or ordering a la carte without an idea of item price can prove an expensive lesson.
I was in London last year. And for the first time, I learned that blowing your nose in public is a normal thing in Europe. It was really interesting, people do it so casually that it began to seem normal to me too. But thanks to my Turkish genes, I was never able to blow my nose in public myself. Because even though it is completely normal, it feels very embarrassing!
I lived in Turkey for a month this is all true. Also, don’t gossip in Russian, lots of older people know Russian. And another thing, i lived in a poor neighborhood and i always thought Turks would rob or mug me. I always watched people, acted really paranoid, always kept hands in pockets holding my phone and wallet firmly. Well nobody robbed me or even tried. Even if a Turkish person looks dangerous they are usually surprisingly nice and friendly. So relax a little. By the end of my stay I started taking night walks, left my phone on cafe table when going to the bathroom, etc. Never had anyone rob me. And last thing I noticed, they really love kids. Some random merchants and generally local people can give gifts to kids, or say something nice, or smile at them so don’t get anxious, they just like kids. It’s normal.
Once i was in the grand bazar and i was slightly gossiping about the vendor with my brother IN CATALAN (a language spoken by a minority in spain). Guess what! The vendor was bad at english but he spoke a perfect catalan to us and we were shocked, later he told us that he had lived in Barcelona for a while. He was so nice and we ended up buying several prayer mats from him.
I am Bosniak ⚜️ I have 3 friends in Istanbul whenever I am there I am hanging out with them…we all speak arabic turkish ofc and english….I am white my friends are turk looking guys….when we speak arabic in public every person look at us hhahahhahaha but funny thing happend last year one garson came to us and said you 4 speak arabic like you are from arab country but (speaking to me and though i was not speakkng turkish) you how you can speak like that (I am white guy like russian or ukrainian) I answered to him in turkish he was amazed hhahahhaha….vallahi ben turk kardeşleri çok seviyorum biz aynı 🇧🇦🇹🇷🐺🐺
As an arab I got once that one person confused me with Turkish ppl.. luckily it only happened once. I know it might happen more often or maybe alot with you guys it’s not the same but I don’t deny that we have some similarities and things in common. Btw I’m learning Turkish now and one of the reasons why that my family’s origin is Turkish, however I’m arab but I love Turkey or as the update says : Turkiye.
I’ve just finished reading a biography of Ataturk and I’m starting to get more and more interested in Turkey. As for the food, the Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Balkans and the Middle East. Culinary influences move in all directions. Don’t waste time arguing that baklava came from somewhere else, just east the stuff, it’s delicious.
I worked on an EU project in Turkey on and off for 2 years I was very fortunate to be taken by my interpreter to Mr Ataturk’s Mausoleum and the museum next door which explains his involvement bringing about the Turkish state. The doors to his Mauselium have embossed words to the young of Turkey from a speech he made in around 2936 (I thenk) The words resonate with young Turkish people to this day. A lovely country with lovely people.
Thanks for some details, I really dream that one day I can go to Turkey,I’m Muslim from Philippines🇵🇭 who really admire the turkish place, I see the unity, humanity and peace of this place where some countries doesn’t have. living without hesitating, disrespecting other beliefs, I love how rich the culture and history of Turkey 🇹🇷, also being kind and generous for every living like animals they treated well, it’s so impressive that whole society are a concerns🥺, whenever ask my teachers about my favorite country to go one day, I always said TURKEY, before Saudi. One of my bucket list is to go to Hagia Sophia InsaAllah, sending love from Philippines.
On kurus: in ex yugoslavia there has been a movement “I dont’t want a chewing gum, I want my change!”, because, if the change is that small, they give us some cheap chewing gums 🙁 There is also an urban legend of a man going to the shop with a big jar of chewing gums and wanted to by groceries with it.
Thanks, very helpful article for when I finally can visit for more than the few hours I did back in 1977 (as part of a cruise). Some things I already assumed, others I knew, but others (like blowing the nose noisily) i did not know. (I was born in Crete, but from 1 to 9 years old I enjoyed living in the island of Chios, which is very near Turkey, some points are ‘swimming distance’ (2 km or so) and in WW II some Greeks did swim to Turkey from there to escape the Nazis and the Fascists. Even by slow kaik boat, the ride to Cesme took less than 30 mins. then I moved to Athens where I lived from 9 to 23, and the rest of my life in the US with summers in my home in Greece.) I find it funny that I have been to China many times for many weeks at a time (for work and pleasure combined) and still have only been to Turkey that one afternoon in 1977.
I would say most of these things are applicable for any country since they just show how well-mannered and cultured a person is. Saying offensive things about food or culture, gossiping in public, or blowing your nose loudly will be considered rude and indecent in the modern society wherever you go. However, there are a few specific Turkish things, like getting small change or taking off shoes. It is true for Ukraine as well, though! 🙂
Some years ago I was in Istanbul and I was just blown away about how many people knew a langauge I speak! They asked me: Deutsch, Inglish, Francais, Italiano? – and they spoke all of those languages well. Well – I was in a metropolian area and not in the country side. But I live in Vienna and I there are so few people speaking more than German and some English – besides the immagrants speaking their languages. World would be better if people learned more languages. Besides – langauge learing helps to develop your brain!
I’ve not been to Turkey yet but only as I just can’t decide exactly where to stay, so many lovely looking areas! Your points were great and also remind me so much as I remember in Morocco, another more relaxed Islamic country. I suspect as a female however that I will feel less intimidated walking around in Turkey which is good as respect for each other should be 2 way. Can’t wait to interact with the cats 🐈 Great article, very sweet and amusing too 😊
The gossiping in a foreign language is true all over the world. In America more and more people are multi- lingual. I have had people say unkind things in front of me in Spanish – thinking I look Caucasian and won’t understand. We say in the US : ‘ if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’
When I was reading about Turkey and how well they treat the strays, I was so impressed and happy because so many places aren’t nice to strays and just want to eliminate them. I have 5 rescue strays myself so this really resonated with me and it makes me really appreciate Turkish culture. Also, I really like baklava, so much mmmm.
I appreciate Turks and Pakistani people who do not hesitate speaking their own language and respect it Why is it mandatory to speak English??? I love those who respect their language and culture ❤️❤️❤️ And by the way I’m from Kashmir and we also do not enter our homes with our shoes on ☺️☺️ I get frustrated if someone does this by chance
I wanna taste every Turkish food. Yes in many series I have seen people showing live towards stray animals ❤️. Is it true that without knowing Turkish language we can’t get to exploreTurkey ? Not getting back the small amount is common in India also. ❤️❤️ Respect to every culture is necessary. From series I have felt that people there are so much obsessed with cleanliness. Yes I know we will get a shoe to wear inside the house.
Cool article, I love the part with the animals and I really appreciate Turks treat them nicely Also I like turkish shops in England because I like your products Also istanbul airlines is the best company they actually serve food – generous I also drink Turkish bottled water and I find it very nice in comparison to English one
you are absolutely right and I want to tell my friends who will come to Istanbul; Please stay away from people who paint shoes. He deliberately throws her shoe brush on the ground and is waiting for you to get it. when he finds and gives, he paints your feet to thank you. Finally, he wants money for painting your shoes. If you refuse to give money, then he will call and threaten his own friends. This event is generally; It happens in places like Taksim and Balat.
Well I lived in Turkey for 5 years and I observed that stray dogs are treated really badly there, some Turkish people even shot dogs just for fun. Unfortunately, not every Turkish person treats animals properly. And for the gossiping part… unfortunately, there were a lot of Turkish girls who gossiped about me IN MY PRESENCE, and it kinda surprised me. Like, gurl… I’m literally pursuing a PhD at Turkish university, how come you thought I didn’t know what were you talking about? xD But in Turkey there were pleasant things too, like food – quite cheap and the quality is really nice, incredibly beautiful views, a lot of historical places worth sightseeing and so on, but as I mentioned above, a lot of people just disappointed me by their behavior 😉 I can really recommend Turkey to visit during holidays – it’s like a dream, but staying there for a long time is a living hell ;P
Hi guys I have read the comments and really found that all Turks are annoyed when someone thinks they are Arabs ! It’s not a thing that happens just to you, it also happens with us (Arabs) Sometimes people thought I’m Turkish and I didn’t feel something bad, it is just because of the Islamic Culture (I’m not saying turkish or arabic culture I mean just the Islamic Culture because I know every country has different culture) So just don’t make this topic so sensitive it is mostly CAHİLLİK from those people who are from different countries and think that any Muslim person must be Arab !
As a foreigh who lives in Turkey I can agree for almost all the facts, only what I would like to say is : People, leave a tips to waiters, even 1 TL will be enough. That small thing what you can do will make them happier. Veee bütün türklere:İngiliz dizileri ve filmleri dublajla izlemeyin, alt yazıyla izleyin ve İngilizce dinleyin, daha iyi ve daha çok öğreneceksiniz.
Whether or not, if you look at the history of the Turkish cuisine, you can claim Turkish, Greek, Cyprus, Middle eastern cuisine, Moroccan, Lybian, Lebanese are Mediterranean. The modern Turkish cuisine can be described as a fusion and refinement of Mediterranean, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Eastern European and Armenian cuisines. The Ottomans fused various culinary traditions of their realm with influences from Levantine cuisines, Egyptian cuisine, Greek cuisine, Balkan cuisine, along with traditional Turkic elements from Central Asia (such as yogurt and pastırma), creating a vast array of specialities. Early historical documents show that the basic structure of the Turkish Cuisine was already established during the Nomadic Period. The journey of Turkish food culture has been in continuous development from the past beginning from Central Asia, Seljuk, Ottoman Empire to Republican eras and has excelled.
I went to Turkey on May 2022 and I was accompanied by a lady who was very skeptical about the food and the source to the point where she even expressed publicly. I was so eager to tell her: “Why did you even came in the first place if you were going to be this close-minded? Go back to US where you say you are more comfortable.”
Very funny about the food. Turks, Greeks, Lebanese, Syrians etc etc they all get exited. I am a language teacher in Brussels and once I asked my very diverse students (several Arabs from different counties, Turks and some from the America´s) about their national foods. Never had such an animated (but friendly) debate!
Well I’m totally agree with you “Young man” because its exactly the same way about my country Iran. Whatever you mentioned in this article we ask them tourists about my country as well. Specially when they confuse Iran & Iranian with Arab countries!!! With all respect to arab nations, that is not nice at all ! because Iran or better I say “Persia” has a magnificent historical background of thousands of years and it has nothing to do with Arab cultur and we speak PERSIAN not Arabic!!! so thats why here in United States I always have to explain to most of Americans about “this” and also the rest of them points that you said about your beautiful country my friend. By the way I DO love Turkey specially Istanbul.❤🙂🙏🏻
I have lived in Turkey, so most of these things I know. However, I didn’t know about sneezing…cok yasa! I will be careful blowing my nose. I would never insult Kemel Atatürk who was a great man, but I might insult current leaders. I love the Turkish people, but for an Englishman sometimes it’s uncomfortable when people get too close to you and touch you a lot. Also Turks like to ask a lot about how much you earn falan filan, this is not acceptable in England. Thanks for your advice and you are right many Turks can talk good English. This is frustrating as I am trying to learn Turkish and my questions are answered in English… DOH.
Hoping to visit in Turkey someday. Living in America for quite a while now and my origin is in Philippines, I can say that I have one thing I can relate to your article. Asian people usually take off their outdoor footwear when they get in the house and use another footwear that is intended for indoor. In Amerca it is a big adjustment here because people don’t take their shoes off😁.
One of my favorite memories visiting Turkey was when I was a like in middle school we went to see family and went to dinner at night. We sat outside and saw the stray cats and me and my sibling played with them and they even tried sitting on our lap. The owner saw us and since they were closing for the day he gave us a bucket of meat I believe they were going to throw out anyway so we could feed the cats
Lol, who said Döner is german? This person clearly doesn’t know that the turks brought Döner to germany, from there it developed a different version from what they eat in turkey, so even if they think its “german” it really isn’t. And this Baklava discussion, it is internstionally accepted that its from the turks, same as yogurt, turks were the first culture known making yogurt.
Off topic as I watched this article before. Just now I’m realizing that I should have spent more time reading/researching a lot when visiting other cities of Turkey. It’s like now I understand why vloggers often go to Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ankara. This time I want to explore the other cities and it’s quite a challenge. Finding public transport from different locations. I’m leaving this comment maybe a travel blogger will see it, please try to expound how to get around if one is not driving a car nor getting a taxi. I’m planning Bogazkale, Corum, Amasya, Samsun, Trabzon, Sumela, Erzurum all the way to Cappadocia.
It seems pretty obvious that when you go on holidays in a country, you don’t flame that country on their own ground. But they can’t help it, they do the same when they come to Greece, they flame all the time. If you don’t like the country, then don’t come, it’s pretty simple. About the baklava, it’s like the raki, same name, different thing, so it’s not really a problem. The coffee though…. 🙃🙃🙃
‘Dont treat stray animals badly’… THANK YOU. This one aspect among so many about Turkey is enough reason for me to want to visit, because for once in my life, I want to see stray animals being pampered, cared for and loved by majority,instead of being miserable and pitiful.. its one of my dreams, I tell you.
I love Turkish people,I work in GAMA Construction for 12straight years in Jeddah& Jubail,KSA.Until now,I’m perusal ALL Turkish movies like Nobody Knows,In Love Again,Just Smile,Maral,Kiralik Ask,Room 309 etc.I will cherish my 12 years with this GAMA & Turkish people in Shoibah Power Plants Proj.in KSA.
You nailed these DON’TS so well!!! Amazing! Haha! You should’ve also said: “don’t buy anything without negotiating its price” 😂😂 I have to pick up one tiny detail though: “FOR SOME REASON, people think Turkey is an Arabic language country”… I kinda get why people ask this tbf (even if it does piss me off too haha). It pisses me off as a French/Dutch/English/Turkish native language person (Turkish parents, born in a tiny country speaking French AND Dutch/Vlaams, AND living in the UK, plus learning Spanish and Classic Arabic lol). And people should be aware of what’s going on in the country… TODAY. That’s what pisses me off. But I understand that (in my own example)… …People always ask me: “You don’t speak French, do you? You speak Belgian!!!” or “You don’t speak Dutch, but …’Flemish’, right? It’s not Dutch!”. AS IF THEY spoke ONE SINGLE of these languages… these Mr./Ms. Know-It-All who only speak one language most of the time (maybe 2 if you count bad English lol). My face: 😳😬🙄🤯😯🤦♀️ My thinking: “How am I going to explain to them nicely, without hurting their ego, that these are different ‘versions’/’dialects’ of the exact same damn language?”. My answer: “I do speak French, actually, yes, I’m afraid. Hum huummm. There’s no such a thing as a ‘Belgian’ language… Unless you are talking to me about the deep Wallonian or Brusselier dialects, which I’m really excited to discuss with you right now 😊😊” And: “Yeahhh.
I’ve been living in the U.S for 23 years and go to visit istanbul almost every 2 to 3 years and I can say that our people and culture are way more welcoming than here in the U.S, I don’t know maybe it’s just me but it just feels that way for some odd reason. Like I can be way more comfortable around turks than I can with americans.
My parents are from Pakistan we live in Germany my aunt is Turkish she lives in izmir my uncle (mother side) has a store there ☺️ we visit them here and there. I love turkey I am also almost fluent in Turkish. Everytime we go to turkey everyone thinks we‘re from there I often notice they just start talking Turkish with us 😂 but it’s ok since I can speak quite good in Turkish. I m so sorry for my bad English 😂🇵🇰🇹🇷❤️
Well, I understand the sensitivity issue between Turk & Arab. As person who in a way belongs to both worlds, I have to say they are not entirely different in terms of culture, don’t forget Ottoman empire ruled the entire region for more than 500 years, so there’s still remnants of Turkish influence on Arabic culture and vice verse. You might argue: well, that’s different from modern Turkey which sometimes promotes itself more in an European image than Middle Eastern, and for that I agree that led to more difference in culture.
The problem with Atatürk is that the deeper you dive into history the more you know about Turkey and him, the less respect you have for the man. Turkish propaganda reminds me of the pictures of Staline everywhere. Staline did amazing things for Russia as well, but he also participated in genocides, had a very high repression for any opposition… just like Atatürk did… Atatürk promoted all the guys responsable for genocide, they even made a martyr out of Mehmed Kemal Bey (who was a terrible person. His last words before dying were « death to Armenians »), Atatürk was responsable of Turkey’s last genocides… More to be ashamed than to be proud of, really.
This is good advice but, as a long-term traveller in multiple countries, I’ve found Turkish people to be a little more sensitive about their culture. It’s as if they have some insecurities? For my country Australia there are articles which tell tourists how to stay SAFE, rather than how to avoid offending Australians. We see it as part of travel to learn such ‘niceties’ on the road.
Hi, thank you for this article I have appreciated ! I totally agree with everything you have mentioned because it is true. With my family we are going to Turkey on holidays for 10 years now and I know that everything you said in this article is absolutely right. Other tourists have to know this because this is important ! For the nose I was LOL this is not the end of the word if someone is doing this loudly, but I agree that in Occidental countries this is something normal, but in other countries especially in Balkans this is not very polite. Thanks again
There are tons of differences between Turks and Arabs. It is really ignorance to confuse these two nations. Also, Iranians are thought to be Arabs by some ignorant people, but they are not Arabs either. Their languages, ethnic structures, cultures are different, most importantly, their geography is different.
It is incredible how people is in general. As tourists they don’t know the country and they don’t care about it. They may like it but they do there what they don’t do in their own country. Specially visiting a muslim country you have to respect that. What you say, how you dress, things you do. The language can be another problem or not. But if I go to Türkiye or other country I learn some necessary or polite words to speak. And the reaction of people is different. I am muslim and I dont like to see persons with “light clothes” or entering in a mosque without cover all. It is unrespecful. I know Istambul may be more european but in cities inside Türkiye they are more conservative. I LOVE YOUR COUNTRY CAN. Inshallah one day I can go. The history and culture is wonderful. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
10/10 good advice. My 11th: in public, speak no louder than is necessary for the people you’re with to hear you. Speaking louder than that is an intrusion into other people’s peaceful enjoyment of the space. If others can follow your conversation more than one table away in a café, or more than a couple seats away on the bus, you’re talking too loud.
Some people who doesn’t have any idea ( from America Continent) can come to Germany, and you will find all turkish restaurants with turkish food so they can say DURUM is from Germany 🇩🇪 I live in Germany and in many cities you have “a little Istambul or Türkiye ” The same turkish people say that. I love that and I learn with you so I go to my turkish market and I practice my turkish there. Alhamdulillah Subhanallah ❤
Doner was “invented” by a Turkish guy in Germany. You decide where it is from. Also, Turks and Greeks have been interfering with one-another for so long, there are many influences in their cuisine from both sides, it is not easy to clearly distinguish which one is really Turkish and which one is Greek. Does it matter? It is still delicious. Is spaghetti originally Italian? Well, it isn’t. The origins of pasta come from Asia. However, it is the Italians that took the dish and elevated it to a whole new level. Then you say that you are not Arabs. That is clear and there is no doubt about that. However, being a Muslim country and allowing religion to be such a big part of your everyday life, automatically creates a lot of similarities with arabic countries that noone can deny. Stray pets – I just respect the way animals are treated in Istanbul! In conclusion, let me say just mention the one thing you SHOULD do in Turkey. That is meet with people. Talk to them. They are genuinely warm and hospitable people and I have met more than a few that I consider to be good and real friends. For the record, I was born in Cyprus and I grew up in Greece since I was 2 years old. It is wrong to think of Turks and Greeks as enemies. We are neighbours and I dare say brothers.
I don’t think tip is not important in Turkey especially in Istanbul! I’m from the US and spent some vacations in Turkey, everytime I go to a restaurant they always looked like they waiting for the tip, even the TAXI driver, in America it’s SO rude not to tip, so when I used to tip the Turkish in a restaurant they always appreciated it with a smile on their face. So guys you NEED to tip.
1 additional thing you must NEVER, EVER do in Turkey is photograph any police or military site…even by accident! Also never accept an open bottle of water at a restaurant. Send it back and ensure you get an unopened bottle. I spent 2 years at a remote USAF site on an active Turkish Air Force Base. Loved every minute of it. Even had a Turkish driver’s license. Drove to all kinds of out of the way sites not visited by tourists. Of all my oversea assignments in 24 years of service in the USAF, Turkey was the one country I would retire to tomorrow if I could talk the wife into moving. Cheers
I am Turkish and while reading the comments it is about the Turkish people, I stopped laughing while reading the nice comments. It is very important and valuable for us that people are interested in and love Turkey. I would not recommend you to travel to Turkey in May 2023. Because of this, Turks are starting to be against foreigners, for your information <3
When I watched this article as a Turk, I approved this article very much. There are also things you should not do in Turkey: Make fun of other people’s religion, disrespect if you do this, remember that this is not legal and Turks can attack you. Turks are very sensitive about religion. He can attack you by playing the anthem 🙂 If anyone reading this is wondering about their Turkish, this is it: Ben Türk olarak izlediğimde de bu articleyu çok onayladım bunlarda var Türkiyede yapmamanız gerekenler:Başkalarının dini ile dalga geçmek saygısızlık yapmak eğer bunu yaparsanız Türkler bunun hem yasal olmadığını hem de size saldarabileceklerini unutmayın Türkler din konusunda çok hassastır.2:Sakın Türklerin ülkesini kötülemeyin yoksa Türkler İstiklal Marşı çalarak size saldırabilir 🙂 eğer bunu okuyan biri bunların Türkçesini merak ediyosa işte bu:
I was in November in Istanbul and someone steal my passport. I go soon in September again to see what really happends there. It was a kind of shoking curiosity. The animals I view it critically and it is difficult to bear but I do not condemn it. I hardly met anyone who spoke English, not even in the hotel. The working conditions are catastrophic. I met a dentist who works in a state clinic and also runs his own clinic on the side. He can barely live off his work, that’s unimaginable. People are very friendly and helpful. I’m leaving politics and religion aside, I’m there as a tourist, even though there are a few things to criticize. The only thing that really bothers me is that you can’t get a cafe latte or cappuccino, I was really shocked that there is only Nesscafe, even in cafes and bakeries. You can survive as a vegetarian, but Google Translate is a minimum.