Is Antalya Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

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I spent four wonderful days in Antalya, Turkey in 2022, and the number one questions friends and family had for me was is Antalya safe?

In some respects I understand why people kept asking me is Antalya, Turkey safe? Fear of the “Middle East” runs deep in North America, and Turkey isn’t a common destination for Canadians.

Yet at least. I do see it becoming a more popular tourist destination for Canadians and Americans in the next decade.

Turkey seems very different from life in Canada, and there is an unfortunate amount of propaganda about Turkey and that region of the world being unsafe.

That being said, I want to give you my honest opinion as to whether Antalya is safe for solo female travellers.

The answer to the question is Antalya safe is an easy one for me to give. It’s yes. Absolutely.

Antalya is safe for solo female travellers.

It is very touristy and has a great tourism infrastructure set up. The city relies on tourism dollars quite a bit and has made the city very tourist friendly and very easy to navigate.

Of course, just because Antalya is safe in general that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways that Antalya can be unsafe.

There are a few things you need to know before visiting Antalya alone to make your trip as safe as possible.

But as long as you pay attention to your surroundings and use common sense, Antalya is safe and an amazing destination.

Seriously, I spent almost a month in Turkey, and Antalya is one of my favourite cities I visited in Turkey. It has an amazing vibe and is just as stunning in real life as it is in picture.

Overcome your fear of travelling alone

Is Antalya Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Just in case you skimmed or ignored the start of this post (I don’t blame you), I just want to reiterate that Antalya is safe for solo female travellers.

Antalya is one of the safest cities in Turkey and is a tourist hot spot. There is great tourism infrastructure, and, for the most part, locals look out for the tourists.

If it is your first time in Turkey or you’re a bit nervous about visiting Turkey alone, Antalya is the perfect place to start.

It is full of history, beautiful architecture, world class beaches, and mouthwatering food.

Antalya Safety Tips

Even though Antalya is a very safe city to visit, there are a few things you need to be aware of before visiting Antalya.

Being aware of these few things will help ensure you’re extra safe in Antalya and don’t run into any problems.

Antalya, Turkey

Taxi Scams are Common

Like many countries around the world, there are lots of taxi scams in Antalya. Most of the time, these scams centre around the driver not starting the meter.

When you get into a taxi, insist that the meter is turned on if your driver doesn’t start it immediately. They may resist but keep insisting.

If they still don’t turn it on, threaten to get out of the car, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly they turn the meter on.

Taxis are super affordable in Turkey so please don’t be tricked into paying an extremely high taxi fare.

Antalya also has an extensive public transportation system that includes an above-ground and below-ground metro system.

Honestly, Antalya was the only city in Turkey where I didn’t use a taxi at all.

It is very easy to get around Antalya just using their public transportation system. Including getting to and from the airport and bus terminal.

The ticket purchasing system for the metro in Antalya was quite confusing, so I recommend just tapping your credit card in and out. That’s what I did, and it worked like a charm.

Beware of Price Switching at Restaurants

This was the most frustrating scam in Antalya (and Bodrum).

This scam doesn’t change the answer to the question is Antalya safe, but it sure is something you need to be aware of.

Sadly, a number of restaurants in the old city (aka tourist hub) will advertise one price on the menu outside the restaurant, and then you’ll pay a whole different price when you get the bill. It is never much more, but it can add up over the course of your trip.

Plus it’s just a plain rip off and not a nice thing to do to tourists. Just raise your prices if you want to charge more.

It’s hard to know what restaurants will or won’t do this because you don’t know until you get your bill.

The best advice I can give you is to look up reviews of a restaurant you’re considering eating at on Google before you commit to eating there. If they have any surprise charges or incorrect bill charges, there will most certainly be reviews that include that information.

I had good luck with not having my bill overcharged in Antalya because I read reviews online.

The only time I had an issue was when I was in Bodrum and spontaneously chose a restaurant without reading reviews first. I guess I should have taken my own advice!

And if you do get a bill that you don’t believe is correct, bring it up to the waiter and ask for an explanation. You likely won’t get your bill changed, but at least you tried.

Or if you’re like me and hate confrontation, just pay the extra amount. It sucks, but you learned your lesson and hopefully won’t have that happen to you again in the future.

Antalya, Turkey

Internet Safety is Essential

Internet safety is one of the most overlooked safety precautions when travelling. People simply don’t think about it, and that is a big mistake.

When you travel, you rely on public wifi. This includes wifi at your hotel, the airport, and anywhere else you connect to wifi like a restaurant.

While public wifi networks are super convenient, they also put you at serious risk of having your online information and data stolen.

Just think how awful it would be to have your banking information stolen while you’re trying to enjoy a nice holiday in Turkey but now you have to deal with canceling your bank cards. What a headache.

The only way you can keep your devices safe when using public wifi networks is by installing a VPN on your devices.

A VPN essentially puts an invisible forcefield around your devices that makes it impossible for prying eyes to access your private online information.

It makes using public wifi networks as safe as using your home wifi network where you’re the only person who knows the password.

Installing a VPN is one of the easiest ways you can protect yourself while travelling.

My Favourite VPN

I’ve used a lot of different VPNs during my years of travelling, and, honestly, most of them are awful. Most VPNs are notorious for slowing down your internet speed and making your devices almost unusable.

A lot of the times I would turn off my VPN and put myself at risk of having my data stolen just because my VPN was so slow. And one time my banking information was stolen, and it was very much a headache.

All my frustrations with VPNs ended when I discovered NordVPN.

It is the fastest VPN on the market, and I’ve never noticed a slow down of my internet speed when using it. I’ve been using NordVPN since 2018 and have absolutely no intention of ever changing to a different VPN provider.

You can install your NordVPN subscription on up to six devices, so you can protect all your devices with one account. It is super convenient and easy to use with just a few clicks.

The best part is that NordVPN is super affordable.

You can purchase a two-year subscription, and it’ll cost you less per month than a single Starbuck’s latte.

That’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with using a VPN.

My philosophy is that if you can afford to travel, you can afford to protect your online information with a VPN.

Don’t Forget to Get an Esim!

Esims absolutely changed the way I travelled. You purchase an Esim online or through an app and download it straight to your phone.

Once you have an esim on your phone, you can use the data from it and access the internet wherever you are! There’s no need to remove your home sim card or purchase a physical sim card in Turkey.

You keep your phone number, so you can text your friends and family easily. After your trip to Turkey, you delete the esim with just a few clicks, and you can start using your normal data again or buy an esim for your next location.

My favourite esim company is Airalo. They have the most competitive rates, are the most reliable, and have coverage for the most countries.

Keep an Eye on Your Belongings at the Beach

I know you want to have a nice time at the beach, but as a solo traveller, you have to be really careful about leaving your belongings unattended at the beach.

For obvious reasons.

While 99% of people at the beach are honest and won’t bother your stuff, there is always that one person who would if they are given the opportunity.

So just use common sense.

Leave your expensive or important belongings at home. Only carry a little bit of cash on you, and don’t take anything to the beach you’ll be upset if you lose.

Have Your Passport on You but Keep it Stored Safely

This is another one of my tips that doesn’t really change the answer to the question is Antalya safe for solo female travellers?

However, I highly, highly recommend you carry your passport on you whenever you go out in Turkey.

You’ll need it if you purchase a bus ticket and sometimes when visiting a tourist sight.

There is also the possibility that you’ll be stopped by a police officer and be asked to prove you’re a tourist. They have every reason to stop you and ask for your passport, and it happens more often than you think. Especially when exiting public transportation.

I know a lot of people don’t like carrying their passport because they’re worried it will be stolen, and that’s a headache you don’t want to deal with.

I recommend you put it on the inside zipper pocket that is in basically every purse and most backpacks. Keep it as close to your body as possible, and it will make it nearly impossibly of pick pockets to get at if you’re pick pocketed.

Antalya, Turkey

Stick to Bottled Water

One way to have a terrible time in Antalya is by drinking the tap water.

Antalya is very warm- especially in the summer. You’ll find yourself reaching for water more than you probably do at home.

Please make sure you’re always drinking bottled water and avoiding tap water.

You should make sure you’re always drinking bottled water when you’re at restaurants as well.

You do not want to upset your stomach just because you didn’t want to pay for bottled water.

I know it isn’t the most environmentally friendly thing in the world but sometimes you just have to drink the bottled water for your health.

Things nobody tells you about travelling alone

Don’t be Drunk in Public

One of the biggest ways the answer to the question is Antalya safe can turn from yes to no is if you’re drunk in public.

Alcohol is totally legal in Turkey, and a lot of people (tourists and locals alike) drink. Beer is cheap and is super refreshing on a hot day.

The one thing you don’t want to do is overindulge and end up being drunk in public.

Not only is that incredibly unsafe- especially for a solo female traveller-, but it can get you into a lot of trouble as well if you’re stopped by the police.

Drink responsibly, and you’ll have no issue.

Please also use common sense when drinking in public. Don’t get into cars with strangers. Don’t accept a drink if it isn’t given to you directly by the bartender. And please don’t leave your drink unattended.

We love a girl who parties safely.

Talking About Politics is a Big No No

You may read up on Turkish politics before your trip and form opinions about it. Right or wrong, there is a polarizing political figure in power at the time I’m writing this.

No matter what your opinion is, keep it to yourself while on your solo trip to Antalya. Nobody wants to hear it.

For one, you’re a foreigner who has based their opinion off (likely) foreign journalists writing about it, and you have no first-hand knowledge of the issues.

Secondly, saying the wrong thing could likely offend the person you’re talking to, and they probably don’t want to be talking about it in the first place.

So, if you’re chatting with any locals, I suggest keeping the topics on the lighter side. Especially if it is your first time meeting them.

Antalya, Turkey

Activities in Antalya You May be Interested in

once in a lifetime

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you answer the question is Antalya safe for solo female travellers.

Overwhelmingly, the answer to this question in my opinion is yes!

Antalya is a stunning city, and I highly recommend you visit it. The beaches and water are gorgeous, the food is delicious (as long as you avoid “hidden” charges on your bill), and there is no end to the historical and cultural aspects to the city.

It is truly one of those special cities that has a little bit for everybody.

Is Antalya Safe for Solo Female Travellers?Is Antalya Safe for Solo Female Travellers?Is Antalya Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
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