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'''Turkey''' is an extremely hitchhiking-friendly country. Your waiting times will rarely exceed 15 minutes on reasonably used roads, even off the main roads. On smaller roads, the first vehicle passing you is likely to stop for you. Also you're very likely to be invited for tea and food, and often also to home stays. Very few people speak English, while German might be a little bit more useful, especially in the east. However, it's essential to learn at least a few words of basic [[Eastern Europe phrasebook#Turkish|Turkish]], also for your safety. Turkey has a very distinct reputation, especially considering girlswhen it comes to female hitchhikers, but once you get on terms with the dynamics of interacting with Turks (likely only after you make your first mistake, though) you'll usually be fine. See the Safety Chapter below. Opposing to popular belief, it's not very likely (but happens occasionally) to be asked for money. If you feel your status as a free hitchhiker is unclear, make sure to say ''para(m) yok'' before you get into the car. On the other hand side this might offend drivers who genuinely want to help you and do not expect money. Hitchhiking at night also works well as long as you stand in a somewhat visible spot.

It's not very likely that drivers will ask for money, but it happens occasionally. If you feel your status as a free hitchhiker is unclear, make sure to say ''para(m) yok'' before you get into the car. On the other hand, this might offend drivers who genuinely want to help you and do not expect money. Hitchhiking at night works well as long as you stand in a somewhat visible spot. == Getting In Border crossing ==

Getting Obtaining a visa at the border is easy for most peoplenationalities, oftentimes and is sometimes even free. Refer to See [http://wikitravelen.wikivoyage.org/enwiki/Turkey#Get_in this articleWikivoyage] for detailed informationon visa matters.

There is one main border crossing each with Greece ([[Ipsala]]) and with * Bulgaria (** [[Kapitan Andreevo-Kapıkule border crossing]]). Going to * Georgia, you'll likely pass ** [[Sarp-Sarpi border crossing]] or through the smaller border crossing in ** [[Posof]] which requires a bit more patience and time as there's not that much traffic. Towards * Greece** [[Ipsala]]* Iran you might chose between ** [[Bazargan-Doğubeyazıt border crossing|Doğubeyazıt]] in the North and ** [[Yuksekova-Esendere border crossing|Yuksekova]] in the South and one east of Van. There are no border crossings with Armenia. For [[* Iraq#Iraqi Kurdistan|Iraqi Kurdistan]], there's two border crossings. ** Only one of them crossing seems to be open for foreigners, the one South south of Yuksekova. * Syria and Turkey have ** There are a number of border posts as wellcrossings, many of which might be but most are closed at due to the momentongoing unrest. The In peace, the busiest one is Bab al-Hawa, connecting [[Antakya]] with [[Aleppo]].

== Turkey has been getting a bad reputation for girls hitchhiking following the murder of [[Pippa]] in April 2008 and the presence of many disheartening stories, ranging from minor harassment (see Personal Experiences below) to near-miss murder/rape cases like the one [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] and the girl he was travelling with experienced in November 2011. While these things shouldn't deter anybody from travelling in Turkey, they certainly prove that there is a specific code of conduct different from any other country that needs to be respected in order to avoid unnecessary problems. It will take a little bit of travelling in the country first to get used to this different dynamic, so this will be the time to be extra cautious. Further good reading for girls and anybody else travelling in Turkey is [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html this blog]. Safety ==is always important while hitchhiking, so check the [[Hitchhiker's safety|Safety]] article before going out to wave your thumb!

Turkey has been getting What follows is a bad reputation list of general guidelines for girls hitchhiking following in Turkey. Remember, however, that you cannot fully master the murder different dynamics of [[Pippa]] in April 2008 and the presence social interaction, especially between members of many disheartening storiesopposite sexes, going from minor harassment (see for example Personal Experiences section) until you've been exposed to near-miss murder/rape cases like the one [[User:Zenit|Zenit]] and the girl he was travelling with experienced in November 2011. While these things shouldninital special attention you't deter anybody from travelling in Turkey, they certainly prove that there is a specific code of conduct different from any other country that needs to be respected in order to avoid unnecessary problems. It will take ll receive as a little bit of travelling in the country first to get used to this different dynamic, so this will be the time to be extra cautious. Further good reading for girls foreigner and anybody else travelling in Turkey is [http://youarealltourists.blogspot.com/2008/04/hitchhiking-guide-to-turkey-for-girls.html this blog]. Safety is always important while hitchhiking, so check the [[Hitchhikerpossibly made some beginning's safety|Safety]] article before going out to wave your thumb!mistakes.

While waiting beside the road, town-to-town minibus drivers (which can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all over) and intercity buses will flash their headlights or honk at you — to ask whether you'd like a ride (for a fee, of course). Don't be afraid to stop them and say "''Param yok'' (which literally translates "I don't have money"), it's ok?". A couple of hitchhikers did this when a bus stopped beside them to drop a passangerpassenger, and then they kept doing this everytime, and about 30% of the buses gave them a ride. Inside the cities, it's even easier; ask them politely and they will take you a bit further ahead.

You will never have to worry about lack of [[food]] in Turkey. Many truck drivers have coffee makers in their truck. Turkish people are very generous, and it is rare that you will get a lift without a driver offering you food. The food in Turkey is relatively cheap, and is very meat-based. There is also a variety of a good local produce of tasty sweets and snacks. The tea (black tea or apple tea in Istanbul) is ''the'' national drink, and almost all the people that you meet offer you a tea − this is probably the most common way of showing you their hospitable culture. A great way to reduce your bottled water costs, especially in the hot southern/Mediterranean coast of Turkey is to use free cold water dispensers, locally called ''sebil'' (pronounced ''saySAY-beel''), which can usually be found on the sides of the streets and mosque courtyards in less-touristed towns and neighbourhoods in Mediterranean Turkey. They look like small, white refrigators and usually have two faucets: red one delivers warm (or mildly hot depending on the weather) water, while the blue one offers comfortably cold water. Though the water coming out of the faucets is not from a commercially-bottled jar, and likely from the city water network, it's harmless and causes no stomach upsets. A way to reduce the risk may be allowing yourself a week after arrival in the region to get accustomed to local microflora and -fauna that may be present in the water and then taking full advantage of ''sebil''s.[[File:turkeyhitch.jpg|thumb|350px|[[User:Chael777|Chael]]<small>^{[http://www.velabas.com/ site]}</small> hitching south to Bodrum, April 2008]]

All towns in Turkey have an ''OtoGarOtogar'', a bus terminal. Most of these offer a warm and fairly safe place to spend a night. Nonetheless, be careful and try to place your luggage in such a way so that you are surely to be awaken in case if someone tries to take your things.

Smaller towns outside the main tourist areas have very cheap hotels, starting at 8 Lira8TL.

Outside of populated areas, almost every gas station has a prayer rom called a ''mescit '' (pronounced: mes''MES-jeet''), something like a small mosque, and it's a perfect place which are good places for sleeping. Just take be respectful respect of their religion, take off the your shoes, wash your hands and feet, and pay attention not to don't sleep by the wall where the ''mihrab '' (prayer niche) is. Don't ask gas station staff could if you can sleep there because they would will probably say no, although they use it for taking a rest, but once you are inside, nobody will disturb you.

Wild camping is pretty much possible, OK, and legal except in large urban agglomerations. Just be discreet, away from and keep out of sight of houses and roads. Private property such as farmland and oliveyards are technically off the limits, however but if you arrive late, break the camp early, and leave no trace of your stay (including removing any trash i.e. take your rubbish with you and do not damaging any damage crops), it is no problem at all to camp at those places. Beware of fires, though, as most of Turkey lies in Mediterranean climatic zone which is very arid in summer, most of the country's terrain is naturally covered with dry grasses in summer months. So while wild camping, try to avoid the temptation to build campfires; even cigarette butts that are not properly distinguished and disposed of can result in damages that you can't even dream of. Another thing to take note of while camping is the scorpions (''akrep'' in Turkish), especially in southern Mediterranean coast and in southeastern parts of the country—keep the zip of your tent and backpack always locked, check and shake your shoes before putting them on.