Best of Turkey - Bathroom Question

It is true that there are squat toilets ("non flushing") all over Turkey and it's possible to encounter them on this tour - at tourist sites, rest stops, big cities, and small towns. There was only one time on my tour that there was not a western style toilet and that was at the lunch with the local woman Fatima in Cappadocia. The western toilet option is typically labeled on the door with an image indicating use for people with physical disabilities (like our "handicapped" bathrooms). Our tour group often had a line up for that one stall. In big tourist areas or at museums, the outside of the stall door is often labeled with an image for squat or elevated toilets. For a primer on how to use a squat toilet, this website covers it pretty well: https://everywhereshetravels.com/how-to-use-a-squat-toilet/

RE: the paper situation - the plumbing can be quite bad, and flushing toilet paper makes it worse, even in the nicest hotels. If there is a garbage can or bin next to the toilet, then all used paper should go in the bin, never flushed. Many tourist areas and hotels also put up signage - follow their instructions (sometimes it says it's ok to flush). ALWAYS travel with packets of Kleenex just in case, I encountered quite a few bathrooms where there was no TP available. And always check for it before closing the stall door.

All this to say, I wouldn't worry a lot about this issue when you are there, a bit of preparation and a positive mindset, you should be fine. If you have particular mobility issues that would prevent you from using a squat toilet, you can raise the topic discreetly with your tour guide so they are able to direct/prepare you accordingly (it won't be the first or last time they have the issue raised).

Thank you for a complete reply, CL. Very good information.

It’s not just Turkey, you aren’t to flush toilet paper in Athens, Greece either.

Just got back from Greece and Turkey. The toilet paper goes in the trash in both countries. All toilets flushed where we went. Typical toilets where you could sit were usually available, but lines for women. The trough style was common and usually no waiting. Once the trough was the only available toilet. As mentioned earlier, I always carried tissues with me.

In Turkey many western-style toilets are equipped with a little nozzle that squirts water from the back of the toilet. That means toilet paper is likely needed only to pat oneself dry.

These aren't fancy toilets like you find in Japan. The squirting mechanism is controlled by a twistable handle mounted on or hear the wall; the ones I saw looked like a water shut-off valve. It's good to be aware that if the current toilet seat is not identical to the original one, the aim of the squirting mechanism may be just a smidgen off.

I took the Best of Turkey tour several years ago. It's true that toilet paper could not be flushed, not in our hotels or other places. The toilet paper had to be disposed of in the trashcan in the bathroom. For at least a couple of stops, I did have to use a squat toilet. It can be challenging since we Westerners are not used to squatting in general.

Thanks for the many great (and honest) responses. We're going to pass on this tour. Signing off this thread.

Our experience in Turkey was like araven’s. Most toilets we encountered was the Turkish style with the squirt device to clean yourself before wiping, even in rural areas. We were not on a RS tour, however, but on a tour arranged by an Istanbul travel agent.

I realize the original poster is signing off on this thread, but I have done Turkey on other tours and if you can’t do a squat toilet don’t do Turkey would probably be a better action. It’s not that Rick’s picking places that have bad bathrooms it’s just the state of the bathrooms there

. We’re planning a trip later this year and I’m fully aware that I get to have to use a few Turkish toilets. Am I looking forward to it? No LOL.

I went on the Best of Istanbul and Best of Turkey tours in 2022 and never once was a Turkish toilet the only option. There was always at least 1 Western toilet, and often an equal number of each.

The biggest worry in public bathrooms isn't where to put the toilet paper, it is the question of whether any toilet paper is provided at all. This is particularly true is highway rest stops. I was always able to find a western toilet. I wasn't always able to find toilet paper......

Make sure you have some tissue or toilet paper on you and some hand sanitizer as well.

Yes, you need tissues in your purse but luckily there are many (usually older women) selling tissue packets along the street. In fact Mert, our Turkish guide, always bought from these women (to support them) and handed packets to us.