Common Stereotypes All Turks Hate

Camels
Camels | © Neptunecloud/Flickr
Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

Every country has its well-known stereotypes and Turkey definitely has its fair share of faulty assumptions when it comes to its culture and traditions. From men with moustaches that only wear Fez hats to the exaggerated notion of its conservative values, here are some common stereotypes that all Turks are not so fond of.

Turkey is a Very Conservative Country

It’s true that Turkey is a mostly Muslim country with a lot of very conservative people, however, like the dual nature of all things, Turkey also has a lot of very liberal people. For example, in Istanbul, some neighbourhoods like Fatih are very conservative, while others like Galata or Arnavutköy are full of trendy bars, restaurants, and art galleries. Similarly, cities in the inland regions are relatively conservative, while the coastal regions are mostly liberal (especially Izmir). What’s true about Turkey is that it’s a mixture of everything, western and eastern, modern and traditional, liberal and conservative, so focusing solely on one section of the population is not fair.

Woman in a burqa

Turkish Cuisine Consists Mainly of Kebab

This is one of the most offensive stereotypes for many Turks because of their love for Turkish cuisine and its multitudinous dishes. Turkey has many different regions all of which have their own variety of ingredients (due to geography) and cuisines as a consequence. As such, the richness of the Turkish kitchen is undeniable and it’s narrow-minded to ignore all that and focus on the kebab. Yes, the kebab in Turkey is excellent, but there’s also a whole world of meze varieties, fresh fish, vegetable dishes, desserts, sweet and savoury pastries, soups, and roasts plus we haven’t even mentioned the myriad of recipes that were developed in the imperial Ottoman kitchens…

Turkish Food

Turks Ride Camels

We’re not sure where this stereotype came from but nearly as ridiculous as saying that Australians ride kangaroos. It’s actually tourists that ride camels in Turkey as a fun attraction is some regions, but we can definitely say that camels are not a popular form of transportation. Turkey doesn’t have deserts and so the few camels that are around are not native to the country. However, there is one interesting camel-centric event that takes place every year and that’s the camel wrestling league. Yes, the camel wrestling spectacle does travel through many villages every year from November until March.

Camels

Turkish Films are Just Cheap Remakes of Hollywood Movies

Ok, so this stereotype is partially true because there was a time when Turkey was making very cheap remakes of Hollywood films. This particular era of Turkish cinema was called Yeşilçam, and directors, who didn’t have the resources (financially or materially) had no choice but to make low-budget remakes of Hollywood films in order to make a living. The results are truly legendary Turkish versions of many films from Star Wars to E.T., and much more, which have become cult classics. However, to say that Turkish directors haven’t accomplished anything since, is quite insulting, because the Turkish film industry has grown considerably since the Yeşilçam days. We’re talking about directors such as Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Fatih Akın, Deniz Gamze Ergüven, and Ferzan Özpetek whose films have won international awards and placed Turkish cinema on the world map.

‘Winter Sleep’ Nuri Bilge Ceylan
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.