Wait, What? 10 Surprising Things About Türkiye

Before visiting Türkiye, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect — stunning mosques, ancient ruins, and, hopefully, plenty of veggie kebabs. But like most trips, this one served up more than a few surprises.

Here are 10 unexpected things that made me go, “Wait… really?” during my Turkish adventure.

10 Surprising & Interesting Things About Türkiye

1. Coffee isn’t just a drink — it’s a conversation with your future.

Sure, Turkish coffee is strong and delicious, but did you know it’s also a fortune-telling tool? After sipping your coffee, locals flip the cup over and read the patterns left in the grounds — a practice known as tasseography. Whether or not you believe your destiny lies in coffee sludge, it’s fascinating and super fun!

But here’s where it gets even more interesting: in traditional arranged marriage meetings, the bride-to-be prepares Turkish coffee for her prospective groom and his family. Instead of sugar, she might slyly add salt to his cup — a not-so-subtle way of saying “no thanks.” If she’s interested, she sweetens it as usual. Although arranged marriages aren’t quite as common today, the practice is still used for fun. The bride-to-be will add salt to the groom’s coffee, and he’s expected to drink it without complaint. This demonstrates his patience, tolerance, and ability to cope with life’s “salty” or challenging moments.

I attended a coffee workshop near Galata Tower, and the person leading it shared stories of his friends making the coffee really salty for their partners — it was a unique way to learn about local life and customs.

Wait, one more interesting thing. You might think coffee is the most popular drink in Türkiye, it’s not, tea is! Turks consume the most tea in the world — it’s estimated that one person drinks almost seven pounds of tea per year!

2. Cappadocia has nearly 50 underground cities.

Yes, cities. Not caves, not tunnels — full-blown, multi-level cities carved into rock beneath the surface. Some date back to the 8th century BCE and were used as hiding places during times of invasion. These subterranean cities were self-sufficient, featuring granaries, churches, stables, wineries, kitchens, and ventilation systems. Walking through the narrow passageways and ancient air shafts is like stepping into a real-life adventure movie; watch your head! Exploring them can be really cool, but if you’re really tall or claustrophobic, you might want to skip it or look from the outside.

4. Eating out isn’t a bargain.

Continuing with the food theme…restaurant prices were surprisingly very similar to what I’m used to paying in the US. It’s a common misconception that dining out will be cheaper in Türkiye — although prices in supermarkets are generally lower. On average, for lunch or dinner (for just myself), I spend about $15-$20. My highest bill was just over $30 for breakfast, which included a meal and a latte (that was probably more than I would pay in the US)!

5. Turkish Delights are ancient — and often vegan!

These chewy, sugar-dusted cubes have been around since the 1700s and are one of the oldest sweets still enjoyed today. Most traditional varieties are naturally vegan (no gelatin!) and come in flavors like rose, pomegranate, pistachio, and lemon. Be sure to double-check ingredients, but many spots still stick to the old-school, animal-free recipes. Generally, they are made of sugar, starch, chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts, or walnuts and flavored with fruits.

Unfortunately, regulations designed to help ease the overpopulation of cats and dogs haven’t been enforced by the government, causing serious problems. I saw a mix of cats and dogs throughout Turkey — some looked like they were doing ok, while others looked like they were on death’s doorstep. Dogs generally fare worse than cats, as they are culturally perceived as dirty. As dog populations have grown significantly, in 2024, the government passed a law requiring the removal of stray dogs from the streets, primarily through euthanasia. The move sparked outrage, with critics blaming the government’s failure to enforce previous animal welfare laws and spay/neuter programs.

To learn more about the issues with stray cats and dogs in Istanbul/Türkiye, check out this article from a local volunteer who has been caring for strays in Istanbul for years.

9. The overnight train from Izmir to Konya is enjoyable.

I was dreading the overnight train, not because I had heard bad things, but because my previous overnight train experiences hadn’t been so great. Before taking this overnight train in Türkiye, I had taken one from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and it wasn’t super enjoyable. Afterward, I thought, I will never do that again! However, this trip came up, and there was no other option.

For the overnight train, you will have your own shared cabin (which can be purchased just for yourself, although there are no guarantees) that includes two beds. The cabin also includes a small sink, fridge, and desk — pretty much all you need for 13 hours. The bed was surprisingly comfortable, but you’ll want to bring earplugs or noise-canceling headphones — it can be noisy. I didn’t get a ton of sleep, but the experience overall was good — it felt a little like an adult sleepaway camp.

10. Taxis are a frustrating experience.

My first morning in Istanbul started a little slow — I had arrived at 2 AM, and my first activity was scheduled for 10 AM. I figured I could sleep a little extra and then take a taxi to make things a little easier. I had read that taxis in Istanbul can be a bit of a gamble — taking people on unusual routes to charge more, not starting their meters, etc. To avoid this, I downloaded the taxi app BiTaksi and asked the hotel if it was a good option; they said yes.

About 30 minutes before I needed to be near Galata Tower (I was coming from the Old Town), I requested the taxi. To my surprise, it said one was only a few minutes away! Well, that surprise quickly faded as the minutes ticked by, and somehow, that taxi kept getting further and further away. After about 15 minutes, a member of the hotel staff came and took a look, saying something to the effect that’s the taxi system for you. He told me it was unlikely the taxi would show up anytime soon and that I should take his Istanbul Card and take the tram. I ended up doing that and avoided taxis for the rest of the trip.

I spoke with other locals throughout Türkiye about taxis, and they all shared similar sentiments — avoid them if possible.