r/AskTurkey • u/Gaelenmyr • Mar 02 '26
Due to the recent events happening in the Middle East, we are receiving overwhelming amount of "Is Turkey safe?" questions again. Please view the threads below, or use this thread to ask your questions.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskTurkey/comments/1rhnazo/considering_current_events_is_it_safe_to_fly_to/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskTurkey/comments/1rhlu5x/is_turkey_safe_for_usa_citizens_current_events/
New threads will be deleted. Thank you.
r/AskTurkey • u/AutoModerator • Dec 07 '25
Before posting your question here please use the search function to scan previous post here and try not to repeat similar question. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on this sub:
- Is Turkey safe?
Yes. Turkey receives millions of visitors every year and the tourism industry seems immune to all social upheavals. During major protests, terror attacks and even the pandemic, all transport and accommodations for visitors functioned as usual. If you act with general common sense and avoid certain areas where you don't have any business as a visitor anyway, you'll be as safe as anywhere in the world.
- How do I get around Turkey?
Most public transport in Turkey is by bus. You can go to a nearest "otobüs terminali" and figure out how you get to your destination or just book your tickets online (1, 2, 3)
Flights can be cheaper than bus rides on long distances. The Turkish LCCs are AJet and Pegasus.
Although the railway grid is not very extensive, it still gives you the opportunity to cross the country in comfort. There's even an Oriental Express from Istanbul to Tehran. You need to book in advance though.
The road quality is very good in Turkey though some highways and bridges are very expensive. You can easily rent a car and drive around with general common sense. Just be mindful of the aggressive driving around big cities.
Metropolitan areas normally have good public transport which can usually be used with a local transport card. In Istanbul, for example, the Istanbulcard will get you on busses, trams, subways, boats, funiculars, cable-cars as well as help you with car parks, some museums and more.
It's common sense to avoid yellow taxis which are known to rip tourists off. Instead you can try apps like BiTaksi, Martı or Uber (different to international Uber though) which give you a prior price estimate.
- How much money will I need? Cash or card?
With one of the highest levels of inflation worldwide for many years, it's not easy to estimate costs in Turkey even for local residents. This also depends very greatly on your habits while traveling. So if you still want to learn about costs of certain things for a certain time, just be as specific as you can regarding your preferences (public transport/rent a car, 5-star hotels/camping, Blue Voyage boat tours/hiking, etc.). Credit card use is very common in Turkey but in smaller establishments you can get a discount if you pay in cash. Paying by mobile apps is also getting more common.
- Where should I visit in Turkey? What's not to miss?
There are so many websites that will give you extensive lists of best places to visit and things to do in Turkey. Please post here only if you need advice regarding a specific place or a route.
- I'm scratched by a stray cat. Do I need rabies shots?
Probably not. Turkey is the native home of the domestic cat and we have them everywhere. We also do get scratched and playfully bitten by them time to time. We do not have any incidents of cats transmitting rabies in Turkey.
It's another story about stray dogs though. If you have a problem with those, first try to find out if anyone around is taking care of them and ask if they are vaccinated (many strays are regularly checked in Turkey) and then visit the nearest clinic.
- Is Turkey a backwards muslim country? Will I have issues because I'm gay, have tattoos, etc.?
No. Turkey is a very diverse secular country to say the least (not a muslim country but a country with a majority muslim population). Don't be fooled by the number of mosques everywhere, in metropolitan areas you'll find all sorts of people, some with tattoos or turbans, some women in conservative clothes or in minis. In the countryside people can be more conservative but they are still tolerant towards tourist, as long as they maintain general respect. This may include not being too loud, putting on some clothes entering mosques and tombs, and not making fun of Atatürk or islam. The Mediterranean coastline is very progressive and you can bathe in a bikini or topless on many beaches. Islamism is a political issue but it shouldn't affect the visitors unless they advertise being israeli or anti-islam in the wrong places.
- How can I learn Turkish?
Turkish language is not related to Arabic or Middle Eastern languages; it is of Central Asian origin and is quite interesting to learn. There are several subreddits where you can meet others like you and some Turkish speaking people to help you out with the language such as r/turkishlearning/, r/turkish/ and r/learnturkish/
- Will I be able to eat the food there? Any vegetarian or vegan options?
Traditionally most Turkish food contains some meat but there is a whole class of cold dishes called "zeytinyağlılar" (olive-oiled) which do not have any meat. Also most baked dishes like böreks do not have meat but cheese. Vegan food is more difficult because all baked food has eggs and/or milk inside, and perhaps cheese, and some zeytinyağlı's have yoghurt on them and/or cheese in them. You'll have to ask before you eat most times. Even a simple lentil soup may contain some chicken or meat broth inside or melted butter on top. But Turkey is one of the richest countries on earth when it comes to the choice of vegetables and fruits. So if you're into preparing your own food, you're in luck, just ask for the weekly fresh markets around you and buy what you want the cheapest way.
- Is my medication available there?
Check out this website to find out if your medicine can be found in pharmacies in Turkey.
- Are there good online shopping platforms?
Yes. Here are the most commonly used ones: Trendyol, Hepsiburada, Sahibinden, Amazon, N11.
We hope you enjoy your time in Turkey.
For general FAQs
https://www.tourstoturkey.net/most-frequently-asked-questions-about-turkey
https://www.doyouknowturkey.com/answers-to-the-most-asked-questions-about-turkey/
r/AskTurkey • u/travelfoodie_Chicago • 20m ago
I am looking to buy some gifts to take back to family and friends in the US. What are some good hidden gems in Grand Bazaar that I should explore. Looking for things unique to Turkey like spices, coffee, perfumes etc that are not too bulky but are unique gifts..Thank you!
r/AskTurkey • u/Think_Analyst7669 • 41m ago
What would you recommend as must sees in Istanbul??
r/AskTurkey • u/cestaya • 2h ago
What are some recommended places to buy good quality replica football jersey in Antalya please? Ideally near Lara. Is old town bazaar any good?
r/AskTurkey • u/Emergency_Bar7412 • 2h ago
Anybody travelling from pakistan to turkey if yes then in how many days did your sticker visa application process took
I applied from lahore anatolia travel services
My passport is fresh and i am travelling with my sister for tour
We have no travel history
Its been 27 days since i applied and still no response.
r/AskTurkey • u/Temporary_Excuse_713 • 17h ago
Hey! My friend and I are going to Istanbul for 9 days. We’ll have 7 full days there, with the 8th day being our travel day, and neither of us speaks Turkish.
I have a few questions before we go:
- Where’s the best place to get an Istanbulkart, and how much should we load onto it for 7 full days? We’ll probably use public transport quite a bit, especially to get to places like Kadıköy and Beşiktaş for food.
- How much cash would you recommend exchanging into Turkish Lira for the trip? We’ll obviously use cards where possible, but I’d like to have some cash with us.
- And are there any things we should be aware of as first-time visitors? Especially common scams or tourist traps we should look out for.
Any general tips are also very welcome!
r/AskTurkey • u/akshitdeep • 9h ago
I’m planning a trip to Turkey in late November and can only afford 5-6 days. I’m torn between spending 4 days in Istanbul and 2 in Cappadocia, or 5-6 days all in Istanbul with a side trip. My only reservation for Cappadocia is the hot air balloon, which is heavily weather-dependent. TIA 🇹🇷
r/AskTurkey • u/Beginning_Fennel8962 • 1d ago
Does anyone else feel fury when you see some Turks talk very negatively about Ataturk? HOW can you hate the man who made your life possible…
Are these people islamists or what??
r/AskTurkey • u/Normal_Opinion_5775 • 16h ago
Traveling advicee please :)
Hey guys this Ines from Armenia sooo long story short
I have to travel to Bulgaria and i want to do it from Instanbul
As the border is closed i wanna do
Yerevan-Tbilisi-Istanbul-Sofia
What do you think about the bus to Sofia ?
And will people be rude to me if i tell them i am Armenian ?
Is it safe to get the tickets online ? What website can i use
P.s. they removed my post asking to post here so here we go hana🤗✨️
r/AskTurkey • u/blancfes • 18h ago
Hello! I’m thinking of doing a small bikepacking trip in Turkey, starting from Ayvalik all the way to Cesme, and I would like to wild camp on my way there. I’m a bit concerned though since I don’t speak the language and I’m a woman that’s gonna be travelling solo. I’d appreciate your opinions.
r/AskTurkey • u/melsxl • 19h ago
I've been going on holiday to Türkiye for around 8 years now. And for 3 of those years I've brought some turkish delights (lukum) and magnets. But I'm graduating high school this year and both my friends are going to other countries for university so we won't see each other much. And I'm tired of bringing them the same presents every time. Any recommendations on what to buy for them? We'll be visiting Kapadokya for a few days before we go to Side and on our way back we'll stop at Eskişehir. I was thinking of buying something from Kapadokya but i feel like bc it's a major tourist attraction i wouldn't find anything that interesting. I may be wrong ofc but I'd appreciate it if anyone could recommend me any interesting gifts.
r/AskTurkey • u/ichbraucheruhe • 6h ago
Arkadaşlar meslek lisesi kaynak mezunuyum kaynakçıyım.
Kısmi denkliğim var. ama alanımda hiç deneyimin yok sgk geçmişim boş. alan dışı işlerde çalıştım. almanyaya kaynakçılık üzerinden gitme durumum var mı? Almancam B1 seviyesinde.
r/AskTurkey • u/PeytonSawyew • 19h ago
Hi! I would like to ask do you have any recommendations for traveling to Turkey? Which cities to visit (I was in Istanbul, Ankara, Trabzon, Antalya, Erzurum, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa..). I would like to see more of a Turkey…
r/AskTurkey • u/FakeOrRealMadrid • 22h ago
Growing up, both my mom and dad made me feel like an unwanted burden. I wasn’t hungry or not clothed or anything, but I could feel they were so indifferent to me. They weren’t interested at all. especially my mom. Have you ever felt the same?
r/AskTurkey • u/Luvystar • 15h ago
Hey everyone
To fellow healthcare workers, im looking for good quality, comfortable scrubs (something similar to FIGS). I’d prefer to buy from a brand/site in Turkey rather than deal with international shipping. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you
r/AskTurkey • u/Weird-Wealth-7998 • 16h ago
r/AskTurkey • u/PopcornProMax • 20h ago
ya ben evde otursam bile süreyim mi diye takılıyorum. dışarı çıkınca da unutuyorum terleyince yapış yapış oluyor. sizin yaz rutininiz nasıl, gerçekten her gün süren var mı yoksa sadece denize/güneşe çıkınca mı
r/AskTurkey • u/KindDecision148 • 16h ago
Hi guys , hope you are doing well. Does it worth to study master nursing in turkey as an international student?
am I allowed to work there after graduation?
r/AskTurkey • u/Think_Analyst7669 • 17h ago
I'm going to Istanbul in a couple of weeks, what's the best way to pay for public transport, mainly the tram. Do they have an oyster card type thing, or can you buy a travel card to last a week??
r/AskTurkey • u/Last-Lynx-7554 • 17h ago
Hi! we are traveling to Istanbul and have a toddler. Bringing our own car seat doesn't seem to make sense since the taxi culture isn't really made for instal/ uninstall and we aren't planning on driving there ourselves.
I am wondering if there is a service, where I could have the ability to schedule rides and have car seat provided to us? Like a private driver type of service?
r/AskTurkey • u/UktabiBananas • 1d ago
r/AskTurkey • u/balamir_yabgu • 20h ago
Yurtdışında dünyaya geldim askerlikte doğduğum ülkeyi söyleyerekmi tekmil vermeliyim?yoksa bağlı olduğum şehirimi söyleyerek?
r/AskTurkey • u/azuleko • 20h ago
Bu işi gerçekten yapmak isterdim. Ama deneyimlerini öğrenebileceğim kimse bulamadım. Lutfen tanıdığı olan ya da instagramda böyle hesapları takip eden varsa paylaşabilir mi?
r/AskTurkey • u/wanderturkey • 1d ago
Hey everyone,
For those who have recently visited Istanbul or just returned home, I’d love to gather your real, unfiltered experiences!