Is Istanbul Safe? Top Istanbul Safety Tips

 

Since my first trip to the city, back in 2004, I keep telling people that Istanbul is one of the most incredible cities in the world. Partly in Europe, partly in Asia, the city oozes charm, has history aplenty and many neighborhoods have their own character and unique attractions.

More recently, though, the city experienced some attacks that raised again one of people’s main concerns: is Istanbul safe?

Back in 2016, at the height of the crisis in neighboring Syria, there were some terrorist attacks that made potential tourists cancel their trips to the city, afraid of Istanbul safety levels and wondering whether Turkey is a safe country.

Having traveled to the city over 20 times and lived for over a year, I want to talk about safety in Istanbul.

If you’re planning to explore more of Turkey, you can find additional safety tips here. I hope I can help you enjoy your trip to the city without being paranoid from the moment you land on your return home.

Safety In Istanbul

Being the largest city in Turkey and the capital of three ancient empires, there are many things to do in Istanbul.

It is one of the largest cities in the world, the largest on the European continent and one of the world’s major flight hubs, thanks to Turkey’s national airline.

A few years ago, there were some attacks in the city, two of which happened while I was around.

Despite that, I kept traveling back there, because I was quite relaxed that Istanbul is a safe destination.

Mind you, at the same time, there were attacks taking place in major European cities.

But somehow, people are more concerned about safety in Istanbul than in places like Paris, London and Berlin, which also suffered attacks that year.

Contrary to many people’s perception, Istanbul is a very open-minded city. Turkey, for once, is a secular country.

There is no dressing rule or a strict dress code. You dress as you wish, and that obviously applies to women, as well.

You can also walk around with your mobile phone in hand without worrying that someone will snatch it from you.

Of course, like in any large city, beware of pickpockets and of scams. Both can happen anywhere in the world, so my advice shouldn’t make you concerned about Istanbul safety.

Read Also: The best cities to live in Turkey

Is Istanbul Safe To Travel Now?

Istanbul is safe to travel to pretty much any time. So yes, it is safe to travel to Istanbul now. Violent crime is rare.

To put things into perspective, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime‘s 2018 data, Turkey as a whole has 2.6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 5 in the USA.

Some countries’ governments may advise against any but essential travel to Turkey “due to the risk of terrorism”.

My take is that considering what happened in the world in the past 5-6 years, this is something that can happen anywhere and no one should refrain from traveling because of Istanbul safety concerns.

By all means, always be vigilant – as you should be everywhere.

Istanbul Safety Tips

Having said that Istanbul is safe, I want to go into more detail about Istanbul safety tips. They are mostly about scams.

Having been to the city so many times, I fell victim to a couple of scams in the past and know people who went through similar experiences.

In my case, I was just naive and thought I was receiving special treatment for being a tourist.

I guess I am not the only one, right? So, these are my main Istanbul safety tips, which could be also applied in Los Angeles, Paris or Rome – or anywhere you go.

Beware of Taxi Drivers

I don’t want to be unfair to honest taxi drivers. But some of my worst experiences around the world were with them.

First and foremost, don’t take a taxi when you arrive at the airport. Here I explain how to get from Istanbul airport and Sabiha Airport to the city.

Public transport in Istanbul is really good, so you can use it to get around the city. You can also use Uber in Istanbul now.

Some taxi drivers will overcharge you for the ride: they will either refuse to switch on the meter or drive a little longer so you can pay more.

Remember: Nobody Will Give You Anything

One of my Istanbul safety tips is to not accept anything that someone “found” on the street and believes belongs to you.

A common scam is a golden ring that someone “finds” and says he wants to give it to you for a small amount of money, usually around 20-30 dollars.

Don’t be greedy! 🙂 Unless you really lost your gold ring and the person giving it back to you, just ignore the person and walk away. Scammers prey on people’s greed, as well.

The outcome is that the supposed gold ring is worth nothing and you would be a few dollars worse off.

Scam Aimed At Single Men

This one is about a friendly local guy (or someone who says he is visiting the city) who will invite you to go to a cool bar he knows.

You both will start drinking and when the bill comes, it will be very high – think of 100-200USD for a beer.

The bar staff won’t leave you alone and will escort you to an ATM where you will get the money out and pay what you “owe”.

As you would have imagined by now, the person who invites you to the bar works for them and will probably get a commission.

This is more likely to happen on and around Istiklal Street, the main pedestrian street where you can find lots of restaurants and bars, or on Taksim Square.

Read Also: Istanbul street food guide

Is Istanbul Safe For Solo Female Travelers?

People tend to believe all countries with a Muslim majority are the same. So it is normal to question whether Istanbul is safe for solo female travelers.

Women in Istanbul dress like in most Western countries. You will see women wearing dresses, jeans, miniskirts, shorts or even micro shorts.

At the same time, you will see some women wearing a hijab (headscarf) or a long dress with long sleeves.

So, is Istanbul safe for solo female travelers? Yes, absolutely. Especially in the more touristy areas, female travelers will feel (and be) safe.

However, you may notice that some men may look at you for a little longer.

Depending on what you are wearing, you may attract some unwanted attention. If you believe you will feel uncomfortable, I recommend sticking to jeans or (not too short) skirts, so you can avoid unwanted looks.

There is no need to cover yourself from head to toe, since this is not common in the city.

However, when visiting a mosque, everyone has to have their shoulders and legs covered.

Women will also need to wear a head covering (a scarf, for example), to hide their hair.

You may find some Turkish guys at the Grand Bazaar or even waiters at restaurants in Sultanahmet who will compliment you on your looks.

They mean no harm and are usually just trying to be nice. In some parts of Turkey, catcalling is fairly common, but again, it will not go beyond that.

If you prefer to test the water first, you may look for an Istanbul walking tour to get your bearings and see how you feel.

But from what I see and from my female friends’ experience in the city, it’s very unlikely that you will be harassed.

So yes, Istanbul is safe for solo female travelers. If you are a woman and have been to the city, please let me know your thoughts on safety in Istanbul in the comments. It will be really helpful.

Safety In Istanbul For Gay Travelers

It is widely known that homosexuality is a crime in some Muslim countries. For that reason, safety in Istanbul for gay travelers is a common concern.

Surprisingly, Turkey’s LGBTQI+ rights are relatively advanced when compared to other Muslim-majority countries. There is even a small gay scene in Istanbul.

Before going into whether Istanbul is safe for gay travelers, there are a few things tourists should be aware of.

One, it is common to see many men walking around holding hands. That is common among straight men as a sign of close friendship or considering someone as a brother.

The other is that the Turkish bathhouses are a place for relaxation and, historically, were a place where people used to meet to talk and socialize.

A Turkish bath is not a gay place, as portrayed in some films.

My main advice to ensure gay travelers are safe in Istanbul is to remember that public display of affection is a big no-no.

You may occasionally see a young straight couple kissing in a park. That is a rare sight, but for gay travelers to stay safe in Istanbul, I highly recommend not doing that.

Also, remember the scam aimed at single men that I mentioned above. Just decline politely, if you are invited.

I also recommend avoiding the gay discos in Istanbul. Some scammers prey on tourists in these places.

Is Istanbul Safe? Conclusion

In short, yes, Istanbul is a safe city. Travelers should be concerned about safety in Istanbul as much as in any large city.

Violent crime is rare, knife crime is not an issue like in London or other major UK cities, for example.

If the fear is about terrorism, remember that this is something that can happen pretty much anywhere.

Since the incidents that took place in 2016, the government has increased its efforts to tackle any risk of terror. 

Just be vigilant of your belongings when in crowded areas, beware of common travel scams and you will be able to enjoy every moment of your trip to this magnificent city.

Have you been to Turkey? Did you feel safe in Istanbul? Let us know in the comments!

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