r/AskTurkey • u/Chance-Item6285 • 6h ago
Travel & Places How are things in Istanbul?
Hi. How are you all after the floods? Are things better? Sending love ❤️
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/Chance-Item6285 • 6h ago
Hi. How are you all after the floods? Are things better? Sending love ❤️
r/AskTurkey • u/TurbulentCloud3914 • 6h 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 • 4h 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/SisTales • 1h ago
We're creating some cultural content and we would like to know what you want to learn and watch about Turkey.
https://www.youtube.com/@thesistaless/videos it is educational
r/AskTurkey • u/Zealousideal_Cap8281 • 16h 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/Proof-Telephone5197 • 3h 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 • 3h 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/Melaniesdiary • 1d 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/CageAnElephantPLZ • 8h ago
Hey I wanna buy a second hand digital camera in Istanbul - it is completely alright if it’s not the best quality
Would be glad to have suggestions
r/AskTurkey • u/freckledlibran • 9h 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/nice_mkl • 1d ago
27 yaşındayım ve hayatım tam bir başarısızlık abidesi
İnsanlar bile bazen görmezden geliyor benimle sohbet kurmayanlar, merhaba bile demeyen insanlar var çevremde aileden olsun yakın kişilerden olsun kararlarıma saygı duymayan insan dolu söylediklerimin hiç bir öneminin olmadığını hissettiren kişiler var
İnsanlarla iletişim kuramıyorum doğru dürüst son 10 yıldır böyle, ünideyken ve lisedeylen çok sosyal bir hayatım vardı ama son 10 yıldır her şey tersine döndü benimle zaman geçirmek istemeyen kişiler bile var, etrafımdakilerin çoğu başkalarını rencide ederek başkalarının davranışları ile alay ederek eğlendiği için ve ben böyle bir şeyi asla yapmadığım için beni sıkıcı buluyorlar, bir daha o ortamlara çağırmıyorlar, ortamda oturduğumuzda en sessiz en sakin kişi ben olduğum için kimse vakit geçirmek istemiyor, 6 yıldır çalışıyorum borç içindeyim banka hesabımda 1krş bile para yok hiç bir birikimim yok her sabah uyandığımda bıkkın uyanıyorum işe gitmek istemiyorum, insanlar ile muhattap ol ak istemiyorum, her zaman tek yaşamak istiyorum gibi geliyor, etrafımda kimse olmasın istiyorum psikolojim mi bozuk, insanlar tarafından çokça iğrenç zorbalanmalara maruz kaldığım için mi bilmiyorum ama bu hayat böyle çekilmiyor, elimden bir şeyde gelmiyor, kaç defa ülkeyi bile terk etmeyi düşündüm yine olmadı 4 kere vizeden red aldım, yaptığım iş başvurularının hepsi red ile sonuçlanıyor, elimde para yok borç var anlayacağınız bu hayat çekilmiyor, bu insanlar çekilmiyor, bu dünya hiç çekilmiyor biraz daha sabredeyim diyorum her şey yokuna girecek diyorum ama nafile, ne yapacağım bilmiyorum..
Sadece yazmak istedim içimi dökmek istedim, derdimi anlatacak kimse yok çünkü anlatsamda umursayan yok zaten öyle yazdım herkese selamlar……
r/AskTurkey • u/Equivalent_Jaguar243 • 13h ago
I've been listening to Derinlerde and sebabi yar by Blok3 and m by Anıl Emre Daldal, and I really love the vibe of these songs.
I'm not necessarily looking for songs with similar lyrics or even the same genre. I'm looking for that same feeling, atmosphere, and sound that makes you want to listen to a song on repeat, especially when you're alone with your thoughts.
Turkish songs are welcome, but I'd love recommendations in any language. They don't have to be mainstream or popular either.
Basically, recommend me songs that give you the same feeling as these two. I want to discover something new.
Drop your recommendations! 🙏🎶
r/AskTurkey • u/Proof-Telephone5197 • 3h ago
Kennt jemand einen Laden in der Türkei (Antalya/ Side) einen Laden der wirklich sehr hochwertige Trikots verkauft? Ich seh meistens nur immer dieselbe schlechte Nachmache vor allem bei der Beflockung.
r/AskTurkey • u/OpeningWild4092 • 32m ago
Türkiye hangi ülkelerden göçmen nüfus alabilir?
r/AskTurkey • u/luna721 • 20h ago
Hello!
My fiance and I will be traveling from the US to do an elopement in Türkiye mid-May.
Rough plan:
Fly to Istanbul, then to cappadocia (will take essentially an entire day)
Spend 3 full days in cappadocia
One day we will do our elopement day so sunrise photos, sunset photos, dinner etc
I know there’s lots to do there like red/green tour, open air museum, hot air balloon flight obviously
We want to do all the best things and stay in a luxury cave hotel.
From there we will either take the bus or drive (??) …
Originally I was thinking Antalya for a few days to just relax but now after more research I’m wondering if we should instead go to Kas or bodrum or Izmir instead. The vibe for this part of the trip would be just relaxing, enjoying good food and drink, spa time etc
After that, we will either drive or fly back to Istanbul to spend 1-2 days there: grand bazaar , hagia Sofia, sunset cruise on the bosphorus and whatever else is recommended.
So any and all recommendations are appreciated but especially:
What to not miss in each place
Any hotel recommendations
Second stop recommendation (Antalya vs kas vs ???)
Does it make sense to rent a car and drive ourselves or should we try to stick to public transportation?
Thanks! We are so excited to come visit this beautiful country
r/AskTurkey • u/Minute-Ant3699 • 12h ago
Merhabalar,
Bir arkadaşımla konuşurken fark ettim ki düşüncelerimiz bambaşkaydı. İkimiz de Danimarka'da doğup büyüdük ama kafamız da yaşantımız da çok farklı.
Gerçekten gurbetçilere karşı ciddi bir nefret ya da kazıklama çabası var mı? Ben de gurbette doğup büyüdüm, her sene memleketim Afyon'a veya Antalya'ya giderim. Bana karşı hiç öyle bir nefret ya da kazıklama durumu olmadı.
Ama arkadaşım artık Türkiye yerine Yunanistan'a gitmeye başladı tatile. Sanki Türkiye'dekilere güvenmiyor ve sevmiyor gibi ve sanki Türkiye Türkleri onu bir Türk olarak kabul etmediğini söylüyor. Bana hep kötü şeyler yaşadığını söylüyor ama bende hiç öyle bir şey olmadı.
Az çok ne konuda ön yargı olduğunu tahmin edebiliyorum mesela yurt dışından oy kullanma, yaşam standartlarını küçümseme veya "yazlık" vatanseverlik yapma gibi durumlar... Ama sırf gurbetten geldiği için ekstra bir ön yargı var mı gerçekten veya bir nefret?
Şimdiden sağolun
r/AskTurkey • u/Gyngemose2009 • 22h ago
Türkiye’de tengiriciyim diyenlerin bence %99’u gerçekten inanmıyor ve seküler tipler. Sırf tepki olarak Tengrici kimliğini benimsiyorlar.
Peki Redditte gerçekten Tengrizme inanan kişi var mı?
r/AskTurkey • u/Abject-Leave-3105 • 16h ago
Merhabalar,
I am Turkish, awaiting my citizenship by descent (2 Turkish parents). I applied for this 3 months ago from the UK. I am now living in Antalya. While I wait for my citizenship, I was told to get an ikamet izni… I submitted this application and on the same day I received a message saying I have missing documents:
I definitely submitted a copy of my lease, so I’m unsure what happened. At the office, they said I would get a text message with the result in a week. I don’t know if I should go back with my lease or just wait. I never received a single reply to my emails.
Since I am Turk soylu, it should be straightforward. I need this citizenship asap and I can’t even make an appointment for that without an ikamet izni (since I don’t have a Turkish ID number).
It’s so frustrating. How long does the ikamet izni usually take, and is it mailed to my address? Do I get a digital ID or number that I can use should I travel before then? Should I go back to the office and re-submit my lease? I’m so tired of this whole process.
Teşekkürler
r/AskTurkey • u/ZiplayanTypeC • 23h ago
Gidince bana ne verecekler neleri bol bol almam gerekiyor neleri almama gerek yok ?
r/AskTurkey • u/Gold-Holiday-515 • 11h ago
Setting aside the economy and salaries, -though I acknowledge these are valid and significant factors-, were there any other reasons, especially from the sociocultural nature, that drove you to move to another country, or led you to consider or desire such a move? Have you found happiness since relocating? For those who have lived abroad for several years: have you gained any new perspectives-realizing, perhaps, what was actually quite good or, conversely, quite bad about life in Turkiye later on?
r/AskTurkey • u/BendDull4997 • 22h ago
Hi everyone! 💗
I’m looking for affordable clothing stores on the European side of Istanbul. I don’t mean big brands like Zara, H&M, or Bershka, but rather local shops, boutiques, or smaller stores that sell trendy clothes at reasonable prices.
I’m mainly interested in women’s clothing, and I’d love to discover some hidden gems that aren’t too expensive.
Thanks in advance ♥️
r/AskTurkey • u/[deleted] • 19h ago
Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I would like to ask a question about something:
I've been talking to a Turkish woman and we get along really well she is an amazing person. Her parents are quite nationalist, but neither of them seems to be devoutly practicing Muslims. She isn't very religious either and follows very few rules of Islam.
I plan to go to Turkey at the end of the year, around late November or early December, but I have a doubt: how do Turkish families usually handle foreigners?
Furthermore, I know that Turkey is a secular country, but there are religious guidelines. I don't meet one of them since I am Christian and she is Muslim. I talked to some friends from Egypt and they mentioned that there are a few minor interpretations stating it might be allowed, but nothing very significant. Even so, how is an interfaith relationship viewed there?
I really get along super well with her, and the way we were raised is virtually identical. I am not a practicing Christian, and I actually like Islam a lot and know a bit about it
Obs:I ended up forgetting to mention that she lives in the interior of the country
r/AskTurkey • u/No_Slice2083 • 1d ago
What is the best way to get to SAW in the middle of the night? I am hesitant with taxis because I don’t want to get scammed. I have been taking regular transit, i even too it to my hotel from IST. But getting to SAW in the middle of the night seems challenging. Are the buses any good?
r/AskTurkey • u/Humble_Interest_9048 • 1d ago
Trying my luck here. Since the beginning of the year, Georgia (the country) requires health insurance for tourists entering the country.
Since Turkey doesn’t allow full passport/ID numbers on health insurance policy forms, only the first and last few numbers are shown. Is the partial ID number on the health insurance form is enough for border control to allow entry?