First-Time Traveler’s Guide to Turkey: What You Should Know

Turkey is one of those places that leaves you pleasantly surprised. You come in with an idea of beautiful mosques, ancient ruins and baklava and sure, you will see all of that, but what you will remember are the kind faces, the never-ending glasses of tea and the feeling that you are walking through a living museum that has not forgotten how to have fun.

I was both excited and nervous when I once made my first reservation to Turkey.

I had booked airport parking Heathrow**** to make my airport experience smoother, one less thing to worry about on a trip that already felt like stepping into the unknown.

I did not know the language, I did not know how to use the public transport and I had never visited a country that was situated on the border of two continents.

However, it took me a couple of days to fall in love with the beat of the place and I learned a lot in the process.

This is a guide to the first-time traveler to Turkey, written in a friendly and open way.

Yes, It is Safe-But Smart

Let us put this aside. People at home were wondering, is it safe to travel to Turkey? And the answer is yes, particularly in the high tourist areas such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and İzmir.

I was a single female traveling on some of my journeys and I did not feel unsafe. With that being said, apply common sense-watch your stuff in the areas where there are a lot of people, be aware at night, and listen to your feelings.

The Turkish people are very hospitable and I frequently get strangers to guide me or offer me tea as I wait to board a bus. It is a cultural coziness but not an act.

King Cash (And Cards Are Rising)

Among the initial errors I made was to think that I could simply tap around. Nope.

Most local shops, markets and even the toilets around do not accept cards, and even though cards are accepted in hotels and major restaurants, it is still better to have some cash. Never forget to bring some Turkish Lira, at least small bills and coins.

Note: Always check Meet And Greet At Stansted and book according to your travel needs.

Study Some Turkish Sayings

You can go a long way with English in touristic places, but it will make a huge difference to learn some Turkish words. I cannot describe the number of smiles I received from locals when I could just say Merhaba (hello) or Te(s)tesekkur ederim (thank you).

There was once in a small town outside Pamukkale when I managed to get directions with only three Turkish words and a few hand motions. The man did not only assist me, he escorted me to my hotel.

Istanbul is more than Two Days

Istanbul is not a city but a state. You will be riding a ferry across continents, visiting 1,500 year old mosques, and drinking Turkish coffee with cats lying on the street next to you.

The city is large. It is New York and Cairo with a hint of Paris. It should have at least 3-4 days. Highlights include:

●        Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque

●        Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar

●        A ride on Bosphorus ferry

●        Balat and Fener of colorful houses and cafes

Bonus tip: if you are flying out of the UK, book meet and greet parking at Stansted (or other airport nearest to you) in advance, it took the stress out of my departure and was actually much cheaper than I expected.

The culture is Big Part of Food

In Turkey you will not starve. The food is cheap but tasty, ranging from street sellers of simit (sesame bagels) to full-blown feats of kebap. A bowl of lentil soup and fresh bread in a no-name local restaurant in Ankara was one of my favorite meals--less than 2 dollars, and memorable.

Don’t skip:

●        Menemen (turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes)

●        Gozleme (savory stuffed flatbread)

●        Kunneke (a sticky, cheesy sweet soaked in syrup)

And yes, there is tea everywhere. It will be offered to you in the stores, after the meal, or simply you will be sitting in a park. Accept it. Drink it drop by drop. It goes with the magic.

Turkey can feel like a dream, one foot in Europe, the other in Asia, a blend of tradition and modern life, chaos and calm. My first trip taught me how to slow down, savor food, greet strangers with a smile, and let go of rigid plans.