Safe Travel to Turkey? Check This Out Before You Go!

Oct 11,2020 at 13:22

Need to spend a great holiday in a beautiful country in the Middle East where you can remain safe and comfortable? Choose Turkey as your main destination. While many westerners consider this country has similar safety and security issues as other Middle East countries, they might not know that this country has lots of safer and more comfortable places to enjoy for holiday. 

A journey to Turkey requires everyone to visit Istanbul in the first place. As the Covid-19 pandemic is gradually disappearing, lots of tourism spots are open to the public, though there are strict precautions in every place. It is important to notice that most places are not too crowded as they used to be before the pandemic, so it can be very excellent to visit lots of interesting spots in Istanbul. 

When some holiday spots are open to the public since June 2020, there have been lots of tourists, mostly from the European countries, who spent their summer vacation here. For sure, the government has made lots of preparation for the incoming tourists. Almost all public places are well prepared with strict regulations, related to the health issue during the pandemic. Besides, Turkey is classified as one of the safest tourism destinations so far, where some travelers still need to get through some strict health check. 

Among several countries whose tourists have visited Turkey include Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and The United Kingdom. The good news is, British citizens are allowed to make a trip without a Turkey visa to Turkey, 90 days at the maximum within the 180 days. This country also welcomes American tourists. Besides, they have not required a 14-day quarantine, nor even PCR test, unless any of those tourists show COVID-19 symptoms. But, there is a certain requirement for U.S. citizens, in which they should apply for Turkey visa if they plan to visit Turkey for less than 90 days. 

Getting Turkey e-visa is much easier today, thanks to the online visa service that everyone can access without leaving the convenience of the house. It takes less than 24 hours to get approval. 

Traveling to Istanbul Break Your Bank Account? Read This and Save Lots of Your Holiday Budget

Some people think that spending their holidays in Istanbul will break their bank accounts, as Istanbul is the capital city of Turkey. While it is true that Istanbul has everything that other cities don’t in Turkey, it is still proud of its amazing tourism spots that don’t require tourists to spend much of their money. 

The best thing to save a lot of money is by using public transportation for visiting certain spots. Sultanahmet is a highly recommended place to visit by walking, thanks to its magnificent panorama. The Sultanahmet also has such a clean and tidy square for enjoying the perfect summer. This place is also adjacent to Taksim that everyone can reach on foot by walking through the Galata Bridge. There are excellent sites for tourists, particularly in Tünel Square and Galata Tower.

Visiting museums is also one of the most recommended ways to enjoy Istanbul with a limited budget. Every museum has different free entrance days. It is easy to find them out on the official websites. Almost all museums charge no entrance fee every day, unless on Mondays as they are close. 

All in all, visiting Turkey doesn’t really require visitors to spend a high amount of money, even in Istanbui. There are lots of low-priced foods and handicrafts that most westerners can buy in bulks. 

Anything to Avoid in Istanbul?

Overall, Istanbul is very safe to visit, though the ambiance may be quieter during the past months. It is always recommended to avoid walking alone at night, even at the downtown where there are some nightlife clubs and cafes.

Anyway, there are certain ‘unwritten’ rules that many tourists, mostly from western countries, should avoid. Regardless of Turkey’s citizens who are from various backgrounds, there are certain rules that many people should follow. Tourists are not allowed to wear short pants, skirts, and sleeveless clothes on mosques. Women are required to cover their heads.  

Anyway, this place is considered more liberal than other countries in the Middle East. Parks in Istanbul is full of Turkish with very fashionable outings. It means, there is no limitation in wearing clothes in public places. As long as a woman doesn’t wear a set of bikini on parks or squares, it is just fine.

Another thing to avoid is riding a taxi without a taximeter. If the driver doesn’t turn it on, then it is better to cancel the trip. Many taxi drivers notice the passengers’ background. When they find out that their passengers are tourists, they might charge higher than usual. The same thing applies to tourists, who might want to buy handicrafts on street vendors. It is highly recommended to hire a tourist guide, so the street vendors don’t charge their handicrafts in higher costs than they are supposed to be.

Never Enough of Istanbul? Other gems of Turkey Are Waiting For You

It is not recommended to visit Istanbul only, because Turkey has more gems to explore for all visitors worldwide. Istanbul is always the first place to visit because Istanbul Ataturk Airport is the host of every flight worldwide. This is considered one of the busiest airports, especially in the Middle East and also in Europe. The cost of the flight ticket to Istanbul is also cheap. This is why, every tourist who wants to travel to some European countries will choose the connecting flight from this airport.

Besides Istanbul, Ephesus is highly recommended. This historical city is considered as the most popular among other archaeological cities. The ambiance is very unique with the highly preserved streets which recalled the Roman empire. Monuments in the city are already fascinating, thanks to the strong building structures that still maintain the ruins.

While Istanbul and Ephesus are must-visit places, Cappadocia is also worth your time. This is another outstanding spot, which is rich in natural sightseeings. It is much better to spend at least three days here to explore caves, hills, and even air balloon ride! Some places are much quieter than before, due to the restriction rules for certain countries in visiting Turkey at this moment.  If you have more time, then visiting some other places like Bodrum, Antalya, ÇeÅŸme is worth your consideration. These cities can offer such great pleasure with their serene surroundings.

So, why worry? Get yourself a Turkey online visa with the very fast and easy application process. Within less than 24 hours, you’ll get the e-visa and you can enjoy your travel to the one of the most extraordinary tourism sites in the world!

COVID-19 Update: Turkey has introduced a new health declaration form to help stop the spread of COVID-19. All persons traveling to Turkey will now have to fill out a Form for Entry to Turkey before entering the country. The form must be filled in within the last 72 hours before travel.

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