Is it safe for a woman to travel alone to Istanbul? I am planning a solo trip next month for 1 week.

I was there with a friend and we did have some problems with harassment. We were only there one day (it was a stop on a cruise) so I can't say I'm an expert. Maybe we were just unlucky. I will say it was enough to deter me from traveling solo to Istanbul, but I'm anxious to hear what other ladies have to say.

In other parts of Turkey we had no problems.

I traveled solo in Istanbul and other parts of Turkey just a couple of years ago.

The trick is to not look at any of the touts or single men wandering around - some of them take a direct glance as an invitation.

If you just walk directly to your goal w/o loitering, keep your eyes off of men's faces and act as if you know where you are going and what you are about, there will be no problems. They do not chase you down the street like the touts in Cairo, nor are they persistent if you are <i>very clearly</i> not interested.

If anyone does bother you just say very loudly NO! Bystanders will immediatly help you to get rid of such a one.

Obviously you will want to be careful not to go down lonely dark streets alone, not into any restaurant that doesn't have other women in it, just like in any other large city anywhere in the world.

I've been there half a dozen times in the last year or so. I don't see Istanbul as any more problematic than other large cities. There are a few areas I would avoid at night (e.g. the side streets right around Taxim Square). I'm also careful about belongings (pickpockets, like many large European cities) and careful about the taxis I take. It's not that Turkish cab drivers are particularly problematic; it's just that, when you don't speak their language, and they don't speak your language, and there are very few detailed maps and even the locals aren't sure exactly where a particular address is, it's easy to end up going for an expensive cab ride.

I have found Turks to be almost uniformly friendly, helpful, hospitable and outgoing. And I haven't been hit on - although I have had the chance to regularly experience rather gallant and charming behaviour. (I heard a number of women mention at a recent conference I attended how pleasantly surprised they were to find that, whenever they took public transportation, a man always stood up to give them a seat.)

I don't know what your budget is for this trip. If you're a little apprehensive about the trip and you can afford a Hilton-type hotel, I can strongly recommend the Hilton Istanbul for its excellent service. One thing I particularly appreciated was the care the doorman took to make sure to screen taxi drivers, make sure they knew exactly where they were going and to record the taxi medallion numbers. It's conveniently located - about a 10 minute walk from Taxim Square (but not right in the middle of it). I also liked the Point Hotel, which I think would be less expensive than the Hilton. This area of Istanbul is much less atmospheric than Sultanhamet, but it's central and you might feel more comfortable there. It depends on what kind of accommodation you like.

If you like clothes-shopping, I recommend a visit to a pair of shopping malls (a good rainy afternoon activity) in Levent - MetroCity and Kanyon. Kanyon is new, and quite stunning-looking. MetroCity is a little older and has some interesting shops, not quite as super high-end as Kanyon. One thing I like about Turkish stores is that they show the same styles as North American and Western European labels - but don't offer exactly the same product/label as you'd find at home. Of course, you must visit the ultimate shopping mall - the Grand Bazaar.

Suggest that you avoid crowded public transportation. My ex was groped on the metro.

My experiences in Istanbul more or less echoed Kate's, alhtough I was there only about 6 days, last fall. Most of the time I was alone and had no worries whatsoever and would not hesitate to return alone. I would add this caution: Be careful around ATM machines..a friend who was with us for part of my stay had trouble at an ATM in Sultanahmet when a fellow approached him, offered to help with the malfunctioning machine, and somehow, the details are fuzzy, switched cards, taking my friend's card and leving my friend with another, useless, one. The idea of taking taxis from hotels is a good one. It is a great city..have fun! (I stayed for part of my visit at the Marmara Pera which I would recommend as an alternative to the HIlton..I liked the location much better and it cost less but had good rooms with views and nice service persons...) I think you get hassled a bit more at night in Sultanahmet but even if you stay there I would not foresee any major issues if you use normal precautions.

Some will interpret this as biased and non-PC. So be it, but here's what I observed:

Men in some Muslim-dominated countries tend to see non-Muslim women as &quot;fair game&quot; and with looser morals. Turkey is a mainly secular country but still the men there seem to think of Western women as being easy and a target for come-ons.

Having said that, I will add that in Istanbul, I wouldn't say the men generally posed a danger to women. It's just that you would have to be firm and assertive to make it clear that you don't appreciate their clumsy come-ons.

I think young, attractive women are a target wherever they travel. A woman can just as easily get chatted up in Manhattan as she can in Istanbul.

Istanbul is a very modern, world-class city. You will see women in headscarves and long skirts (women in burkas are ARAB tourists) and you will see women in mini-skirts and high heels. Don't be afraid to be yourself.

If you only stay in Sultanahmet, you will get the wrong impression of Istanbul. Here, you will see many Islamic tourists around the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Many will be conservatively dressed (burkas), giving you the idea that this is how Stambuli women dress. Go to Beyoglu, Taksim, Ortakoy, Nisantasi and see normal Stambuli women in jeans and t-shirts.

Most men who bother you in Sultanahmet will want to sell you a carpet or get you to eat at their &quot;cousin's&quot; restaurant.