These are the various mistakes or misconceptions tourists make while they go to Turkey. Therefore, this blog post is written so that you will not make the same mistakes as others. Learn all the Do’s and Don’t to increase the reputation of your country as you represent it in a foreign land.
Major Mistakes Tourists Make In Turkey That You Should Avoid
1. Miscommunication
We expect that as Turkey partly shares the European and Asian continent, the citizens of Turkey would know how to speak in English. Well, not all people speak and communicate in English.
People in high tourist areas such as Sultanahmet, Taksim Square or even cities such as Cappadocia, Ephesus, and Antalya are not fluent in English. Therefore, it is recommended to learn a few local phrases such as
- Hello!
- How much for this?
- Thank You
Well, we have Google Translate; still, they appreciate the effort you made to learn these basic phrases which bring joy to their face. Try not to pronounce the name of the food wrong as it is quite disrespectful.
2. Small Group Tour Vs Large Group Tour
Hiring a Private Tour guide is costly if you are generally in smaller groups. Therefore traveling in larger groups is much more affordable and budget-friendly if you do not mind going in flow with others.
The problem with traveling in larger groups is one or two in your group will always fail to keep up with the pace of your group. For instance, most of the tourists in your group will be taking photos to remember and capture the memories resulting in loss of time.
Others will not be quick on their foot and people will have some type of health issue. Therefore, if you are open to it then you can travel in larger groups. There are merits and demerits in both choices, so what is more suitable and comfortable to your budget and time need to be prioritized.
3. High Peak Season Is Always The Best?
The number of tourists that visit Turkey is at its peak during the Summer season i.e. from June to early September. Therefore, if you plan to visit in these months then you can expect crowds in all the high tourist attraction areas such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, or Blue Mosque.
As it is the peak season, the hotel rates and accommodation rates will be much higher all along the places. Even, there are times when you will not be able to book hotels if you are late. Therefore, it is recommended to visit Turkey before Summer and after Summer i.e. during Spring and Fall season.
Additional Note: While planning to visit Turkey, make sure you check the national holidays whether they coincide or not during your time of visit.
4. Bosphorus Is Not a River But A Strait
Pic Credit: Merterm
There is a common mistake that many make is that they identify Bosphorus as a river. Bosphorus is a natural strait that connects two seas i.e. Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Bosphorus Strait also divides Istanbul into two different parts i.e. Asian and European parts of the continental boundaries.
5. Get Local SIM or eSim
In foreign countries, it is recommended to get a local SIM or local eSim. This will enable you to use uninterrupted Internet and normal calling services. Get Airalo’s eSim card as it is quick and can be purchased online. Just make sure that your device supports the eSim service.
6. Choosing Restaurants
While visiting Turkey, we have seen tourists who prefer eating food in big chain restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Starbucks, etc.
You are traveling to a new country that offers unique and rich flavors of food. You might miss the chance of having authentic food, while you are in the main country. The prices of high-end food chains and good local restaurants is quite comparable and similar. So, if you are for a few days and week, do not miss out on the local restaurants.
Tip: Ask recommendation of nice restaurants when you interact with locales.
7. Proper Etiquette And Dressing
While visiting the Mosque, you should remove your shoes before stepping on the carpet. There are signs that say “Do Not Step With The Shoes” which they refer to not stepping on the Carpet. If you are confused, then you can look at the locales and imitate what they are doing.
While entering Hagia Sophia or the mosque, you should avoid wearing sleeveless shirts, shorts, or tank tops. Wear full pants to cover your knees. Women must cover their heads with a headscarf.
8. Turkish Candy
Pic Credit: Adem
Often tourists make mistakes and get confused while selecting and purchasing the candies. Various confectionary shops are famous and sell candies, however, what we are searching for is a specific Turkish Candy or Delight known as Lokum. If you are visiting Turkey then make sure you pack these for your relatives and friends.
The fragrant chewy jelly candy has various variation that also consists of chopped dates, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc. There are even different flavors including rosewater, orange, lemon mint, etc.
These candies and Turkish shops are rich in history as these have been produced since the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, while shopping for Turkish Candy, make sure you travel and look around different confectionary shops instead of bulk purchasing from a single shop.