With everything I am reading about Turkey I have no doubt about my safety or the friendliness of Turkish people, however, I am wondering whether I should for the first time in my life and traveling alone and take a tour to Turkey. BTW, I am not a 20, 30, or even 40 something woman, though I like to think I am. I have not traveled completely alone this far from home though I have traveled a fair amount (last year rented an apartment in Buenos Aires for a month with an SO) I am a very good organizer, I like independent travel, planning out of the way experiences and I'm very gregarious. I don't like to be shut in my hotel room in the evening when couples can stroll around. I've asked advise before on single traveling and most comments tell me to get over it or eat early at restaurants, etc. That doesn't help me. So this is my dilemma and I'd like you to weigh in both from a logistical and experiential point of view. Will I appreciate the comradery and comfort of a small group tour? Will I be frustrated by the constraints of feeling like I'm being herded when I want to go in another direction. Will I feel lonely not having someone to share my experiences with? Will I be able to negotiate Istanbul, drive a car, language issues? What if I get sick? One minute I am excited by the thought of the challenge, the next I think it would be great to meet fellow travelers. Please help me decide! Or come up with alternatives.

I cannot speak to the companionship issues, but I can assure you that at least in Istanbul and Cappadocia (and I imagine along the coast), the tourist infrastructure is very well developed. English was widely spoken, but I found it extremely beneficial to learn some Turkish basics, especially numbers for transactions. I was with my husband, but not every second, and I did not see what I have heard so many times--men relentlessly following, etc. Of course the precautions one takes in any major city are relevant, and I would not walk around too much late at night, but I hardly think you must dine at 5 either.
Istanbul was a breeze to get around, with an excellent public transportation system. The sites are also walkable (I even walked from Sultanahmet to Taksim).
You could probably join day tours in Istanbul, but I imagine you will meet people as well.
In Cappadocia, I highly recommend joining a small group for things like the amazing hikes. The hotels organize such excursions as well as the tourist offices.

MsLizzy,

First, hopefully you will not fall ill, and if you do you will find that the hotel desk, waiters, shopkeepers, bus driver, cab driver, anyone you meet will be trying to help you.

It is harder to meet locals, unless you go to some of the cafes or restaurants by the Bosphorus in the daytime, or get on a smaller ring ferry where there will me many women alone or in groups, who will be very happy to try to communicate with you if you approach them. Just asking about a site or a schedule will get the conversation rolling, and then enquiring about their children will get it in high gear, usually.

Otherwise, Sultanahmet will be the place to meet other tourists, with smaller hotels providing a more amiable atmosphere. For example Lynn or Hakan will make sure to introduce you to other interesting guests in their hotel Apricot, if you stay there.

Visiting museums and art galleries or bookstores is another means of meeting people with interests similar to yours.

Trying to put myself in your place, i think i would enjoy Istanbul alone and make some new friends.

In terms of Cappadocia, you can easily fly yourself but should probably join a small group to enjoy the sharing of the exercise the vistas and the sights.

In the late evening i will thoroughly recommend the cafes, restaurants and bars in Nisantasi on Abdi Ipekci Street. You will be left alone, can strike up a conversation, almost everyone will speak good English, and there will be no hassling at all. This is an upscale area but not as stuck up as you may imagine. Yet, you should dress fashionably when you go there at anytime of day and night. (no sneakers, flip flops or sandals or capris unless they shout "designer")

Interestingly, the bohemian area, Cihangir, which is not upscale but nice, looks very friendly but can make one feel alienated more, because its inhabitants and regulars, mostly artists, expats, etc., i find, are more standoffish, and act with a group consciousness.

If you come, you will feel more of a sense of being part of the scene than in London, Paris and Madrid. (I felt like that only in Rome, i think)

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Otherchelebi,

I have just finished reading the book, Tales from the Expat Harem, a compilation of short stories by foreign women living and traveling in Turkey. It is such an inspiring book for women wanting to experience Turkey from a woman's point of view. Some of these women had Turkish husbands and all were there for more than a few weeks but all of them felt embraced by the Turkish culture.

That may not be the case when you are a tourist, but I would like to experience going to a Hamam, and take some cooking lessons. Do you (or your wife) have any suggestions?

Strange as it may sound, we have never been to a hamam in Istanbul. If you are staying in the Sultanahmet area, there are three hamams there two of which also cater heavily to tourists. Cagaloglu and cemberlitas hamams. One of them receives terrible reports on Trip advisor, but the other one seems to be OK. Check TA or just post the question there. The third one was discovered recently by a British destination expert, near the Grand bazaar and she liked it.

Some hamams have different hours for men and women. Some, which are large, have separate sections so will be available all the time.

The Galatasaray Hamam just off Istiklal street on the narrow side street before you get to the imposing galatasaray Lycee, has different hours for women but is considered to be a good hamam by the locals.

There are Turkish cooking classes given by a lady called Evelyn, near Sultanahmet, which again i have read on Trip Advisor. Visitors talk highly of them. Please check the web or peruse past TA post, especially by "Gone to the Dogs" and "Busy Retired"

Also, if you ask the manager or the chef at a restaurant to let you watch them preparing their hot plate meals in the morning, you may actually get more out of that than from a cooking class.

Thanks otherchelebi for all the above. I did read the info on the hamams on TA. The first stories I read about them were set in Hunat haman in Kayseri and another one in Bursa.

What a good idea for the cooking lesson. Actually, here, I belong to a gourmet club and when planning a tricky favourite dish from a local restaurant the chef allowed me to watch while he prepared it. I had better brush up on a few Turkish phrases.

Can you think of other unique things to look into?

I would like to stay in a cave hotel or quest house in Goreme area. I have read other posts discussing people's experiences.

Perhaps a sailing experience? Anything to recommend or look out for? I'm thinking perhaps traveling in June.

Check Fodor's lounge for my contest, and let me know if you wish to enter.

you may also wish to check some of my older posts where i gave a number of recipes. Even on my trip reports, food plays a very significant role, as witnessed by my girth.

I spent two weeks in Turkey in 2007 traveling by myself and had a wonderful time. Not only did I not have any problems, but it was one of my best trips ever. You're welcome to read my blog if you want some ideas. http://mardeeinturkey.wordpress.com

I would recommend learning some Turkish - many people in smaller towns do not speak English, and you will win many friends by even trying out just a few phrases. The Turks are incredibly friendly but will love you even more if you try to talk to them in their language. It's not that difficult - I spent about 2-3 months listening to CDs in my car before my trip.

Strange as it may sound, we have never been to a hamam in Istanbul

But you have had hamam rye. Well, at least, out of the country.

Thanks for the encouragement, mardee1000. I look forward to reading your blog.

Hi, MsLizzy
It sounds like we are in similar circumstances. I decided to go to Istanbul for a few days on my own next month, and then I will join a tour for one week to tour around the country a bit, then back to IST for a couple of days. I'll post about it when I return.