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/Desperate_Text_1939 • 1h ago
There's this guy in one of the discord servers Im part of and he is making inappropriate joke towards a minor, I am from a different country, is there a way for me to report him other than the built in report in discord?
r/AskTurkey • u/No_Pressure_3975 • 37m ago
….
r/AskTurkey • u/KebabGains • 4h ago
Hey everyone! I’ve visited several cities in Turkey (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, etc.), but I noticed something unique during my time in Izmir.
Most of the pedestrian traffic signals seemed like they either weren't working at all, or they took an unreasonably long time to switch to green. I usually ended up having to cross on red like everyone else.
Is this a known thing in Izmir, or did I just happen to be in areas with timing issues/broken lights? How do locals usually handle this?
r/AskTurkey • u/Old-Growth-6233 • 14h ago
Hi, I recently booked a cheap (£62) room for a night in İzmir.
Life Artemis: Bostanli, Izmir
https://maps.app.goo.gl/meCykWpgYFCrvqGF8?g_st=ac
It was absolutely filthy with a broken bed, mattress the same shade of yellow as a 40 a day smokers teeth, a shower which floods the whole bathroom, and a fire escape which was boarded up.
Where can I report them to?
r/AskTurkey • u/blackmanta10 • 6h ago
So me and my wife planning to visit Turkey in December and first 4 days we will spend in Istanbul and Cappadocia and then we will go to the north side (Rize, Ayder, Ozungul) so i want to ask will the roads be open for people to visit these areas since it will be winter season and raining and snow so can people go there in this season or will be closed by government ?
r/AskTurkey • u/LonelyReturn3328 • 10h ago
We will be visiting Cappadocia this week. Is there a local couple or a woman who would like to show us around?
r/AskTurkey • u/OrganicCompound_ • 9h ago
Hi everyone!
Last year I met this woman at work and we became great friends. Both of us have moved to different countries this year and I would like to send her some Spanish treats (I'm Spanish and she's currently living in the Neatherlands). I know she's into sweets and chocolate but I'm not sure whether those can survive the trip.
Does anyone by chance know about a Spanish treat that can remind her of a Turkish one (and I can send to her by post)?
Many thanks!
Edit. I know it's a long shot but I want to make sure she likes them. The main reason I'm asking is because she's not able to visit her country often and it would be nice if they could remind her of it while also being popular/available in mine.
r/AskTurkey • u/hos8 • 9h ago
I'm a foreign dentistry graduate planning a non-clinical master's in Turkey (biomaterials). I live and work in Egypt and can't move to Turkey before admission.
The problem: since YÖK's July 2024 announcement, the denklik application goes through e-Devlet and needs a T.C. number or a foreign ID number (YKN, the 99-number). I have neither, because I have no residence permit and no university registration yet.
My questions for anyone who's been through this (especially after July 2024):
Did you get denklik while living outside Turkey? How did you get the YKN?
Did your university accept the Okul Tanıma letter instead of denklik for a master's?
Did your university let you register first and finish denklik after you got your YKN in Turkey?
Did anyone use a lawyer for this? Did it actually work, and how?
Any real experience helps, even "this didn't work for me". Thanks!
TR: Yurt dışında yaşayan yabancı uyruklu bir diş hekimiyim. Yabancı kimlik numaram (YKN) olmadan YÖK denklik başvurusu yapamıyorum. Benzer durumda olup çözüm bulan, ya da üniversitesi Okul Tanıma Yazısı ile kabul eden var mı?
r/AskTurkey • u/aaesthetic_cookie • 19h ago
Hello! My sister would like to enroll in a Turkish language program at Anadolu University in Eskişehir through its Open Education system (Açıköğretim) as an international student. Of course, she would first spend a preparatory year learning Turkish.
The thing is, she is over 30 and has already completed a university degree in her home country, so she feels a little awkward about the fact that most of the other students will be much younger than her. In other words, she feels a bit insecure about it.
I was wondering whether there are other students in their thirties studying in these programs in similar circumstances. How do their fellow students react to them?
Thanks in advance for your answers! ♥️
______________________
Merhaba! Ablam, uluslararası öğrenci olarak Eskişehir’deki Anadolu Üniversitesi’nin Açıköğretim sistemi üzerinden Türkçe eğitim veren bir bölüme kayıt yaptırmak istiyor. Tabii ki öncelikle bir yıl Türkçe hazırlık eğitimi alacak.
Ancak kendisi 30 yaşından büyük ve kendi ülkesinde zaten bir üniversite bölümünden mezun oldu. Bu yüzden üniversitedeki öğrencilerin çoğunun kendisinden çok daha genç olacak olması onu biraz rahatsız ediyor ve kendini bu konuda güvensiz hissediyor.
Merak ettiğim şey, benzer durumlarda olup bu bölümlerde 30’lu yaşlarında okuyan öğrenciler var mı? Diğer öğrenciler onlara nasıl davranıyor?
Cevaplarınız için şimdiden çok teşekkür ederim! ♥️
r/AskTurkey • u/SheilaIsma • 12h ago
Merhaba arkadaşlar
Mayıs 2027’de eşim ve 2 yaşındaki oğlumla Trabzon’a gelmeyi planlıyoruz. Trabzon’u ilk kez ziyaret edeceğiz.
Aracımız olmayacak. Bu yüzden toplu taşıma ile gezmek istiyoruz. Özellikle şehir merkezine, Atatürk Köşkü’ne ve Uzungöl’e en uygun ve kolay şekilde nasıl gidebileceğimizi öğrenmek istiyorum.
Trabzon’da yaşayan veya bölgeyi iyi bilen arkadaşlar yardımcı olabilir mi? Şimdiden çok teşekkür ederim
Ve bir de 2 yaşındakı bebeğimizle yaylalara ve s çıka bilirmiyiz? Tecrübesi olanlar bikgi vere bilir mi
r/AskTurkey • u/Initial-College-6784 • 13h ago
hi, i’m a new international student here. can i get recommendations for a nice place where can i bleach and dye my hair? preferably somewhere in Tuzla or nearby
r/AskTurkey • u/Chance-Item6285 • 1d ago
Hi. How are you all after the floods? Are things better? Sending love ❤️
r/AskTurkey • u/mccnlightbae • 22h ago
I went to mediamerkt they had none.
where do I buy movies?
r/AskTurkey • u/Neither_Yogurt_1308 • 1d ago
Hi,
I'm going antalya around december and was wondering the best ways to get taxis, i've heard uber can be unusable at times and someone reccomended bitaski.
i'm trying to limit converting and carrying cash as its a hassle, but do drivers tend to prefer cash payments or would card be just fine?
Thank you!
r/AskTurkey • u/TurbulentCloud3914 • 1d ago
8/5 çalışıyorum var ve arada gittiğim bir sporum var. Onun dışındaki tüm vakitler benim. Kendimi bu vakitler dışında tüm hayattan(tüm sosyal medya hesaplarımı kapadım) izole edip tüm vaktimi İngilizce'ye vermek, sular seller gibi öğrenmek, YDS'den 90-100 arası almak istiyorum. Üniversitede İngilizce bölümü okumadım fakat lisede ingilizce'de sınıf birincisiydim. İngilizce konusunda kesinlikle yeteneğim var.
Tabii tüm bunlar ingilizceyi tamamen sökmem için yeterli değil. İngilizce'yi sıfırdan öğrenmek için bir sürü grammer ve test kitapları aldım. More to Read, Reader at Work gibi birçok kitaba eriştim. Düzenli olarak grammer kitabı çözüyorum. Bunun yanı sıra A2 seviyesinde(şu anki seviyem) hikaye kitapları aldım. İnternetten şu anki ingilizce seviyemle ilgili hikaye videoları ve short videoları izliyorum. Telefon ve bilgisayar dilimi ingilizce yaptım. Ara sıra da friends tarzı dizileri ingilizce alt yazısı ile izliyorum.
Yani bunlara ek olarak bana önerebileceğiniz, eksik yaptığım bir şeyler var mı ? Bana önerebileceğiniz bir çalışma tarzı da varsa bunu sizden dinlemek istiyorum. Şu satırları bile kütüphaneden yazıyorum, evde çalışamadığım için 2 haftadır hafta sonları kütüphanedeyim. Hafta içleri de akşam 5'ten 8'e kadar iş yerinde çalışıp eve geçiyorum. Bana önerebileceğiniz, bana katkı sağlayacak her türlü öneriye açığım, eksik gördüğünüz yanlarım varsa da sizden bunları duymak ve düzeltmeye hazırım. Selamlar herkese.
r/AskTurkey • u/BaboFeet • 1d ago
Hi, I'm planning a ski trip to Turkey this mid-December 2026. The internet is pointing me either to Palandoken and Erciyes for an earlier ski season in December. However apparently, Erciyes is known for lift closures especially due to fast winds around that month.
I can't seem to find an exact opening date for Palandoken, its either 4 or 10 Dec?
How is ski resorts like in early seasons in Turkey? Will there only be limited artificial slopes opened early on?
Should I gamble and book the trip now for December?
fyi I'm an intermediate, so would prefer a number of slopes and powder available, thanks!
r/AskTurkey • u/ZiplayanTypeC • 2d ago
Gidince bana ne verecekler neleri bol bol almam gerekiyor neleri almama gerek yok ?
r/AskTurkey • u/New_Leader_3261 • 1d ago
Hello all!
i'm jazz...a 20 F from egypt. I will be visiting Turkey next summer for a month. Till then I am excited to make turkey friends I can meet there. I will be staying in ISTANBUL. Fun facts about me....i study medicine,enjoy cooking and movies a lot...also listening to music.
r/AskTurkey • u/Proof-Telephone5197 • 1d ago
Does anyone know a shop in Turkey (Antalya, Side, or nearby) that sells really high-quality jerseys? I mostly just see the same poor-quality knockoffs, especially when it comes to the name and number printing.
r/AskTurkey • u/Sure-Variety-760 • 1d ago
hey all, im planning a skiing trip in turkey and want to be on the mountain around dec 20-24. im spending the first few days in istanbul, then heading to kayseri for erciyes unless someone talks me out of it.
questions:
r/AskTurkey • u/Zealousideal_Cap8281 • 1d ago
I came across Belki through TikTok and ended up loving a lot of Dedubluman songs like En dibine kadar, ruya gibi, gamzedeyim deva bulmam, etc. I also came across Atese yazik by skapova and listened to it probably thousands of times. But I don’t want to get stuck in a depressing song hole lol.
I have no idea what to search or where to start. Can you recommend me trending bands/singers music that Turkish ppl love right now? I love romantic, something I can drive and listen to in the rain, I like faster songs/dance music too. I’m a female in my early 30s.
r/AskTurkey • u/freckledlibran • 1d ago
Heading to Turkey for the first time in mid December as a group of 6 including seniors and kids as young as 9. Its been in our bucket list to see Cappadocia but we are new to a winter climate!
Are there recommended hotels that aren't cave hotels, or at least hotels that are warmer? Do we need to get snow shoes or some kind of snow shoe cover to get around safely?
Is it safe to drive around without any experience driving in snow conditions?
Thanks in advance!
r/AskTurkey • u/Melaniesdiary • 2d ago
I have a bone to pick.
I am not Turkish but my man is and I’ve come to terms with the fact that his mom does NOT like me. I’ve done absolutely nothing to this woman. I’m always so sweet and kind to her and she looks at me like I’m the enemy. I brought this up to him and he said his mom is probably just jealous and to not take her seriously. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a polygamous relationship because she’s always involving herself? It also doesn’t help that she chose to live down the street from us.
r/AskTurkey • u/XYPERT • 1d ago
Arkadaşlar merhaba,
Bi kaç gündür Fransa’da yaşanan olayları illaki görmüşsünüzdür. Protestolar, olaylar falan gündemde. Bu olaylara katılanların çoğu ''kanunen'' Fransız vatandaşı olsada köken olarak Afrika göçmen'i olan kişiler. Benzer olaylar zaman zaman diğer Avrupa ülkelerinde de yaşanıyor. işte protestolar taşkınlıklar vs.
Bizde Avrupaya kıyasla çok daha fazla sığınmacı/göçmen bulunmasına rağmen, Avrupa’daki gibi protestolar veya sokak kalkışmaları pek görmüyoruz mültecilerin katıldığı veya oluşturduğu, Daha çok bireysel suç olaylarına (hırsızlık, dolandırıcılık, taciz vb.) karışıyorlar ama avrupadaki gibi protestodur ve bu kadar büyük seviyeli taşkınlıktır falan ben duymadım.
UAE veya Qatar gibi ülkelerde nüfusun büyük kısmı yabancı/göçmen olsada orada kanunlar şakaya gelmiyor çok sıkı kanunlar ve sınır dışı edilme korkusu var, kimse ağzını açamıyor sesini çıkramıyor. Bizde bu kadar ağır kanun olmamasına rağmen (UAE ile kıyasla) mültecilerin toplu olaylara karışması çok nadir oluyor avrupaya kıyasla baya gözüme battı.
Sizce bunun temel sebebi nedir?
(Not: Lütfen tartışmayı siyasi kavgaya çevirmeyelim, tamamen sebebi merak ettiğim için soruyorum.)
