Yeah this is all of Europe, in my (American) experience. Toilets in general are hard to come by (stores / shops / restaurants do not allow the public to use theirs), and when there is a toilet it’s pay only. They often take change only, and are usually the only reason to carry change or even any cash on you at all. I’m used to it now, but I’d still say it’s the single most obtrusive experience when traveling abroad on that continent.
The one exception I’ve found (so far) was Austria, which generally had free & available public toilets, AND shops that were chill about you walking in and asking to use one.
Amsterdam had (had?) toilets in the public plaza where you basically pee in front of everyone and absolutely no one gives a fuck. They're free too.
They kinda looked like phone stands except with a urinal. I pissed in them immediately! After my euro trip, finding such and accessible urinal was a dream.
I sure hope youre not pulling my leg, cause this is tje coolest tidbit ive heard in a while.
I could have sworn I saw it in some plazas or squares though. I thought it was madness how you basically do it in front of everyone, and no one bothered to even glance at you.
In most US downtowns the only way you can pee is if you buy something. So you go into a coffee shop and get a coffee, juice, bottle water etc so that the they let you use the bathroom. Then an hour later you have to piss that out, so you repeat the process. It’s a vicious cycle that can only be broken by coming across an actual public bathroom.
While driving it’s pretty easy, Starbucks and McDonald’s intentionally make it easy to pee without having to worry about interacting with staff because they know you will crack and buy something once you smell those fries or coffee beans.
This is honestly tragic. I have to pee often, so when I visit any city I have to keep myself on such a short leash because idk when I’ll get the chance to pee again. That’s in the US. I guess I just can’t go to Europe.
Every grocery store and shopping center in Denmark has toilets that are free. I know of the pay toilets at train and bus stations, but cant really think if any others north of the german border. I live in a little touristy village and we have a whole building of clean free toilets right on the town square, and like 5 other spots within a 2km radius. They are indicated on village tourism brochures, well lit, well marked, well maintained, there are signs to guide people. But for some reason tourists keep shitting in our yards, its as if they prefer it.
Right? I was in Istanbul. Literally anywhere that isn't Fatih is great (and maybe some of the super touristy sections of Beyoglu.)
No one is trying to rip you off or get your tourism dollars in Kadikoy. Nisantasi is expensive in general but fantastic as a place to live. Besiktas and Sisli if you want to stay on the European side are also mostly fine.
Istanbul is a city of like 15 million and judging it off of what schmucks do in Fatih (which everyone knows is a shithole) is a bit like going to Times Square and being surprised it's crappy.
Fair enough. I would say though at some point Beyoglu is closer and avoids a lot of the issues in those touristy districts of Fatih anyways.So might as well stay there.
I mean sure but the capital is the capital for a reason. Most of the time you still want to see it and have it be at least reasonably decent in terms of the stuff op listed as
I skipped it 🤷🏻♀️ what from the city can’t you find also in other places, and probably lower price? Ofc specific sites like Haifa Sophia but there are SOOOOOO many stunning mosques to be found everywhere, and historical treasures out the wazoo
Might be good to know that I had the complete opposite experience there last month. Had an amazing time in Istanbul and Cappadocia despite both being very touristy. Just expect to pay a bit more and you can avoid very touristy areas in Istanbul. You can also avoid taxi scams very easily. Just use the app bitaksi or uber
My uber drivers would wait until I was loaded into the cab, then cancel the fare and insist it was because the app took stupid routes and the price was incorrect. We would agree a fee up front, then it would end up being adjusted due to whatever excuse and I'd have to negotiate in the cab at my destination.
I even booked one via my hotel concierge, and I saw the concierge and taxi exchange cash, then the same thing, taxi driver insisted quote prices was wrong. Just constant, constant scammers
Keep the door unlocked, two them you don't have cash and threaten to get out if they change the price. I did this in Egypt successfully with a very persistent man. Have Google translate up if needed
I also had a great time there. Stayed 5 weeks and didn't use a taxi once, I just moved around with public transportation (bus and train between cities, metro and tram in Istanbul, dolmus everywhere else).
Free public toilets at shopping malls, mosque toilets are gonna be cheap if nothing else is available. Smoking is impossible to escape and it's a problem for locals too. The places you can't take photos in have historic stuff in them that can be damaged by harsh light. Turkey is not cheap for anyone right now and it's generally not a serene country anyway lol, I imagine doubly so for those unprepared.
If you're blonde or brown you'll be approached by those hustler types unfortunately. They are considered the lowest of the low by Turkish people too, the general rule of thumb is do not buy anything at touristic places, do not eat anything at touristic places, do not take taxis, ask the locals if you can. Ignore the hustlers, don't answer them except "no".
The hustle is bad in Istanbul but in my experience, it's a lot different in other parts of the country. I stayed in a village near izmit and it was chill as hell there. Even taking the bus into izmit, I didn't feel hustled. Morocco is Istanbul on steroids though. Basically anything I bought in Morocco had to be haggled to 1/3 of the original asking price. Even in a little market in the middle of nowhere, I had locals argue with the shop keeper when they saw how much he was trying to charge me lol.
Workaway. It's how I travelled extremely cheaply for about 2 years through Europe and some other countries. 10/10 would recommend. Being immersed with local people is the only way I want to travel. It's so much more than hotels & normal sight seeing.
I visited Izmir in 2023 and again in autumn 2025 and I didn’t experience any hustling at all.
I was a few days in a tourist area around Bodrum, and some of the towns/villages there were quite different (hustling sellers a.o.)
I was in Izmir in spring 2025 on a cruise. First took a tour from the ship to Ephesus and they ran us through a little rug and jewelry market on the return drive to the ship. Almost nobody purchased anything. I should mention a run through an overpriced shop at some point on a ship's tour is kind of standard for shore excursions purchased through ships everywhere. I would never hold that particular stop against Turkiye for that reason.
Maybe if you were an experienced haggler it would have been good but the jewelry items I priced were significantly higher than I could get the same thing online. I really know nothing about rugs so I have no idea if their prices for those were within reason.
Had a few hours after the bus got back to the ship so I went out for a little explore. I did have a fellow try quite earnestly to get me to come see his carpets but it was done in such an all in good humor way I didn't take any offense.
Ended up finding a little side street I'd seen on social media from a couple who spent several months traveling in Turkiye. The shops in the alleyway are known for their grilled meats and I definitely found out why. I had a delicious plate of grilled meat paired with an awesome yoghurt drink for surprisingly cheap.
Around the time I finished some younger people showed up and started playing backgammon. They were short a player at first so I got to play a game and they insisted on buying me tea in return. I love tea so that made me very happy.
Overall my experience of Izmir on my own was just excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to return.
Later in the cruise the ship also visited Istanbul for two days. I had made a friend online from there some years back so we got to meet up. We first met up for lunch at a restaurant in the more touristy area near the Blue Mosque. I was entertained to notice they seated us upstairs with other Turkish people while the downstairs held a lot of Westerner tourists. We walked around seeing some sights and had tea in a little tea room where people were sat around playing backgammon.
I did get very overcharged for some candy in the touristy area, but the quality was good. Later on the second day we wandered away from the touristy area and I got twice as much for the same price elsewhere. From what I've seen overcharging in the touristy area of town is the norm in most of the world's big cities so again not really something I hold against Turkiye particularly. My grandchildren were very happy to help me eat it when I returned home.
What was your itinerary? I had the complete opposite experience; spent 24-days in Turkey. Did a road trip from Istanbul down the entire western coast, cut east for sites like Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe; then cut north to Ankara and back to Istanbul for the last bit.
I didn’t eat at too many restaurants; if I did it wasn’t in the big cities; it was very cheap. Markets and bazaars were madness; but I found that haggling and just be prepared to walk away went a long way. Supermarkets were awesome as you mentioned. I didn’t see the smoke issue. Big cities had crowded madness and yes people trying to sell and scam but an experienced traveller you learn to just tell them to go away or just keep walking. One waited for me outside a site in Istanbul and kept trying to trick me to go to “his shop” - like I said I’m going this way and he said I know a shortcut… I just kept walking.
I had a museum pass and used it to the max - so no issues getting into things. I didn’t do the Hagia Sophia because I had heard similar to your experience, it looked cool enough from the outside. The pass was incredible I actually ended up using it over 50 times for sites. Good deal. Hotels and rooms were cheap. Gas was cheap (rental). And people were really friendly. Some places were sketchy; got followed in Sulniurfa and just packed up and left; no thank you. But had some nice people invite me in for meals and show me around. *I solo travelled. When I went Hattusa - it was snowing (February trip last year); the guy there called his son with his tractor to take me around because I had converse on and my rental was a small sedan… hahaha he actually came out and was like it’s snowing, I said I know, he was like it’s like 5-miles to loop around?? They don’t ask for anything but I gave them lira for helping.
Called the Museum Pass Türkiye; I think it went up but it was like 145 euro for 15-days and had over 300 museums and historical/archaeological sites - including all the archaeological sites. Some I was skeptical if they were on the list but I would show it and they would just wave me on (the smaller sites). It was good for all of Türkiye - they had an Istanbul version for just the sites in Istanbul; and I saw some regional passes.
The fist site I went to I was able to get it there so you don’t need to purchase ahead of time. I landed late in Istanbul, rented a car and drove straight to Hisarlik (Troy); slept in the car outside the gate then went in first thing. If you are only going to a few sites it’s not worth it; but I went to a lot. Also, a lot of sites have two separate entry fees. Like Troy - the archaeological site was separate from the museum but the pass got me into both. They were like 20-30 euro a piece (something) like that so right out the gate I was doing good.
I had the complete opposite experience, travelled to Adana, Gazientep, Mardin - and villages between the cities. People was helpful, often offered things for free. Loved it
Beautiful part of the country and really easy to drive too if you rent a car. Highways are awesome in Turkey, and you can stop off at old Assyrian ruins or Ottoman castles in the countryside that way.
I did a trip Gaziantep to Mardin a couple years ago, and on my last trip went from Van up to Kars. Doing a bit of a counter-clockwise Turkey tour over the course of multiple trips.
Turkey has been like this for years. The economy is down in the gutter due to mustache man doing funny things. If you want a chill mediterranean experience just go to Greece. People are nice and hospitable, and you don't get grabbed in the street by some random dude running a stall trying to sell souvenirs at a legit insane price. And the food is a lot better
I once asked a group of young people in Athens if they spoke English because I was lost (pre-smartphones, 2008?) and they said, “Yes, Fuck You Tourist!” 🥲
For me as a POC I never had problems in Greece or Turkey. I guess the only thing in Turkey was when I removed my headscarf and wore my hair down the men would cat call me. So I just wore a headscarf the whole time and no one bothered me at all. In Greece everyone was super friendly and the shopkeepers when above and beyond when I went to shops, never pressuring me to buy anything and even opening a shop for me when it was closed. But this was not Athens but Greece nonetheless and I was learning Greek and can read the Greek alphabet.
Turkey was chill as hell when I was there 3 years ago. I realize prices have gone up since then, but had zero issues with scammers. Consider an off season.
The smoking concern is real, so if that bothers you go somewhere else. I took an overnight bus from Fethiye to Istanbul and there was an annoying bathroom attendant at a gas station at like 3 in the morning. Couldn't believe it, but as a spoiled American paid bathrooms are a common annoyance in many countries
I don't think they are really comparable countries. Greece is nice, but it offers like 1/20th of what Turkey does. Not to mention, Greece isn't immune from scammers and there's still plenty of scams going on in Greece.
Have you spent extensive time in both countries? There is an extraordinary amount and diversity of experiences in Turkey compared to Greece. Greece is a tiny, albeit enjoyable experience. I'd rank it somewhere along the lines of Croatia.
It's true, unfortunately, as much as it pains one to admit. Turkey offers so much more in every category. Turkey even has by far better ancient Greek ruins than Greece itself! All the most iconic ancient Greek ruins are in Turkey. Not to mention all the ruins of even earlier civilizations, which are non-existent in Greece. If only Greece didn't lose the 1919 Anatolian War to reclaim Anatolia...but Westerners did not help Greece enough and Turkey won the war against all odds due to that Attaturk...
Only thing I can think of that Greece has over Turkey are the islands, but even then Turkey still has quite a few islands themselves, some in the Aegean and some in Marmara Sea. Even Cyprus which is shared between both cultures, the Turkish side has the better nature. It's unbelievable how unlucky Greece has been!
Far more types of natural landscape, far more expansive cuisine, far more diversity, far more iconic/grandiose man-made sights, more types of architecture, etc...it's a bit like China vs Japan.
Correct. It's not even close. People here are so ignorant. It's literally the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Greece is absolutely tiny in comparison to Turkey and offers a fraction of the level of diversity and varied experiences that Turkey offers.
To be fair, most people just probably haven't really explored Turkey, or even Istanbul at all, and just stayed on the historical peninsula of Istanbul for 4-5 nights, which Turks told me is a disgraceful way to experience Istanbul. Even in this thread, someone says they visited the Asian side of the city and absolutely loved the city because of that experience. On the Asian side, I saw parks filled with cats that I still can't forget about 20 years later. Thankfully, if you have access to Greece you'll almost definitely have access to Turkey as well. It's really easy to combine and experience both countries, or do an even more extensive Balkans + Turkey trip (which was what I did.)
Yeah, I do wonder how many people here have actually traveled either country extensively. They may have gone to Athens, one greek island and Istanbul and are suddenly experts.
I'm not saying that it's perfectly legitimate to claim you personally preferred one country over another, but making broad claims that Turkey is objectively worse than Greece is just laughable, especially when they're not remotely comparable in scope at all and offer vastly different experiences - especially when you travel outside the Turkish Riviera (which is absolutely stunning in it's own right, and I doubt many here have even seen that, either).
Correct... They are littered all over the western side of Turkey. Ephesus, Pergamon, etc. Super well-preserved, filled with cats, and there are many ruins that are easily better than any of the ruins I saw in Greece. It may seem paradoxical but it's simply because the Greeks occupied Anatolia before the Turks came, and built a lot of cities on that Aegean coast, as it was more well-suited for agriculture and the land was more bountiful.
I'm familiar with the Ionian Greeks... I revere Thales, Democritus and the other pre socratic philosophers. It's still insane to say that Anatolia has more impressive ruins and history than mainland Greece or Crete
what a shame :( I went to Istanbul twice in the early 2000s, and have really fond memories. I was quite young, and I remember some touts/haggling, but nothing like you're describing.
I spent a few months in Istanbul in and western Turkey in 2022, and while hustling is certainly a thing in some places if you’re not spending all your time in touristy places like Sultanahmet and Taksim it’s not nearly as bad as you make it sound.
I generally agree with the other stuff. But while bathrooms are not “free” paying 1 Turkish Lira ($0.02) to use a park restroom is not exactly an oppressive fee.
Where are you traveling from? Given what the average Turk makes compared to the average westerner in USD, I don’t blame them for having a two-tier price system. The foreigner price is comparable to tourist attractions in the US or Europe, and it would be absurd to ask Turks to pay the same price with the state of their economy. I just hope the government is putting the money to good use, which I’m not too sure of given its track record.
I had a great time when I went in 2024 (prices may be different). I will say I didn't enjoy Istanbul much because of the aggressive sellers but I REALLY liked the Asian side of Istanbul and ended up spending more time there, much more laid back and way less touristy.
Also visited Cappadocia and ephesus and had no issues at either, great time. Did have an annoying rug seller but could tell the shtick right away and we left.
I didn't do any of the tourist things in Istanbul like the mosques because I just have a thing against supporting places that treat men and women differently (I'm not going to be forced to cover myself when men don't need to). That's just me but I don't feel I missed out.
I booked my transport ahead of time, paying extra for airport shuttles to avoid taxis and used the bus when first arriving from the airport, was all very smooth.
People will have different experiences but I would go back again, just not to the European side of Istanbul.
We went for the Hagia Sophia and a few other things but mostly stayed near the Galata Tower and had a really good time. It's a really walkable city so idk about the public transportation.
Our only regret was not booking more time in Cappadocia which was our favorite part of the trip.
I also stayed near Galata tower. Agree it was a decent area. I used public transit a bit mainly the bus from the airport which was easy and the metro was very easy and nice to use as well.
I also like Cappadocia, I would like to have stayed more in town. I was a bit further out but it was fine. I think I'll stick to exploring more of turkey next time I go, had too many days in Istanbul
How much time would you recommend there? I'm planning a trip and i'm initially I had four days but then I thought I might run out of stuff to do after the second or third day. One day red tour & a balloon, one day green tour and watching balloons. How else to enjoy the region?
Rent a motorcycle and just get lost cruising around. Love valley and the old castle were cool.
We only had 3 days, would have done 5. We booked a cool room that was in an old cave, nicely done up.
I think thats the thing, couple years ago it wasn't that bad. But the Lira crashing and the economy running on fumes really brought out a "survive at all costs" culture, especially in the tourism branch.
Im not disagreeing with you. Globally there is a lot of stress on a lot of world economies. The lira has always been weak compared to other countries which makes Turkey a great place to visit. It may feel more intense now, but a lot of that is probably because people everywhere are spending less due to global economic stress, so sellers have to work harder to make sales.
I loved it too. I think people forget when they’re going into a foreign country they’re going to experience different cultures. And their culture in particular is to hustle tourists especially if you’re walking in a market area. They assume that you’re going to buy something so they want you to buy something from their store. They think if a tourist has enough money to fly to Turkey, then they must have money to buy stuff.
They practice dynamic pricing just like places in the USA. But price changes depending on where you’re from. They’re aware of the cost of living and think Americans will have more money.
Welll said mate. As a seasoned traveler and expat feel the same way. Most of what op said feels like a tourist sticking out like a sore thumb thing not a turkey thing. Has happened to me in countless places but still doesn’t detract from the experience. Went to Istanbul back in 17 and adored it. No place is perfect and God knows how annoying a lot of what OP suffered from suck but still it doesn’t hurt to consider the positives and that travelling to a foreign land is literally that. Foreign. It won’t be like your home country or another country. But isn’t that the whole point of travelling really ? Just my 2 pence 😀
Yeah, the major sights in Istanbul are crazy expensive. When I went earlier this year I decided to only visit two things. I found many small supermarkets to be very expensive but bigger ones were fine. Sure, considering how cheap food can be in Istanbul a simit and pack of something to drink are expensive but in the grand scheme of things still very cheap and available everywhere. Restaurants: walk a few minutes out of tourist hell towards the aquaduct and you could get meals for very little money and nobody would annoy you. I also found that if with a decent layer of teflon and really not showing any interest shops and restaurants didn't really annoy me.
You seem like someone who didn't really do his research and only walked in and around tourist traps.
What I agree with is the hustlers and the inflation. But Turkey isn't even half as bad as North Africa. As for the inflation that was to be expected if one had done their research as I mentioned earlier.
I haven't encountered a restaurant where there wasn't a menu, at least online on Google. Lots of countries don't have free public toilets or drinking water. I don't like that either but that's hardly a turkey specific issue. If I travel to the US, I'm expected to tip the waiter. I don't like that either but I knew that beforehand. If I'm in Europe or the US, I accept that most places don't have a bidet and that just using toilet paper will leave my ass a lot more dirty.
The same with smoking. It's not a secret that smoking is still enjoyed in countries like Turkey, Greece, the whole Balkan in fact, Southern Europe and France. I don't go to the US and complain that ppl hardly smoke anymore or that I can smell weed everywhere instead.
I hope you do more research next time, so you won't be disappointed and complain about things you could've or should've known before traveling.
Yes, it is. You'd be lucky to find any public toilets in most countries and free ones are usually in shopping malls, rail and bus stations and sometimes department stores and museums. You learn to seek those out. And if you have to pay, it isn't going to wreck your travel budget.
Easy thing to find out online... That is if one does their research which OP apparently didn't do.
I don't like the toilet situation either although I also don't like to use nasty public toilets. But worst case you just walk into any restaurant or café, pretend you are a customer or going to be one and then leave. What they gonna do? chase you after you took a dump and didn't order anything?
Interesting, I did a week in Istanbul and Cappadoccia in September 2025 (so just 4 months ago) and my group of American and German friends didn’t have any of those issues.
I’m curious if you would be willing to share where you went? I have received so much positive feedback outside of their most popular cities, such as Istanbul.
I just spent a few weeks in Turkey a few months ago and had a very different experience, I’m sorry you had a less than stellar time there.
Two of your points stood out to me:
Hustling. I read several similar reports before embarking on my trip but I didn’t find it bad in the slightest. In general I was pleasantly surprised by how little I was harassed by vendors, and just walking around was one of my favorite parts of visiting Istanbul.
Prices. Agree with you 100% on this. The prices for major tourist attractions felt extortionate. I’m a big fan of history and architecture, so I splurged for the tourist pass which made the overall cost more manageable. But the entrance fees to famous sites made Europe look affordable. I’d visit again, but Hagia Sofia in particular was frustrating. Extremely limited access and wildly expensive for what you get.
Ofc this happens when you walk around turist traps, basicly all of Istanbul center and many other popular cities. I live in Antakya and I rearly get ripped of and prices are great. A haircut 5 dollar, table of breakfast for 2(actually one and a half table including coffe and tea) ca 20 dollar. Travel further and you will have a different experience.
Dude just didn't do any research. Oh really, ppl smoke in Turkey? I didn't know that.
Next thing you'll tell me is that almost everything in China is cashless. Or that I have to clean my ass with toilet paper instead of water when I'm in England.
Yeah I know. Americans in particular seem to be shocked because in the US, it's perceived as outdated or whatever (it's not like they care much about their health).
Met an American woman in Europe but she was delighted rather than shocked because she also smoked lol. She was happy bc unlike in the US they don't judge you if you smoke in Europe.
I had the same experience. You have to be alert at all times. If you fall into the trap of trusting someone you’ll learn a hard lesson. The older people were kind but the younger people were all crooks.
My advice on the hustles (not just in Turkey but pretty much anywhere else that has this problem) is that you have to go all-in on completely ignoring them. Zero acknowledgement whatsoever, not even a polite "no". Keep walking, pretend they don't exist. They'll get the hint that you're wise to their shit and soon move on to more gullible marks.
Another tip that I picked up from this sub that seems to work well is pair the above with a) resting bitchface b) mirrored sunglasses.
It feels rude at first, but it's basically essential to not getting pestered non-stop.
I love Turkey, I always found toilets mainly in bus stations as that was my mode of transport. The economy is terrible and hustling is bad in the major cities but in towns like Kaș or less tourist cities like Izmir you get a lot less of this, never found Istanbul that bad for it, things must have gotten worse there
My only experience is a day trip to Kusadasi. We were told about haggling and how to do it. I wanted a Turkey flag in a shop. Asked how much, and the shopkeeper said €5. I countered with €2, which is what I thought it was worth but I was willing to accept €3 and thought he’d offer that price. He said no, and when I started to leave he acted like okay, we can do €2. He put it in the bag and then asked for €5. “We settled on €2.” “No, €5.” He never made a counteroffer. Okay dude, keep your cheap overpriced flag. If I ever return I’ll see if I can improve my haggling skills. FWIW I thought it was kind of funny.
If one stays away from the Sultanahmet, it’s much better. For that matter, if you stay away from Istanbul, it’s much much better. Try Urfa or Gaziantep.
I always advise visitors to save Istanbul for last.
I know this is a solotravel forum but my tip for Turkey is to make it a trip with your Mom. Zero harassment, everyone was incredibly lovely and helpful. We walked around and my Mom would always find a stranger willing to answer a question. I think they just really respect a family vibe? Also, say what you will about boomers but they are so good at talking to strangers.
I thought the contrast between "tourist Turkey" and the rest of the country was pretty stark. Tourist Turkey was pretty much as you describe. The rest of the country was pretty normal, even remarkably kind.
In Konya a stranger drove me to the train station when I looked lost and wouldn't take any money for fuel. I met a guy on the train to Adana who was friendly and talked a lot about online games.
The travel agent in Istanbul I talked to tried to convince me not to go to Ankara. That was kind of funny. But I had a good time in Ankara anyway.
Turkey was good to visit 10+ years ago but it’s just not worth it anymore. More expensive than Greece but with more scammers, ruder people, worse infrastructure and generally dirtier and less well kept
I went two years ago and felt the same way. I was expecting to love it but everything was a huge chore mainly due to the constant hustling. everything is a hustle there. I felt like I had to be on guard 100% of the time. Every time you walk out the door of your accommodation, it starts. I'm a solo woman traveller so I think it was even worse. Also got ripped off by a man "helping" me with the machine used to buy tram tickets (won't go into details except to say it cost $20). I've travelled all of the world, including some difficult countries. I have been in other countries where there is just constant hustle and I am so over it. Turkey sealed it for me. I'm not going to any more countries where everything is a hustle. Turkey is one of the few countries I've visited that I wish I had gone somewhere else instead. I was there a month.
I've been traveling for decades so maybe I've just hit my limit on hustle culture. It may not bother others as much. Saw some cool stuff.
I had the opposite experience last year - except for the high entry fees to key sites.
Solo lady travel, I navigated my way round the country by public bus.
The hospitality was awesome, many people were exceptionally helpful and friendly, the history and culture incredible.
I knew in advance to not engage with the men who tried to talk to me in the street’(mostly in Istanbul). And yes I got stared at heaps.
It took me a couple of days to summon the courage to visit a local tea shop in regional towns where all the other patrons were men. When I did, nobody took any notice, and the staff were great. One small glass of tea, and the seat and table were mine for as long as I wanted.
Türkiye is a country I would return to.
I did have one of the weirdest experiences of my life though. Walking down a deserted country lane, with zero visibility from the wider area, a guy on a motor scooter offered me a ride. It ended with him prostrating himself in front of me, kissing my feet. Absolutely true story, hilarious afterwards, a tad unnerving at the time, considering that his large hands held my ankles.
This was also my experience. It just gets tiring. I did like Turkey but yeah when anyone asks me I tell them to warn them and not to be taken aback when it happens to them.
I love turkey, but the carpet salesmen are insane. They “hunt” for you in the areas near the mosques and pretend to strike up a conversation. Eventually you find out they have a carpet shop and “do you want to see it?” No!
I even had one stand in line with me at the basilica cistern. Talking while I waited. And he was still waiting for me when I got out! They are all very cute and charming…but no.
I’m genuinely asking, which parts were unexpected for you? I feel like these are all fairly well-known complaints, and of course it would all be exhausting. That said, I’m so sorry you had a rough trip. It’s such a letdown when our dream experiences are anything but.
It doesn't help when you land in Europe and then take a taxi across the bridge to Asia and there's fucking donkey carts and swerving cars and horns and all that shit.etc. Nerve wracking. And no, I don't want that rug imported from Pakistan, even if kids did make it for no money or reward.
Have they recovered from the earthquake? I was going to go the year they had the big quake, but figured they could use a break from tourists at that time… Thanks for the heads up about the things you mentioned!
It's interesting to hear about the scamming/overcharging. I'm definitely not denying that it happens, especially in places like Istanbul, but I've been living in Ankara for over a year and feel like I have yet to experience it.
As a solo female traveler this is the only time ive been scared while traveling was in turkey. A taxi driver said he would kill me if i didnt give him $40. I jumped out of the cab on the street
I was in Istanbul a year ago and the prices in the tourist area near Hagia Sophia were insane. I mean $30 for lunch. The price of a bottle of water was between 10 and 100 lira depending where you were. Also the price for Topkapi Palace was insane so I skipped it.
Otherwise I really enjoyed Istanbul. I never got hassled. I must walk fast enough to not get harrassed, but i've also been to Egypt and know enough to not respond. I was surprised that nobody tried to sell me a carpet after all i'd heard.
I would add to this that if you are a woman, the harassment is also exhausting. Literally dressed in my ugliest clothes, no makeup, etc., and I couldn’t even have a coffee in peace without someone asking me on a date.
It wasn’t threatening harassment (touching, saying gross/scary things) like I experienced in Morocco, but it was SO ANNOYING
I lived in Istanbul for about 5 months in 2024–yes, it’s exhausting. It’s dirty, overpriced for what it is, and no even a historical or cultural powerhouse, IMHO. I have been to Egypt and Morocco and at least there I felt like all the haggling and harassment were worth it.
Enjoyed my time in Turkey for the friends I met and once I steered completely clear of the tourist areas it got 65% better. But overall, I wouldn’t recommend.
ETA: “IMHO” was right there, guys…not sure how much more plain I have to make that…🙄
friendly advice not just for Turkey but for everywhere, always stay away from the touristy areas, it’s almost always better to experience the local life, you can use AI to plan what area that means for you depending on your destination
obviously you are right, but that doesn’t limit you to staying in high priced tourist trap neighborhoods, does it? my post was to encourage staying in neighborhoods where locals live and experience life the way they live
Same experience, it was beautiful but exhausting- ended up switching to an Airbnb and cooking my own food towards the end of my long stay. The airport and rides are also a nightmare (no I will not take public transport with my large suitcases). I don’t plan on returning unless I have to.
I had an almost identical experience. Taxi driver at one point literally made us stop at a rug factory and take “the tour”. Had to finesse us to get taken back to the hotel.
This is sad to hear, I went to Turkey twice as a young(ish) white solo female traveler 20+ years ago, and I absolutely loved it. I traveled to numerous cities throughout the country and thought about moving there permanently. I have heard this type of feedback from others recently, and it is too bad, because I've been itching to go back.
All extremely true. For a while, this sub swore that Istanbul was one of the best cities in the world to visit and Turkey, one of the best countries. I lived in Turkey for several months and all I can say to that is "lol".
Hustling is endless.
Fatih and the Istiklal in Istanbul are among the worst for this. I once went into a bakery, pointed to a pastry that was labeled two lira (this was a long time ago) and the guy at the counter unashamedly says "six lira" and holds out his hand. I point to the price, he goes "oh yeah, two lira", and I go about my day. 🙄
Attempting to shortchange you (you get large notes from the ATM, go to pay somewhere, and they will try to give you your change -20%) was also very common, it happened at least two or three times a month to me. This wasn't just at street vendors either, but established businesses. Also, watch out for the shoe brush scam. Istanbul was by far the worst place for scams but they can happen all over the country. It's not as bad as Cairo or Marrakesh but still bad.
Admission tickets to main sights like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, and many museums have two-tier pricing (which is fine) but the scale is rather extreme.
Turkey has so much to see, but some additional complaints about this:
The official museum passes are both expensive and it's very difficult to use them enough to get good value within their validity period. Many monuments and museums are randomly excluded from the pass, despite being run by the same government department.
Some monuments have an initial entrance fee, and then there will be a second admission toll inside to see other parts of monument. This is the case at Selcuk.
The Turkish government saw tourism increasing and used the opportunity to massively jack up admission prices. Tickets in Istanbul in particular are now on par or higher than many western European cities.
A lot of the upkeep of historical monuments is done poorly, especially for Byzantine or non-Islamic monuments. The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus was one that bothered me in particular, although I here there has since been more renovations.
Monument guards treat tourists poorly and kind of make up rules on the spot. One time, I was standing outside a monument (Bergama; at least 100 m outside the gate), taking pictures of the landscape in another direction, and one of the guards came out to tell me that photos weren't allowed (I later checked and even inside the monument, photos were allowed, so idk what he was talking about).
The nature is also very polluted. I tried going hiking a few times and even in remote areas and national parks, the country is covered in trash (not as bad as some countries, but still).
I did have a very positive experience near Bergama when a kind Turkish family offered me a ride down from the Acropolis when they saw I was walking.
Anyways, Türkiye was one of my first major experiences abroad and it taught me a lot, so I'll always be grateful for it. Iskender/Bursa kebab is also one of my favorite foods ever. Istanbul has fantastic public transport and history. But overall, it's a 4/10 country for me, especially with prices going up so much.
For someone coming to Istanbul in 2 weeks, it be nice to know what you found as a budget to be too expensive because like you said, crazy inflation is kinda on my mind, and I have to accept and I kinda wanna avoid using my card and bring some cash as I’m only staying 3 days, 4 nights;
My plan was to spend most of my long weekend walking about and enjoying the city to just chill, and go to Haga Sofia but I kinda booked it without thinking of a budget ahead of time (impulsive buy, need to escape snowy Stockholm) and ofcourse it’s just before payday…
I missed my connecting flight to Istanbul when I flew into Antalya airport because we followed all the signs for connecting flights to a desk that was empty.
Continued on to see if we could find help. Asked the person at the information desk who reacted as if she HATED US, and told us we had to leave the airport and get a TAXI to the area where we could connect our flight. We were in a rush because our flight there had been delayed, so just followed the orders. (There were issues with the taxi driver as well. Telling us one price and then inputting a different one to the card machine). Eventually arrived at the correct location but had missed our flight.
Had to sit in the airport overnight whilst everything was shut for 8 hours until the first morning flight. In the meantime, could not get access to the "free WiFi", can't even remember what the issue was, something about needing a code, that the information desk people wouldn't give us, so was really difficult to get in touch with someone to rearrange our flight... Nightmare.
Oh, and it turns out you don't need to get a taxi to the connections area. You can walk and it actually takes less time.
And boyfriend stupidly paid £40 for a very small bag of tea.
Unrelated to Turkey specifically but this is why “pee when you can, not when you have to” has been a mantra ever since I first heard it.
My mantra is 'Never miss an opportunity' when it comes to this!
never piss an opportunity
You piss every shot that you take
Never pass a pit stop (piss stop) was our phrasing.
We use that approach on the ambulance too.
Eat when you can, sleep when you can, pee when you can.
pee in a can
I’m a farm kid. I’d rather just find a tree.
Sort of like in the army was if you can’t sleep, lay down, if you can’t lay down, sit, if you can’t sit, lean against something, etc.
Yep. And if you can lay down, you might as well try to take a nap.
A tactical pee, if you will.
Never pass a bathroom and never trust a fart while traveling
The mosques, restaurants, and museums all have free toilets. I have a bladder the size of a pea and never paid to use a public toilet.
Yeah this is all of Europe, in my (American) experience. Toilets in general are hard to come by (stores / shops / restaurants do not allow the public to use theirs), and when there is a toilet it’s pay only. They often take change only, and are usually the only reason to carry change or even any cash on you at all. I’m used to it now, but I’d still say it’s the single most obtrusive experience when traveling abroad on that continent.
The one exception I’ve found (so far) was Austria, which generally had free & available public toilets, AND shops that were chill about you walking in and asking to use one.
Amsterdam had (had?) toilets in the public plaza where you basically pee in front of everyone and absolutely no one gives a fuck. They're free too.
They kinda looked like phone stands except with a urinal. I pissed in them immediately! After my euro trip, finding such and accessible urinal was a dream.
its called a pissoir (piss-wah) and it's of French origin, they're not in the main square of Amsterdam but they are on a few canals
I sure hope youre not pulling my leg, cause this is tje coolest tidbit ive heard in a while.
I could have sworn I saw it in some plazas or squares though. I thought it was madness how you basically do it in front of everyone, and no one bothered to even glance at you.
Because nobody really cares. I wish more Americans knew this., it might help them with their super weird toilet obsessions
In most US downtowns the only way you can pee is if you buy something. So you go into a coffee shop and get a coffee, juice, bottle water etc so that the they let you use the bathroom. Then an hour later you have to piss that out, so you repeat the process. It’s a vicious cycle that can only be broken by coming across an actual public bathroom.
While driving it’s pretty easy, Starbucks and McDonald’s intentionally make it easy to pee without having to worry about interacting with staff because they know you will crack and buy something once you smell those fries or coffee beans.
This is honestly tragic. I have to pee often, so when I visit any city I have to keep myself on such a short leash because idk when I’ll get the chance to pee again. That’s in the US. I guess I just can’t go to Europe.
Every grocery store and shopping center in Denmark has toilets that are free. I know of the pay toilets at train and bus stations, but cant really think if any others north of the german border. I live in a little touristy village and we have a whole building of clean free toilets right on the town square, and like 5 other spots within a 2km radius. They are indicated on village tourism brochures, well lit, well marked, well maintained, there are signs to guide people. But for some reason tourists keep shitting in our yards, its as if they prefer it.
This is good to know
FWIW, I went to Türkiye just 2 years ago and - while not perfect - it wasn't this bad.
The situation with the differences in attraction prices for locals and for foreigners is absolutely insane now.
I went in 23, and was stunned when I found out how much it has changed
I did 4 weeks in Turkey (Istanbul. Cappadocia. Pammukale. Antalya) and boy Istanbul was so exhausting
Loved Cappadocia, was very meh on Istanbul.
What OP is talking about is just the touristy parts of Istanbul and a few towns on the coast where everyone goes to resorts.
The rest of Turkey is very much not like that.
Right? I was in Istanbul. Literally anywhere that isn't Fatih is great (and maybe some of the super touristy sections of Beyoglu.)
No one is trying to rip you off or get your tourism dollars in Kadikoy. Nisantasi is expensive in general but fantastic as a place to live. Besiktas and Sisli if you want to stay on the European side are also mostly fine.
Istanbul is a city of like 15 million and judging it off of what schmucks do in Fatih (which everyone knows is a shithole) is a bit like going to Times Square and being surprised it's crappy.
Even parts of Fatih are fine.
I stayed in the Syrian neighborhood and it was all super cheap and friendly and everyone left you on your own.
Fair enough. I would say though at some point Beyoglu is closer and avoids a lot of the issues in those touristy districts of Fatih anyways.So might as well stay there.
Agree! i love Turkey
Go EAST, young traveller! It’s where the “magical turkey of 20 years ago” is hiding out
I mean sure but the capital is the capital for a reason. Most of the time you still want to see it and have it be at least reasonably decent in terms of the stuff op listed as
The capital of Türkiye is Ankara.
İstanbul is the biggest city but not the capital
I skipped it 🤷🏻♀️ what from the city can’t you find also in other places, and probably lower price? Ofc specific sites like Haifa Sophia but there are SOOOOOO many stunning mosques to be found everywhere, and historical treasures out the wazoo
Might be good to know that I had the complete opposite experience there last month. Had an amazing time in Istanbul and Cappadocia despite both being very touristy. Just expect to pay a bit more and you can avoid very touristy areas in Istanbul. You can also avoid taxi scams very easily. Just use the app bitaksi or uber
My uber drivers would wait until I was loaded into the cab, then cancel the fare and insist it was because the app took stupid routes and the price was incorrect. We would agree a fee up front, then it would end up being adjusted due to whatever excuse and I'd have to negotiate in the cab at my destination.
I even booked one via my hotel concierge, and I saw the concierge and taxi exchange cash, then the same thing, taxi driver insisted quote prices was wrong. Just constant, constant scammers
Keep the door unlocked, two them you don't have cash and threaten to get out if they change the price. I did this in Egypt successfully with a very persistent man. Have Google translate up if needed
We got scammed on Uber. Bro kept taking the longest routes and turned a 20 min trip into an hour long ride.
Same. I just got engaged in cappadocia 2 weeks ago. May be the most beautiful place in the world for a surprise proposal.
Congrats!!!
Thank you !
Me too, had the time of my life in Turkey, everyone was incredible and I never felt scammed once.
I also had a great time there. Stayed 5 weeks and didn't use a taxi once, I just moved around with public transportation (bus and train between cities, metro and tram in Istanbul, dolmus everywhere else).
The OP is running a smearing campaign. Here's the same post from 8 months ago.
Oh okay, well it was good to hear everyone else come out with their different and unique experiences then instead
Free public toilets at shopping malls, mosque toilets are gonna be cheap if nothing else is available. Smoking is impossible to escape and it's a problem for locals too. The places you can't take photos in have historic stuff in them that can be damaged by harsh light. Turkey is not cheap for anyone right now and it's generally not a serene country anyway lol, I imagine doubly so for those unprepared.
If you're blonde or brown you'll be approached by those hustler types unfortunately. They are considered the lowest of the low by Turkish people too, the general rule of thumb is do not buy anything at touristic places, do not eat anything at touristic places, do not take taxis, ask the locals if you can. Ignore the hustlers, don't answer them except "no".
Don’t take taxis so… uber?
Or the world class public transit system....
Yeah I never needed a taxi in my 5 weeks moving around in Turkey.
Public transportation does in fact exist.
Yes use uber
Yeah, have ready many similar experiences. I regret not going earlier when things were a lot cheaper and now I feel discouraged.
Meh. The best time was always ‘yesterday’. The second best time is ‘today’.
The worst time is ‘tomorrow’.
Still much cheaper than the US (and slightly cheaper than West Europe).
The hustle is bad in Istanbul but in my experience, it's a lot different in other parts of the country. I stayed in a village near izmit and it was chill as hell there. Even taking the bus into izmit, I didn't feel hustled. Morocco is Istanbul on steroids though. Basically anything I bought in Morocco had to be haggled to 1/3 of the original asking price. Even in a little market in the middle of nowhere, I had locals argue with the shop keeper when they saw how much he was trying to charge me lol.
Even in Istanbul it is easy to avoid if you just go outside of the touristic center. You can spend two weeks in Istanbul and avoid this completely.
What were you doing in a village near Izmit?
Workaway. It's how I travelled extremely cheaply for about 2 years through Europe and some other countries. 10/10 would recommend. Being immersed with local people is the only way I want to travel. It's so much more than hotels & normal sight seeing.
I visited Izmir in 2023 and again in autumn 2025 and I didn’t experience any hustling at all. I was a few days in a tourist area around Bodrum, and some of the towns/villages there were quite different (hustling sellers a.o.)
I was in Izmir in spring 2025 on a cruise. First took a tour from the ship to Ephesus and they ran us through a little rug and jewelry market on the return drive to the ship. Almost nobody purchased anything. I should mention a run through an overpriced shop at some point on a ship's tour is kind of standard for shore excursions purchased through ships everywhere. I would never hold that particular stop against Turkiye for that reason.
Maybe if you were an experienced haggler it would have been good but the jewelry items I priced were significantly higher than I could get the same thing online. I really know nothing about rugs so I have no idea if their prices for those were within reason.
Had a few hours after the bus got back to the ship so I went out for a little explore. I did have a fellow try quite earnestly to get me to come see his carpets but it was done in such an all in good humor way I didn't take any offense.
Ended up finding a little side street I'd seen on social media from a couple who spent several months traveling in Turkiye. The shops in the alleyway are known for their grilled meats and I definitely found out why. I had a delicious plate of grilled meat paired with an awesome yoghurt drink for surprisingly cheap.
Around the time I finished some younger people showed up and started playing backgammon. They were short a player at first so I got to play a game and they insisted on buying me tea in return. I love tea so that made me very happy.
Overall my experience of Izmir on my own was just excellent. I wouldn't hesitate to return.
Later in the cruise the ship also visited Istanbul for two days. I had made a friend online from there some years back so we got to meet up. We first met up for lunch at a restaurant in the more touristy area near the Blue Mosque. I was entertained to notice they seated us upstairs with other Turkish people while the downstairs held a lot of Westerner tourists. We walked around seeing some sights and had tea in a little tea room where people were sat around playing backgammon.
I did get very overcharged for some candy in the touristy area, but the quality was good. Later on the second day we wandered away from the touristy area and I got twice as much for the same price elsewhere. From what I've seen overcharging in the touristy area of town is the norm in most of the world's big cities so again not really something I hold against Turkiye particularly. My grandchildren were very happy to help me eat it when I returned home.
What was your itinerary? I had the complete opposite experience; spent 24-days in Turkey. Did a road trip from Istanbul down the entire western coast, cut east for sites like Gobekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe; then cut north to Ankara and back to Istanbul for the last bit.
I didn’t eat at too many restaurants; if I did it wasn’t in the big cities; it was very cheap. Markets and bazaars were madness; but I found that haggling and just be prepared to walk away went a long way. Supermarkets were awesome as you mentioned. I didn’t see the smoke issue. Big cities had crowded madness and yes people trying to sell and scam but an experienced traveller you learn to just tell them to go away or just keep walking. One waited for me outside a site in Istanbul and kept trying to trick me to go to “his shop” - like I said I’m going this way and he said I know a shortcut… I just kept walking.
I had a museum pass and used it to the max - so no issues getting into things. I didn’t do the Hagia Sophia because I had heard similar to your experience, it looked cool enough from the outside. The pass was incredible I actually ended up using it over 50 times for sites. Good deal. Hotels and rooms were cheap. Gas was cheap (rental). And people were really friendly. Some places were sketchy; got followed in Sulniurfa and just packed up and left; no thank you. But had some nice people invite me in for meals and show me around. *I solo travelled. When I went Hattusa - it was snowing (February trip last year); the guy there called his son with his tractor to take me around because I had converse on and my rental was a small sedan… hahaha he actually came out and was like it’s snowing, I said I know, he was like it’s like 5-miles to loop around?? They don’t ask for anything but I gave them lira for helping.
I guess experiences vary…
What was the museum pass you got?
Called the Museum Pass Türkiye; I think it went up but it was like 145 euro for 15-days and had over 300 museums and historical/archaeological sites - including all the archaeological sites. Some I was skeptical if they were on the list but I would show it and they would just wave me on (the smaller sites). It was good for all of Türkiye - they had an Istanbul version for just the sites in Istanbul; and I saw some regional passes.
The fist site I went to I was able to get it there so you don’t need to purchase ahead of time. I landed late in Istanbul, rented a car and drove straight to Hisarlik (Troy); slept in the car outside the gate then went in first thing. If you are only going to a few sites it’s not worth it; but I went to a lot. Also, a lot of sites have two separate entry fees. Like Troy - the archaeological site was separate from the museum but the pass got me into both. They were like 20-30 euro a piece (something) like that so right out the gate I was doing good.
I had the complete opposite experience, travelled to Adana, Gazientep, Mardin - and villages between the cities. People was helpful, often offered things for free. Loved it
Beautiful part of the country and really easy to drive too if you rent a car. Highways are awesome in Turkey, and you can stop off at old Assyrian ruins or Ottoman castles in the countryside that way.
I did a trip Gaziantep to Mardin a couple years ago, and on my last trip went from Van up to Kars. Doing a bit of a counter-clockwise Turkey tour over the course of multiple trips.
Turkey has been like this for years. The economy is down in the gutter due to mustache man doing funny things. If you want a chill mediterranean experience just go to Greece. People are nice and hospitable, and you don't get grabbed in the street by some random dude running a stall trying to sell souvenirs at a legit insane price. And the food is a lot better
Unironically recommending Greece after talking negative about Turkey, isnt that some kind of Balkans meme?
You should always reccomend Albania to make everyone mad.
A true Balkan meme includes at least some amounts of genocide and white supremacy
If Turkey attacked Russia from behind, do you think Greece would help ?
Greece doesn't have the best reputation with PoC travelers. Türkiye is not a racial paradise either, but it has better feedback from PoC travelers.
I once asked a group of young people in Athens if they spoke English because I was lost (pre-smartphones, 2008?) and they said, “Yes, Fuck You Tourist!” 🥲
For me as a POC I never had problems in Greece or Turkey. I guess the only thing in Turkey was when I removed my headscarf and wore my hair down the men would cat call me. So I just wore a headscarf the whole time and no one bothered me at all. In Greece everyone was super friendly and the shopkeepers when above and beyond when I went to shops, never pressuring me to buy anything and even opening a shop for me when it was closed. But this was not Athens but Greece nonetheless and I was learning Greek and can read the Greek alphabet.
Turkey was chill as hell when I was there 3 years ago. I realize prices have gone up since then, but had zero issues with scammers. Consider an off season.
The smoking concern is real, so if that bothers you go somewhere else. I took an overnight bus from Fethiye to Istanbul and there was an annoying bathroom attendant at a gas station at like 3 in the morning. Couldn't believe it, but as a spoiled American paid bathrooms are a common annoyance in many countries
I don't think they are really comparable countries. Greece is nice, but it offers like 1/20th of what Turkey does. Not to mention, Greece isn't immune from scammers and there's still plenty of scams going on in Greece.
France and Italy are more comparable.
island greece is the best holiday destination in the Med
Greece only offers 1/20th of what Turkey has? lol what are you even talking about.
Have you spent extensive time in both countries? There is an extraordinary amount and diversity of experiences in Turkey compared to Greece. Greece is a tiny, albeit enjoyable experience. I'd rank it somewhere along the lines of Croatia.
Greece is on par with Turkey with as much history. But Croatia is just full of racist people.
I fully agree with you. People go to Istanbul and Antalya and think that they know Turkey.
Every corner of the country has history going back thousands of years, and most of these places only have a handfull of tourists.
Greece is nice and the history is interesting, but I found it very samey around the different parts.
I don't think you've been to Greece lmao
It's true, unfortunately, as much as it pains one to admit. Turkey offers so much more in every category. Turkey even has by far better ancient Greek ruins than Greece itself! All the most iconic ancient Greek ruins are in Turkey. Not to mention all the ruins of even earlier civilizations, which are non-existent in Greece. If only Greece didn't lose the 1919 Anatolian War to reclaim Anatolia...but Westerners did not help Greece enough and Turkey won the war against all odds due to that Attaturk...
Only thing I can think of that Greece has over Turkey are the islands, but even then Turkey still has quite a few islands themselves, some in the Aegean and some in Marmara Sea. Even Cyprus which is shared between both cultures, the Turkish side has the better nature. It's unbelievable how unlucky Greece has been!
So Turkey has more historic ancient sites & ruins… I wouldn’t say that’s 1/20th?
Far more types of natural landscape, far more expansive cuisine, far more diversity, far more iconic/grandiose man-made sights, more types of architecture, etc...it's a bit like China vs Japan.
Correct. It's not even close. People here are so ignorant. It's literally the Dunning-Kruger effect in action. Greece is absolutely tiny in comparison to Turkey and offers a fraction of the level of diversity and varied experiences that Turkey offers.
To be fair, most people just probably haven't really explored Turkey, or even Istanbul at all, and just stayed on the historical peninsula of Istanbul for 4-5 nights, which Turks told me is a disgraceful way to experience Istanbul. Even in this thread, someone says they visited the Asian side of the city and absolutely loved the city because of that experience. On the Asian side, I saw parks filled with cats that I still can't forget about 20 years later. Thankfully, if you have access to Greece you'll almost definitely have access to Turkey as well. It's really easy to combine and experience both countries, or do an even more extensive Balkans + Turkey trip (which was what I did.)
Yeah, I do wonder how many people here have actually traveled either country extensively. They may have gone to Athens, one greek island and Istanbul and are suddenly experts.
I'm not saying that it's perfectly legitimate to claim you personally preferred one country over another, but making broad claims that Turkey is objectively worse than Greece is just laughable, especially when they're not remotely comparable in scope at all and offer vastly different experiences - especially when you travel outside the Turkish Riviera (which is absolutely stunning in it's own right, and I doubt many here have even seen that, either).
Yes but there more white people in Greece so a lot of Redditors will always defend it even at the cost of lying.
Turkey has better Ancient Greek ruins...than Greece? Am I reading that right?
Correct... They are littered all over the western side of Turkey. Ephesus, Pergamon, etc. Super well-preserved, filled with cats, and there are many ruins that are easily better than any of the ruins I saw in Greece. It may seem paradoxical but it's simply because the Greeks occupied Anatolia before the Turks came, and built a lot of cities on that Aegean coast, as it was more well-suited for agriculture and the land was more bountiful.
Epheses was one of the best places I've ever been. Amazing history and so much of it still standing.
I'm familiar with the Ionian Greeks... I revere Thales, Democritus and the other pre socratic philosophers. It's still insane to say that Anatolia has more impressive ruins and history than mainland Greece or Crete
1/20th? What does Turkey offer that Greece doesn’t?
what a shame :( I went to Istanbul twice in the early 2000s, and have really fond memories. I was quite young, and I remember some touts/haggling, but nothing like you're describing.
I spent a few months in Istanbul in and western Turkey in 2022, and while hustling is certainly a thing in some places if you’re not spending all your time in touristy places like Sultanahmet and Taksim it’s not nearly as bad as you make it sound.
I generally agree with the other stuff. But while bathrooms are not “free” paying 1 Turkish Lira ($0.02) to use a park restroom is not exactly an oppressive fee.
Where are you traveling from? Given what the average Turk makes compared to the average westerner in USD, I don’t blame them for having a two-tier price system. The foreigner price is comparable to tourist attractions in the US or Europe, and it would be absurd to ask Turks to pay the same price with the state of their economy. I just hope the government is putting the money to good use, which I’m not too sure of given its track record.
I had a great time when I went in 2024 (prices may be different). I will say I didn't enjoy Istanbul much because of the aggressive sellers but I REALLY liked the Asian side of Istanbul and ended up spending more time there, much more laid back and way less touristy.
Also visited Cappadocia and ephesus and had no issues at either, great time. Did have an annoying rug seller but could tell the shtick right away and we left.
I didn't do any of the tourist things in Istanbul like the mosques because I just have a thing against supporting places that treat men and women differently (I'm not going to be forced to cover myself when men don't need to). That's just me but I don't feel I missed out.
I booked my transport ahead of time, paying extra for airport shuttles to avoid taxis and used the bus when first arriving from the airport, was all very smooth.
People will have different experiences but I would go back again, just not to the European side of Istanbul.
Edit: mentioned pricing
I also had a great time in 2024, but I was shocked at how much it had changed since 2023 due to its horrendous inflation.
We went for the Hagia Sophia and a few other things but mostly stayed near the Galata Tower and had a really good time. It's a really walkable city so idk about the public transportation.
Our only regret was not booking more time in Cappadocia which was our favorite part of the trip.
I also stayed near Galata tower. Agree it was a decent area. I used public transit a bit mainly the bus from the airport which was easy and the metro was very easy and nice to use as well.
I also like Cappadocia, I would like to have stayed more in town. I was a bit further out but it was fine. I think I'll stick to exploring more of turkey next time I go, had too many days in Istanbul
Istanbul was great for the cats and the food but yeah, next time we'll explore the rest.
How much time would you recommend there? I'm planning a trip and i'm initially I had four days but then I thought I might run out of stuff to do after the second or third day. One day red tour & a balloon, one day green tour and watching balloons. How else to enjoy the region?
Rent a motorcycle and just get lost cruising around. Love valley and the old castle were cool. We only had 3 days, would have done 5. We booked a cool room that was in an old cave, nicely done up.
I don't drive unfortunately. So I guess 2-3 would work
Try visiting the US as a foreigner. You want to go to s National Park? Sure that's. an extra 50 bucks.
I’ve been there a couple years ago and going back this year. Loved it.
I think thats the thing, couple years ago it wasn't that bad. But the Lira crashing and the economy running on fumes really brought out a "survive at all costs" culture, especially in the tourism branch.
Im not disagreeing with you. Globally there is a lot of stress on a lot of world economies. The lira has always been weak compared to other countries which makes Turkey a great place to visit. It may feel more intense now, but a lot of that is probably because people everywhere are spending less due to global economic stress, so sellers have to work harder to make sales.
I loved it too. I think people forget when they’re going into a foreign country they’re going to experience different cultures. And their culture in particular is to hustle tourists especially if you’re walking in a market area. They assume that you’re going to buy something so they want you to buy something from their store. They think if a tourist has enough money to fly to Turkey, then they must have money to buy stuff. They practice dynamic pricing just like places in the USA. But price changes depending on where you’re from. They’re aware of the cost of living and think Americans will have more money.
Welll said mate. As a seasoned traveler and expat feel the same way. Most of what op said feels like a tourist sticking out like a sore thumb thing not a turkey thing. Has happened to me in countless places but still doesn’t detract from the experience. Went to Istanbul back in 17 and adored it. No place is perfect and God knows how annoying a lot of what OP suffered from suck but still it doesn’t hurt to consider the positives and that travelling to a foreign land is literally that. Foreign. It won’t be like your home country or another country. But isn’t that the whole point of travelling really ? Just my 2 pence 😀
Yeah, the major sights in Istanbul are crazy expensive. When I went earlier this year I decided to only visit two things. I found many small supermarkets to be very expensive but bigger ones were fine. Sure, considering how cheap food can be in Istanbul a simit and pack of something to drink are expensive but in the grand scheme of things still very cheap and available everywhere. Restaurants: walk a few minutes out of tourist hell towards the aquaduct and you could get meals for very little money and nobody would annoy you. I also found that if with a decent layer of teflon and really not showing any interest shops and restaurants didn't really annoy me.
You seem like someone who didn't really do his research and only walked in and around tourist traps.
What I agree with is the hustlers and the inflation. But Turkey isn't even half as bad as North Africa. As for the inflation that was to be expected if one had done their research as I mentioned earlier.
I haven't encountered a restaurant where there wasn't a menu, at least online on Google. Lots of countries don't have free public toilets or drinking water. I don't like that either but that's hardly a turkey specific issue. If I travel to the US, I'm expected to tip the waiter. I don't like that either but I knew that beforehand. If I'm in Europe or the US, I accept that most places don't have a bidet and that just using toilet paper will leave my ass a lot more dirty.
The same with smoking. It's not a secret that smoking is still enjoyed in countries like Turkey, Greece, the whole Balkan in fact, Southern Europe and France. I don't go to the US and complain that ppl hardly smoke anymore or that I can smell weed everywhere instead.
I hope you do more research next time, so you won't be disappointed and complain about things you could've or should've known before traveling.
No free public toilets
Isn't that pretty much most of Europe?
Yes, it is. You'd be lucky to find any public toilets in most countries and free ones are usually in shopping malls, rail and bus stations and sometimes department stores and museums. You learn to seek those out. And if you have to pay, it isn't going to wreck your travel budget.
Easy thing to find out online... That is if one does their research which OP apparently didn't do.
I don't like the toilet situation either although I also don't like to use nasty public toilets. But worst case you just walk into any restaurant or café, pretend you are a customer or going to be one and then leave. What they gonna do? chase you after you took a dump and didn't order anything?
I'n pretty sure this is a repost. Is there some kind of smear campaign against Turkey going on?
OP is an Indian Teenager.
Yes, you're right. Here's the previous post.
Interesting, I did a week in Istanbul and Cappadoccia in September 2025 (so just 4 months ago) and my group of American and German friends didn’t have any of those issues.
I’m curious if you would be willing to share where you went? I have received so much positive feedback outside of their most popular cities, such as Istanbul.
I just spent a few weeks in Turkey a few months ago and had a very different experience, I’m sorry you had a less than stellar time there.
Two of your points stood out to me:
Ofc this happens when you walk around turist traps, basicly all of Istanbul center and many other popular cities. I live in Antakya and I rearly get ripped of and prices are great. A haircut 5 dollar, table of breakfast for 2(actually one and a half table including coffe and tea) ca 20 dollar. Travel further and you will have a different experience.
You gotta leave the tourist areas when you travel brother
Dude just didn't do any research. Oh really, ppl smoke in Turkey? I didn't know that.
Next thing you'll tell me is that almost everything in China is cashless. Or that I have to clean my ass with toilet paper instead of water when I'm in England.
lol. People smoke in so many other countries than USA. I just left Egypt and everyone was smoking inside restaurants, etc.
Yeah I know. Americans in particular seem to be shocked because in the US, it's perceived as outdated or whatever (it's not like they care much about their health).
Met an American woman in Europe but she was delighted rather than shocked because she also smoked lol. She was happy bc unlike in the US they don't judge you if you smoke in Europe.
I completely agree - went in summer 25. It was fun but I'd never return to Turkey again because of the reasons you mentioned.
However, I appreciate why they do this - we'd probably engage in similar activities if we was in their position.
You can't generalize a huge and diverse country.
East Turkey is the opposite. Very chilled people who don't see you as a walking dollar bill.
Once they started to work in Istanbul, Muğla, Antalya, somehow it’s changes
I went in late 2024 and never experienced any of this (I spent a month there in all different parts of the country)
I had the same experience. You have to be alert at all times. If you fall into the trap of trusting someone you’ll learn a hard lesson. The older people were kind but the younger people were all crooks.
My advice on the hustles (not just in Turkey but pretty much anywhere else that has this problem) is that you have to go all-in on completely ignoring them. Zero acknowledgement whatsoever, not even a polite "no". Keep walking, pretend they don't exist. They'll get the hint that you're wise to their shit and soon move on to more gullible marks.
Another tip that I picked up from this sub that seems to work well is pair the above with a) resting bitchface b) mirrored sunglasses.
It feels rude at first, but it's basically essential to not getting pestered non-stop.
Agree. Just completely ignore them as if you’re deaf and blind
Is it reasonable to find a daily tour guide?
I love Turkey, I always found toilets mainly in bus stations as that was my mode of transport. The economy is terrible and hustling is bad in the major cities but in towns like Kaș or less tourist cities like Izmir you get a lot less of this, never found Istanbul that bad for it, things must have gotten worse there
My only experience is a day trip to Kusadasi. We were told about haggling and how to do it. I wanted a Turkey flag in a shop. Asked how much, and the shopkeeper said €5. I countered with €2, which is what I thought it was worth but I was willing to accept €3 and thought he’d offer that price. He said no, and when I started to leave he acted like okay, we can do €2. He put it in the bag and then asked for €5. “We settled on €2.” “No, €5.” He never made a counteroffer. Okay dude, keep your cheap overpriced flag. If I ever return I’ll see if I can improve my haggling skills. FWIW I thought it was kind of funny.
If one stays away from the Sultanahmet, it’s much better. For that matter, if you stay away from Istanbul, it’s much much better. Try Urfa or Gaziantep.
I always advise visitors to save Istanbul for last.
everytime there is a thread about turkey I comment "do not go to turkey" and this is exactly the reason but everyone should find out themselves
I went to Istanbul and Cappadocia last year and had the same experience. Never going back
I actually heard stories of a friend who travelled there and complained about sexual harrasment there, which was unexpected.
I know this is a solotravel forum but my tip for Turkey is to make it a trip with your Mom. Zero harassment, everyone was incredibly lovely and helpful. We walked around and my Mom would always find a stranger willing to answer a question. I think they just really respect a family vibe? Also, say what you will about boomers but they are so good at talking to strangers.
I thought the contrast between "tourist Turkey" and the rest of the country was pretty stark. Tourist Turkey was pretty much as you describe. The rest of the country was pretty normal, even remarkably kind.
In Konya a stranger drove me to the train station when I looked lost and wouldn't take any money for fuel. I met a guy on the train to Adana who was friendly and talked a lot about online games.
The travel agent in Istanbul I talked to tried to convince me not to go to Ankara. That was kind of funny. But I had a good time in Ankara anyway.
And yah, supermarkets are the way to go.
Same experience but I did enjoy many aspects of my solo travel there. However you definitely have to be on your guard, endless hustling and scammers
Turkey was good to visit 10+ years ago but it’s just not worth it anymore. More expensive than Greece but with more scammers, ruder people, worse infrastructure and generally dirtier and less well kept
Next up: Mumbai, India!
Op is an Indian Teenager. This story seems…. Sus
I went two years ago and felt the same way. I was expecting to love it but everything was a huge chore mainly due to the constant hustling. everything is a hustle there. I felt like I had to be on guard 100% of the time. Every time you walk out the door of your accommodation, it starts. I'm a solo woman traveller so I think it was even worse. Also got ripped off by a man "helping" me with the machine used to buy tram tickets (won't go into details except to say it cost $20). I've travelled all of the world, including some difficult countries. I have been in other countries where there is just constant hustle and I am so over it. Turkey sealed it for me. I'm not going to any more countries where everything is a hustle. Turkey is one of the few countries I've visited that I wish I had gone somewhere else instead. I was there a month.
I've been traveling for decades so maybe I've just hit my limit on hustle culture. It may not bother others as much. Saw some cool stuff.
I don't understand your post? Are you just listing things you don't like?
Thanks for the book report LOL
We’re u in Istanbul? I was planning on going there and cappadocia next summer 😅 they have a 2 night free hotel stay thing so I was gonna do that
Well yeah it’s got tryptophan in it
I had the opposite experience last year - except for the high entry fees to key sites.
Solo lady travel, I navigated my way round the country by public bus.
The hospitality was awesome, many people were exceptionally helpful and friendly, the history and culture incredible.
I knew in advance to not engage with the men who tried to talk to me in the street’(mostly in Istanbul). And yes I got stared at heaps.
It took me a couple of days to summon the courage to visit a local tea shop in regional towns where all the other patrons were men. When I did, nobody took any notice, and the staff were great. One small glass of tea, and the seat and table were mine for as long as I wanted.
Türkiye is a country I would return to.
I did have one of the weirdest experiences of my life though. Walking down a deserted country lane, with zero visibility from the wider area, a guy on a motor scooter offered me a ride. It ended with him prostrating himself in front of me, kissing my feet. Absolutely true story, hilarious afterwards, a tad unnerving at the time, considering that his large hands held my ankles.
It has gotten bad. And the gouging of tourists on entry prices is despicable.
I’ve spent almost two years there in my 5 visits. I no longer want to go because of the greed.
This was also my experience. It just gets tiring. I did like Turkey but yeah when anyone asks me I tell them to warn them and not to be taken aback when it happens to them.
Dude, I’d advise you not to go to Egypt if you found Turkey bad.
I went to both places in last 2 years and found Turkey a comparatively high-trust society.
Turkey or just Istanbul? I do want to know for my future travels.
I love turkey, but the carpet salesmen are insane. They “hunt” for you in the areas near the mosques and pretend to strike up a conversation. Eventually you find out they have a carpet shop and “do you want to see it?” No!
I even had one stand in line with me at the basilica cistern. Talking while I waited. And he was still waiting for me when I got out! They are all very cute and charming…but no.
I’m genuinely asking, which parts were unexpected for you? I feel like these are all fairly well-known complaints, and of course it would all be exhausting. That said, I’m so sorry you had a rough trip. It’s such a letdown when our dream experiences are anything but.
Went in 2022 and loved it. I also went to Kadikoy side and it was very chill.
This is what I would expect based on my experiences in Morocco, honestly. Always budget extra for the tourist tax.
It doesn't help when you land in Europe and then take a taxi across the bridge to Asia and there's fucking donkey carts and swerving cars and horns and all that shit.etc. Nerve wracking. And no, I don't want that rug imported from Pakistan, even if kids did make it for no money or reward.
Smoking culture is intense. Even i some inddor cafes. As a non smoker I spent a lot of time choosing where to sit carefully.
Get out of the tourist area, plenty of things to see. I bet you didn't even go to the asian side.
I had the exact same experience. I probably wouldn’t go back because of it. It truly was exhausting.
Nope, city person here who is very aware of public transportation in other cities around the world.
The smoking would drive me crazy
Have they recovered from the earthquake? I was going to go the year they had the big quake, but figured they could use a break from tourists at that time… Thanks for the heads up about the things you mentioned!
You say Turkey but this sounds like Istanbul, which is not representative of the rest of the country.
is there a reason why this post is entirely copy and pasted?
We used to want to visit Turkey. But a couple friends went and had the same experience so many people do. Not a good one.
We aren’t going there.
Thank you for sharing this
Very helpful
It is exactly what should be expected from turkey, if you are even half paying attention.
Was my experience too, I plan to go again eventually but will be sticking to anywhere but Istanbul.
It's interesting to hear about the scamming/overcharging. I'm definitely not denying that it happens, especially in places like Istanbul, but I've been living in Ankara for over a year and feel like I have yet to experience it.
As a solo female traveler this is the only time ive been scared while traveling was in turkey. A taxi driver said he would kill me if i didnt give him $40. I jumped out of the cab on the street
I was in Istanbul a year ago and the prices in the tourist area near Hagia Sophia were insane. I mean $30 for lunch. The price of a bottle of water was between 10 and 100 lira depending where you were. Also the price for Topkapi Palace was insane so I skipped it.
Otherwise I really enjoyed Istanbul. I never got hassled. I must walk fast enough to not get harrassed, but i've also been to Egypt and know enough to not respond. I was surprised that nobody tried to sell me a carpet after all i'd heard.
Im in turkey rn and yea the prices of yhe attractions are crazy
I loved my trip to Istanbul last year but this was 100% my experience. By day 10 I was grateful to have visited but ready to go.
Agreed. Now that It is crazy expensive, you’ll see Turks going to Greece for cheap holidays.
Turkey is a hassle. I’m glad I went when I was young and willing to put up with greedy people.
I would add to this that if you are a woman, the harassment is also exhausting. Literally dressed in my ugliest clothes, no makeup, etc., and I couldn’t even have a coffee in peace without someone asking me on a date.
It wasn’t threatening harassment (touching, saying gross/scary things) like I experienced in Morocco, but it was SO ANNOYING
I lived in Istanbul for about 5 months in 2024–yes, it’s exhausting. It’s dirty, overpriced for what it is, and no even a historical or cultural powerhouse, IMHO. I have been to Egypt and Morocco and at least there I felt like all the haggling and harassment were worth it.
Enjoyed my time in Turkey for the friends I met and once I steered completely clear of the tourist areas it got 65% better. But overall, I wouldn’t recommend.
ETA: “IMHO” was right there, guys…not sure how much more plain I have to make that…🙄
Did you just say Istanbul isn’t a historical or cultural powerhouse?
Thats certainly a choice.
When your opinion is so blatantly stupid you can't get mad at downvotes lmao
friendly advice not just for Turkey but for everywhere, always stay away from the touristy areas, it’s almost always better to experience the local life, you can use AI to plan what area that means for you depending on your destination
Yeah man, fuck seeing some historical wonder when I can just mill around a boring suburb the entire time instead.
obviously you are right, but that doesn’t limit you to staying in high priced tourist trap neighborhoods, does it? my post was to encourage staying in neighborhoods where locals live and experience life the way they live
Oh no. I’m headed there Friday for 2 weeks 😭🫣
Did you know that someone else’s experience isn’t necessarily going to be your experience too?
Same experience, it was beautiful but exhausting- ended up switching to an Airbnb and cooking my own food towards the end of my long stay. The airport and rides are also a nightmare (no I will not take public transport with my large suitcases). I don’t plan on returning unless I have to.
I found that using the phrase “no chance” gets the various hawkers to give up more quickly.
I had an almost identical experience. Taxi driver at one point literally made us stop at a rug factory and take “the tour”. Had to finesse us to get taken back to the hotel.
This is sad to hear, I went to Turkey twice as a young(ish) white solo female traveler 20+ years ago, and I absolutely loved it. I traveled to numerous cities throughout the country and thought about moving there permanently. I have heard this type of feedback from others recently, and it is too bad, because I've been itching to go back.
All extremely true. For a while, this sub swore that Istanbul was one of the best cities in the world to visit and Turkey, one of the best countries. I lived in Turkey for several months and all I can say to that is "lol".
Fatih and the Istiklal in Istanbul are among the worst for this. I once went into a bakery, pointed to a pastry that was labeled two lira (this was a long time ago) and the guy at the counter unashamedly says "six lira" and holds out his hand. I point to the price, he goes "oh yeah, two lira", and I go about my day. 🙄
Attempting to shortchange you (you get large notes from the ATM, go to pay somewhere, and they will try to give you your change -20%) was also very common, it happened at least two or three times a month to me. This wasn't just at street vendors either, but established businesses. Also, watch out for the shoe brush scam. Istanbul was by far the worst place for scams but they can happen all over the country. It's not as bad as Cairo or Marrakesh but still bad.
Turkey has so much to see, but some additional complaints about this:
The official museum passes are both expensive and it's very difficult to use them enough to get good value within their validity period. Many monuments and museums are randomly excluded from the pass, despite being run by the same government department.
Some monuments have an initial entrance fee, and then there will be a second admission toll inside to see other parts of monument. This is the case at Selcuk.
The Turkish government saw tourism increasing and used the opportunity to massively jack up admission prices. Tickets in Istanbul in particular are now on par or higher than many western European cities.
A lot of the upkeep of historical monuments is done poorly, especially for Byzantine or non-Islamic monuments. The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus was one that bothered me in particular, although I here there has since been more renovations.
Monument guards treat tourists poorly and kind of make up rules on the spot. One time, I was standing outside a monument (Bergama; at least 100 m outside the gate), taking pictures of the landscape in another direction, and one of the guards came out to tell me that photos weren't allowed (I later checked and even inside the monument, photos were allowed, so idk what he was talking about).
The nature is also very polluted. I tried going hiking a few times and even in remote areas and national parks, the country is covered in trash (not as bad as some countries, but still).
I did have a very positive experience near Bergama when a kind Turkish family offered me a ride down from the Acropolis when they saw I was walking.
Anyways, Türkiye was one of my first major experiences abroad and it taught me a lot, so I'll always be grateful for it. Iskender/Bursa kebab is also one of my favorite foods ever. Istanbul has fantastic public transport and history. But overall, it's a 4/10 country for me, especially with prices going up so much.
What was your average daily budget?
For someone coming to Istanbul in 2 weeks, it be nice to know what you found as a budget to be too expensive because like you said, crazy inflation is kinda on my mind, and I have to accept and I kinda wanna avoid using my card and bring some cash as I’m only staying 3 days, 4 nights;
My plan was to spend most of my long weekend walking about and enjoying the city to just chill, and go to Haga Sofia but I kinda booked it without thinking of a budget ahead of time (impulsive buy, need to escape snowy Stockholm) and ofcourse it’s just before payday…
I missed my connecting flight to Istanbul when I flew into Antalya airport because we followed all the signs for connecting flights to a desk that was empty.
Continued on to see if we could find help. Asked the person at the information desk who reacted as if she HATED US, and told us we had to leave the airport and get a TAXI to the area where we could connect our flight. We were in a rush because our flight there had been delayed, so just followed the orders. (There were issues with the taxi driver as well. Telling us one price and then inputting a different one to the card machine). Eventually arrived at the correct location but had missed our flight.
Had to sit in the airport overnight whilst everything was shut for 8 hours until the first morning flight. In the meantime, could not get access to the "free WiFi", can't even remember what the issue was, something about needing a code, that the information desk people wouldn't give us, so was really difficult to get in touch with someone to rearrange our flight... Nightmare.
Oh, and it turns out you don't need to get a taxi to the connections area. You can walk and it actually takes less time.
And boyfriend stupidly paid £40 for a very small bag of tea.