Turkey Travelling Solo and Around the Country Help, please?

nachtvlinders

I'm female and have always gone on trips on my own, staying in AirBnBs in Europe. I've been telling myself on and off that it wouldn't be safe for me to travel and as it's a Muslim country, I'd have to cover up. I'd be going to the coast for some wonderful trekking as well as visiting some historical sites. As I'm watchful about my spending, I'm hoping to find something not too expensive, but I'm hoping to travel by public transport to reach places where the areas are well-served in finding amenities, regular transport routes etc. Can anyone advise any tips on where to go and what to avoid, please? I have no idea where to start, whether to start with the cities first and then to the coast. I'm not so keen on traisping around tourist traps in the heat nor in crowds. 

Thanks. 

Voyager2002

I am sure that you would be safe, although life will generally be easier if you do cover up. I suggest that stay mainly in the western part of the country, where attitudes to woman and so forth are generally more enlightened. In particular Izmir is the city where woman tend to face less hassle than in other parts of the country. 

Izmir is near to the spectacular ruins of Ephesus, and you can get there fairly easily by train.

Anyway, do consult several guide books. Public transport is generally good and there is no need to pay for expensive private tours. 

nachtvlinders

Hi Voyager2002, 

Thanks for replying so quick. I suffer in the heat very easily (heat rash, sweaty, you get the picture ) so it's not going to be easy to wear long-sleeved and trousers for the majority of the time. I'm fairly flexible as to travel anytime of the year, but if it's a country that's super warm, I'd rather go in the winter time. I hear the there are natural hot springs there, so I'd love to travel to those for some RnR. Good to know that the trains are okay to use. 

Doshwaster

The most important thing to remember that Turkey is  huuuuuuge place. What may look like a short distance on a map can be several houses on local buses, 

Trains are also an option between the bigger cities:  https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-turkey.htm

Otherwise internal flights are often the easiest option

Voyager2002

nachtvlinders said:

Hi Voyager2002, 

Thanks for replying so quick. I suffer in the heat very easily (heat rash, sweaty, you get the picture ) so it's not going to be easy to wear long-sleeved and trousers for the majority of the time. I'm fairly flexible as to travel anytime of the year, but if it's a country that's super warm, I'd rather go in the winter time. I hear the there are natural hot springs there, so I'd love to travel to those for some RnR. Good to know that the trains are okay to use. 

When I was in Istanbul in December the problem was feeling cold! At other times you would probably want to wear something to protect you from the sun. Top tip: wear things made of pure white cotton, not synthetic fabrics, and they will make you feel cooler.

You mention hot springs: the only ones I have experienced are at Pammukhale, and they are wonderful. I travelled there by train from Istanbul (apart from the last little bit by minibus): you book the high-speed trains online and every last seat gets sold a few days before the journey. And then other trains are virtually empty! All very civilised, except that none of the trains sell hot drinks and most of them don't sell anything to eat, so be sure to stock up before a long journey.

At Pamumukhale the hot spring is in the middle of a ruined ancient city, and so you swim with Roman columns under your feet. The only problem is that the admission fee to the site is rather high, and then there is an outrageous fee on top of that to swim there. And the modern tourist town on the edge of the historic site is somewhat tacky. 

For most journeys bus is faster than train, and Turkish long-distance buses are generally very good, much better than anything you can find in Britain. Even so, six hours on a bus is enough for me, and not all the bus companies are the same so read reviews and be choosy which company you use.

maman

I've been to Turkey many times and never had to cover up at any tourist sites other than occasional visits to mosques where a scarf is often provided.

The long distance bus services are excellent, frequently in air conditioned coaches. 

Turkey is actually a secular country although the president is doing his best to change that with, for example, excessive taxes on alcohol. At the moment, Turkish women choose whether you cover up. It'll be interesting to see what happens after this weekend's elections.🤔