Traveling in Turkey Tips from an Expat in Turkey
Did you know Turkey is in the top 5 most visited countries in the world? With so many people itching to visit this wonderful country, I thought I’d use my experience living in Turkey to share some traveling in Turkey tips. Turkey is a fantastic destination to explore for all kinds of travelers. Families, couples, and solo travelers, will all find things that interest them here. Turkey is a huge country with so many ancient sites, interesting cities, beautiful beaches, and unique landscapes to explore.
There are of course exceptions to every rule, but these are tips I think are the most important after several months of living here, doing a bit of traveling, and talking to other locals and expats alike. As I learn and experience more, I will come back to this list to add anything else I think would be helpful.
If you’re looking for destination specific advice and Turkey itineraries read:
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Below you’ll find the things you need to know to prepare for your Turkey trip ranging from helpful apps, navigating a market, things to pack for Turkey and more. Keep reading for travel in Turkey tips!
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Phone Data
Get your esim before you go so you have data right away. Esims are the way to go for international travel in 2025. Gone are the days of hunting around for a physical sim card at the airport. Now you can purchase and download your esim before you even get on the plane and there’s no worry about having data in Turkey. You’ll need that data for navigating and…
Google Translate
You need to have Google Translate downloaded with Turkish before you come. Though English is becoming a little more common, it is not as common as you would find in central European countries. But people seem willing and used to communicating through Google translate. It has been a lifesaver for us! It will also help you translate menus and signs.
Words to know in Turkey
Words to know in Turkey. No one expects you to go learn the whole Turkish language before your trip to Turkey but these are some of the most common polite words to know:
Merhaba - Hello
Göruşürüz - Bye
Teşekkur Edirm - Thank you
Lutfen - Please
Hoş Geldiniz - Welcome (you will hear this most of the time as the first greeting)
Hesap Lutfen - the bill please (when you’re ready to pay at a restaurant)
Tuvalet - toilet
Turkish Alphabet
The Turkish alphabet mostly follows similar sounds to English but there some exceptions and special letters.
ş makes a “sh” sound
ç makes a “ch” sound
c makes a “j” sound
ğ is silent
ı (i with no dot) makes more of an “uh” sound
Knowing these will help you decode some Turkish words.
Taxis in Turkey (except Istanbul)
Taxis can be easily called from many places just by pushing a button on an orange box located on many streets around the cities. We use this almost exclusively and hardly use an app. Bitaksi is an app similar to uber you can use but when you use it, expect a taxi to show up. It’s good for giving you a set rate and showing you how much you should be paying.
Taxis always have a meter! Do not let a driver take you if they do not start the meter. They should always start it and it’s visible either in the console or in the rearview mirror. Most cabs take a card, but it’s good to have cash as a backup.
Taxis in Istanbul
Avoid! There are so many problems with cab drivers trying to scam you in Istanbul. Public transportation is a much better option. But if you need to use a taxi in Istanbul, use Bitaksi to get it. This way your fare will be set and it is tracked through the app. Save your hotel as your home address and preload your card info before you go to make it super simple to get a cab when you get there.
If the app doesn’t work for some reason, at least use it to see what you SHOULD be paying BEFORE you get a taxi off the street.
Avoid the crowds
If you want to have a place all to yourself, get there in the morning before 11. Turkish culture tends to operate a little later compared to American standards, so in the mornings people aren’t out as much.
Best Places to see in Turkey
These places are some of the most popular and notable places to include on your Turkey itinerary:
Istanbul - 4 Day Itinerary here and purchasable custom Google Map here with restaurants and things to do already saved for you
Cappadocia - Things to do in Cappadocia, Winter in Cappadocia
Turkish Coastline (many places Antalya, Bodrum, Fethiye, etc.)
Ephesus (near Izmir)
Pammukale
There is far more beyond these places but this is a starting point for most trips to Turkey.
What to Wear in Turkey
This is talked about on many lists of travel tips Turkey. I think it can seem intimidating if you are not used to traveling to Islamic countries. Though Turkey is a mostly Islamic country, you do not have to worry so much about what you wear. The country is modern and tends to be more open-minded than other Islamic countries, especially in the big cities and western regions. If you go towards the southeast or in smaller towns, it gets more conservative.
Bring your own scarf, some modest clothing that covers your shoulders, chest, and knees for visiting mosques. Men should also have shoulders covered (no tank tops) inside a mosque. Everyone will take their shoes off before entering also, so keep that in mind if you don’t want to be barefoot. Children aren’t expected to follow these rules until adolescence. My daughter is almost 12 and I think we would adopt this dress code for her now.
If you are doing other activities that don’t involve a mosque, you can feel free to wear whatever you want. People wear bikinis at the beach. You’ll also see burkinis at the beach. It’s a range. I often see groups of women out together and some wear a scarf and some don’t.
I say this to hopefully ease your mind about what you pack. The only time I would feel more conscious about my wardrobe is when visiting a mosque.
What to Eat in Turkey
This section could be quite long but I’ll briefly tell you some of the most iconic Turkish foods to try.
Mantı - small dumplings similar to ravioli, usually served with tomato sauce and yogurt
Lahmacun - ”Turkish pizza” a very thin flatbread with spiced meat on top. Squeeze lemon on it and eat with greens rolled up inside like a taco
Kebap - refers to a few different kinds of roasted meat. You can read this about the different kinds Kofte-spiced meatballs normally served with rice
Mercimek Çorbaşı - Lentil soup, is on almost every menu, it’s a staple
Simit - round bread rings, sold all over as a quick snack, can also get it with cheese inside or nutella sometimes
Çay - tea, you don’t ask for a “chai tea” because here çay is tea. It’s black tea served most often in the little tulip glasses. There is never a bad time for çay in Turkey
Kahvaltı - Turkish breakfast be ready to EAT when you order a traditional Turkish breakfast. You won’t finish everything on the table, don’t bother trying. You’ll be brought tons of little dishes of different cheeses, breads, vegetables, jams, tahin, sometimes hot egg dishes, olives, and of course çay.
Dondurma - Turkish ice cream, made from goat’s milk. You may see it with a server who is doing flips, tricks, and turning your ice cream into a show. Some kids think its fun, others don’t-know which kind of kid yours is
Mezze - dips and small plates, common to see them all in a glass container in the restaurant and you can just go over and point to what you want
Baklava - mostly here it is with pistachios (which I love) but you will also find it with walnuts
Künefe - this is my favorite Turkish dessert. It is warm cheese covered in Kadif (tiny shreds of crispy dough), pistachios, and a honey syrup. The best is when you also get it with dondurma.
Börek - flaky pastry dough layered with cheese most commonly but can also there are meat varieties
Ayran - the quintessential Turkish drink, it is yogurt mixed with water. Served mostly in big plastic yogurt cups, you shake it, peel off the foil lid and drink. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but you should give it a try!
Food Delivery
Download the app Yemeksepti for ordering food delivery. This is a convenient option if you don’t feel like going out.
Payment
Credit cards are widely accepted but carrying some cash is recommended as a backup. Cash is sometimes needed when credit card payment isn’t available. Sometimes payment for things like hot air balloon rides and carpets will be set in Euros because it is more stable than Turkish Lira. And for big purchases like that, it is often possible to pay with euros or USD.
Always select paying in Turkish Lira when offered the choice when paying by card. The currency conversion rate will be better this way.
Keep some small change to pay for public bathrooms, just in case.
Prices
Turkey is not a “cheap” destination. Where that may have been true in the past, now it is becoming more on-par with western European prices. I find that eating out at restaurants is quite pricey unless going to a casual kebab type place.
Some things can still be bought inexpensively but you might be surprised that everything is not as cheap as you expected it. Inflation has been increasing steadily over the last couple years. It’s a very hard financial situation for Turkish citizens.
Tourists are charged a lot more than Turkish citizens and residents for museums and attractions. Be prepared for a little bit of sticker shock. Especially in Istanbul.
Bathrooms
Expect to see some “‘squatty potties” in public restrooms. Oftentimes there will also be a toilet available, so don’t panic if the first door you open is this, just try the next one to see if there is a toilet available.
Toilet paper often goes in the trash in Turkey as the plumbing system can’t always handle the paper.
It’s not a bad idea to bring some toilet paper with you while you’re out and about. Sometimes the public or even paid public restrooms leave a little to be desired.
Toilets have built-in bidets. Look down to the right or left of the toilet and there will be a silver knob you can turn to utilize it.
Driving in Turkey
Driving in Turkey is easy for the most part, but I do not recommend driving in Istanbul. It is fine most other places. You may find drivers to be a little more aggressive and unpredictable here, but the roads connecting major cities are good quality. In smaller towns the roads may be dirt or gravel.
Double parking is common in the cities of Turkey. Drivers will leave a plaque or paper with their phone number on it for you to call if you need them to move. Again this is probably only really in the cities, but you should just be aware.
Renting a car in Turkey is easy and affordable for the most part. It will also give you a lot more flexibility to get around to other parts of Turkiye. However, make sure you check driving times and distances for the places you want to visit. Turkey is huge and the drives might be longer than you think.
Air Travel in Turkey
You can fly domestically in Turkey for very affordable prices. I don’t think we have paid much over 100 euros for any domestic flight. Trusted airlines are Turkish, Pegasus, and Ajet. Turkish is the nicest airline, the others are fine but basic.
Visas
At the time of writing, Americans do not need a visa when traveling on a tourist passport and staying less than 90 days. But this can change and is not the same for all countries. Always check a country’s visa requirements on their official government/MFA website. You can find Turkey’s visa rules here.
Shopping in Turkey
Haggling is part of the shopping experience here. You should expect to do it at any market you go to. Especially if you are shopping for carpets, it is all open to negotiation. As a rule, you shouldn’t take the first price, but haggling is not for everyone so you have to decide what works for you.
If you don’t see a price posted, you need to ask before you commit. Or you’ll be met with a hefty bill. Always ask the price beforehand. With the financial situation prices often change, menus may not have prices or even goods in stores. Just ask before you buy.
You’ll be offered çay in shops at times. It is a gesture of hospitality and you won’t be charged for it. You will only be charged if you specifically order it at a restaurant.
What to buy in Turkey
Turkey is a great place for shopping! You definitely want to save some room in your suitcase to bring things home: Turkish delights (lokum) by weight not pre-packed and ask for samples before you buy, spices, Turkish towels, handmade soaps, ceramics, rugs, Turkish lamps, jewelry (also usually priced by weight), evil eyes, scarves. The list really goes on and on.
Most carpet sellers will ship the carpet home for you. Try to get them to include the shipping price rather than adding it on top and don’t forget to haggle for your carpets.
Safety in Turkey
Is Turkey safe? Yes, generally speaking Turkey is a safe country to travel to. Exercise normal precautions that you would take anywhere. Avoid going close to the Syrian border. If you are a US citizen, enroll in the State Department STEP program to be notified of any special security precautions while you are visiting and in a worst case scenario, so that the US government knows you are there if something catastrophic happens.
We drink bottled water here. We brush our teeth with tap water and use tap water for cooking if we are boiling it but otherwise we stick to bottled.
Museum Passes
The prices for foreigners to enter government operated museums can be pricey. Ideally, you should price out the places you want to visit and decide if it makes sense to purchase a museum pass or pay a la carte. Note that the passes do not cover many popular sites in Istanbul.
Medical Care & Pharmacies
Emergency number: 112
Pharmacies are called “eczane” much like in Europe, you can go to the pharmacy and tell them some of your symptoms and they can provide you with medicine.
Things to Pack for Turkey
Phone lanyard or leash for outdoors activities and if you do a hot air balloon ride
Waterproof phone pouch for snorkeling
Water shoes for rocky beaches
Extra room in your suitcase
Blocked Websites
In Turkey, you can’t use booking.com to book hotels in Turkey. You can use it to book international accommodations but not hotels in Turkey. To get around this, book your hotels in Turkey before you get here.
On occasion Turkey has blocked certain websites. Right now Threads is inaccessible. Previously Instagram has been temporarily banned.
Now that you’ve read this, you’re all set for traveling in Turkey! I can’t overstate how much there is to see here and I’m sure you will enjoy your trip! Make sure to save this so you can keep coming back to it!
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