How should a woman dress in Turkey?
 

Hi!<BR><BR>We will be flying into Istanbul on the 18th of April and will be there for 13 days-flying to Izmir, picking up a car, driving down the coast to Antalya, flying back to Izmir before returning to Paris and then home. <BR><BR>I have read about covering one's head (in a Mosque), but what about covering one's arms. Could anyone help me with the protocol? Any other suggestions you might think helpful would be appreciated.<BR><BR>We are so excited about this adventure as we've heard nothing but wonderful things about this beautiful country!

I suggest;<BR>breadcrumbs, oregano, a little rosmary. some like real bacon crumbled. <BR>Am I missing anything?

Hi pumpkin,<BR><BR>Try this website, I have used their advice in the past on travel to SE Asia and it has worked well for me.<BR><BR>http://www.tradepartners.gov.uk/text/turkey/visiting/11_hoursandetiquette/hours.shtml<BR>

You would definately need to cover shoulders and knees and would probably appear more respectful bu covering elbows also. I haven't been to Turkey but have travelled to other countries in the Middle East.<BR>You will probably have to be doubly aware of not drawing too much attention to yourself in Turkey at the moment, and should not visit Southern Turkey near the border (I am sure you are already aware of that though :-))<BR>Enjoy your visit.

Since that area of Turkey (Istanbul-Izmir-Antalya, the whole coastline except the far eastern part) is a popular tourist area, and has been for a couple of decades, you can dress exactly like you do at home. You don't have to cover your arms or knees, you can even have a decollete and bare back. Nobody cares. Turkey is a secular muslim country, and in that respect very different from many other ME countries (or Egypt and Morocco).<BR><BR>Of muslim countries I have been to Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Arab Emirates and Turkey (many times). In all the others I wear loose pants, loose, covering shirt and never shorts. In Turkey I dress just like I do at home.<BR><BR>Mosques are exception: cover arms to the elbow and legs to the knee. No bare skin (except down from elbows and knees).

I agree with ELINA,<BR>If you want to visit Mosque cover head, arms and legs. We have secular muslim country, we are not the muslim like arab countries,(we were in OTTOMAN period) not anymore.<BR><BR>Have a nice trip in Turkey<BR><BR>sinan akdeniz<BR>[email protected]<BR>

My wife has several travel dresses made of light-weight denim, long sleeves, calf length, loose fit, button up the front, relatively high neck line. She also often wears a scarf around the neck. When we went to visit the Blue Mosque, they were prepared to provide wrap-around head, leg and/or arm covering. However, after she put the scarf over her head, she was permitted to enter with no additional requirements except to remove her shoes.

Thank you for your replies (with the exception of the twirp who tried to be funny). I appreciate it, and am willing to listen to anything else you might suggest. The web page which was suggested was very interesting!<BR><BR>Thanks,<BR>Jean

Conservative is the byword. Muslim folks are offended by the flaunting of female flesh. and judging by some of it that I have seen, so am I. Long, loose shifts, with sleeves is what I wore, and by the way, you can get some pretty ones, all with embroidery, etc., in the 'souks' in the middle east, and in Turkey. P.s. Great buys on gold in Turkey.