I never pass up a chance to take christ out of xmas, so I bought some last-minute tickets to Turkey for the holidays and spent baby Jesus’ big day wearing a hijab in the Hagia Sophia. This is my fourth trip to Turkey and, at 21 days, also the longest so far. Which clearly makes me an expert or something.
My favorite thing about visiting other countries is diving into what the culture does well. It’s often small things that are easy to overlook, and you’ll never notice them if your top priorities are Insta-moments, booze, and burger joints. But go where the locals go to eat, shop, and socialize, and you’ll start to notice the real cultural treasures. Telltales signs: it will be nearly ubiquitous, affordable, and something most locals do/buy/use/make/eat regularly. Turkey is particularly rich in things done well, and at Erdogan’s new inflation rates, already-affordable greatness is now available at seriously discounted rates.
So here it is, the do-not-miss Turkish list of treasures that the herds of travel bloggers aren’t telling you about.
Salad with every meal. Order in a local eatery and you WILL get a salad and bread, if not some mezes, alongside your plate at no extra charge. I love this because I don’t have to think about which plate will give me my daily dose of veggies– they all do. Local eateries also have foreigner-friendly open kitchens, so you can point to whatever you’d like on your make-your-own plate, all for about 20-40 lira (currently USD 2 – 4).
Pedicures. Find an unassuming local salon and prepare to drop a shoe size. This is not just cream and color. They will literally sweep up afterward. About 80 lira.
Hammams. A mainstay of Turkish culture that the travel blog sheeple have certainly mentioned to you already. But did you know a lot of old homes and hotels have hammams too? Look for the steam emerging from the basement level of the building. Private hammams typically aren’t gender separated, which makes for better conversations, but you’ll miss out on the full-body scrubdown (think Turkish pedicure…for your whole body) by a beefy hammam masseuse.
No pet is stray. There are loads of dogs and cats roaming around Turkey, and you’ll notice they are all in pretty good shape and well behaved. And then you start to notice that nearly every local family puts out kibble for them in the evening, and your heart will be warmed.
Legit breakfast. I’ve always had a penchant for hearty savory breakfast cultures like that of Mexico, Thailand, and the southern USA. Turkish breakfast is a bountiful selection of scrumptious mezes, and best of all, the Turks aren’t morning folk, so the brunch vibes are real. All you croissants out there, stay in the afternoon where you belong.
No street poop. Maybe I’m just excited about this because I live in boorish France, but there’s no dog poo on the sidewalks, and relatively little street trash in general. Life as it should be.
Flavorful fruits and vegetables. Dem open air markets doe. From the pomegranates to cucumbers, what look like ordinary produce will surprise and delight you with flavors as flamboyant as their colors.
Nargile. Shisha bars in most other places in the world are…well, gross. Dark, dingy, regrettable. In Turkey, and much of the middle east, shisha is elevated. Classy canapes and luxurious lighting arranged just so for you to behold stunning views of the Bosphorus as you share and sip…it will ruin Western shisha bars for you in the best way possible.
Dessert. All the combinations of nuts, spices, sesame, honey, cheese, and flaky pastry you could ever desire. Special shoutout to halva, walnut baklava with cheese, and kunefe. Pro tip from a fervent chocolate lover: don’t get the chocolate flavored one.
Cohabitation. The Turks are a varied lot, and they are just fine with that. The most tangible example manifests itself in women’s dress. Seeing hijabs and ponytails bobbing down the street side-by-side, all smiles and laughter, gives me hope for the world.
Humane infrastructure. Whether you’ve traveled the world or just spent a day meandering through a big city, you have lived the irony of simultaneous illegal public urination and complete absence of public restrooms. Turkey has public restrooms everywhere–most notably attached to mosques. Also abundant park benches, public wifi, winding green spaces, outdoor exercise facilities, and even watering stations for wildlife and street pets. It feels like their cities were made for living things.
Built-in bidets. Us heathens in the west somehow expect thin, dry paper to get us fresh and clean. The Turks get straight to the point with a bidet built into every toilet. Look for the subtle nozzle peeking out from under the seat and the knob next to the toilet.
Squatty potty options. In the spirit of co-existence, nearly every public restroom and most homes have toilets for both sitting and squatting. They each have advantages worth discovering!
Loofahs. Pricey and typically overprocessed into something with a handle gets back to its roots. Turkish bazaars have loofahs straight off the plant by the bunches. Stock up for an at-home throwback to your hammam experience.
Raki. Full disclosure, I personally hate raki, but I know plenty of totally trustworthy folx who love it, and the chemical reaction alone is worth ordering it at least once.
I hope this list of cultural treasures inspires you to dig a little deeper on your nice adventure. Happy travels kidz.