Staying Safe in Turkey

Turkey is a wonderful country filled with culture, history, awe-inspiring landscapes and delicious cuisine. But is it safe to travel there?

The U.S. State Department issued warnings to its citizens recently regarding travel in Turkey. However, should you go, there are a few precautions you should take.

Firstly, avoid travel to any of the southeast regions, if at all possible. The area close to Syria is risky, given the current state of affairs in the Middle East.

When in Ankara, keep alert and try to avoid potential terrorist targets, as attacks have happened and threats have been made by terrorist organizations.

There is a chance you may run into a demonstration. Obviously, the best course of action is to stay away. A photo of the Turkish military may make for a good Facebook post, but you’d be taking a huge risk.

The main threat to personal safety in Turkey is simple crime. Turkey has moderate crime. Violent crimes such as muggings are more common in rural areas than cities.

Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city of 15 million people, has one of the best safety ratings in the world and a reputation for friendliness to tourists.

The most common crimes are crimes of opportunity, like pickpocketing, credit card scams and bag snatching. Violent crime against foreigners is not frequent.

Like in any large city, crowded tourist areas such as the Grand Bazaar or Taksim Square attract thieves, concentrating criminal activity. Watch your bags at all times and use money belts. Don’t flash your cash or fancy camera.

Crime rates in Istanbul decreased in recent years, but there is always a risk of misfortune, like in any city. Provided you take care and avoid the southern regions, you should stay safe.