Turkey for Beginners

Is Turkey cheap?

It depends on where you go. Istanbul, coastal towns in high season, and other tourist locations, like parts of Cappadocia, are quite a bit more expensive than elsewhere in Turkey. Hotels, especially in Istanbul, can be expensive—even along the lines of Paris or New York—though there are budget options. Anything imported is also expensive, so a cappuccino at Starbucks in Istanbul will cost about the equivalent of $3 and a burger meal at McDonald's can cost as much as $8. Anything you buy at the Grand Bazaar or on İstiklal Street, in Istanbul, will be much more expensive than the same wares purchased off the beaten track.

Does Turkey use the euro?

No, the currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira. At the time of this writing, $1 = 2.68 TL and €1 = 2.94 TL, but the current economic situation means that the exchange rate is constantly in flux. The Turkish word for change office is döviz. In Istanbul and most other tourist hubs, they seem to be everywhere. The fees for changing money aren't usually too outrageous, even in tourist locales; however, your best option is to use your ATM card, with which you usually get that day's exchange rage.

Will it be hard to find an alcoholic beverage in a Muslim country?

The anise-flavored spirit rakı is the traditional accompaniment to a meal of meze and fish. In large cities like Istanbul and İzmir, and in resort towns along the coast, rakı is consumed quite liberally, as is Efes, the national beer. However, in smaller towns and more conservative parts of the country (particularly Central Anatolia), don't be surprised if alcohol is not for sale in restaurants or shops. Because of high taxes, alcoholic drinks, particularly those that are imported, are a fair bit more expensive in Turkey than they are in North America or Europe. Under a new law that went into effect in September 2013, retail outlets such as grocery stores and corner shops cannot sell alcoholic beverages between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am.

Is Turkish food spicy?

Not really. Turkish cuisine is similar to Greek and Hungarian food, with many dishes consisting of roasted meat, boiled or roasted vegetables, and rice. Turks often add flakes of red pepper to their dishes, but even heaped generously on your food, it generally won't set the mouth afire. The only thing that might take you by surprise is a roasted pepper, which often comes as a side with kebab dishes. Any food with too much heat is easily disarmed with a ubiquitous Turkish favorite—yogurt.

Will Ramadan affect my visit?

Ramadan, the month of fasting between sunrise and sunset, is one of the most exciting times to be in Turkey because after sunset, most Turks party down. It's rumored that your average Istanbullu actually gains weight during the fast. Elsewhere in Turkey, the degree of adherence to the fast typically increases in proportion to how far east you venture. In Istanbul and other tourist destinations it's not a problem to find restaurants that are open during the day, although in smaller and more conservative towns the profusion of closed eateries and cafés might make it more difficult to get a bite to eat, but it's by no means impossible.

Do I need to cover up?

No man or woman on the street is ever forced to wear a headscarf, turban, or veil, though many Turkish women do. Due to Turkey's official secularism, there are some government institutions where the covering of women is banned. In mosques, however, all women—including tourists—are expected to wear headscarves and all visitors must remove their shoes. In Istanbul and in many coastal cities you will see women dressed provocatively and even wearing bikinis, while in more conservative cities such behavior is frowned on. Female tourists anywhere who don’t want to draw undue attention to themselves should err on the side of modesty.

Are the people friendly?

Yes! Turks are renowned for their hospitality and any local will gladly tout this reputation. In Istanbul you might find some cosmopolitan snobbishness, depending on the neighborhood, but just about everywhere else throughout the country Turks are friendly, talkative, and passionate, and often sport large grins along with a hidden mischievous side. As long as you are polite and avoid insulting the nation, its symbols, or its politics, you'll do just fine and in all probability you'll be awed by how kind and friendly Turkish people are.

What if I don't speak Turkish?

As in any European nation, it benefits salespeople and waiters in tourist hot spots to speak English, and many young professionals and students also make it a priority to learn the language. Some schools even have their instruction entirely in English. There's a good chance that the proprietors of your hotel, and perhaps the restaurant servers that you meet will speak perfectly adequate English. Outside of these groups, and in more remote locations, your average Turk has a less firm grasp of the language, but even still you probably won't have too big a problem, though learning a few key phrases is a good idea before traveling . Turkish is an easy language to read as it is written in the Latin alphabet and is entirely phonetic. For the most challenging of linguistic tangles, pointing in a dictionary or trying the same word in a few other languages will often suffice.

Should I be afraid of terrorism?

With neighboring Syria and Iraq plagued by violent conflicts that have created a region-wide refugee crisis, this is a question increasingly weighing on many prospective visitors' minds. Terrorism does, unfortunately, seem to be a part of the world we live in today and there is a certain amount of risk inherent in traveling anywhere. In Istanbul the risk of being the victim of a terrorist attack is probably not much higher than in any European capital: London and Madrid have both been host to terrorist attacks far greater in magnitude than anything in Istanbul. The threat level is also low in the tourist-friendly cities of the Mediterranean and Aegean regions as well as Cappadocia. In the east, where the government is still fighting Kurdish factions and where the conflicts across the border are closer at hand, a bit more caution might be called for, though most of the violence takes place in areas where visitors are unlikely to venture. The key thing is to stay informed, keep a low profile, and avoid political demonstrations and other gatherings.