Getting Your PDA On Turkey is a largely Muslim population and showing your affection in public can sometimes be frowned upon, especially in the more traditional neighborhoods. Make sure to keep your amorous moments private so that you don't have to deal with unhappy stares.
In addition to public drunkenness, public displays of affection are not customary in Turkey. While kissing both cheeks is a typical greeting, kissing on the mouth is considered private.
It is considered rude/disrespectful to chew gum whilst talking to someone of a higher status or at a formal occasion. Avoid sitting in any position that allows one's shoe to face another person. This is considered insulting. Similarly, it is inappropriate to cross your legs when facing someone.
The common greeting among friends and family is generally to give one or two kisses to the other person's cheek. It is polite to give a slight bow or nod to someone of authority (older or superior) as you greet them. Women may only give a physical greeting to other women (i.e. with a handshake or kiss).
Turks love to touch
You might see women holding hands with women, and men holding hands with men. However, there are subtle rules: all touching is below the waist. Touching someone's leg, for example, would be very inappropriate as it's considered a sexual gesture.
Turkey customs regulations prevent you from bringing drugs, weapons, firearms and radioactive substances into Turkey. What food can you take into Turkey and what can't you take to Turkey? There are some Turkey prohibited items such as fresh or packaged food, fruit, eggs, meat, dairy products.
Social Greetings
Turkish people often greet each other with a kiss on each cheek. If a Turkish person is greeting a grandparent or elder, it is customary for them to kiss the right hand of said person and place their head to the hand, as a mark of respect.
Although Islam allows for up to four wives, in Turkish civil law only the first wife has legal status. The so-called sister wives are mostly left at her mercy in the case of the husband's death.
Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation that has abolished polygamy, which was officially criminalized with the adoption of the Turkish Civil Code in 1926, a milestone in Atatürk's secularist reforms. Penalties for illegal polygamy are up to 2 years imprisonment.
Turkey is a largely Muslim population and showing your affection in public can sometimes be frowned upon, especially in the more traditional neighborhoods. Make sure to keep your amorous moments private so that you don't have to deal with unhappy stares.
Virginity is an important issue in Turkish society because of the position of virginity in both Islam and Turkish traditions and customs. As a result of the societal perspective of virginity, Turkish youth see virginity before marriage as an important judgmental value, especially for women.
Women in Turkey: Gender Equality
In Turkey, women are free. Free to dress how they want (no head scarfs required, except when entering a mosque), go where they want, drive, work, etc. On the surface, some parts of Turkey (parts of Istanbul and Izmir for sure) feel like Mediterranean Europe.
In most of the Western world, such as Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Latin America, it is very common to see people holding hands, hugging and sometimes kissing in public.
Yes, unmarried couples can share a room in Turkey. Actually it is forbidden for hotels to ask for a marriage license.
Overall, Turkey is very welcoming to female solo travelers. You need to use your common sense and listen to your gut if you feel uncomfortable or unsure about anything. If you're prepared and aware of local customs, traveling solo in Turkey is a piece of cake and as safe as anywhere else.
The legal age of marriage in Turkey is 18 and children can marry at the age of 17 with the consent of their parents or legal guardians. Children at the age of 16 can also marry, with special permission from the courts 'under exceptional circumstances and on vital grounds'.
Mean age at first marriage was 27.9 for males and 25.1 for females in 2020. Mean age difference at first marriage between male and female was 2.8 years. The province having the highest crude marriage rate was Adıyaman with 7.14 per thousand in 2020.
If you are married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years and your marriage is sustaining, you can apply for Turkish citizenship. If your spouse dies after your application, the requirement of unity of the family has no need anymore.
Do Turkish people use condoms? Condom is an effective family planning method commonly being used all around the world and also in Turkey.
“Dating” (in the Western sense of the word) is not common in Turkey outside of universities or large urban areas. There is a strong social expectation that unmarried people from opposite genders should not show interest or affection towards one another alone in public.
Physical Contact: Turks are generally quite open, tactile people. It is common for friends of the same gender to kiss during greetings, or hug one another. People are generally accustomed to seeing open affection between couples or children in public (e.g. hand-holding).
Materials deemed illegal under Turkish law are blocked as well, including sites related to child abuse, gambling prostitution, and other forms of obscenity. Sites that defame or insult Turkish leaders are often censored, as are any news or social media sites reporting on certain political issues.
Since 2011, the AKP government has increased restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and internet use, and television content, as well as the right to free assembly.