Safety Tips for Travelers to Turkey

Last updated: January 2025

Turkey is among the most-visited countries in the world, filled with great history, great landscapes, and great cultural variety. Overall, Turkey is a very safe country; yet, as with any other destination, it will always be prudent to know one's surroundings and to take some sensible precautions against theft, loss, or any other unforeseen problem. Below are essential safety tips for travelers in Turkey, Travel confidently with these essential tips! From staying alert in crowded areas to understanding local customs, ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. Don’t forget to check if you need a Turkey eVisa—read this blog for all the details!

Stay Up-to-date with the Current Situation

Before making a trip to Turkey, it is always advisable to check with any kind of travel advisory from the foreign office of your country. While Turkey is generally safe to travel for tourists, some parts, especially the regions near the Syrian border, may turn out to be more volatile due to political unrest or military action.

Follow Local News: Always follow local news when in Turkey so you would be updated about disruptions or issues that may arise from protests, strikes, or natural calamities.

Health and Emergency Information

Ensuring your health and knowing what to do in an emergency is important, as follows:

• Health Insurance: Have travel health insurance. For specific health emergencies, Turkey has a good network of private hospitals in major cities, but treatment costs can be very high for foreigners who don't have insurance.
• Bottled Water: Tap water is not toxic in most places in Turkey but to avoid the possible stomach problem, it is better to drink bottled water.
• Vaccinations: While there are no particular vaccinations needed in Turkey, it would be good to keep your usual vaccinations up to date.

Emergency Contacts and Local Authorities

This will be useful in case of emergencies while in Turkey. Emergency Numbers include:

• Police: 155
• Ambulance: 112
• Fire Department: 110
• Tourist Police in Istanbul: +90 212 527 4503-They know multiple languages.

Embassy Contact Information: Always carry with you in your wallet or purse the contact details of your country's embassy or consulate in Turkey. They can help in most emergencies, such as lost passports or legal issues.

Be Aware of Common Travel Scams

Just like most places with a high influx of tourists, some scams do occur in Turkey. Here are several common ones to watch out for:

• Overpriced Taxis: Always ensure that the meter is turned on when getting into a taxi or pre-negotiate your fare for your trip. Also advisable would be to use authorized ride-hailing apps to avoid inflated prices. 
• Fake Guides: In these highly touristic areas, like Istanbul, there are those guys hanging around who approach you with their services as your "guide" and afterward ask you for incredible amounts of money from you. Always use licensed tour guides or book tours through trusted agencies.
• Street Vendors and "Friendship" Scams: Beware of very "friendly" strangers who would invite you to tour a shop or restaurant. Beware if they try to compel you to buy high-priced items.

Take Basic Safety Precautions

Though most of Turkey's tourist areas are fine, it is good to take general precautions in these respects:

• Stay in Well-Lit, Busy Areas: Stick with major tourist areas, especially after dark. Avoid poorly lighted or deserted streets, mainly in areas you are not conversant with.
• Protect Your Possessions: Pickpocketing may pose a problem in areas with street markets, public transportation, or tourist hotspots. Place your valuables in secure bags and resort to anti-theft backpacks or money belts to safely store cash and key documents.
• Not Flashing Valuable Items: One should not draw people's attention by showcasing expensive accessories, gadgets, or large sums of money.

Respect for Laws and Local Customs

Knowing the local customs and respecting them is not only a form of politeness but also plays an important role in ensuring one's safety, thus:

• Dress modestly in Religious Areas: Dress modestly at mosques or other religious places by covering your shoulders and knees. Women may be required to put on a headscarf when entering mosques.
• Alcohol Consumption: Even though alcohol is legal in Turkey, it would be better to remain quite conservative about drinking in open areas, at least outside the major tourist areas. Public drunkenness is disapproved of.
• Observe Ramadan: If traveling during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, be considerate that many locals will be fasting from sunrise to sunset. While not obligatory on tourists, it's respectful to not eat and drink in public places during this time.

Traffic Safety in Turkey

Traffic accidents may be a concern, especially in larger cities like Istanbul, where the driving habits may be more chaotic than tourists are used to:

– Use Pedestrian Crossings: Avail of marked pedestrian crossings and wait for traffic to come to a complete halt before crossing busy streets.

– Public Transport Safety: Public transport within Turkey is generally safe and efficient, especially within tourist areas like Istanbul. However, travelers should be aware of crowded buses and trains, where pickpocketing can be a problem. 

– Driving in Turkey: If you plan to drive a car, you might find that driving standards in Turkey differ from those in your home country. Be extra careful when driving on rural or mountain roads.

Women Travelers' Safety

While Turkey is generally a safe destination for female travelers, there are some extra considerations to take into account for women traveling in the country:

• Dress Conservatively: While Turkey is a secular country, it's advisable for women to dress conservatively, particularly in conservative or rural areas. Of course, in liberal Turkish cities like Istanbul, you will see it all; but erring on the side of caution can prevent unwanted attention.
• Solo Travel: In the case of solo female travelers, it is recommended to be extra careful, mainly at night. It is always advisable to stay in well-lit areas and use reliable transportation.

Natural Hazards and Weather Concerns

Due to its diversity in climates and topographies, there is indeed a set of possible natural hazards to take note of when in Turkey:

– Earthquakes: Earthquake-prone Turkey-a country whose serious ones actually don't occur very often. Still, learning earthquake protection measures can prove very helpful if staying in cities like Istanbul, located on seismic fault lines.

– Extreme Weather Conditions: It does get very hot during summer, especially inland. Remember to keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of fluid, to put on sunscreen, and not to stay under the sun too long.

Avail Reputed Accommodation

Being able to stay in proper accommodation can bring much improvement in your safety factor. Some of the ways to make sure that you avail proper and reputed accommodations are as follows.

• Check Reviews: Always check online reviews for hotels, hostels, or Airbnb listings to ensure they are reputable and in safe areas.
• Secure Your Room: Avail the in-room safes for your valuables, and always lock the doors and windows whenever you leave the accommodation.

Disclaimer: This article is intended as a general guide and does not constitute professional travel advice. We encourage you to research and plan your trip accordingly, taking into account your individual circumstances and needs.