Culture Smart Turkey by Charlotte McPherson
This pocket size guide to the essential customs and culture of Turkey is a must read whether you’re coming to Turkey for the first time or plan to live here for a while. Unlike the usual guide book or personal travel narrative, Culture Smart Turkey contains a carefully thought out wealth of information about the cultural differences and complexities that make up Turkish life today.
The author Charlotte McPherson has been a resident of Turkey for more than 30 years. She knows what it’s like to be unfamiliar with the country and has useful tips and hints for settling in. From making new friends and socialising the Turkish way to navigating tricky cultural issues such as how to approach expressing differences of opinion and problem solving, she has it covered.
What you can learn from Culture Smart Turkey
Well-known customs such as taking your shoes off inside homes and mosques are mentioned, but more importantly Culture Smart Turkey provides the reader with valuable insights into the nuances of Turkish culture and society.
Having lived here for a long time and being trained in anthropology, McPherson is attuned to the less obvious markers of ‘Turkishness’, such as being aware that a Turk would rather lose a friendship than discuss a problem directly. This knowledge is shared in well-written and easily digestible sections on Turkish values and attitudes, the meaning of private life in Turkey and the role of the family.
In addition to practical chapters on travel, safety and money and so on, Culture Smart Turkey includes a short guide to doing business in Turkey. As anyone who’s tried to conduct business in a foreign country will know, it’s essential to be aware of what is and isn’t acceptable, whether it relates to body language or gender roles.
It would take years to acquire the cultural knowledge available in this conveniently sized gem of a book. Charlotte McPherson has done the work for you, explaining all the idiosyncrasies and intricacies a foreigner is likely to encounter when they go to Turkey. Benefit from her experience and knowledge by purchasing a copy of Turkey Culture Smart today.
Happy travels and Türkiye’ye hoş geldiniz!
Here are some helpful tips for planning your trip to Turkey
Before you even buy your plane ticket, check whether you need an EVISA. Here’s my post on everything to know before you take off, including how to buy one from the government website so you don’t pay extra.
Even if I never claim on it, I always take out TRAVEL INSURANCE. I recommend Visitors Coverage.
eSIM are the way to stay connected wherever you travel. I recommend Truely, an eSIM provider working with local telcos. You can buy it before or after you arrive in Turkey, a convenience other esim providers no longer offer and can opt for 1 to as many days as you need, instead of being limited to 7, 15 or 30 days. Plus you can reload as you need. Truely eSIM are straightforward to install and activate but if you have any problems their responsive Whatsapp customer service is available 24/7.
Use my code: insideoutinistanbul and get 5% off when you order through the Truely website.
ACCOMMODATION: When I want to find a place to stay I use Booking.com.
For FLIGHTS I like to use Kiwi.com. Once you land the next decision you’ll have to make is how to get to your hotel. I’m a big advocate of public transport, but know it’s not suitable for everyone all the time. When I need to be picked up from or get to Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Airport, I use one of these GetYourGuide AIRPORT TRANSFERS.
If you’re travelling alone, check out this post on useful solo travel tips Turkey for women (and men).
Now that’s all the practical stuff out of the way, here’s the fun stuff.
CITY TOURS & DAY TRIPS: Let me guide you around Kadikoy with my audio walking tour Stepping back through Chalcedon or venture further afield with Istanbul 50 Unsung Places, my bespoke guidebook. I know you’ll love visiting the lesser-known sites I’ve included. It’s based on using public transport as much as possible so you won’t be adding too much to your carbon footprint. Then read about what you’ve seen and experienced in my three essay collections and memoir about moving to Istanbul permanently.
Browse the GetYourGuide website or Viator to find even more ways to experience Istanbul and Turkey with food tours, visits to the old city, evening Bosphorus cruises and more!
However you travel, stay safe and have fun! Iyi yolculuklar.
