Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Dress Code in Turkey for wk

Search

Dress Code in Turkey for wk

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 01:06 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dress Code in Turkey for wk

Hello I might be travelling to Turkey next summer with my daughter who will be 16 and I was just wondering what would be the appropriate dress code in Turkey for us?
MLee626 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 01:07 AM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I meant to type out women my bad
MLee626 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 01:29 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just normal.
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 01:31 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,047
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have to be more precise: Dress like you would dress in New York City and not like in Wal-Mart.
traveller1959 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 04:05 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Assuming you'll be spending most of your time in larger cities: Turkey is essentially a secular society where many women dress the way they would in any major city in the world. There are women who dress in conservative Muslim garb, but there's a mixture.
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 04:20 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One would not wander around even Istanbul is halter top, shorts and flip flops - although you could at a beach resort. Dress as you would in any big city.
nytraveler is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 06:28 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,856
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some people do dress that way in big cities, however, I see it all the time on tourists where I live (Wash DC). I've seen that kind of garb in Paris, also.

SO given one doesn't know the OP's daughter, perhaps some advice other than dress the way you usually do would be in order.

When I visited an Islamic country that was supposedly "secularized", I did not dress the same way as at home. I dressed more conservatively. But I saw plenty of tourists (lots of Germans in particular) who still dressed in shorts and tank tops, for example. Sure, they "could" do it, but I saw some of the local men eyeing them a lot and I think it was a bad idea. I never wore shorts but I don't care for them, anyway, I wore lightweight cotton skirts that were about knee length (which I prefer when really hot anyway, I got a couple cute ones at H&M that just roll up for travel) or very lightweight cotton trousers longer than kneelength (to ankle or at least calves) and I didn't wear any top that was more exposed than a simple sleeveless blouse. OUr local guide, who was raised and educated there, did wear shorts, actually, but they were tailored Bermuda-length shorts that came to her knee. I was surprised by that, actually.

I have only been to Turkey once many years ago and that's the way I dressed when I was there, but lots of people do wear shorts, fliflops and tank/halter tops in big cities.

The OP doesn't say they are only going to be in big cities, anyway.
Christina is online now  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 07:23 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The previous recommendations are fine if you are not visiting a mosque. However, if visiting mosques is in your agenda, there are definite dress codes for both males and females.

Google "blue mosque dress sign images" to see the signs you would see at mosque entrances.

At highly visited places like the Blue Mosque, they would supply sheets to cover legs, shoulders, and head (for women.) I saw a lot of people coming with inappropriate clothes and they ended up looking up someone from the South Pacific with loose sheets wrapped all over. At Blue Mosque, you must walk past the "attire inspectors" who would provide free sheets.
greg is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 10:33 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bring a scarf to cover your hair when you visit a mosque.
MarthaT is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 11:33 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 19,736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>The OP doesn't say they are only going to be in big cities, anyway.<<

The OP doesn't say anything, other than "Turkey." All advice regarding cities was prefaced with "if you go to the cities."
vincenzo32951 is offline  
Old Aug 4th, 2016, 08:18 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for all the replies and I'm sorry if I wasn't being specific. We would be mainly staying in Istanbul
MLee626 is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2016, 02:41 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Istanbul is a surprisingly conservative city, except for the tourist areas in Sultanahmet, also in Beyoğlu and Taksim (which are on the European side around the Galata tower). In other areas, it's best to dress conservatively, with clothing covering at least to near the elbows and the knees, with nothing tight-fitting. If you're only going to the areas I mentioned, the local Istanbullians are quite used to foreigners and less conservative clothing, but for a general rule, conservative dress is a good idea.
IvanTeklu is offline  
Old Aug 17th, 2016, 11:36 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,982
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
<i>but lots of people do wear shorts, fliflops and tank/halter tops in big cities.</i>

Did not see that in the tourist areas when we were there in June. Generally I would say that Istanbul looks more conservative than in 2008, the last time we were there.
Michael is online now  
Old Aug 18th, 2016, 04:32 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,326
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
Istanbul has Islamist areas and regular districts.

Except for the Islamist districts of Fatih (non-touristic areas), Beykoz and Uskudar, you have no reason to be concerned with what you wear. Many wear shorts and halter tops during the day along the Bosphorus, at Besiktas, Nisantas, Tesvikiye, Sisli, Kurtulus, Harbiye, Cihangir and Kadikoy.

I would not advise wearing them at the Grand and Spice bazaars, but Sirkeci and Karakoy are fine.

You can check my photographs during the Gezi Park protests in June 2013 at, Taksim and Istiklal.

http://ahmetcafercelebiler.blogspot....max-results=14
otherchelebi is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jt7dreamz
Europe
4
Sep 25th, 2009 03:27 AM
FREDMADCEL
Europe
7
Apr 18th, 2007 08:48 AM
Carroll
Europe
4
May 29th, 2005 07:59 AM
Woyzeck
Europe
7
Jul 22nd, 2004 08:43 AM
treysgranny
Europe
6
Feb 28th, 2004 03:34 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -