Istanbul/Bodrum-Safe to Wander?
 

Is it advisable for a couple of conservatively dressed women to wander "off the beaten path" in Istanbul and Bodrum. I usually enjoy wandering out of the tourist areas and into neighborhoods. Would this be asking for unwanted attention in these cities?

Not a good idea. If you stick to the main thoroughfares, you will have no problem.

You will notice that Turkish men do have a habit of staring. It's just a cultural quirk. A habit of centuries.

But by wandering off the beaten path, as you put it, you may be getting into deeper water than you can handle. Trust me, my wife and I have been all over Turkey, from east to west, from north to south. It's a great country with wonderful people.

But don't go asking for trouble -- which is good advice no matter where you wish to wander. We were witness to just such a bit of wandering and its messy result in central Turkey. Not pretty.

USNR sound so ominous. What happened there in central Turkey? Chiquita was asking about Istanbul and Bodrum, not central Turkey.

I have travelled in Turkey as a conservatively dressed middle-aged woman and as a somewhat less clothed young woman, and I have never encountered any trouble. Istanbul is a city of 15 million people, and you see all kinds of dressing also "off the beaten path". Last time a man even gave me his seat in a full metro, something that nowadays never happens at home. And yes, I was by myself "off the beaten path". But fully dressed as it was winter.

And Bodrum is place where people walk half naked and disco and rave till morning. I cannot imagine what could happen to two conservatively dressed women there. They would get a heat stroke? Because that is what I nearly had there. But it was +46 Celsius.

We have never been to Bodrum because beach-side places do not appeal to us. Our travels have taken us to places where few non-Turks go, all the way to the borders with the old Soviet Armenia, along the Black Sea coast, and into tiny villages.

A western woman tourist decided one evening to wander from our hotel in Cappadocia. She was found beaten within an inch of her life, about 100 yards from the entrance, lying in a ditch along the highway, with half her clothing ripped off. Companions said she "wanted to see some of the local color and mix with a group of Turkish men and women."

As I stated, it's never a good idea to go into places where you are not familiar after dark. Going alone can end in very tragic results.

One should not make a judgment based on one tragic incident to decide what and where to go!
I agree with elina in her advice.
Turkey is a safe country to visit, tour and wander " Off the Beaten Path"
Bodrum is a town of non stop activity, filled with tourists- two more will not draw attention.
Istanbul could be compared to New York.
You would be welcome most all places.

I have had a vacation home in Turkey for many years, have traveled widely in most areas of the country and have never experienced any problems.This includes going to farm villages far from any tourist places. I have only found the people to be friendly and courteous.
Certainly , everyone should take necessary care in every country as no place is Utopia.
I could apply the logic used by prior posting for any city or locale in the USA.
Yet people seem to wander every where there.