I am considering a trip to turkey in Fall 2013. I've been to Europe and travelled extensively to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Venice, Budapest and Prague. I've stayed in hostels, booked my own transportation and had a great time being independant. I always traveled with another female friend. I feel confident in travelling East/western Europe, however I am concerned about safety around my sister and I travelling to Turkey alone. We are both in our twenties and blonde so we would stand out. We can't really afford a formal tour, so I am wondering if we should save up and go via a tour...or if we could travel alone with the same feeling of safety and security that we did in Europe. Thanks,
Estella
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5573 posts
I traveled to Turkey about 20 years ago. At the time, I was a blonde female in my 20s. I felt perfectly safe the whole time in terms of physical safety. Sometimes, I did feel uncomfortable simply because I felt that I stood out (and I'm someone who hate's standing out), but that had nothing to do with physical safety. For more detailed information on travel in Turkey, I recommend this website that Tom Brosnahan hosts. For many years, he was the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Turkey. I've met him and heard him speak. He has a ton of information on traveling through Turkey, including comments on safety.
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
My daughter-in-law is a blonde knock-out. She's in and out of Turkey all the time, mostly alone. She has no lumps on her head.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
18158 posts
"Is it safe to travel as two blonde females in Turkey?" I would guess probably so, but only if you are indeed two blonde females. I once saw two young male Brits on one of their famous worldwide stag parties dressed as two blonde females and that might be a problem in Turkey. Now that I think about it I've seen young male Brits on several occasions dressed in a similar fashion. Must be a cultural thing.
Posted by
Arlington, TX, USA
281 posts
Turkey is safe no matter what color your hair is. You will feel safe traveling with a friend or alone, even in the evening. I have been there
twice (last time in October) and never felt threatened.
Posted by
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
272 posts
i am 6ft tall and long blonde hair. i stand out in many of the foreign countries i go to. i was in turkey two years ago....istanbul, epheseus, cappadoica, the coast...i felt perfectly safe. stares and gawking and i am sure some whispers but i just got used to it. never felt unsafe. turkey was fabulous. i don't know if i have ever had an experience in my travels where a country surprised me more (in a good way). i went off excited about it but no idea really what to expect and came home enamored with the place. a return is definitely in order.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Well...they will know you are tourists regardless of the color of your hair and I wouldn't give it a second thought. I traveled there last year and happened to meet up with some friends there and one of the daughters was a beautiful 18 year old blonde and we also hung out with her friend from Istanbul who was 18 with multi-colored hair. Seriously, no problems and it is a beautiful and friendly and safe country that far exceeded my expectations. Loved it and would return any time.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Even some Turkish women dye their hair blond.
Posted by
Winnipeg
590 posts
i was in Turkey for a couple of weeks this last October. I went solo and I am blonde...i had no problems. The Turkish people are some of the friendliest people that I have encountered.
Posted by
Mumbai, India
79 posts
I can tell that Turkey is completely safe for women. The only thing that happened to me is that a cab driver tried to overcharge me and my friend (I gave him a TL 50 note and he claimed that I had given him TL 5 only !!) - but this happens all over, so I am not really concerned.