Is Istanbul safe to visit?

One of the post popular questions I get time and time again is, is Istanbul safe to visit?

Istanbul, located in north-western Turkey and straddling both the European and Asian continent, is one of the largest cities in the world, with over 15 million inhabitants. It’s a popular destination for tourism, with around millions of tourists every year.

Medical tourism, in Istanbul is wildly popular, but the city also attracts business tourists, casual visitors, digital nomads and have a huge expat population as well.

It’s one one my personal favourite cities in the world and I’ve live there for months at a time during my nomad travels.

While travel is subjective, I’ll try to answer the question of whether or not Istanbul is safe in the most objective way possible, while detailing my personal experience travelling in Istanbul as a solo female traveller.

Is Istanbul Generally Safe to visit?

The US travel advisory lists street crime in Istanbul as being generally low, however it can stated that visitors should exercise some caution when traveling to Turkey in general.

Having stayed in Istanbul for extended periods of time, including during the last general election, I’d say that Istanbul is generally safe.

Like any other huge city, you need to be careful, observe general safety rules and keep your wits about you.

Areas like Taxim, while wildly popular can be pickpocketing hotspots, so observing common sense rules like wearing crossbody bags, not travelling with large amounts of cash, keeping your zipper closed etc. can go a long way. Also avoid looking lost, and be wary of overly friendly strangers randomly coming up to you, as this can sometimes be a distraction to aid in pickpocketing.

With that said, I’ve never been pickpocketed or attacked in anyway in Istanbul, so following simple standard travel safety rules can go a long way.

Is Istanbul safe for solo travellers?

In general yes. As tourism is a big part of the city’s economy, there is a special branch of police dedicated to tourist matters. The Tourist police provide things like safety advice, help in retrieving stolen or lost belongings, investigating crimes against tourists and more.

In general, beyond pickpocketing and aggressive selling in tourist hotspots, solo travellers are generally safe.

With that said, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution and avoid things like demonstrations or political rallies (these are unlikely to occur outside of election season).

Is Istanbul safe for solo female travellers?

Yes, Istanbul is safe for solo female travellers. As a solo female traveller myself I’ve found it to be quite safe – with some common sense caveats.

Avoid walking late at night in deserted areas. Especially if you’ve been drinking.

Personally I’ve found smaller but popular areas like Moda in Kadikoy to be safe for walking quite late, as there are usually people about well after 11pm (with many coffee shops staying open till midnight. Bars close much later, at around 3 or 4 on the weekend in this area. With that said, even popular areas on the European side of Istanbul, like Besiktas can be tricky if walking alone late at night. I’ve been followed in the past, and it was quite scary.

Other than this, general safety rules apply: don’t accept a drink from strangers, unless you’ve seen it being poured yourself and don’t leave your drink unattended. Don’t go off into dark, secluded areas with strangers.

Other than this, I’ve felt safer in Istanbul as a solo female traveller than many other cities I’ve lived and travelled in, like London, Milan, Paris and Tbilisi. People are courteous and helpful in general, and if you stay in a neighbourhood for an extended period of time, the locals are protective and will look after you.

Safe Places to Stay in Istanbul for Solo Female Travellers

As you’re a solo female traveler in Istanbul, you’d want to opt for places that are lively and have easy access to public transport, tourist spots, groceries, coffee shops bars etc. And while that apartment deal in a distant residential zone might seem tempting, keep in mind that Istanbul is HUGE. The time and money you’d spend commuting to the city center every day would likely outweigh the savings – unless you’re fine with a bit of isolation and the occasional foray out for social activities.

My personal pick for a solo stint in Istanbul is Kadikoy. It’s on the Asian side of Istanbul and definitely give you more of a local feel, while being lively, full of expats and locals alike. Kadikoy is a pretty youthful part of the city, with Marmara University close by, and is full of bars, cafes, tattoo shops and even co-working spaces. Public transport is close by and reliable, and getting to the European side is just 20 mins away with the ferry or marmaray metro. The best part about Kadikoy, at least for me, is that you can avoid feeling hounded by people selling tourist services etc.

With that said, I’d mostly recommend Kadikoy for longer term travel – for digital nomads and the like. For shorter stints, it’s probably better to be on the European side for easier site-seeing and access to popular spots.

European side of Istanbul

If you’re looking for a spot on the European side of Istanbul, then on the European Side then Sultanahmet, Karakoy or Beşiktaş can be a good choice. Here you’re just a hop away from iconic spots like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

As for Taksim, it’s a shopping and nightlife haven. While it might be a blast for shopping and social visits, I don’t personally think it’s the best place to live/ stay. Not that it’s super dangerous for living – Taksim itself is pretty secure for solo female travellers if you keep your wits about you. However nearby districts like Tarlabaşi and Dolpadere are considered to be a bit dangerous.

How should female tourists dress in Istanbul?

In many parts of Istanbul, you can dress as you normally would in any other city. However, if visiting religious sites or conservative neighbourhoods it’s a good idea to respect those religious and cultural norms by dressing modestly. By “modestly” I mean avoiding low cut tops and super tight or short clothing – nothing too dramatic. Your standard top and jeans or midi dress will likely be fine.

Note: Covering your hair is generally only required when entering religious sites like the Hagia Sophia Mosque, and hair coverings are available onsite for purchase if you don’t have your own.

Are Taxis in Istanbul Safe?

Yes taxis are generally safe in Istanbul, though they can be rife with scams and inflated prices if you’re not careful. Officially, the law states that the taxi meter must be on and running in all taxis, but some crafty drivers try to avoid that. If you must take a taxi outside of using an app, be sure to check that the meter is on and request that it be turned on if it’s not.

In general, I usually opt for the cheap and efficient public transportation system. Getting yourself an Istanbul card is dirt cheap and covers travel for busses, the extensive and beautiful metro network as well as the Ferries between the European and Asian side of istanbul. The ferry trip is highly recommended!

Personally, if I must take a taxi, I generally opt for using an app like Uber or BiTaksi. The general pice is stated upfront and the drivers tend to behave better (regarding inflatibg prices) because of the review system. This has been my personal experience. However I will say that taking taxis in Istanbul is infinitely better than taking taxies in resort towns like Bodrum and Alanya. The apps rarely work there and I’ve had many arguments with drivers over inflated prices.

Regarding physical safety in Istanbul taxis, I’ve never had a problem or heard of any issues, however, with that said, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution or request to be let out of a taxi if you feel unsafe.

Is Renting a Car in Istanbul Safe?

Yes, renting a car in istanbul is as safe as anywhere else.

Always use an official, registered rental service, and opt for having Insurance as drivers can sometimes be impatient on the roads.

Which neighbourhoods should I avoid in Istanbul / which neighbourhoods are dangerous in Istanbul?

I’d personally avoid renting in places like Tarlabaşi and Dolpadere while staying in istanbul. While crime is low overall in the city, these areas can to be hotspots for less than pleasant activities.

I’d also avoid farflung places or anyplace where you’d have a hard time getting public transport. Not necessarily because of gangs or physical danger, but to avoid the need to walk alone late at night.

Can you drink the tap water in Istanbul?

While tap water is used for cooking, you’ll find that many locals advise against drinking the tap water in Istanbul.

Officially, the tap water goes through rigorous testing and is in fact safe and drinkable. However, the water can sometimes get contaminated via old building pipes and water storage systems. For this reason, if you ask locals or go into any home in Istanbul, you’ll notice bottled drinking water.

Bottled water is quite cheap (around 10 cents for the 5 gallon bottles) and literally everyone, expats and local alike, drinks this instead of water from the tap. Getting the water bottles is pretty easy too, as they’re delivered right to your door.

To order, you can call a water company directly (they’re located all over the city) or use apps like Getir or Yemeksepeti to order. Of course you can simply buy water from any supermarket as well.

If, however, you’re unable to get bottled water – or you don’t want to – drinking tap water is perfectly fine in my opinion and personal experience.

Can I walk around at night in Istanbul?

Yes you can walk around at night, in groups of two or more you’ll have little to no issues. If you’re alone, like in any major city, you should exercise some caution – especially if you’re female and/or inebriated. I’ve been followed while (foolishly) walking alone late at night and while I was able to get home safely without anything worse happening, it was a pretty scary experience!

My most important Istanbul safety advice

Buy travel insurance. If you’re not a Turkish resident, medical services are likely not be free for you. Also, things like lost luggage or theft while travelling is fairly common. Also if you’re travelling from a country that requires a visa to enter Turkey, demonstrating that you have valid travel insurance may be required. While it’s not pleasant to think that bad things will happen to you on your trip, the truth is that it can – and it’s therefore better to be prepared.
Don’t penny pinch when it comes to your health and safety. It’s definitely not worth the risk.

11 General Safety Tips for Istanbul

1. Use a good cross body bag, to avoid pickpockets
2. Don’t display large amounts of cash
3. Have the number for the tourist police on hand, always a good idea
4. Make digital copies of your travel and passport documents, just in case
5. Keep your wits about you and be alert, especially if walking alone at night
6. Download the taxi apps (like uber and BiTaksi) & get an Istanbul travel card (Istanbulkart)
7. Don’t leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers
8. Avoid overly friendly strangers that randomly try to get physically close to you
9. Avoid staying in remote areas with limited access to public transport
10. Always have the number of your national embassy and know how to get there
11. Avoid political demonstrations and rallies

💡 Bonus general travel tip: Use an RFID blocking wallet to avoid credit card theft – especially useful in busy places like airports and huge cities.

Should you travel to Istanbul?

A resounding Yes! Istanbul is an incredible city with rich culture, fantastic shopping, friendly locals, delicious food and beautiful bars and coffee shops. For a city its size, it’s incredibly safe overall and very welcoming.

 

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