Planning to travel to Turkey? This ultimate guide to visiting Turkey will be very resourceful as it details all the information you need to know before you step foot in Turkey.

Turkey is a beautiful country straddling between Eastern Europe and western Asia, and one would say, a country where East meets West.

I always knew I would travel to Turkey at one point in my travels as the idea of a country being on 2 continents fascinated me. Being in Europe in the morning and a few minutes on a ship or the Bosphorus bridge in Asia. How cool is that? I was visiting Turkey for the very first time and couldn’t be more excited.

The ultimate guide to visiting Turkey

Do you need a visa to travel to Turkey?

Yes, you need a visa prior to traveling to Turkey. Obtaining a Turkish Visa is pretty easy, at least it was for me. And the process is determined by the type of passport you hold. I personally hold a Ugandan Passport, so I just submitted my e-visa application form from the Turkish embassy website, went for an interview and it was approved in a few days because of the urgency of the matter but it can take longer. The earlier you apply for the visa, the earlier your interview date will be scheduled. But if you hold a European or US passport, you could just purchase the visa at the airport.

In addition to your visa, don’t forget to carry your yellow fever card. To enter Turkey you are required to have had a yellow fever vaccination.

Is it safe to travel to turkey?

It is very safe to travel to Turkey. You might be wondering if I am a qualified person to answer this question, yes I am. I traveled to Turkey in May 2018 and all I can say is that never did I  feel threatened in any way, so yes it is very safe to travel to Turkey.

Sometimes Turkey might come off as an unsafe country to travel to due to the past political unrest, but people have evolved from that and it is definitely safe now.

I have read a few blogs that say that it is not safe to travel to Turkey as a woman but I want to assure you from a woman of color’s point of view, I never got any kind of harassment from anyone but rather everyone treated me with respect, offered help when needed and took a bunch of photos with me.

Related post: The ultimate guide to traveling to Egypt

Things to know when visiting Turkey for the first time.

Turkey is an Islamic country.

Turkey might not be a radical Islamic country but it is still Islamic with more than 93% of the locals being Moslem. The Turks value their Islamic faith so you shouldn’t in any way try to disrespect that part of them.

This means that if you are visiting places of worship, cover-up as a sign of respect. Do not pass in front of people praying. It is a sign of disrespect as the Moslems believe that prayers don’t reach Allah if someone passes in front of them.

What to pack when visiting Turkey.

Turkey is a European country.  So if you are packing, pack like you are going to any European country but don’t forget to throw in decent clothes for the places of worship.

I’ve heard so many people say you should fully cover up while in Turkey, however much this is good it doesn’t mean other clothes are unacceptable.

Turkey can be a bit pricey so pack all the essentials you will need on your trip not to spend all your money shopping.

Related post: 15 top tips to travel on a budget

Languages in Turkey

Turkish is the only official language in Turkey but other languages that are spoken include Northern Kurdish,  Arabic, Kurmanji, and Zazaki but on a very minimal level. English is not widely spoken in Turkey especially areas out of the big cities.

One thing I’ve learned throughout my travels is that learning a few local words increases the friendliness of the locals towards the tourist. So learn a few basic Turkish words to easily communicate or you can download google translator or even a dictionary to your phone to make communication more effective.

The good thing about Turkish is that words are read the same way they are written.

Basic Turkish words to learn before traveling to Turkey

• Hi – Merhaba
• Good morning –  Gunaydin
• Good Evening-  Iyi aksamlar
• Thank you   teşekkür ederim
• How are you-  Nasilsin
• yes- Evet
• no-  yok hayir

Best places to visit in Turkey.

Turkey is a major historical country that has much to see and do. These are some of the best places to visit in Turkey.

• Ephesus
• Sophia Hagia
• Blue Mosque
• Shop at the  Grand Bazaar.
• Istanbul
• Marmaris
• Cappadocia

Related post: Amazing things to do in Istanbul at night

What not to do in Turkey

• As I said earlier do not disrespect the Islamic faith. Religion is very dear to the Turkish people.
• Don’t ever go to any place worship wearing skimpy clothes. Always dress decently
• You should not get yourself involved in  Turkish politics.
• Don’t forget your manners while Turkey. Turkish people are very respectful in general so try not to be disrespectful, and words like “thank you” or “sorry” are very much appreciated.
• You can also check all these mistakes to avoid to avoid in Istanbul

Related post: Fun facts about Turkey that you didn’t know

Food in Turkey.

Turkey is endowed with so many dishes with a variety that even the picky eaters will find something delicious to feast on. But it is no secret that Turkish people love their meat that is why if you walk through restaurants, the majority of them will be serving meat dishes and vegetables.

Breakfast.

Turks are big on breakfast. They agree with the saying of “your breakfast should be as one of the kings, your lunch as that of a prince and dinner as that of a slave.

A typical Turkish breakfast will include cheese-lots and lots of cheese, butter. Olive. Olives are very famous in Turkey so you will enjoy different kinds of olives from green olives, black olives, or the diced ones.

Lunch.

The Turkish people believe in home-made dishes but over the years, they have started to embrace the idea of eating at restaurants and fast foods.

An ideal Turkish lunch begins with a bowl of hot soup with Turkish bread known as Pide. Later the main course of different varieties of dishes and then the famous dessert.

Turkey is the home of Turkish delight. The Turks have mastered the art of dessert with over a thousand types of desserts and sweets.

Dinner.

Dinner is not so different from lunch except that it’s always a bit lighter.

Famous Turkish dishes you should try.

• Kofte
• Domer
• Dolma
• Kebaps

What is the best time to visit Turkey

Any time of the year is good to visit but the best month to travel to Turkey is between May to September. This is when Turkey has the best weather and it is no surprise that it’s the time most people visit Turkey. If you enjoy outdoor activities, it’s better to travel to Turkey during the summertime.

Related post: Is it safe to travel to Turkey now?

Transportation in  Turkey.

I may not have been to so many cities in the world, but I found Turkey to be so organized when it comes to transportation.  The public transportation is almost as good as the private one. The public buses and ship are very efficient, clean and cheap. The yellow taxis are also super comfortable.

The Turkish people keep time in everything, even when it comes to transportation. If a bus/ship takes off at 12:30 pm, if you show up at 12:32 pm, you’ve missed it, you will need to wait for the next one.

You could as-well opt for private taxis or Uber.

If you are in Istanbul, Take use of the transportation card known as the Istanbul kart (Istanbul card). It can be used in public buses and ships, ferries. The Istanbul card cost 10 TL which is non-refundable and can be bought from major stations like airports, buses, trains and ship stations. You can use your credit card/ cash to load credit on the Istanbul card from the machines located at all major stations.

The advantage of using the Istanbul card is you get access to discounts which can go up to as high as 40% and can be used to pay for all public means of transportation. It is not restricted to only one person, a maximum of 5 people can use this card. And actually, most of the public transportation no longer accept cash but rather the Istanbul Kart. Read more about the Istanbul Kart here.

Turkish currency

Turkish Lira is Turkey’s official currency. Euros and dollars are also accepted though the Euro has more power in Turkey than the Dollar.

Where to stay in Istanbul?

Booking.com

I hope this ultimate guide to visiting Turkey has given you an in-depth understanding of this beautiful country before you travel there.

I love connecting with you, share with me your thoughts about Turkey in the comment section and please don’t forget to share with your friends.

You might also find these posts helpful

1. Best places to visit in Turkey
2. Things to do in Istanbul at night
3. How to enjoy Istanbul on a budget
4. Is it safe to travel to Turkey now?
5. Free things to do in Istanbul
6. Fun facts about Turkey
7. Tips for visiting Istanbul for the first time

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