Their tours are very solo-friendly, they keep their groups small, theyre sustainability-minded, andthey have several tour options in Turkey. Im hoping to travel to Turkey solo in the summer (eek its gonna be so hot!) The waves on the first pic are really rough :) Glad you ended up enjoying the trip! I went down to the beach in a panic, she said, and these two Turkish girls saw me looking around, and came up to me and asked if I was looking for a watch, they had found one on the beach.. Drink less than you ordinarily would at home two drinks is a good limit. Again, much of it depends on where you are, and what the locals around you are wearing. (The word for woman in Turkish is bayan.), What should you wear to a Turkish hamam? My favorite simple dish at most lokanatas is nohut yemei (chickpeas cooked in oil and tomato paste) with pilav. If you get hassled when youre out exploring then head into a local business and tell the people inside that youre being followed. Most of the time the attention doesnt run to more than staring and attempts at conversation. For every jerk, there are plenty of taxis that are perfectly fine. Most of the sumptuous dishes that can be enjoyed in Turkey today were developed during this period. Nothing was helping and I could barely move, so it was time to visit the hospital. The prices at the airport are only marginally higher than those found at the shops in the city centres. Turkey Uncovered. Youre going to want to be wary of anyone who comes up to you and immediately tries to become your best friend. If you book your flight at least a couple of weeks in advance, you can often find fares from Istanbul to Cappadocia for as little as $20! Comfortable walking shoes are most important as youll be exploring by foot to all the sites with small hikes here and there. The best solo female travel stories from women who travel alone often and one's who just started. Booking trains in Turkey can be a challenge while you can book them online at the Turkish State Railways website, it will be much easier to book them from a travel agency office once you arrive in Turkey. Thanks again and have a nice day . Get data on your phone or get a Turkish SIM card. Check out local meetups viaMeetup.com. Turkish people are incredibly warm, friendly, and hospitable. and cant wait!! Her blog Katrinka Abroad combines personal essays with analog photography. We live in an age of terror, unfortunately, and I dont believe that Turkey is any less safe than anywhere else in the world. You will find that airport-style security checks are in place in the bus, rail, and subway stations. Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in Turkey? Dealing with unwanted attention in Turkey, 6 Common Tourist Scams to Watch Out for in Morocco, How to Stay Safe in Morocco's Souks and Medinas. A number of budget airlines offer affordable domestic flights within Turkey. Anyone you ask will be happy to give you directions, even if they dont know where you are actually going. Visit the Hagia Sophia. I have been to 60 countries, most of which I traveled alone and find Turkey one of the safest and most convenient country. Do you have any further questions about travelling to Turkey as a woman?
Solo Female Traveler goes to Turkey Internal flights are also a good option and dont break the bank. While there may be some similarities between Turkey and certain Southern European and Balkan countries, there is truly nowhere quite like Turkey. Sometimes men are confused by a woman traveling on her own, and will continually question you about it. You can buy at home or while traveling, and claim online from anywhere in the world. Simply buy an Istanbul Kart Card for 10 liras your first time. Fortunately, I found solo travel in Turkey to be a wonderful experience! I started plotting my return to Istanbul immediately. Travel insurance will help you in your hour of need if you get your wallet stolen from your hostel in Istanbul; they will help you get medical care if you come down with appendicitis or break an ankle while climbing the ruins at Ephesus; and if your flights get canceled due to storms, you can get accommodation and new flights paid for. Many of our trips come with a photographer, are fully immersive and led by female local guides. In the older generations, youll tend to see a separation in public: all men in Tea Houses or at restaurants together. This region boasts some of the best natural scenery in Turkey. My personal favorite is Second Home Hostel, just walking distance from all the major touristic sites (Hagia Sofia, Sultanamet) with the most incredible staff. I have heard of problems, for both men and women, in the southeast of the country (close to the border with Syria and Iraq) but having not personally been there, I cant comment on the safety of this area. As always, be sure to read your policy carefully and make sure its a fit for you. See all their Turkey tours here. The next? Related Articles on Turkey 20 Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey The Cost of Travel in Turkey: A Detailed Budget Breakdown Whats it Like to Travel in Turkey as a Solo Woman? A Hater of Ruins Explores Ephesus Pamukkale: One of the Strangest Landscapes on Earth, Youve made me want to visit Turkey. It is easy to meet friendly locals and travellers there by attending (or hosting) events via platforms such as Meetup, Couchsurfing, and Internations. This is particularly true when there is a language barrier and where you may well be the only traveller on a bus/train. Irecommend a crossbody purse, made out of a tough material like leather or fake leather, that zips shut. Build it up! Jump to bottom. Avoid going down dark, narrow streets and stick to brightly lit main roads. I would be a little apprehensive traveling alone but it can be a real mind opening experience. Pick-pocketers are not common but watch out for your purse while in touristic or crowded areas (. The culture here is distinctly different from the rest of the country. Make sure that the Taxi is metered and starts at 7 liras. Why? Our small group journeys in Turkey are fully escorted by an experienced local guide and an Odyssey guide to give this type of experience whether at one of the many . You should exert basic common sense when travelling alone as a woman in Turkey. You should be careful in the far Eastern part of the country close to the Syrian border. Pamukkale: One of the Strangest Landscapes on Earth, How to Spend Three Perfect Days in Amsterdam, How to Spend Three Incredible Days in Lisbon, Portugal, How to Spend Three Days in Berlin, Germany, 18 Breathtaking Things to Do in Mallorca, Spain, 19 Enchanting Things to Do in Seville, Spain, Climbing, Collapsing and Crying in Mount Maunganui, 22 Epic Things to Do in Auckland, New Zealand, San Ignacio to Placencia via the Worst Travel Day Ever, 19 Mind-Blowing Things to Do in Alaska: The 2022 Edition, A Love-Hate Relationship with Playa del Carmen, The Absolute Best Things to Do in Dublin, Ireland. Traveling Turkey by rail is generally cheaper than buses. Its worth the peace of mind. The Lycian Way is a great hike for adventurous female travelers! Whether you feel comfortable travelling on an overnight bus is a personal preference. If you are in town on a Saturday, you can catch one of the free whirling dervish performances that are held around the city. Hi! The meter is always required to be on, so if it isnt, you can insist. That was also the year of the failed coup. If you're more of an island gal, check out these secret islands in Australia. Unlike many people think, Turkey is a modern and secular country. Its unlikely, but if they do say something insulting in English dont answer back. A friend and I are currently in the middle of an informal project to visit as many different hamams in as many different neighborhoods as possible tough research, I know, but someone has to do it! Through a fluke of history (and international refugee law), Turkey does not officially recognize most of its refugees AS refugees. Hookah, waterpipe, nargile, whatever you call it; its quite common here and there are cafes that are lovely tea gardens to sit and smoke in. Car rentals cost on average $25 a day (as low as $20 up to $45). Hamams generally provide you with a towel. (Fun fact, after I visited Antakya, I started ordering kilos of homemade tahini from a guy in the city, because Ive never tasted better tahini in my life. See all the Solo Female Destination Guides here. Here are some suggestions of what to do and say (or not, as the case may be) to help you handle these situations: Be selective when you ask for directions. A 2018 report by Hostelworld revealed that bookings by solo female travelers had grown 45 percent between 2015 and 2017, and the top three destinations for women traveling alone from the U.S. are Cuba, Macedonia, and Guatemala. Buses in Turkey have inbuilt entertainment, movies, and music. If youre not quite sure if youre ready to travel completely solo, another option is joining a group tour! And Im still completely enamored with the city on the Strait and this glorious country. Learn a few key words of the local language especially the word for no: yok hayr to dissuade anybody who views you as an easy target. Is the water safe to drink in Turkey? Have you traveled solo in Turkey? Its safe, charming, and has a splendid archaeological museum that you can visit when you need to take a break from eating everything.
The 20 Best places for solo female travel - World of Wanderlust In another instance a group of young men tried . When it comes to the safety of women alone, the general rules that apply throughout the world are also valid for Turkey. Even for solo female travelers walking around at night. Istanbul has a dedicated Tourist Police team. As I am not a medical professional, you should ask your doctor what you should do. I felt uncomfortable, and so I got up and stood for the rest of the journey. Theres always dner (shaved meat cooked on a vertical spit), but I prefer balk ekmek (grilled fish sandwiches) and kumpir, which are baked potatoes stuffed to the gills with cheese and butter and all sorts of meat and vegetables, from corn to olives to beets to sausage to pickles you get to choose what goes in the potato. Avoiding Attention Katrinka says she finds the country very safe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Originally from the U.K., I spent over a decade travelling the world before settling in Australia with my Kiwi partner. The Lycian Way. For farther distances, you can easily hop on the Public Transportations as mentioned above. Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer, journalist, and photographer who specializes in the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Istanbul, Turkey. What to wear in Turkey largely depends on where you are going to be travelling and when. I have a light cotton scarf that fits in my bag, and I carry that if Im going to visit a mosque. If you get food poisoning or a similar illness, your doctor may advise you to take antibiotics that are easily available at pharmacies throughout Turkey. However, advances from men can become irritating. Come in my Carpet Shop, I take you on a Magic Carpet Ride, Hellloooo Beautiful! And if you ignore them, they may say Do people not say Hi in your country?, Avoiding walking down dark streets and alleys. I've always been that kind of a weirdo that marches her own path. The doctor gave me a five minute inspection that involved mostly just listening to my heart and asking me if I was pregnant, and then sent me away with some pills and little explanation as to what was actually wrong with me. (She will ask you to take off your top at this point if you havent already.). The country has passed hands through some of the worlds greatest civilisations over the centuries, and each of them has left its mark on the country. Finally, the water isnt safe to drink in most parts of Turkey, so bring a LifeStraworSteriPen water purifierand reusable bottleto keep from buying plastic bottles and creating more waste. For the next three hours I was crying, vomiting, and trying everything I could to stop the room from moving. But this shouldnt be a concern traveling in Turkey.). You can simply write a post in one of the groups, see if anyone is available to grab lunch or a drink and make friends from there. Namely, those are Turkcell, Turk Telecom, and Vodafone. This is charged at no extra cost to you. Women are not forbidden from tea houses, but dont commonly go. The entire month of April is the Tulip Festival in Istanbul, when every green space is flooded with the flower its a particularly lovely time to visit. I have spent many evenings there with friends and it was fine. No:1). The hardest part is choosing just one trip. What a lovely thing to say!
Solo Female Travel - How to and Top Tips from Templeseeker About Us - SoFe Travel This all goes back to my main question - is Turkey safe for solo female travelers?
SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLER IN TURKEY | FIRST IMPRESSIONS - YouTube Go hiking along the coast or in the mountains. Theres nowhere quite like it. Day 4 Izmir to Kusadasi. In some areas. See what World Nomads covers here. The city of all cities, Istanbul stretches from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and contains layers and layers of fallen empires. This is exactly why you shouldnt ever travel without insurance. What are the roads like? You can pick a SIM card up on arrival at the airport. From Fethiye, I spent 11 days sailing a yacht around the southwest coast of the country, visiting Gcek, Gkkaya, Kekova Roads, Kalkan, Karakaren, Ka, Kayaky and Uagiz. When I moved to Istanbul, I started traveling extensively around Turkey and once I started, I never wanted to stop. Often, the scaremongering nature of British/western media does not help the situation. Usually you spend some time sweating out on a hot marble slab, and then eventually you are washed and scrubbed by a woman from the hamam. I advise you to suspend your judgement while traveling to this region of the world. Try to choose a plan where the excess is relatively low. Search your Car Rental (and Flights) at Skyscanner.com. If youre looking to meet people in Turkey while traveling solo, youre in luck. If you can find nonstop flights to your next destination, flying is the fastest and sometimes even the cheapest way to get around. I'm here to help you explore this planet safely, adventurously, and affordably.
Female solo travel in Turkey - Rick Steves Travel Forum Press play on the above image to watch the interview. The Email address or Password is incorrect, World Nomads Contributor - Wed, 1 Jun 2022. read about lockdowns and border restrictions. Istanbul is the only city in the world which is divided between two continents; therefore, it is natural for it to be very touristy and crowded. We are here to learn of another culture, not here to start a revolution in a 1-2 week trip. Even if the current government is trying to move the country into more of an Islamic Republic, women are free to dress as they want. TURKEY; NORTH AMERICA. Smoke scented waterpipes and sip tea at a nargile cafe. Particularly when you travel to more off the beaten path parts of the country, you will find that people are delighted to welcome a visitor to their area. As I always said then, until 2016, only one of the two cities Ive lived in has had a terror attack, and that was Boston. Consider opting for female-only dorms if you do decide to stay in hostels. All our trips are designed by solo female travelers for women who love to travel solo. Turkey is often bundled into the Middle-Eastern Countries though Turkish people do not consider their country as part of that category.
The Solo Female Traveler's Guide to Istanbul - The Blonde Abroad 6 easy tips for solo female travel in. I have visited Turkey (icemelar/marmaris) twice this year and have falling in love with the country. Check the reviews of accommodation you are considering before your stay. September 16, 2022 by Melissa Douglas. Some of the best areas to consider for your solo female trip to Turkey are highlighted below. In Istanbul, you will see a contrast of modern meets conservative, modest meets hip, creative meets traditional. This is a charming port area on the Southwest Coast of the Aegean. The country welcomes tourists and in Islam, guests are considered a God send. Their kiosk is located at (Binbirdirek, Divan Yolu Cd. Fortunately, I wasnt on board as I was day-tripping to a nearby village, but unfortunately, I now needed to find somewhere to stay for the night while they worked on getting back to shore. If you are around Istanbul in the Hip Areas of Cihangir, Kadikoy, Karakoy, Begoglyu, Sultanamet, you can wear anything and walk around in the middle of night. (So for example, if you pay with 100 TL, hell say you paid with a 20 TL note.)
When we moored at marinas the boat was so much more stable! Plus they were so hospitable.
A guide to solo travel in Turkey: Everything you need to know This is one of the most unique, culturally rich travel destinations in the world. For instance, the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, etc). Dont pinch pennies on your safety. Theres no need to make up crazy backstories while traveling just tell the truth and youll feel much more comfortable. The decrepit buildings seem to rise directly out of the landscape, eerie and quiet at the edge of the Anatolian plain. In fact, since 2017, there have been very few terror-related instances. This is something to keep in mind depending on your Turkey itinerary schedule. Istanbul is full of great places (especially in Aksaray), and Gaziantep has the unofficial nickname little Aleppo because so many people hailing from that Syrian city (only 75 miles away) have relocated there, and brought their cuisine along with them. Pay attention to the period just after Ramadan (eker Bayram) and the holiday of Kurban Bayram. Learn how to scuba dive in the Mediterranean among ancient ruins. As a solo female traveler, I am wandering around the world to experience it through solo travel. Great such a helpful blog article! So you've made the decision to travel solo to Istanbul. Day 2 Sightseeing of Cappadocia. As it will be sucks to catch Covid while travelling solo there. What could be better than having a steaming hot cup of kukuk cay bought to you whizz through the dramatic scenery of the Kakar Mountains? Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in Turkey? Unfortunately, Turkish men seem to correlate western women with what they have seen in the movies, in other words, that we are easy. Would you do it again, given the opportunity? Say that youre using a map app and the phone reception cuts off, it is perfectly safe and normal to pull off to a gas station (one every few kilometers), a restaurant or even to random strangers to ask for directions. In one country you will find amazing beaches, mountains, city life, and hidden picturesque villages. In Morocco, it was very much harassment men would grab me, call me horrible names, shout at me. Join local tours and events. Otherwise most mosques will have cloaks you can borrow. There will be cases, as an Asian female traveler in Turkey, that you will get them saying Konichiwa. Canada Travel Restrictions and Quarantines. My friend and I went to Istanbul 5 years ago. Italy I would be happy to help out with any concerns that you may have. With millions of Syrians living in Turkey, there are now MANY Syrian restaurants, and Syrian food is DIVINE. Of course, do it at your discretion. Try to book trains a day or two in advance; if its during holiday times, book as early as possible. Right outside of the city of Kars, perched on the edge of the Armenian border, is the ancient ruined city of Ani. Turkey is all about activities! In terms of crowds, summer is the busiest season in Turkey, both in Istanbul and on the coasts. 20 Places in your 20's . Today, I want to share what its like to travel in Turkey as a solo women, and answer the question: is travel in Turkey safe? Figure out where you need to go before you step outside so you can appear confident to anybody looking to scam an innocent tourist. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, The Independent, BBC Travel, Cornucopia Magazine, and PRI, among other places. The ethereal landscapes of this region look like something from a different universe entirely. Pressing issue aside, Istanbul is considered to be one of the safest big cities in the world. My most recent trip through the country saw me traveling overland from Istanbul to Fethiye with stops in Cannakale, Troy, Seluk, Ephesus, and Pamukkale. Each ride will cost one average 3-4 Liras. (Always carry Turkish Liras on you. What you think of as normal interaction smiling frequently and thanking them profusely - can be seen as an invitation for more. Izmir is a charming and underrated Turkish city. I encourage you to read this essay I wrote about travel and migration, and a friend of mine. You might want to consider purchasing theft-proof backpacks and money belts like those offered by Pacsafe.
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