Is Turkey safe for independent travellers?
Most mainstream Turkey trips are manageable, but safety is not one story. The practical friction sits around tourist-zone scams, taxis, crowds, nightlife, political/current-advice checks and regional route choices.
Answer
For the usual Istanbul, Cappadocia, Aegean and coast routes, Turkey is generally a practical independent-travel destination. The issues travellers actually discuss are often ordinary but annoying: taxi friction, inflated offers, crowd pressure, nightlife caution, traffic and tourist-zone scams. That should not be confused with the whole country being risk-free. Regional security, protests, border areas, earthquakes, wildfires and official advisories can change the calculation. The sensible approach is calm and current: use official advice for route decisions, keep routine city awareness, and do not let one pushy interaction define the country.
Recheck before you go
Conditions can change. Check current official advice before you travel.