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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you about Istanbul?

132 replies

IstanbulBaby · 14/06/2025 09:57

I know I am but I'm not getting responses in Holidays
We're going to Istanbul at the end of June. Two DC aged 8 and 3.
All recommendations welcome.
What clothes should we wear?

Apologies for the poll.
I suppose the q would be
Aibu to look for holiday advice in aibu
Yabu - not a suitable topic.
Yanbu - it gets the most views so why not

OP posts:
SocialEvent · 15/06/2025 10:29

Turkey is wonderful but I don’t think I would go for an holiday either personally because of Erdogan. Same for US until Trump is gone. I don’t think I would visit Hungary under Orban for the same reasons.

Holluschickie · 15/06/2025 10:26

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 10:21

For those having a problem with my post, may I ask you, as women, why are you happy to comply with covering up, aside from respecting the archaic rules, that belittle women?

I didn't cover up! How many years ago did you visit? Istanbul is full of women in tight minis and shorts.😮

ColinCaterpillarsNo1Fan · 15/06/2025 10:25

IstanbulBaby · 14/06/2025 13:58

Hammam is top of my list!
The hotel says they have a Turkish bath but I don't know if that will be the same

@IstanbulBaby
Book into the Hurrem Sultan Hamami which is in the square in between the Blue Mosque & Aya Sophia. It was built for Sultan Ahmet's wife, Roxanne, and was recently refurbished. It's amazing, well worth leaving the kids with dp while you get pampered.

https://www.hurremsultanhamami.com/en/about-us/

About Us | Hurrem Sultan Turkish Hammam

Click for detailed information about the history of Hürrem Sultan Hamamı, designed and built by Mimar Sinan, the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire.

https://www.hurremsultanhamami.com/en/about-us/

Cynic17 · 15/06/2025 10:23

Went 20+ years ago, but I loved it. Dress modestly, and carry a headscarf for if you plan to visit a mosque (which you should do, because they're absolutely beautiful).

SpanThatWorld · 15/06/2025 10:22

Yazzi · 15/06/2025 00:37

To what end, though? You're punishing regular lower/middle class Turks who work in the tourism economy; many of whom are themselves anti-government and have bravely protested as such (whether or not they would admit it to tourists, given the risks).

Boycotting Turkiye is certainly not hurting Erdogan, who will not suffer from a slight reduction in Western tourism.

Show quote history

People said the same all the years I boycotted South Africa.

Same answer.

If my friends aren't welcome somewhere, why would I go there?

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 10:21

For those having a problem with my post, may I ask you, as women, why are you happy to comply with covering up, aside from respecting the archaic rules, that belittle women?

Swiftie1878 · 15/06/2025 10:18

Reallyyyyyy · 15/06/2025 10:12

@Swiftie1878 there are loads of blue eyed blonde turks. What's with the weird comments! The more north you go the whiter, blonder and blue eyed the natives are also ffs.

Stop scaring the OP

Edited

Not trying to scare - simply to inform so that caution is in the OP’s mind.
We had a week-long terrible experience. I wish we’d been forewarned.

Reallyyyyyy · 15/06/2025 10:12

@Swiftie1878 there are loads of blue eyed blonde turks. What's with the weird comments! The more north you go the whiter, blonder and blue eyed the natives are also ffs.

Stop scaring the OP

Arafina · 15/06/2025 10:11

Fabulous place, my favourite city break destination so far

Holluschickie · 15/06/2025 10:11

Not only Istanbul. I travelled to Ephesus, Cappadocia and other places in Turkey on my own with no tour guide. Perfectly fine.

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 10:08

CandelabraCat · 15/06/2025 10:06

Istanbul felt very safe to me. Not sure where you’ve got this concern from.

Show quote history

😆 🤣

CandelabraCat · 15/06/2025 10:06

Dangermoo · 14/06/2025 13:10

I would be more concerned for my safety, as a lone woman in Istanbul than I would Boston. I'm sure you will try and twist that into something. You can just say it, you know.

Show quote history

Istanbul felt very safe to me. Not sure where you’ve got this concern from.

Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 10:02

Sundaymorningcalla · 15/06/2025 09:54

What was the point in even commenting then? Melt.

Dress modestly, if you show a lot of flesh you will get unwanted male attention.

Show quote history

Because it's an open thread. Melt.

Swiftie1878 · 15/06/2025 09:57

IstanbulBaby · 15/06/2025 09:51

Thank you. That previous comment made me quite nervous

Show quote history

You should be cautious, if not nervous.
PP has a Turkish DP. I assume you don’t.

Holluschickie · 15/06/2025 09:57

I went everywhere except mosques in longish shorts/ tees and did fine.

Holluschickie · 15/06/2025 09:55

Plenty of Turkish people are blonde and blue eyed.
My suggestions
Grand Mosque
Topkapi
Basilica Cistern
Emirgan Park
Bebek
Ortakoy
I hate malls but if you must then Kanyon mall can be a refuge.

Sundaymorningcalla · 15/06/2025 09:54

Dangermoo · 14/06/2025 10:09

Wouldn't touch the place with a bargepole. Not a useful opinion. Sorry.

What was the point in even commenting then? Melt.

Dress modestly, if you show a lot of flesh you will get unwanted male attention.

Original poster
IstanbulBaby · 15/06/2025 09:51

Reallyyyyyy · 14/06/2025 23:03

@Swiftie1878 what? My dh is turkish. We spend a lot of time in turkey. I am blonde and blue eyed as are 2 of our 4 kids. Apart from a bit of admiration, there's no more danger than any other country.

At most the will call your kids mavi gözlü Which means blue eyes and will coo over them.

Edited

Thank you. That previous comment made me quite nervous

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 15/06/2025 01:35

I find it more odd that you don't believe there is a large number of Turkish immigrants in Paris. @Jhound

Masmavi · 15/06/2025 00:48

Masmavi · 15/06/2025 00:42

You’ve either never been to Turkey or went last in 1980 😂

This to the person who said blonde and blue eyed kids were in danger

Masmavi · 15/06/2025 00:44

Frannieisnthappy · 14/06/2025 23:34

Just out of interest is there a best time to go so it is not too hot to sightsee? I love Turkey and have been to coastal resorts a lot but would like to plan a break with DD for the history.

May is lovely, September too

Masmavi · 15/06/2025 00:42

You’ve either never been to Turkey or went last in 1980 😂

Yazzi · 15/06/2025 00:37

SpanThatWorld · 15/06/2025 00:06

It is entirely possible to boycott Turkiye whilst not being anti-Muslim. ErdoÄŸan is a strong arm leader with much in common with Putin. I wouldn't go to Russia either.

Turkiye has an awful human rights record. More journalists in prison than almost anywhere else.
An unforgivable history of oppressing their Kurdish minority. Attempting to destroy Kurdish language and culture, labelling them Mountain Turks and attempting to assimilate them against their will. When the Kurds were the people having most success against Islamic State in Syria, the Turkish state was attacking them from behind.
Turkiye has never accepted that the mass murder of the Armenian people during WW1 constituted War Crimes at best and genocide at worst.

I would love to see Istanbul but not while ErdoÄŸan or his like are in power.

To what end, though? You're punishing regular lower/middle class Turks who work in the tourism economy; many of whom are themselves anti-government and have bravely protested as such (whether or not they would admit it to tourists, given the risks).

Boycotting Turkiye is certainly not hurting Erdogan, who will not suffer from a slight reduction in Western tourism.

Sasssquatch · 15/06/2025 00:26

Even old New York was once new Amsterdam

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 15/06/2025 00:19

Make sure you have your insurance sorted , I ended up in hospital ( not Istanbul but they wanted to send me there from Bodrum ) .

DH is going in Sept , he is looking forward to it and planning .
And the cats , obvs .

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