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I had a crush on Turkey from the second I arrived bleary-eyed on the in a single day practice from Bulgaria. A couple of hours later, I’d completed my first Turkish breakfast, and shortly realized I used to be in love.
After 5 years and 40 international locations of full-time worldwide journey, Turkey ranks in my high 10 locations for solo feminine vacationers.
Right here’s why:
1. It’s Safer Than You Suppose.
A traveler is 8 instances safer from violent crime in Turkey than within the U.S., even in massive cities like Istanbul and Izmir.
Based mostly on my private expertise touring throughout Turkey, I’d say you’re extra at risk from kofte kebab meals coma or kitten cuteness publicity than any road crime right here.
Earlier than coming to Turkey, I’d been cautioned time and time once more with obscure fear-mongering: “You recognize what they are saying about Turkish males.” Let me let you know: nothing might have been farther from the reality.
These frequent ‘warnings’ are discriminatory, inaccurate, and may stop you from experiencing among the finest hospitality on the earth.
I’ve felt safer strolling down the road alone in Turkey day or night time than in Italy, Spain, or Greece. There have been precisely two gentle road harassment incidents in my 5 months touring in Turkey over the previous 12 months – each by foreigners, with Turkish males who didn’t even know me stepping in to assist.
After all, vacationers ought to take cheap security precautions in all places they go. The few issues I wouldn’t advise whereas touring in Turkey proper now are:
- Visiting Istanbul’s Taksim space alone after 10 pm on weekends
- Leaving your valuables weak to simple pickpocketing
- Taking drinks from strangers in bars or golf equipment
- Public shows of affection in LGBTQIA+ relationships outdoors of main chain motels
- Visiting sure elements of southeastern Turkey close to the Syrian border area (because of the presence of terrorist teams and earthquake devastation)
2. Girls Are Welcome And Protected In Turkish Mosques.
If you happen to do end up strolling alone at night time and feeling not sure or unsafe for no matter cause, the abundance of mosques in Turkey give you an incredible secure haven.
Many giant mosques stay open by way of the night time. So long as you’re dressed modestly, take away your sneakers, and have a shawl useful, you possibly can respectfully duck into one in all these well-lit homes of worship to make certain of your security at virtually any hour.
To be clear: I don’t advocate treating a holy masjid as an alternative choice to a police station. Vacationers in apparent hazard ought to name emergency providers. However for these all-too-familiar grey zone conditions that merely give solo feminine vacationers a nasty intestine feeling, it’s good to know that you’ve got secure locations to show to with out ringing any alarm bells.
3. You Don’t Want To Select Between Tea And Espresso.
It’s no shock that Turkey is a rustic of tea lovers. The common Turk drinks 1,300 cups of tea annually. Turkey is even house to a tea museum within the form of a 7-story tea glass within the ‘tea capital’ of Rize. It ought to then come as no shock that vacationers will discover themselves provided a heat welcome tea in all places they go.
The attractive factor about Turkey is that this nation embraces each tea and low. No have to take sides. Merely get pleasure from each!
From iconic Turkish espresso in an Izmir antique shop to artisan roast flat whites in Moda’s plentiful third wave espresso retailers, there’s some java right here for each sort of traveler.
4. Multicultural Turkish Cities Provide A Secure Means To Discover Syrian Tradition.
Whereas Syria isn’t a really helpful vacation spot for solo feminine vacationers in the mean time, multicultural cities in Turkey actually are. They provide a secure and engaging alternative to strive Syrian meals, have conversations with Syrian refugees and immigrants, and be taught extra in regards to the Syrian diaspora.
Really useful actions embrace:
There are about 4 million Syrians residing in Turkey, creating an incredible multicultural alternative for vacationers. Nonetheless, it’s essential to notice that many Turks will nonetheless make unfavourable feedback to guests about Syrians of their nation.
“Turkish society’s acceptance of Syrians has largely been remodeled into ‘toleration’ moderately than an understanding of creating a follow of residing collectively,” defined a study from UNHCR.
When touring in Istanbul, you could hear locals let you know that Fatih, a predominantly Arab and Syrian neighborhood, is ‘not likely Turkey’ or isn’t ‘what it was.’ Some Turks will voice issues about Syrians placing strain on social providers or job markets or bringing what they understand as an incompatibly conservative tradition to their metropolis.
Strive to not let this rigidity stop you from having fun with two superb cultures in a single journey.
5. Turkey Is So A lot Extra Than Istanbul.
Many vacationers don’t notice simply how massive Turkey is. With almost 800 sq. kilometers of historic cities, surreal moonscapes, and extra seashores than you might rely, this nation has a lot extra to supply than its well-liked capital Istanbul.
Nice locations for solo feminine vacationers embrace:
- Bursa
- Fethiye
- Izmir
- Bodrum
- Kars
- Antalya
- Cappadocia
- Pamukkale
- Amasra
- Gaziantep
- Ankara
- Mardin
Let the protection and hospitality of Turkey encourage your subsequent nice solo journey!
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