Before posting your question here please use the search function to scan previous post here and try not to repeat similar question. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions on this sub:
- Is Turkey safe?
Yes. Turkey receives millions of visitors every year and the tourism industry seems immune to all social upheavals. During major protests, terror attacks and even the pandemic, all transport and accommodations for visitors functioned as usual. If you act with general common sense and avoid certain areas where you don't have any business as a visitor anyway, you'll be as safe as anywhere in the world.
- How do I get around Turkey?
Most public transport in Turkey is by bus. You can go to a nearest "otobüs terminali" and figure out how you get to your destination or just book your tickets online (1, 2, 3)
Flights can be cheaper than bus rides on long distances. The Turkish LCCs are AJet and Pegasus.
Although the railway grid is not very extensive, it still gives you the opportunity to cross the country in comfort. There's even an Oriental Express from Istanbul to Tehran. You need to book in advance though.
The road quality is very good in Turkey though some highways and bridges are very expensive. You can easily rent a car and drive around with general common sense. Just be mindful of the aggressive driving around big cities.
Metropolitan areas normally have good public transport which can usually be used with a local transport card. In Istanbul, for example, the Istanbulcard will get you on busses, trams, subways, boats, funiculars, cable-cars as well as help you with car parks, some museums and more.
It's common sense to avoid yellow taxis which are known to rip tourists off. Instead you can try apps like BiTaksi, Martı or Uber (different to international Uber though) which give you a prior price estimate.
- How much money will I need? Cash or card?
With one of the highest levels of inflation worldwide for many years, it's not easy to estimate costs in Turkey even for local residents. This also depends very greatly on your habits while traveling. So if you still want to learn about costs of certain things for a certain time, just be as specific as you can regarding your preferences (public transport/rent a car, 5-star hotels/camping, Blue Voyage boat tours/hiking, etc.). Credit card use is very common in Turkey but in smaller establishments you can get a discount if you pay in cash. Paying by mobile apps is also getting more common.
- Where should I visit in Turkey? What's not to miss?
There are so many websites that will give you extensive lists of best places to visit and things to do in Turkey. Please post here only if you need advice regarding a specific place or a route.
- I'm scratched by a stray cat. Do I need rabies shots?
Probably not. Turkey is the native home of the domestic cat and we have them everywhere. We also do get scratched and playfully bitten by them time to time. We do not have any incidents of cats transmitting rabies in Turkey.
It's another story about stray dogs though. If you have a problem with those, first try to find out if anyone around is taking care of them and ask if they are vaccinated (many strays are regularly checked in Turkey) and then visit the nearest clinic.
- Is Turkey a backwards muslim country? Will I have issues because I'm gay, have tattoos, etc.?
No. Turkey is a very diverse secular country to say the least (not a muslim country but a country with a majority muslim population). Don't be fooled by the number of mosques everywhere, in metropolitan areas you'll find all sorts of people, some with tattoos or turbans, some women in conservative clothes or in minis. In the countryside people can be more conservative but they are still tolerant towards tourist, as long as they maintain general respect. This may include not being too loud, putting on some clothes entering mosques and tombs, and not making fun of Atatürk or islam. The Mediterranean coastline is very progressive and you can bathe in a bikini or topless on many beaches. Islamism is a political issue but it shouldn't affect the visitors unless they advertise being israeli or anti-islam in the wrong places.
- How can I learn Turkish?
Turkish language is not related to Arabic or Middle Eastern languages; it is of Central Asian origin and is quite interesting to learn. There are several subreddits where you can meet others like you and some Turkish speaking people to help you out with the language such as r/turkishlearning/, r/turkish/ and r/learnturkish/
- Will I be able to eat the food there? Any vegetarian or vegan options?
Traditionally most Turkish food contains some meat but there is a whole class of cold dishes called "zeytinyağlılar" (olive-oiled) which do not have any meat. Also most baked dishes like böreks do not have meat but cheese. Vegan food is more difficult because all baked food has eggs and/or milk inside, and perhaps cheese, and some zeytinyağlı's have yoghurt on them and/or cheese in them. You'll have to ask before you eat most times. Even a simple lentil soup may contain some chicken or meat broth inside or melted butter on top. But Turkey is one of the richest countries on earth when it comes to the choice of vegetables and fruits. So if you're into preparing your own food, you're in luck, just ask for the weekly fresh markets around you and buy what you want the cheapest way.
- Is my medication available there?
Check out this website to find out if your medicine can be found in pharmacies in Turkey.
I would appreciate some honest opinions from people living in Turkey, especially in the province of Sakarya.
A close family member of mine lives in Sakarya, with his wife and their school-aged child (11 years old). His wife is the only one working, and their total household income is around 28,000 TL per month.
They:
Own their house and pay no rent or mortgage.
Do not own a car.
Have natural gas heating.
Have three people living in the household.
My question is: Can a family of three realistically cover their basic living expenses on 28,000 TL per month under these circumstances?
Would they be able to afford groceries, utilities, clothing, school expenses, transportation, and occasional unexpected costs? Would they have anything left over at the end of the month, or would they struggle financially?
I am asking because this family member regularly asks me for additional financial support, and I want to understand whether their income is genuinely insufficient to cover basic necessities or whether 28,000 TL can be enough with careful budgeting.
I am not trying to judge anyone. I simply want a realistic picture of the cost of living in Sakarya in 2026. I live in Germany, have a decent job, but im not shitting money and it is exhausting sending them money every month. I just want to help, but my patience has its limits..
Im writing in English, because my Turkish is shit lmao.
I'm planning to get married in the next year or two to my lovely fiancée but my hairline has been bugging me for some time now and i don't want it for the rest of my life. i think it's in my capacity to fix it so why not, figured this is the time to finally get it done since there's enough time for it to grow out properly
been doing some digging and turkey keeps coming up as the place to go for this, especially istanbul. anyone here had a good experience with a clinic there that they can suggest?
I was on a diet lately after getting better since I’m already gaining weight and when I checked my BMI, I was overweight so I started to diet. Since I was on a diet, I ate less lately and watched what I eat.
However, me and my husband went to his parents.
In the morning, we ate bread, eggs with pepper, and leftover dolma last night (I said to not put pepper on my eggs but she still cut it, so I ate it).
At around 1pm, we drank tea and ate donuts.
At around 3:30 pm, we ate lokum and biscuit. At this time, I’m already full. His mom mentioned for me to eat one more time but I said I’m already full and she stopped there. At this time, I already feel bloated and I was also burping a lot. My stomach is already making a little noise.
At 6pm, we ate chicken (with tomato as one of the ingredients) and dolma again. I was already really full but I thought it will get wasted if I don’t eat my share. His mom asked me again if I wanted more and I said no again this time. I also said I was full. I drank Ayran at this time.
After about 10 minutes of eating, she asked me if I want pumpkin with milk. I said no, I’m full. Guess what? She still sliced a pumpkin with milk and I said no, she still gave it to me. I ate it so it’s done.
After 15 minutes, she asked me if I want watermelon. I said I’m already full so they can just eat. She said why? I said I was full again.
His mom went to me and poked at my stomach multiple times in a playful way but it kinda hurts. I was not comfortable that time, but I just smiled.
Later on, you know what? His mom still cut me one serving of watermelon. It’s literally big enough. My husband also said I said no already and he will just eat my share, but his mom still gave it to me. So for me, I ate 2 bites and gave it to my husband. His mom asked me again why? I said I’m “full” again. After that, she cut me a small bite of watermelon, and gave it to me. I said “no” again. His father also said I should take a bite so I said “I’m full” again. I was already frustrated at this point and his mom kept talking. She asked me again to take a bite extending her arms showing the fork with watermelon to me, like a serious look that you should eat this. That’s the time I was frustrated and annoyed at the same time. I said no.
My husband was protecting me saying she’s full all the time they were saying I should eat more but they don’t listen so I said to them “I don’t want to get sick again” in a high raised voice. That’s only the time she stopped offering me food again. I don’t even think she gets it.
They know I have a history of easily getting an upset stomach. They know I have lactose intolerance and I have acid reflux but the food they gave me still contains milk and tomato. I can drink a small amount but I don’t want to have a big amount. They know I had a checkup with a doctor last month because of my stomach issue. I had to take a lot of pills to get better.
I was also hospitalized a year ago. Why? Because they forced me to drink a whole glass of milk (I didn’t know my stomach would react that badly since I don’t really drink a lot of pure milk before that happened). His mom doesn’t think it’s because of her so I just did not say anything.
His parents are kind, but I just hate it when they offer me a lot of food. They don’t take no for an answer. I met lots of people but they always respect my choice. I’m still writing this since my stomach is making a lot of noise.
Did I do the right thing? What can I do the next time? Actually, I’m already traumatized of going back to their house again. I posted here on subreddit so I can know if that’s normal or not, as well as ask for any advice. She’s really kind in other aspects but I think they thought I was just using birth pills so that’s why my stomach hurts before, even though I don’t use it since they want us to have a child, and we always said not yet.
I’m trying to buy a few things online, but shopping directly from abroad to Turkey has become practically impossible due to the insane customs fees and import regulations.
Does anyone know if there’s a reliable service or platform where travelers coming from the US to Turkey bring items in their luggage for a small fee (like Grabr, piggyship, etc.)? Or how are you guys handling this lately?
Any recommendations, tips, or experiences would be super helpful! Thanks!
dermatolog yazın değil her gün sür dedi ama hava kapalıyken bulutluyken sürmek bana biraz saçma geliyo açıkçası. bi de kışın cildim zaten kuru, güneş kremi üstüne iyice ağır hissettiriyo. siz kışın da sürüyo musunuz, sürüyosanız hafif bi şey mi kullanıyosunuz yoksa nemlendirici yetiyo mu
[EDIT* yes I have looked into multiple unis but no uni website can tell me what actual students and citizens can hence this post. Please let me know anything that I should regarding whatever university the locals consider best :)]
So here's the thing.i wanna study in turkey. I'm a Pakistani student in my final year of high school/ A'Levels and I feel so overwhelmed because I feel like I might somehow lose the opportunity to study here.
I wanna study fine arts and I'm not sure where and when to apply, how to get scholarships if you're an average student with average grade and low extracurriculars ( i might get involved in a few soon tho but it doesn't feel enough) and no SAT score.
Which unis should I consider?
How should I apply?
Is there a chance for me to get scholarships?
Now I know that fine arts isn't your average major especially for international students but that's what I wanna study and I want to study in turkey?
I am dentist from Pakistan and i want to move to turkey to work as a dentist and also get a masters degree in dental specialty but I am not able to find information regarding these matters. I'll be very thankful if somebody can guide me in the right direction
Hey! I'm 20M, an exchange student at Ankara University, currently living in Gölbaşı. I've been in Turkey for around 40 days now, and I'm still getting used to life here.
Would be cool to connect with some people around Ankara, especially those living in or around Gölbaşı. I'm down to hang out, explore the city, grab some food, or just chill and see where things go.
I'm open to meeting both locals and other international students. Feel free to drop a comment or DM if you're around! :)
Merhaba arkadaşlar. Sanal Çadır'dan aynı ayakkabının 43 ve 44 numaralarını sipariş ettim.
Evde denerken 43 numara ayağıma daha iyi oturduğu için önce onu tercih ettim. Ancak iki gün okulda ve dışarıda giydikten sonra sağ ayağımın arkasına vurmaya başladı. Belirgin bir aşınma veya hasar yok, fakat tabanında hafif kullanım izleri olabilir.
44 numarayı giydiğimde ise topuğumda vurma veya ayağımın içinde kayma olmuyor. Ön tarafında çok az boşluk var. Bu yüzden 44 numarayı tutup 43 numarayı iade etmek istiyorum.
Ancak 43 numaranın kutusunu attım. İlk başta rahat olduğunu düşünerek, elimde ise yalnızca 44 numaranın kutusu var. Yani iade edeceğim 43 numara ayakkabıyı, üzerinde 44 yazan kutuyla göndermem gerekecek.
Sorum şu: Ayakkabıyı iki gün dışarıda giymiş olmam ve kutu numarasının farklı olması nedeniyle iadem reddedilebilir mi? Benzer bir durum yaşayan varsa deneyimini paylaşabilir mi?
I’m asking this question because there is a woman in Turkey whom I care about deeply, She is originally from Adana and had moved to Ankara about 4 months ago, she had a falling out with one of her friends and now she is facing some issues and I genuinely want to help her. However, I’m trying to understand whether the amount of money involved is reasonable or whether I need to be more cautious.
She is asking for money to cover a number of expenses in Ankara, including clothes, a washing machine, a television, renting a house, a sofa, and paying rent for a room for the next three months.
When all these expenses are put together, the amount being discussed is ₺600,000 Turkish lira, I want to understand whether this is a realistic amount for these needs in Turkey today, particularly in Ankara, or whether the costs seem unusually high.
My feelings for this woman are genuine. I care about her well-being, and I don't want to see her struggle if I can help. At the same time, I don't want my feelings to prevent me from asking sensible questions or making a decision I might later regret.
So I would appreciate honest opinions from people who live in Turkey, especially in Ankara, or who understand the local cost of living.
Is ₺600,000 a reasonable budget for these expenses?
What would a modest house or room rental, basic furniture, appliances, and clothing realistically cost?
Does this request sound reasonable, or are there warning signs I should pay attention to?
2 senedir çalıştığım yerin kariyer sitesi profilinde benim tek başına çalıştığım işin ilanı açılmış, ilana baktığımda benim tanım ve sorumluluklarımı birebir yazmışlar. Daha önce başınıza geldi mi? Ne yapmamı önerirsiniz?
Got this offer from this website. How legit they are since they are way cheaper than big companies. And for this specific car they’re asking 140 dollar deposit
We got stranded at a petrol station in Türkiye with 3 kids because of a banking problem. It's made me rethink going cashless.
We live in Türkiye, but we still rely on our UK bank accounts for everyday spending.
A few days ago, we went to pay for fuel and ran into a problem transferring money between our accounts. The money left one account but didn't arrive in the other. We tried again, but had the same problem.
Suddenly, we were at a petrol station in a foreign country, with three children, trying to work out how to pay for fuel when we couldn't access the money we were relying on.
Honestly, it's not something I'd really thought about before. You assume that if you've got money in the bank, you can access it when you need it.
But apparently, having money and being able to use it at the right moment are two very different things.
It's got me thinking about how much we rely on banking apps, card payments and instant transfers these days.
I'm genuinely curious about what other people do.
Do you still carry cash as a backup, or have you pretty much gone completely cashless?
And if you're travelling or living abroad, would you feel comfortable relying entirely on your cards?
I'm not suggesting cash is perfect either. It can be lost or stolen, and carrying large amounts has its own risks.
But after this experience, I'm wondering whether keeping some emergency cash is just common sense.
What's your approach? Have you ever been caught out by a banking outage or a card that suddenly wouldn't work? I'd love to hear your experiences.
I am a foreigner living in Ankara and in my 2nd year of engineering. I was hoping for any part time side hustle which pays 2000-3000 TL or more a month. Even a job at a restaurant on the weekends is also fine. My turkish is weak, almost close to 0, so thats a big negative.
Genelde haftada bir koşu yapıyorum. Diğer işlerimden dolayı pek zamanım olmuyor ve o bir günü olabildiğince maksimum seviyede değerlendirmeye çalışıyorum. Genellikle 10-15 km arası koşuyorum ve pace’im 4-5 dakika/km arasında değişiyor. Çok fazla yarışa katılmıyorum; yılda maksimum 4-5 yarışa katılıyorum.
Ayakkabı almayı düşünüyordum ve çok uygun fiyata, neredeyse yarı fiyatına Vaporfly 4 aldım. Ancak bazıları bunun bir yarış ayakkabısı olduğunu ve karbon plakasının beni sakatlayabileceğini söylüyor. Bazıları ise haftada bir koştuğum ve o gün performansımı maksimum seviyeye çıkarmaya çalıştığım için bu ayakkabının benim için uygun olduğunu düşünüyor.
Ayakkabıyı henüz hiç kullanmadım, yani iade edebilirim. Aklımda EVO SL ve Boston 13 de var. EVO SL için günlük koşu ayakkabısı deniyor. Boston 13 hakkında ise daha net bir kaynaktan ziyade, kullanan birinden bilgi almak istiyorum.
Sizce ne yapmalıyım?
Merhaba arkadaşlar. İstanbul’da ikamet ediyorum. Meslek lisesi Radyo-Televizyon Teknik Yapım ve Yayın mezunuyum. KPSS Ortaöğretim P94 puanımın 70–75 aralığında olmasını bekliyorum. Ayrıca Kamu Yönetimi 3. sınıf öğrencisiyim.
Bu puanla İstanbul, Sakarya ve çevre illerde hangi kadrolara atanabilirim? Zabıta memurluğu, düz memurluk ve diğer kamu kadroları açısından şansım var mı? Başvuru şartları ve taban puanlar hakkında bilgisi veya tecrübesi olan arkadaşlar yardımcı olabilir mi?
