Female Traveling Solo to Istanbul

Are the people expressing caution people who have traveled to Turkey, or are they just guessing that it will be an issue? I find it hard to believe that experienced solo female travelers would urge greater caution for Turkey travel than elsewhere in Europe. My experience suggests that there are no special risks there. I'm just shy of your age and I've traveled in Turkey a half dozen times in the past ten years or so. I've had absolutely no problems at all in my travels anywhere in Turkey.

As Greg says, carpet touts find it hard to take "no" for an answer, but they target all tourists, young and old, male and female. And honestly they aren't that hard to get rid of. A firm "no, I have all the carpets I need," not making eye contact with them, and not breaking your stride, and they'll give up and find someone else to try to ply their wares.

No question that I have had more unwanted male attention in Italy and in Greece than in Turkey. (Not that I get a lot these days anywhere, now that I think of it.)

One thing to consider, though, is that Turkish women don't drink alcohol on their own as a rule. So, if you prefer to have a glass of wine or a beer with a meal, I'd avoid that except in your hotel restaurants.

Christine, I asked this question a while back--maybe last year. I got mixed responses. Some said "no problem," and others said to be careful and avoid certain areas. After traveling in Greece as a young woman, I can tell you that local men do find a woman of any age traveling alone a novelty and in need of their "attention." Things may have changed in the intervening years, and being older may help, but I would expect to find male attention to be similar in Turkey. Some women don't mind (it's like the stereotypical construction site macho greetings, only it can come from anywhere). I found that I couldn't walk around unaccompanied by a man without constant verbal "greetings." Maybe other women will answer your query with different views.

Hi Christine - I have traveled to Istanbul for many years and , in fact, have two very good friends that live there. As you walk the Grand Bazaar the merchants will always press you a bit to come into their booth BUT - they do that with all genders. The Turkish people are respectful and polite when it comes to "going after" single women. Not like italy and it hurts me to say that because I am Italian!!
I believe you have nothing to worry about except having a WONDERFUL time in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Ciao, Greg

Here's Swan's previous post with lots of good information:

Solo in Istanbul

I haven't traveled there alone but was there with my husband in May. We loved the city! I think that I would feel safe there on my own. I'd recommend Rick Steves' Istanbul book as the directions and suggestions are excellent. I'd also consider staying in the Old City (Sultanahmet) as the transportation connections are good.

Greg,, frankly, I know you mean well, but you cannot really answer the OP,, you are not female.
I cannot answer her either, although female, I have not been to Istanbul.What I can offer is one "second hand opinion" but at least from a female, and my thoughts on visiting Greece( not the same,, but here are similarities in terms of the machismo culture)

My friend and her husband visited Turkey for a month when she was younger, about 30, and most definately felt she got alot of attention when she went anywhere alone,, not that she did often. It was annoying and embarrassing, but,she did not say she ever felt in danger, but she did feel disrespected.

I can say a single female does get more attention then she may like in Greece,, but I can't say I ever felt in danger,, just annoyed.

Perhaps Christines age will insulate her a bit from some of the pesky attentions though, so unless someone suggests there is a danger element,, then I would say ,, go for it Christine,, as long as you are not thin skinned you should be fine.. but, that is just my opinon. Maybe check out some other forums,. Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor have good forums for Turkey.

Good luck and do let us know what you experience!

You said it well, Pat. It takes too much energy to deal with unwanted male attention. Call me "thin-skinned" but I'm staying away from Turkey and Greece. Many women deal with this cultural behavior just fine and aren't bothered.

Swan,, Greg just pm'ed me to tell me that as a "tour consultant" and "frequent traveller to Turkey" he is "exactly right" .

So , I guess my friend was lying.. LOL

I frequent Lonely Planet's Thorntree forum and many solo women claim to have traveled throughout Turkey and the Middle East without problems. There is of course the expected "attention" from men, but there are suggestions in LP's guidebooks and forum on how to deal with this. From what I have read don't dress provacativly, don't smile all the time, avoid eye contact and ignore men who whistle or make comments towards yourself.

LP and other travelers have stressed that the chances of any violent crime is very low (lower than North America)and if you can handle the cat calls and whistles you will be fine.

I find it interesting that Pat jumped all over Greg for suggesting that Turkey isn't a problem for single older women on the grounds that he's a man and thus wouldn't know, but then went on to say that a 30 year old friend had problems in Turkey, and that you would have problems in Greece with unwanted male attention. Well, the experience of a 30 year old is not the same as that of a 60 year old, and Greece is most definitely not Turkey. Culturally worlds apart. I would suggest that an experience of a much younger woman and experiences in totally different countries are unlikely to be terribly helpful to Christine.

My personal experience--and I travel to Turkey a great deal--is that you get a lot less male attention there than in Christian Mediterranean countries. (And no, I don't wear a head scarf there unless I am visiting a mosque.) No catcalls, no indecent proposals, nothing like that. Only carpet sellers, and they are no more aggressive than the rickshaw touts at tourist spots in Beijing, for example.

There may be good reasons for choosing to visit another country over Turkey--preferences for different kinds of sights (no cathedrals in Istanbul, no museums of Western art masterpieces); preference for more Western kinds of food, etc. But worry about being on guard for a middle aged woman would be pretty low on the list. (You have to be far more on guard in Prague, in my opinion, with respect to pickpockets, for example.)

You make an excellent point JER! If I hadn't been traveling in Istanbul with my husband I might have interpreted the aggressive sales pitches as unwanted attention directed at me because I was female BUT the salesmen can be aggressive with men and women. If you follow the advice given in the post(s) above--just ignore them and enjoy your time on your own.

Jer,, I did NOT jump all over anyone, a bit dramatic aren't you??

Actually your whole first line seems to be a bit of a fabrication.

I also did not say anything about fearing violence,, or crime specifically,, I made it clear I was talking about annoyance and disrespect..

And I clearly added that Christines AGE might make quite a difference,although there are 60 yrs olds who look very attractive, not really granny age yet for some !,

Did you read my post, or just react??

So true James! Attractive women are the target of men who catcall and whistle. However no matter how a woman looks, walk with confidence and purpose. These types of men are intimidated by women with self esteem and confidence. They prey on the weak...and this doesn't just apply to women. Scam artists, pickpocketers and "amorous men who want to meet an easy Western woman" know and can pick out the easiest targets simply by the way that you carry yourself. They come in different forms such as a young girl wearing short shorts, tight tank top, flipflops, big purse and chewing bubble gum like it was going out of style or the man who wears his socks pulled up to his knees, wearing loafers and white shorts with a pink shirt, camera around his neck, beta blockers for sunglasses and scratching his head looking at a map!

Christine-GO!! I was there when I was 37 and tho I got some unwanted attention (I came back to work saying if I'd been there another week I could have gotten married) it wasn't threatening. As an almost 60 yr old, my guess is you'll probably be safe. And Istanbul is a great city! I'm actually trying to find a cheap way (airline) to go back!

Turkey is perfectly safe for a single woman. Having been there myself and that I am also a woman, I do feel qualified to answer.

I have also worked with a lot of Turkish men here in Germany, and they are usually very respectful and actually keep their distance. Even young men will behave this way. If you are on public transportation and are older or pregnant, they will jump up and give you a seat. Have a stroller and are struggling to get it on a tram, they are the first to help you out.

Please go and have a good time. As some other posters noted, Turkey is NOT Greece or Italy.

I went to Istanbul by myself and had no problems but do have an observation.

There were times men shadowed me. By that I mean, they walked where I walked (for a long time), keeping up a running patter. I never felt threatened and had some interesting conversations. I am middle aged, and took their interest as lighthearted and not lascivious.

I absolutely loved Istanbul. In addition to using Rick's book, I used Fodor's and went on many of his walking tours. Outstanding. I went to one of the Turkish baths by myself and proceeded to have one of the funniest adventures of all of my travels. The food was amazing - I have since learned to cook Turkish food. Go, Christine. It is absolutely amazing.

Was in Istanbul recently - a party of two females travelling together. It was only in the old city (the Sultanahmet area) that men tried to get our attention, but we took it as a customary and rather outdated expression of 'machismo' and it wasn't difficult to ignore it. Those guys in the Grand Bazaar are sharp - the slightest eye contact and they start calling to you or making a sales pitch, but I felt that they were almost on autopilot, a kind of performance. We didn't get bothered at all in the newer, modern part of the city, my friend even spent time quite peacefully at a bar/cafe one night. There was a mildly unpleasant touching incident in a crowded tram once, but that could happen anywhere in the world, though I suspect the chances of it happening to a lone female tourist in a city like Istanbul are higher. I'm not sure if the heckling and attention becomes more heightened and aggressive during the summer tourist season? Anyway, my observation from my travels (generally) is that men prefer to target younger women, it doesn't matter what they look like; they're just perceived to be 'easier prey' or more naive. I guess one of the pluses of getting older is, you get to travel in peace! Christine, please feel free to message me privately if you have questions or want specifics.