whitesox780

I am traveling to France in March with my sister and a mutual friend. I am a History Major and purposely picked the 30 hour layover in Istanbul, because I thought it would be an amazing experience and maybe give me a reason to visit again and spend some more time in the country. My parents fully back our decision, however the rest of the family berates us whenever we are together and continues to tell us we will be picked up as sex slaves and never see the light of day again. or that we'll be murdered, or that it is the country with the highest percentage of kidnappings, etc. How do I assure my family that my sister, our friend, and I will be safe on our short trip to Turkey?

As a side note: Any suggestions as to things to see in a relatively short time frame would be amazing. As of now, all I have seen suggested is the Blue Mosque.

StCirq

I don't know how strangers on the internet can help you deal with your family's irrational fears except to say ignore them or tell them they're nuts and you're not.

otherchelebi

There are quite a few threads on safety in Turkey.

Istanbul is generally safer than most large cities in the world
However, you should note that you need to be able to handle being in a city of over fifteen million.

My younger daughter went to Chicago from Turkey to study at SAIC when she was 17 and managed it very well although Chicago and the location of the School of the Art Institute is definitely more risky than standard tourist locations in and about Istanbul.

My general suggestion would be to visit few museums or major sights but to spend enough time walking, taking the tram and a short Bosphorus ferry to get a feel for the city, its people, culture, architecture, skyline,

- your hotel choice should depend on your ETA and ETD and possibility of avoiding traffic.

- Visit Blue mosque (quick, no lines, no entrance fee)
- Walk around Hagia Sophia and the courtyard of Topkapi Palace
- Walk down from Sultanahmet to Eminonu, to see Spice Market, possibly eat a fish sanswich and take Bosphorus cruise by Turyap - Walk across Galata Bridge, take funicular up to Tunel to walk length of Istiklal. Check any side streets and arcades which seem interesting.
- Take funicular from Taksim down to Kabatas, walk to entrance to Dolmabahce Palace to see entrance and enjoy cup of tea at sea side cafe.
- Walk to Kabatas to take tram back to Sultanahmet.

- If you can afford it stay at a Nisantasi hotel and enjoy the nightlife among the hoi polloi. (If you're 18, you can eat or drink anywhere.)

- Do not stay at Taksim, Istiklal area which are not suitable after 10PM for young people without street smarts.

Sassafrass

We are an older couple, feeling more vulnerable these day, yet felt so safe in Turkey, and loved it so much, at the end of a week, we turned to each other and simultaneously said, "If I did not have family in the US, I would move here." We felt just as safe as we do at home, perhaps safer.

With only one day, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Blue Mosque are about all that is possible and make a great combo. They are very close together with many good restaurants and hotels in the area.

whitesox780

Thank you so much, guys! I am going to make sure to show them these posts so they will stop yelling at me !