We have all seen the amazing pictures on social media of the hot air balloons of Cappadocia, Turkey has many world-renowned attractions. Turkey’s coastline consists of an array of pristine beaches. Turkey is also known for its tasty local food.
Turkey is a very cheap European country to visit, making it the perfect place for a tight budget. This is exactly why 38 million people visited Turkey in 2018 making it one of the most visited countries in 2018.
So let’s deep dive into everything you need to know when traveling to Turkey, from Turkey Tourism attractions, safety in Turkey, Turkey tourism to Turkey visa requirements.
Is It Safe To Travel To Turkey?
Yes, it is safe to travel to Turkey. However there are some areas you can avoid to make your trip even safer, these are the areas near the Syria border.
Just like in any other country you should be aware of pickpocketing and theft that can easily happen in crowded areas or if you leave your belongings unattended. Make sure always to keep your valuables safe. Places where there are a lot of instances of pickpocketing being reported, are Taksim Square, Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul.
It is generally safe for women to travel solo, however, I would not suggest that you walk alone after dark. Also, avoid poorly lit and isolated places.
There’s an ongoing high threat of terrorist attacks in Türkiye. Most of these attacks are linked to Kurdish separatist terrorist activities in southeast Turkey.
What Is The Perfect Budget?
According to Budget your trip these are the amounts you will spend on daily expenses:
- Average daily price: You should expect to have around $23 for daily expenses.
- Accommodation: An hostel costs around $9 while a double occupancy room will cost $18.50 a night. A 5-star hotel will cost you around $160.
- Meals: You should budget around $20 per day for food. Restaurants will be more expensive than street food or takeout. You can expect to spend approximately $1.7 for a known brand bottle of beer and $2.8 for a McMeal at Mcdonals.
- Transportation: People have reported spending an average of $7.5 on transport per day. Take note that taxi rides are significantly more expensive than other public transport
- Car rental: You can expect to spend around $58 for a car rental.
These prices are great for every type of traveler from the backpacker to the traveler in search of luxury.
What Are Some Turkey Tourism Attractions?
Turkey has so many unique and breathtaking places to see and visit, here is a list of some of Turkey’s tourism attractions not-to-be-missed.
- Ephesus
Ruins of colossal monuments and marble-columned roads. These well-preserved ruins are of one of the most important cities in the Mediterranean region.
- Antalya
This beautiful Mediterranean hub is not-to-be-missed. Antalya is a gorgeous city with shady palm-lined boulevards and a picturesque marina.
- Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Mosque
The mosque is renowned as the Byzantine Empire’s greatest architectural achievement it is also one of the most beautiful and largest churches.
- Cappadocia
You can’t miss the opportunity to take a famous hot-air balloon ride. This is one of the world’s top destinations for a hot-air balloon ride.
Sometimes some of the most amazing places are not well-known tourist attractions. Make sure to check out these hidden gems:
- Pamukkale
This might be the most beautiful natural phenomenon you will ever see. This ‘cotton castle’ consists of white walls with extraordinary blue natural swimming pools.
- Mount Nemrut
Overlooking the town of Adiyaman, you can find amazing human heads and eagles carved into stone. Also explore the tomb of King Antiochus 1 of Komagene, one of the highest burial mounds in Europe.
What Can I Expect When Traveling To Turkey?
Firstly it has been widely reported that Turkey citizens are very friendly. Unfortunately, there might be a huge language barrier as English isn’t widely spoken in Turkey.
Here are some more travel tips and things you can expect when traveling to Turkey.
The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira.
The Islamic holiday month of Ramadan is observed in Türkiye. Respect religious and cultural customs and laws at this time.
Turkey is mostly a Muslim country so it is important to respect their culture when visiting places like a Mosque. Remember to bring a scarf to cover your shoulders.
Traveling to Turkey will require an adapter. Primary sockets generally require plug types C and F, similar to most European countries. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor.
Spring from March-May and autumn from September – November is the best time to visit Turkey as those are the sweet spots between the scorching hot summers and the icy cold winters. High peak season is September & October, you might want to avoid these months as they can be very busy.
It has been widely reported that the Wifi in Turkey is not the best, so you might need to think about buying a SIM.
Taxi scams are quite common so make sure to download Uber or BiTaksi so that you know much your trip will cost, and most of the time the amount will be deducted from your credit card and you don’t have to pay the taxi driver directly. Otherwise, if you need to use a taxi make sure to keep an eye on that meter.
What Is Tourism Like In Turkey?
Turkey’s tourism has seen some dramatic changes in tourism following the devastating effects of Covid. However, these changes have been incredibly positive. Turkey’s tourism has seen a dramatic increase (61.1%) in American tourists in 2022 compared to 2019 according to the latest data from the European Travel Commission.
Turkey is one of the best value destinations in Europe right now and therefore you can expect many tourists to flock to this amazing destination.
3 cities in Turkey constantly rank under the top 100 most popular destinations worldwide. These cities are Istanbul, Antalya, and Mugla. Therefore you can expect these places to be very crowded with tourists.
Do US Citizens Need A Visa For Turkey?
Yes, US citizens must apply for a Turkey Visa before visiting Turkey. US citizens qualify for the Turkey Visa on Arrival. However, we advise citizens to rather apply for their Turkey E-Visa in advance.
To make your whole visa application process easier, apply for your Turkey Visa through the Atlys app. You will be able to find everything you need to know about entry requirements, travel insurance requirements, coronavirus protocols such as PCR tests, and covid-19 vaccine requirements.
Atlys helps you with the entire application process, therefore, making the whole process stress-free and easy.
Conclusion
Turkey offers everything for every type of traveler from sipping cocktails on the beautiful Turkish beaches of Antalya to experiencing the snow in Erzurum.
Turkey is sure to be one of those mind-blowing once-in-a-lifetime trips that everyone dreams of. Traveling to Turkey should be the priority of your next travel plans! What are you waiting for? Start planning your Turkey trip!