Istanbul is an excellent destination for someone who is new to solo travel because there are so many incredible places to visit, dishes to sample, and attractions to see. Apart from the abundance of things to see and do, Istanbul is an excellent destination for a solo trip because it is breathtakingly beautiful and very easy to get to and travel around.

Although it is safe to travel alone in Istanbul, and many GAFFL users have planned solo trips there, it is important to remember that crime can occur anywhere if you are not cautious and enter dangerous areas or situations. You will be fine if you carry yourself confidently, use common sense, and are aware of your surroundings.

Istanbul can be a very affordable country for solo travelers, especially if you plan ahead of time and make the appropriate budgeting decisions. If you don't want to go out for food all the time, there are many local markets where you can buy fresh produce, cured meats, and vegetables.

You can save money by staying in a low-cost hotel or hostel and splitting your expenses with other travelers. A hostel can be a great place to meet new people if you are traveling alone, but you can also use GAFFL to connect with other travelers in Istanbul, share costs, and travel together to save money on your solo trip to Istanbul.

- Always let a friend or a family member know where you are & share your location with them via your mobile device.
- Download an offline map and mark all the places you want to go ahead of time so you can navigate effectively.
- Learn essential phrases in the local language so you can react quickly in an emergency.
- It is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance when traveling alone. You never know what is going to happen. This typically includes medical and transportation insurance, as well as trip cancellation and hotel burglary insurance.
- Just because you're traveling alone doesn't mean you can't take great pictures. Bring a tripod and take some amazing self-portraits.
- Go out and meet locals and make new friends! You can also meet travelers and locals in Istanbul on GAFFL.

Solo trips with GAFFL are self-guided. Traditionally, tour companies will plan everything for you and put you in groups with other people. Trips on GAFFL are 100% self-guided. A trip can be started by any traveler who has a potential itinerary. If you like a solo trip on GAFFL, simply connect, then use the real-time chat to plan something together, meet up, and travel.

With a GAFFL membership, you can connect with unlimited solo trips in Istanbul for free. GAFFL does not plan any trip for you. We help you connect with like-minded travelers and after getting connected, you plan everything with your trip mates.

GAFFL is the best website/app for solo travelers looking for travel companions online because we prioritize our travelers' trust and safety.

Travelers on GAFFL go through a multi-step verification process that includes phone, social, and government ID verification, so you can be confident in your potential travel companion. You also have the option of connecting or not connecting with anyone you want. On GAFFL, you have complete control over who you travel with.

Absolutely! Think about hiking the Grand Canyon. A traditional tour company will charge you thousands of dollars to put you in a group to hike the Grand Canyon together. On GAFFL, you can just search for Grand Canyon National Park, find a trip you like, connect, plan, split costs, and hike together. You do not pay anything extra for trips and also save money if you decide to split costs with your trip mates.

GAFFL can potentially save you up to 70%-90% on your trip costs to Istanbul.

A two-week trip to Istanbul with a traditional tour company can cost thousands of dollars. When you connect with a solo traveler on GAFFL and split costs for things like rental cars and lodging, you are not paying any additional fees that are typically associated with tour companies, and by splitting costs, the overall cost per person is significantly reduced.

No, trips on GAFFL are not operated by group tour companies. Our trips are 100% self-guided and user-generated.