Safety in Turkey: what governments advise, area by area

In short

As of October 2026, none of the European foreign ministries tracked by Sabaro advises against Turkey as a whole. Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ankara, the Aegean coast, the Lycian coast, Antalya, Kars and the Black Sea lie outside the areas advised against; the ministries ask for vigilance there, as they consider the terrorist risk high nationwide.

The advice focuses on the south-east and east: the areas along the Syrian and Iraqi borders, which all advise against, and several neighbouring provinces, on which their positions differ. The gaps are widest for Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Göbekli Tepe, Mardin and Antakya.

This guide gives your country's advice, then the situation in each area. Travel advice is guidance, not law; but travelling to an area your ministry advises against can invalidate travel insurance: check what your policy covers.

Your ministry's advice

Foreign ministries do not all give the same advice. Yours, as recorded on 22 October 2026:

Advice changes: before you leave, re-read France Diplomatiediplomatie.belgium.beDFAE (eda.admin.ch)mae.gouvernement.luGOV.UK (FCDO)ireland.ie (DFA)Auswärtiges AmtRegeringen (UD)Udenrigsministeriet (um.dk)RegjeringenOdyseusz (MSZ)MZV ČRBMEIANederland WereldwijdViaggiare Sicuriexteriores.gob.esPortal das ComunidadesUlkoministeriö (um.fi).

Area by area

Istanbul, Ankara and the big cities

Istanbul and Ankara lie outside any area advised against. The ministries point to the risk of attack: a shooting near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on 7 April 2026, an attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters near Ankara on 23 October 2024, attacks on the Çağlayan courthouse in Istanbul in February 2024 and on a church in Sarıyer in January 2024, and the İstiklal Avenue bombing on 13 November 2022. In İzmir, an attack on a police station killed three officers in September 2025. One ministry asks travellers to "weigh carefully" any trip to the big cities.

Demonstrations are frequent, especially in Istanbul: police often disperse gatherings with tear gas and water cannon, central metro stations close, and a ban on demonstrations is in force. Taking part can lead to arrest.

Cappadocia, the Aegean and the Mediterranean coast

No regional advice covers Cappadocia, the Aegean coast, the Lycian coast or Antalya; one ministry even calls the coast from Antalya to Alanya and the Aegean region "safe". The risks flagged are those of leisure and summer:

• Wildfires from June to September on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. Lighting a fire or throwing a cigarette in a risk area can bring a fine or prison.
• Hot-air ballooning in Cappadocia: there have been fatal accidents; check the operator's safety measures. The guide Hot-air ballooning in Cappadocia explains how flights are regulated.
• Paragliding at Ölüdeniz and Fethiye: serious and fatal accidents are reported; choose a reputable operator and check your insurance.
• Sea: people drown every year; a red flag means no swimming.
• Quad bikes, buggies, jeep safaris and diving: take particular care, as safety standards vary.

From 9 to 20 November 2026, COP31, the United Nations climate conference, is held in Antalya: heavy security, disrupted travel and fewer hotel rooms.

The south-east: Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin

This is where the ministries differ most. All advise against the Syrian border strip; beyond it:

• one ministry advises against all but essential travel to the whole provinces of Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Diyarbakır and Batman, and recommends an escort arranged with the local authorities;
• another places these provinces at the third of its four levels, except the cities of Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin, and a 30 km strip along the border at its highest level;
• another asks travellers to avoid all non-essential travel to the border area of Şanlıurfa and Mardin provinces;
• the others advise only against the border strip, which they set at 10 km or "the immediate vicinity".

Harran is less than 20 km from the Syrian border, Mardin around twenty kilometres, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep around forty, Göbekli Tepe around fifty. These provinces were also hit by the February 2023 earthquakes. The pages Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa and Mardin and Midyat describe them, with your country's advice in their "Travel advice" table. Mount Nemrut, in Adıyaman province, is not in any area advised against.

Hatay and Antakya

Hatay province, in the south, borders Syria. Several ministries advise against all but essential travel to the whole province; others only against the border strip, and roads in the province leading to the border can be closed without notice. Movement may be restricted in the Reyhanlı and Kırıkhan districts. Antakya, ancient Antioch, was largely destroyed by the earthquakes of 6 February 2023; rebuilding is under way, and the Hatay museum, famous for its mosaics, was still closed in October 2026. Sabaro does not offer Antakya.

The Iraqi and Iranian borders

Most ministries advise against the areas along the Iraqi border. Şırnak and Hakkari provinces, in the far south-east, are advised against except for essential travel by several ministries; permission from the governor is needed for areas of Hakkari near the Iraqi and Iranian borders. Temporary security zones there can be closed without notice, landmines remain along the eastern border, and hiking is forbidden in military zones.

On the Iranian side, one ministry advises against the Iranian border areas, and another places a 30 km strip at its highest level; the land border has been closed in the direction of Iran since 2 March 2026. Mount Ararat, in Ağrı province, is a special military zone: climbing it needs a paid permit from the Doğubayazıt government office.

Kars, Ani and the Black Sea

Kars and Ani lie outside any area advised against; the Armenian border, on which Ani stands, has been closed since 1993. The page Kars and Ani gives your country's advice. On the Black Sea, ministries mention floods and landslides in the north-east, and tick-borne fever in rural areas; the page The Black Sea highlands covers this.

Sensitive places, one by one

Situation as recorded on 22 October 2026. Distances are rough straight-line figures. Your country's advice for each place is in the "Travel advice" table on its region's page.

What Sabaro does

Sabaro offers no trip idea, excursion or hotel in any area advised against by one of the seven ministries it follows for its proposals: those of France, Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and the Netherlands. The rule applies to all clients, whatever their nationality.

• The south-east (Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Göbekli Tepe, Harran, Mardin and Midyat) is described on the pages of its two regions, with your country's advice, without trip ideas.
• Hatay and Antakya are mentioned only in this guide.
• Doğubayazıt and Mount Ararat are described on the Kars and Ani page, without trip ideas.

Earthquakes

Turkey is highly seismic, and there is a tsunami risk in the Mediterranean. The earthquakes of 6 February 2023, of magnitude 7.7 and 7.8, killed more than 50,000 people in eleven south-eastern provinces, including Hatay, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş and Adıyaman. In April 2025, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in the Sea of Marmara was strongly felt in Istanbul. Ministries advise installing the AFAD Acil app of AFAD, the Turkish disaster and emergency management authority, and following the authorities' instructions.

Social media, dual nationals and freedoms

• Social media. Travellers have been turned back on arrival, banned from leaving or arrested over a post, share or "like" on social media, a petition, taking part in a demonstration or membership of a Kurdish association in their country of residence. Phones may be checked on arrival. The disinformation law provides for up to 3 years in prison for sharing information deemed false.
• Dual nationals. They are treated as Turkish citizens, with limited or no consular help from their other country; together with travellers who have family in Turkey, they are the most exposed to refusals of entry and exit bans. The guide Turkey visa and entry requirements covers what they need.
• LGBTIQ people. Police raids targeted the LGBTIQ community on 12 and 13 September 2026 in fifteen provinces, including Istanbul, İzmir, Aydın, Ankara and Mersin, with more than 100 arrests.
• Insulting the nation. Insulting the Turkish nation or its flag is an offence, punishable by 6 months to 3 years in prison.

Precautions on the ground

• ID. Carrying it is compulsory; checks take place.
• Drinks and strangers. Do not accept drinks or food from strangers: tourists have been drugged. In Istanbul, be wary of strangers suggesting a bar or nightclub, where the bill may be extorted.
• Illicit alcohol. Methanol-laced alcohol has caused dozens of deaths: buy only from shops and licensed bars.
• Taxis. Use official taxis with a visible meter, or an app.
• Sexual assault. Most cases reported to consulates occurred in beach resorts during the season, often by hotel or spa staff.
• Photography and drones. Never photograph military sites or official buildings; a drone of 500 g or more must be registered.
• Emergencies. Single number: 112.