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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_phrasebookEastern 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.

[[File:CraigThumbingAsiaTurkey.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[User:Halt, Stop! Reudnitz kommt.|Craig]] hitching in [[Cappadocia]] en route to [[Malaysia]]]] Getting a visa Hitchhiking at the border is easy for most people, oftentimes even free. Refer to [http://wikitravel.org/en/Turkey#Get_in this article] for detailed information. 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 night works well as long as there's not that much traffic. Towards Iran you might chose between [[Bazargan-Doğubeyazıt border crossing|Doğubeyazıt]] stand 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 seems to be open for foreigners, the one South of Yuksekova. Syria and Turkey have a number of border posts as well, many of which might be closed at the moment. The busiest one is Bab al-Hawa, connecting [[Antakya]] with [[Aleppo]].  In 2008, [[User:Guaka|Guaka]] was refused entry by a border guard presumably expecting a ''baksheesh''. This appears to have been an isolated incident, thoughsomewhat visible spot.

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.

Following is a list of general guidelines for hitchhiking in Turkey. Remember, though, that you cannot fully master the different dynamics of social interaction, especially between members of opposite sexes, until you've been exposed to the inital special attention you'll receive as a foreigner and possibly made some enlightening minor learner's mistakes.*First of all, keep in mind that in Turkey there is widespread prejudice concerning the willingness of Western girls to engage in casual sex with random strangers. *Having said that, the biggest part of problems arise from the different conceptions of flirting in the West and in Turkey. In Turkey, making eye conctact, smiling and accepting compliments can all easily be interpreted as outright flirtateous behaviour. Another thing to watch out for is that Turkish men will test guys males travelling with girls a female to see how protective they are of the girls they're travelling withtheir female companion. This will always be in a somewhat playful manner, and hardly ever in a threatening way. One very important thing is that a guy man travelling with a girl woman should never let her sit next to a man other than himself. This cannot be stressed enough, as drivers will read from this behaviour that a) the guy has no claims in on the girl and don't really care what happens to her from this point and b) that the girl might be interested/easy.*Another important point, if one that goes somewhat without saying, is about clothing. Turkey is definitely not the place to hitchhike in hotpants and a tanktop, the least should be long trousers and a unrevealing t-shirt with sleeves down to your elbows. Anyone wearing less than this (apart from the Western coastal regions maybe) will usually be seen as a prostitute, and without the necessary language skills to explain women's rights over their own body you might get yourself into hassle you don't really need. If you want to be extra safe, you can also hitchhike with a headscarf and/or a long ("Iranian style") gown going down to your thighs and hiding your shape.*There is different things you can say about your marital status. If travelling with a guy, the classical story of the married couple can work well enough, but won't necessarily stop a determined guy from trying his chances. Also keep in mind that many truck drivers (but generally not drivers of private cars) know that foreign hitchhikers tend to lie about their status as married couples. This might actually encourage some truck drivers to try his luck even if in the first point they never intended anything at all. If travelling alone as a girl, it seems to be safer to say that you are unmarried - meaning, for most people, a virgin. The purity of virginity is widely respected and can provide protection. You can usefully combine both of these strategies (if travelling in a couple) by saying that you're cousins because a) you will be seen as a unmarried virgin, b) male relatives traditionally protect unmarried female family members and c) a cousin might at some point also have been picked by the family to be a future husband to the girl.*Something that plays into the dynamics of hitchhiking in Turkey as well are the mostly Russian/Eastern European prostitutes that can be found practicing their trade all over Turkey. As a girl hitchhiking, be it alone or in company, you will at some point likely be confused with one of the working ladies. As an effect of many of those girls being Russian, the words "rus" or "natasha" have come to mean "foreign prostitute". If your driver says any of those words, he's most likely asking if you're a prostitute. Make very very clear that you have nothing to do with this, say ''yok'' very clearly without hesitating, smiling, laughing, or any other even remotely flirtateous reaction. Be insulted. Likewise it's not a very good idea to say that you're Russian or even from any Eastern European country that could be associated with Russia, especially Ukraine. If the driver has understood that you're not a prostitute, he'll usually not bother you about it any more.*There is one main Turkish hand gesture that leads to confusion among foreigners. It is indeed extremely ambiguous, used in very different situations and complicated to understand in its context. It consists of the index fingers of both hands rubbed against each other back and forth. Some important meanings of it include casual sex, friendship, physical contact, geographical closeness of objects or places, money, etc. You see that the meaning can range from explaining how to get somewhere or explaining that driver is going close to your destination to asking for casual sex. Nothing more can be said than to use your common sense and not to be overly paranoid.*When it comes to accepting rides, listen to your intuition and don't worry about being picky. Remember that even if you say no to several cars you'll still not wait very long.*To finish, a brief list of useful vocabulary in difficult situations. Check out the pronounication guide in the [[Eastern_Europe_phrasebookEastern Europe phrasebook#Turkish|Turkish phrasebook]].:*''çok ayıp'' - lit. "big shame", the most useful thing to say if somebody is harrassing you (sexual or not.):*''Allah akşina'' - lit. "for Allah's love", i.e. for God's sake:*''bakire'' - "virgin":*''kuzen'' - "cousin", ''biz kuzen'' - "we are cousins":*''evli'' - "married"

In [[winter]], though, it can be quite cold in Turkey. As long as you stick to the south coast, you'll be able to have a swim in the Aegean any sunny winter day. On some places it's just hitching 100km north into the mountains and you'll see snow too! === Hitchhiking buses ===

When you hitchhike in this countryWhile waiting beside the road, people might try putting you on a ''dolmuş'' town-to-town minibus drivers (mınıbuswhich can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all over) and intercity buses will flash their headlights or bringing honk at you — to the ''otogar'ask whether you' d like a ride (bus stationfor a fee, of course). The dolmuş is the most common way of public transport inside and between cities & towns. These small buses that are advised Don't be afraid to be used for small distances will stop anywhere on the road even if you them and say "''Param yok'' (which literally translates "I don't signal have money"), it's ok?". A couple of hitchhikers did this when a bus stopped beside them to stop. Generallydrop a passenger, and then they kept doing this everytime, and about 30% of the buses gave them a ride . [[User:Sirrdc|Sirrdc]] also had great success hitchhiking on intercity buses. Inside the cities, it's even easier; ask them politely and they will take you a dolmuş costs between 1 and 3 Lirabit further ahead.

For larger distances buses (coaches) are more common. They provide reliable service and are pretty comfortable[[File:turkeyhitch. Free tea and snacks are generally served along the way, and the buses tend to stop in nice jpg|thumb|350px|[[rest areaUser:Chael777|Chael]]s<small>^{[http://www.velabas. Some drivers who pick you up as a hitchhiker may try com/ site]}</small> hitching south to convince you to take a bus. If you do end up on a bus they are relatively cheap although not as cheap as trains which are slower but more adventurous.Bodrum, April 2008]]

Of == Regions and Their Hitchability ==While in general it is fairly easy to attract a lift in Turkey, locals' view of hitchhikers vary across the transportation options which involve paymentcountry. In general, trains are by far the cheapest people in northern and inland regions of the country, especially if you are under 27, when you are entitled to a 20% discount on already cheap faresfriendlier towards hitchhikers. HoweverIf put systematically, as the network doesn't reach far and wide, most level of what is interesting ease to get a lift in Turkey is out various regions of rail coverage, though they are still a good bet if you need a night's sleep during the ridecountry is as follows in general, especially in inland regions where rail network is relatively denser.from easiest to hardest:

=== Hitchhiking buses ===While waiting beside :Southeastern Anatolia (usually the road, town-to-town minibus drivers first car passing by offering a lift) > North coast (which can be recognized by banners proclaiming town names all overBlack Sea Region) and intercity buses will flash their headlights or honk at you — to ask whether you'd like (one in every ten cars offering a ride lift) > Northwest/European Turkey (for a feeThrace) (most waits not exceeding 5 mins) > Inland steppes (Central Anatolia, of courselongest waits likely ~20 mins) > Northwest/Asian Marmara (South Marmara). Don't be afraid to stop them and say "''Param yok'' > Aegean Region > Southwest coast (which literally translates "I don't have money"Lycia), it's ok?". A couple > Rest of hitchhikers did this when a bus stopped beside them Mediterranean coast (expect waits up to drop a passanger, and then they kept doing this everytimetwo hours!), with eastern mountains (Eastern Anatolia) perhaps falling somewhere between Central Anatolia 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 aheadSouth Marmara.

== Food ==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 generousAs can be clearly seen, and it less touristy somewhere is seldom that you get a ride without , easier to attract a driver offering you foodlift there. The food in Turkey is relatively cheapThat being said, however, and is very meat-based. There is also a variety there are of a good local produce course helpful drivers on the highways of tasty sweets and snacks. The tea (black tea or apple tea in Istanbul) is ''the'' national drinksouth, and almost all the people that you meet offer you a tea − this is probably too, although they seem to be exceptions rather than the most common way of showing you their hospitable culturerule.

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'' * [[:Category:Antalya (pronounced ''say-beel''Province), 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|Antalya Province]]* [[:Category: red one delivers warm Çanakkale (or mildly hot depending on the weatherProvince) 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.|Çanakkale Province]]* [[File:turkeyhitch.jpg|thumb|350px|Cappadocia]] * [[User:Chael777Category:Muğla (Province)|ChaelMuğla Province]]<small>^{* [[http://www.velabas.com/ site]}</small> hitching south to Bodrum, April 2008Category:Southeastern Anatolia|Southeastern Anatolia]]

== Sleep Personal Experiences ==[[Finding accommodation|Hospitality exchange]] networks have many friendly members in Turkey, and they can help you with an accommodation.

All towns in Turkey have an ''OtoGar'', a bus terminal. Most of these offer a warm - Some recent thoughts and fairly safe place to spend reflections about hitchhiking Turkey as a nightsolo female at [https://anaimlesshitchhiker. Nonetheless, be careful and try to place your luggage in such com/2013/01/04/an-update-about-hitchhiking-solo-as-a way so that you are surely to be awaken -female-in case if someone tries to take your things. -turkey/ an aimless hitchhiker]''

Many truck drivers will have an extra bunk ''- 2020 february i hitchiked from Batumi border to Istanbul and 1200 km i did in 2.5 days (with sleeping in their truck cabin, nights). Just stick to main highways and they are usually happy to offer it to a hitchhikermake text with big city 300 km away. On the paid highway i got ride in 5 minutes..Also i seen alot of local youth hitchiking around''

== Cities ''- Hitchhiking out was really a hassle. It is easy to get a lift, but people do not understand that you need to follow the highway. They think you want to take a bus, and License plates ==thus it gets complicated. In other parts of Turkey I had a recorded message by Turkish friends explaining what I was actually doing and what I needed from drivers. I didn't have it when leaving IST, and it was a mistake. Get a Turkish friend to record a message on your phone which you can play to the drivers who give you a lift. It should say something like: "I'm from COUNTRY, and right now I'm hitchhiking from PLACE to PLACE. Can you help me with ride please??"

The first two numbers ''- 2 times I hitchhiked from Istanbul to Asia and once back to Europe. I didn´t have any map of the Turkish car plates indicate the city and I haven´t use any bus because hitchhiking from Istanbul is very easy. There are a car lot of cars and turkish drivers will not let you wait. If you are goning to Asia and you´re still in european part so the best spot is registered inprobably on the start of Bosphorus bridge. These are sorted To get out from 1 Istanbul you always need to 81 alphabeticallytake more cars(about 3-5 cars). This rule In this city you can use hitchhiking as a public transport, just raise you´re tumb and there is not applicable for villages a big chance that recently received the status of citiesyou´ll come forexample to city center faster than by metro.'' 

The number is given ''- My friend and I (both female) hitched through Turkey from the Greek border to Cappadocia and it was quite stressful. We never waited long for a whole provinceride and most of the people we rode with insisted on buying us chai (just tea) and meals. However, I would say that with about 90 percent of our rides we got our butts, boobs, or crotches grabbed, eor at least asked for sex. We had to make our driver leave us on the side of the road a lot in the middle of nowhere so that was kinda dangerous. And it took us about 10 hours to make it 25 miles from just before Istanbul to just past the city. People kept trying to take us into the city or someplace we didn't want to go.gWe were so glad when we finally made it out of Turkey at the Bulgarian border. [[Antalya]] It was an adventure though and [[Alanya]] I would recommend traveling through Turkey, just be aware that all of the other women standing on the side of the road are both 07prostitutes. It was all just a giant misunderstanding and a lack of respect, to some extent, on our part, as they for the local culture. When hitching here maybe you can learn how to say "we are situated just traveling and we aren't looking for sex may we still have a ride" before getting in a vehicle. For the same province (Antalya Province)record, our drivers always let us out when we told them too and nothing dramatic happened beyond the daily grabbings.''

== Regions ''- I have just finished my second two-week trip alone through Turkey just hitchhiking, and Their Hitchability ==my experience has not been at all like the above. I was quite shocked when I read it! I was traveling for long distances almost every day and I must have hitched with over fifty drivers – and only one of those drivers touched me apart from to shake my hand, and I was asked for sex twice, relatively politely, and both accepted no as an answer. I was treated with courtesy, respect, generosity, kindness, invites home to meet their families, and yes, tea and oranges. Also people kept buying me bus tickets rather than 'letting' me hitchhike on, which was horribly embarrassing! I think people who picked me up probably did consider that I might be a prostitute, but easily accepted that I wasn't judging on behavior. I suspect that experiences like the above depend on inappropriate behaviour or dress, or horribly bad luck. I don't speak Turkish, so sometimes it was a bit boring, which was probably the worst thing about hitchhiking. I would recommend not understanding the questions about whether you're alone or married- not speaking Turkish can actually help! And also be aware that Turkish women hitchhiking sit in the back seat of cars, same as in taxis.''

:Southeastern Anatolia (usually ''- I hitch-hiked with a male friend for 3.5 weeks in Turkey. We started from Istanbul, to Safranbolu, Yozgat, Malatya, Nemrut Daig, Cappadocia, Kalkan and back to Istanbul. I was asked to have sex with the first car passing by offering a lift) > North coast (Black Sea Region) (bus conductor after one in every ten cars offering of the bus conductor invited us to take us and he found out that my friend and I are just friends traveling together. Well, that's just a lift) > Northwestminor issue. We got picked up by an old man when we were hitch-hiking from Cappadocia to Nemrut Dagi. The old man had only 2 fingers on his right hand, and he was driving at the speed of 150 km/European Turkey (Thrace) (most waits not exceeding 5 mins) > Inland steppes (Central Anatoliah, longest waits likely ~20 mins) > Northwest/Asian Marmara (South Marmara) > Aegean Region > Southwest coast (Lycia) > Rest of Mediterranean coast (expect waits drinking tea and talking over the phone while my friend and I were sitting at the back! He drove us to a town nearby to do some sight-seeing and invited us to stay with his daughter's family! We ended up staying there for 3 nights. My fiend joined her husband to work while i stayed at home with the wife doing some traditional stuff! The hardest route to get a ride was probably from Antalya to Kalkan. It was late and no one wanted to two hourspick us up!)In the end, with eastern mountains (Eastern Anatolia) perhaps falling somewhere between Central Anatolia two guys who worked in a restaurant picked us up and South Marmara.sent us to our friend's doorstep!''

* [[:Category:Antalya ''- Summer 2012 we spent hitch-hiking around Turkey. Me (Provincemale)|Antalya Province]]* [[:Category:Çanakkale and my girlfriend have experienced a lot of hospitality from Turkish drivers and hosts. Many times they stopped on the road and they offered us lunch/dinner. Turkish men never hardly spoke to my girlfriend (Provincethey fully respect fact that woman is in relationship with other man)|Çanakkale Province]]* [[Cappadocia]] * [[:Category:Muğla (Province)|Muğla Province]]* [[:Category:Southeastern Anatolia|Southeastern Anatolia]] . Once whilst hitch-hiking the bus pull-over. We explained that we don't have money for payment - it was any problem. Another fantastic thing about hhiking in Turkey is you rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes, drivers pull-over their car on the highway and sometimes you just have to walk alongside the road and they will stop the car. Great experience, but I really recommend to go there as a mixed pair!''

:''My - A female friend and I (both female) hitched through Turkey hitchhiked from the Greek Georgian border to Cappadocia and it was quite stressfulIstanbul. We never waited long for a ride and most Turkey is one of the people we rode with insisted on buying us chai (just tea) and mealseasiest countries in the world to hitch rides. HoweverWait times, I would say that with about 90 percent of our rides we got our buttseven in bad locations, boobs, or crotches grabbed, or at least asked for sexrarely exceed ten minutes. We had The hitchhiking is so good that it pays to make our driver leave us on be picky about who you ride with: in Turkey you will have the side of the road a lot privilege to turn down truck drivers in the middle favor of nowhere so that was kinda dangerousfaster vehicles. And it took us about 10 hours Although slower, most trucks will stop to make it 25 miles from just before Istanbul to just past the cityoffer rides. People kept trying to take us into the city or someplace While hitchhiking at night, we didn't want were allowed to go. We were so glad when we finally made it out of Turkey at nap in the Bulgarian bordersleeping berths that long-haul trucks have. It was an adventure though and I would recommend traveling through TurkeyBe polite, respectful, just be aware that all of the other women standing on the side of the road are prostitutes. It was all just a giant misunderstanding and learn a lack few words of respectTurkish and you will have great experiences (free food, impromptu tour guides, beds to some extentsleep in, on our partetc.). However, for the local culture. When hitching here maybe you can learn how to say "we should be cautious if you are just traveling and we aren't looking for sex may we still have a ride" before getting in a vehicle. For the recordsolo female traveler, our drivers always let us out when we told them too and nothing dramatic happened beyond the daily grabbingsas even mild friendliness towards unrelated males will be misconstrued as flirtation.''

:''I hitch-hiked with a male friend for 3.5 weeks in Turkey. We started Hitchhiked along the Black Sea Coast from Istanbul, to Safranbolu, Yozgat, Malatya, Nemrut Daig, Cappadocia, Kalkan and back Georgia to IstanbulBulgaria. I Turkey was asked to have sex with the bus conductor after one of the bus conductor invited us to take us and he found out that my friend and I are just friends traveling togethereasy enough for me even for such a huge country. Well, that's just a minor There was no issue. We got picked up by an old man when we were hitch-hiking from Cappadocia to Nemrut Dagi. The old man had only 2 fingers sleeping on beaches or sleeping in fields on his right hand, and he was driving at the speed outskirts of 150km/h, drinking cai and talking over the phone while my friend and towns (I were sitting at the back! He drove us to a town nearby to do some sight-seeing and invited us to stay with his daughter's family! We ended up staying there always asked for 3 nightspermission off of security guards etc. My fiend joined her husband which most private property had). The cities are really big though due to work while i stayed at home with the wife doing some traditional stuff! The hardest route big populations, walking out of them can take ages, especially Istanbul which is very difficult to get a ride was probably from Antalya to Kalkanhitchhike out of. It was late and no one wanted to pick us up! In Turks are super proud too for the end, two guys who worked in a restaurant picked us up most part so don't offend them and sent us to our friendalso don's doorstep! Traveling in Turkey by hitcht urinate on the side of the road unless you are certain no-hiking rocks! I never hitch-hike before but my friend has been hitch-hiking since he was 9!one will see (its definitely not acceptable)''