Turkey is a wonderful, if a somewhat misunderstood, country. Whilst year after year families head to the popular beach resorts and take advantage of all inclusive cheap Turkey holidays, other parts of the country are just as popular with travellers and holidaymakers in search of something else.
Amongst these travellers are many solo females, along with women part of a group or on a family trip abroad. Being away from hoards of sun-worshipping tourists often means that local customs and traditions have to be respected much more than in other areas – something that can and does put many women off. After all, Turkey is a Muslim country and strict rules relate to women, don’t they?
This is true to an extent. But what actually is the situation in Turkey relating to women? What is there to see, do, enjoy and what should you expect when visiting?
Dress
Many people falsely assume that being a woman in Turkey means you have to cover yourself up from head to toe. After being in Istanbul for five minutes you will realise that this could not be further from the truth. The city is very cosmopolitan and women dress as they do anywhere else. If you are venturing into more rural areas of Turkey, it may be an idea to dress modestly, but there is no need to go over the top! The beaches are much more relaxed, with swim suits on show like anywhere else in Europe. More on What to wear in Turkey
Food
Turkey is not a place for those of you who do not appreciate good food. If you are a meat lover, you’ll be in paradise. If a veggie, you’ll also have more than enough options on the food front too! Gozleme is a popular street food very similar to a pancake, although a few too many could result in you putting on a bit of weight should you not be too careful. Kebabs are twice as good as they are anywhere else whilst the hugely popular Kumpir is a jacket potato available on most street corners. You will have hundreds of topping options, ranging from onion to sweet corn. Street food is tasty and cheap, whilst restaurants are busy, welcoming and popular with tourists and locals alike.
Shopping
Even if you have no intention of spending a wad of cash on a shopping expedition, you may well be tempted once you actually see the shopping options on offer in Turkey. Expertly created genuine Turkish rugs to some of the finest jewellery you would have ever seen fill the shops and market places. Turkey is also famous for its leather goods so you can be sure to see one or two bargain bags or purses when having a browse around. Of course there are also big named brands in the centre of the big cities, so whatever your budget you will certainly need to spend at least a day at the shops when in Turkey!
Turkey is a very welcoming country, whether you are travelling alone or as part of a group. For a budget friendly but exotic break, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Turkey.
Written by Cheska Bennett for travel specialists Beat the Brochure, who help people book cheap holidays abroad to destinations worldwide.
