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.

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