Is Turkey safe for solo female travellers?

Last Updated on February 20, 2026 by Lauren Allen

Turkey is a country full of beauty. From the chaos of Istanbul to the mesmerising views of Cappadocia and everything in between. It’s a country I believe everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime, but is Turkey safe for solo female travellers?

If you’re like me and enjoy travelling alone, that is something that you consider before every single solo trip you take. This post will get straight down to the nitty-gritty and explain exactly how I felt as a female visiting Turkey alone.

Is Turkey safe for solo female travellers?

Before travelling to Turkey, I was met with a few questions…

Is Turkey safe for women?
Why are you going alone?
Are you worried about unwanted attention?

Now, this whole post will share my thoughts on solo travel in Turkey, but let’s answer the other questions outright.

Why do some people choose to travel alone?

I’ve been travelling alone since the age of eighteen. Back then, I’d head off on cross-country trips in the UK, following my favourite band on tour and meeting up with friends across the country. Then at the age of 22, fresh out of university and craving a holiday, I spent 5 days drinking sangria and exploring the sights in Barcelona.

It was during that trip that I gained a whole new love for travelling by myself. As a young woman, it’s empowering to step foot in a foreign country alone. What’s even better is knowing that for the duration of your trip, you can do what you want to do, whenever you want to do it.

Fancy a lie-in? Fine. Want to get up at the crack of dawn to watch the sunrise? Also fine. The choice is yours…

Many people choose to travel alone because of the freedom that comes with it. There is nothing quite like enjoying a foreign country on your own terms. Plus, it gives you more opportunities to meet like-minded travellers who share similar interests. How fab is that?

Do females get a lot of unwanted attention in Turkey?

This is another question that came up, but it felt more like a warning. Some countries in the middle east (and beyond) have a bad reputation when it comes to hassle. Due to this, women are often told to be careful and cautious, especially if they happen to be travelling by themselves.

For example, when I decided to head to Morocco alone for two weeks, everyone thought I was crazy. They had read horror stories years ago about how “unsafe” it was and begged me not to go. Despite this, Morocco fast became my favourite country in the world. Even with the hassle.

So when I touched down in Istanbul, I expected it to be similar to my time in Morocco. Things like marriage proposals and unwanted glares wouldn’t have surprised me. However, travelling alone in Turkey wasn’t anything like it was in Morocco. Even as I strolled around the Grand Bazaar, I was left alone to shop at my own pace (for the most part).

Now, this isn’t to say that women don’t receive any unwanted attention at all. There were a few times Turkish men offered to take me out for dinner and asked me not to “break them” when I said no. One waiter even touched my bum (ew), BUT, that was just a small minority. It would be wrong to taint all men in Turkey with the same brush.

There were many occasions during my trip when it was clear the locals just wanted me to have fun. They had no malicious intent and truly wanted me to enjoy their country.

Read more: What solo female travel in Morocco is REALLY like

Are Turkish people friendly?

Turkish people are not only super friendly, but they are also welcoming. Tourists play a huge part in their economy, bringing billions of pounds into the country each year. This means they want visitors to have an amazing time so they keep coming back for more.

Is Turkey a safe country?

Generally speaking, Turkey is a very safe country. Especially in the typical tourist areas. However, there are parts of the country that you should avoid. For example, travellers should not venture within 10km of the Syrian border. It has also been advised to avoid travelling to Diyarbakir, Tunceli and Hakkari unless it is for essential travel.

Note: This information was correct in May 2022, check the gov.uk website for up-to-date information.

Tips for staying safe in Turkey as a solo traveller:

Use your common sense

Using your common sense whilst travelling is key, but even more so if you are travelling alone. Having no one to look out for you means you need to be on constant alert. Don’t disclose personal information (such as where you are staying) to strangers and don’t share your current location on social media. Wait until you have left. On that topic, don’t travel to places that are deemed unsafe for tourists.

Dress respectfully

Ensure you respect the locals by dressing with respect. For example, don’t wear shoes in mosques and make sure you cover your shoulders and knees. For the most part in Turkey, people don’t seem to be offended if you show a bit of flesh in public but make sure you stay considerate.

Keep an eye on your belongings

As always when you travel, you should keep an eye on your belongings. Most of the top tourist destinations across the globe can become hot spots for pickpocketers and petty crime. Don’t flash your gadgets and make sure you have a sturdy bag to keep your things in.

Purchase travel insurance

Before you depart on your trip, make sure you get travel insurance. This will ensure you are covered on the off chance that something does go wrong. For example, if you lose something or injure yourself in some way whilst on the road, it will then be covered.

Check the foreign travel advice website

Always check the foreign travel advice website before travelling to any new country. This shares up to date information about any risks, tips and tricks for tourists booking holidays to any destination. Click here for their full recommendations on travelling to Turkey.

Consider your experience

Turkey can be a little overwhelming sometimes. If you are yet to travel overseas alone, you may want to consider going elsewhere first. Whilst Turkey is very safe, the culture is different to the UK or USA. If that isn’t something you are used to, it might come as a bit of a shock.

If like me you have travelled extensively alone, it’s likely that you will be absolutely fine! Go ahead and book that flight…

The best places to visit in Turkey for solo female travellers:

Now that we have established that solo female travel IS safe in Turkey, where shall you go? There are many amazing places to explore, but from my personal experience, these spots should be added to your Turkey bucket list:

Istanbul

Istanbul is extremely chaotic, but that’s what makes it fun. In a city of 20 MILLION people, it’s not surprising that many people won’t bat an eyelid at a woman travelling alone.

There is so much to see in Istanbul that you could easily spend a week in the city visiting museums, wandering around mosques and eating delicious food. Checking out the nightlife is also a must as Istanbul is home to some of Turkey’s very best bars and clubs. Travelling solo needn’t stop you as from personal experience, it’s quite likely you will meet some fellow travellers.

Cappadocia

Ah, Cappadocia… Known as The Land of Beautiful Horses, this is one of the most breathtaking places in the world. Many people come here to ride in hot air balloons, stay in a cave hotel, visit underground cities and see the world-famous fairy chimneys. As a woman travelling alone, I felt incredibly safe here. Even come nightfall.

The only thing that you really need to consider when travelling alone in Cappadocia is how you will get photos. With so many Instagrammable locations in the region, you are bound to want to get good snaps. The best way to do this as a solo traveller is to either hire a photographer (like I did) or take a trusty tripod. That way, you can get some banging travel photos to look back on for years to come. Result!

Izmir and Ephesus

Located on the coast, Izmir is the ideal spot to unwind after the chaos of Istanbul. Here you can watch beautiful sunsets with a beer, appreciate the cool street art and head to Ephesus to admire ancient ruins. With such a large student population, Izmir felt worlds apart from Istanbul and Cappadocia, making it a must-see in my opinion.

Final thoughts on is Turkey safe for solo female travellers?

So, is Turkey safe for solo female travellers? Absolutely! I travelled around the country for 10 days, stopping in several locations and had the time of my life. Whilst there were a couple of instances where I felt (just a little) uncomfortable, I felt completely safe travelling alone in Turkey as a woman.

If you’re dreaming of shopping in the Grand Bazaar or horse riding through the valleys of Cappadocia and have nobody to go with, just go alone! You will regret it if you don’t…

Has this post made you feel more at ease about solo female travel in Turkey? Let me know in the comments section below!

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