Safety in Istanbul?

As I mentioned before, I’m heading to Istanbul next summer, and I’ve heard there have been quite a few attacks by Kurds in Turkey recently, which is making me hesitate about my trip.

What do you all think? :( I’m wondering if it’s really a good idea to go...

Hi there,

If I spend so much time in Turkey and in Istanbul, it’s because I feel safe there. The country is far more hospitable, comfortable, safe, and well-organized than France, and I personally find that people are more relaxed and at ease there. Oh, right... there are sporadic clashes in the mountains of the Southeast, and the other day a bus and a tram burned in Zeytinburnu.....

Michel

It's really hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Personally, I went there last month without any apprehension. Once there, I didn’t feel the slightest worry either. But I know from experience that when you don’t feel safe, you ruin your vacation. No amount of reassurance from those around you changes that. I enjoy traveling too much to willingly put myself in that kind of situation—and the world is so vast. One lifetime won’t be enough for each of us to see what we love. Happy planning! Véro

Hi there,

Yes, of course. But as far as I'm concerned, I've never met anyone who told me they felt particularly unsafe in Istanbul.

Michel

That doesn’t surprise me. I found the place very peaceful myself. That said, I sometimes come across Japanese tourists in Brussels neighborhoods where I wouldn’t venture alone—and like them, in shorts with a 3,000 € camera around their neck. They probably feel safe. Since it’s hard to gauge how comfortable or uneasy someone else might feel, I just wanted to remind readers about the unfortunate reality of not enjoying your trip because you don’t feel safe. Off-topic: I’ll take this chance to thank you for your contributions here—they were really helpful for my recent trip. Véro

To each their own... Personally, I find the stressful situation caused by the soldiers with FAMAS rifles at Gare Montparnasse and the constant "security announcements" unbearable...

Michel

no problem! I lived there for a year with no issues at all

No, you're right—it's better to listen to the media and go to much less risky places. Let me think for a bit: London, maybe? Or Madrid, or even better, Bali? New York? 😏

As a last resort, there's Paris. It's true, it's been a long time since we've had bombs in our neck of the woods!

I first found myself in Turkey when *Midnight Express* came out (yes, that dates me!), another time during the kidnapping of Kurdish leader Öcalan (sorry for the spelling), another time during the 2000 earthquake in İzmit, near the Iraqi border during the Gulf War in 2003—and I’ve never felt safer with my kids than in that country.

What I fear most now is the result of the recent elections, with a "moderate Islamist" government coming to power! But that’s another debate I’m opening here...

Your turn... 😉

What I fear the most is the outcome of the recent elections with a "moderate Islamist" government coming to power! But that’s another debate I’m opening here...

That’s a surprising take. They’ve been in power for over 4 years already. 😏 They were simply re-elected 😛

Hi there,

"What I fear the most is the outcome of the recent elections with a 'moderate Islamist' government coming to power! But that’s another debate I’m opening here..."

Moderate Islamists have indeed been in power for four years now, and Erdogan has been prime minister since then. His AKP party managed to win over enough support to secure a landslide victory in this summer’s legislative elections, particularly among the working class and in the eastern part of the country. The latest development is different—it’s the election of Mr. Gül, the AKP’s candidate, as president. It doesn’t change anything fundamental and is more symbolic in nature.

Michel

Elections in Turkey...

While I agree with you that it was just a re-election that took place quite democratically, it wasn’t exactly smooth last spring, and there were tough protests in Istanbul and elsewhere.

"Last May, a deep parliamentary crisis—some argued it was about the very nature of the regime—shook Turkish political life, leading to the dissolution of Parliament and early elections. These were held last weekend..."

I feel a little uneasy when I see that this man’s wife wears a headscarf. After all, she’s married to the guarantor of secularism! I keep telling myself I know plenty of people in Turkey who wear one and are open-minded, people I’m friends with, but there’s still a little alarm bell ringing in my head. It reminds me of a certain ayatollah who, on an Air France flight returning him to his country after years of exile in the West, caused a scene because the flight attendants weren’t veiled and champagne was being served on board. His name was Khomeini. 🏴‍☠️

I know, that was a long time ago, it wasn’t the same country or the same circumstances, and I shouldn’t mix things up. I really hope I’m wrong so I can keep visiting this amazing country with peace of mind...🙂

Good evening,

Your caricatured view of Islam saddens me.

Michel

This shows a complete lack of understanding of both the country and Islam, leading you to compare it to Khomeini, whom you said you often visit.

It’s sad to hear such remarks.

As I mentioned in my previous post:

"I really hope I’m wrong so I can keep visiting this amazing country with peace of mind...🙂"

Jacques

But I don’t doubt it for a second... What bothers me is that you might not have *"peace of mind"* because the power is held by Muslims who openly identify as such. I find that comment a bit odd.

Michel

Simply because Turkey is a secular state like France, and I can’t imagine the wife of a public figure displaying a religious symbol in an official capacity, whatever it may be.

Jacques

Well, I’d say it’s a fashion accessory...

Michel

hi,

I’m less afraid of a secular republic that asks questions, debates, discusses, and even opposes the headscarf of a president’s wife than the self-righteous silence of another equally secular republic that doesn’t question the sign of the cross made by a sitting president in the exercise of his duties...

dominique

I didn't dare say it.....

Michel

Thanks for picking up the thread and rightly reframing my comment in another context that’s ours—one where we can indeed ask certain questions.

I started this topic about Turkey by ending with the phrase: "Over to you... 😉"

Which means I’d like it to be open to everyone’s remarks, concerns, knowledge, gaps, explanations, and desires—where we can share our opinions without being judged.

In short: a discussion.

PS: Great photo, Dominique! (Wouldn’t that be the Markha Valley in Ladakh?)

Re....

Since this is a debate about secularism, I’m not sure it belongs in this section or in this discussion about safety in Istanbul....

Michel

You're right. So since I started this misplaced debate, I’ll declare it closed. 😉

To try and make up for my lack of knowledge (and there’s plenty to catch up on!) about Islam, I watched a program on Arte this week, titled: "The Prophet Muhammad and Women" "Documentary (Religions)" "Director: Lila Salmi, Malek Chebel Year: 2007 Country: France"

It’ll be rebroadcast: Saturday, September 1, 2007 on Arte at 6:00 AM Set your VCRs, and comments should be posted not here but over there: http://television.telerama.fr/tele/emission.php?id=6499197

As I said nearly 20 years ago now, "I truly hope I’m wrong so I can keep visiting this amazing country with peace of mind..."

Unfortunately, Erdoğan, that great democrat, has once again shown his open-mindedness by arresting his main opponent, İmamoğlu, ahead of the presidential election.

I certainly don’t know anything about Islam, as Nemo1001 so kindly pointed out, but I can sense the rise of tyrants like Erdoğan, Putin, Xi Jinping, Trump, and many others.

Jacques

If for three of them you had a "good feeling," let’s hope your intuition is wrong about the fourth and that the deep democratic roots of his country—which the others lacked—will trip him up.

Patratras is pretty quiet!

As I said nearly 20 years ago now, "I truly hope I’m wrong so I can keep going back to this amazing country with peace of mind..."

Unfortunately, Erdoğan, that great democrat, has once again shown his open-mindedness by arresting his main opponent, İmamoğlu, ahead of the presidential election.

I certainly don’t know much about Islam, as Nemo1001 so kindly pointed out, but I can sense the rise of tyrants like Erdoğan, Putin, Xi Jinping, Trump, and many others.

Jacques

Hello,

I just got back from Istanbul (a city I particularly love) last night after my third visit. I was really surprised last Sunday to see the entire area from Galata Tower to Taksim Square cordoned off by police. They had pulled out all the stops—hundreds of heavily armed officers with shields and some seriously intimidating vehicles. I asked several of them why the streets were closed and what was going on, but strangely, none of them spoke English 😉. As I kept weaving through the open streets, a few people confirmed that the Trans Pride march hadn’t been authorized and that the authorities were making a show of force to deter the most determined participants. Given the situation and the risk of clashes, I was advised to leave the area.

Turkey: No illegal restrictions should be imposed on Pride marches - Amnesty International Belgium

The police were also present at tourist sites, but I didn’t feel any tension or concern at all.

Just back from Istanbul after a short stay (first time), and I found the city pretty safe and clean—even more so than some European cities (Barcelona, Paris, or Milan), where you always have to keep an eye on your belongings (pickpockets, etc.).

That said, wow, is it expensive! Tourists are getting fleeced—drinks, restaurants, visits, etc., are just as pricey as in France, if not more (!)

I honestly don’t know how middle-class Turks manage with prices like these. Even in the more remote neighborhoods, prices stay surprisingly high when you consider the average income level in Turkey or Istanbul.

It’s crazy...

Hi there,

However, and I don’t know if any members have mentioned this here or elsewhere, but it’s so expensive!!! Tourists are getting ripped off—drinks, restaurants, visits, etc., even more expensive than in France(!)

I noticed this while planning my second trip to Istanbul (September). Topkapi entry at 64 €, Hagia Sophia at 32 € 🏴‍☠️ Same seems to go for restaurants… I think I paid 15 € for Topkapi back in 2019. Luckily, my flight and the apartment I found near Galata are super reasonable. But I was hoping for a low-cost week…

hi there, @Kicity: just keep in mind that Turkey has a lot of inflation, which is why prices are so high 😐

Good evening,

Inflation doesn’t justify everything, because normally it’s accompanied by currency devaluation. Here, it’s a vicious process: prices based on the euro or dollar have skyrocketed. Istanbul Airport has probably become the most expensive in the world—or close to it. You can’t buy anything there at a normal price anymore. Taxi scams are also back in full force.

Michel

Exactly, the prices have skyrocketed in recent years. The entrance fees for iconic sites don’t deter tourists because there’s always a very long wait depending on the season. But luckily, Istanbul has other wonders, and if you're on a tight budget, you can skip them.

What shocked me the most were the prices at the airport.

Hi there,

I was in Istanbul yesterday—the only insecurity is for your wallet! Prices for visiting monuments and some restaurants in the old city have gone completely crazy, but hey, a ferry to the Princes' Islands (an hour and a half by boat) is only 2.5 €. Same for the ferry between Eminönü and Arnavutköy, around 1.70 €. The city has a lot to offer beyond the historical monuments, and thankfully so. It’s still an incredible city.

I went through the new airport last year: two Turkish coffees and two baklavas = 20 €. Never again.

Have a great trip.

hi there, to build this new airport, Turkey must have had to borrow and take on debt. It’s obvious that repaying the debt and covering the construction cost of this airport makes kebabs expensive! 😛 Gotta sell a lot of pain au chocolat and Turkish delight to make up for it

Hi,

No, it was funded by a private consortium. If the state has to bear any costs, it will be when it takes over, in about fifteen years. If it’s so expensive, it’s because the target audience is no longer the budget-conscious European travelers who used to arrive at Atatürk; it’s the crowd for whom places like Galataport were built—those who love luxury and come to spend.

Michel

Hi,

“I felt like I was in Dubai!” That’s what I thought when I arrived last year. I really missed the old Ataturk.

It’s a bit of a shame, really.

hi,

No, it was funded by a private consortium. If the state has to bear any costs, it will be when it takes over in about fifteen years.

Whether the funding is private or public, I’d be tempted to say it doesn’t really matter. At the slightest financial hiccup, the debt burden will become an issue. We also shouldn’t let emerging countries like Turkey take on too much debt either. I feel like I’m seeing pharaonic projects popping up left and right in emerging countries. Like the Neom project in Saudi Arabia—basically the new Dubai, which, in my opinion, is a total aberration.

Hello

However, and I don’t know if any members have talked about it here or elsewhere, but it’s so expensive!!! Tourists are getting ripped off—drinks, restaurants, visits, etc., even more expensive than in France(!)

I discovered this while preparing my second trip to Istanbul (September). Topkapi entry at 64 €, Hagia Sophia at 32 € 🏴‍☠️ Same seems to go for restaurants... I think I paid 15 € for Topkapi back in 2019. The price of my flight and the apartment I found near Galata are super reasonable, luckily. But I was hoping for a budget-friendly week...

Hello, We just got back from a 5-week trip across Turkey with our own vehicle. We enjoyed exploring the real Turkey, where prices are completely reasonable, whereas in Istanbul, prices are extremely inflated for tourists 🤑 and there are so many people visiting these places!

I came across this discussion and I’m shocked by the new prices! In my great naivety, I thought Hagia Sophia, now a mosque again, was free...

I was thinking of going back to Istanbul—it’s been ten years already! (I kept a travel journal, time flies... 😮). Oh well, I won’t see Topkapi or Hagia Sophia again, too bad. That’s when I realize how lucky I was to visit so many places before. Plus, when I was there, tourism was down after the attacks.

Luckily, the city has plenty more to offer, but those are still the iconic sites you want to see if it’s your first trip...

I came across this discussion and I'm shocked by the new prices!

Hi there, And 2 coffees for 11 € near the Galata Tower—does that ring a bell? I just got back from Istanbul, and what struck me was how the number of tourists is growing in proportion to the prices! Still, we managed to enjoy our week in Istanbul by working around these issues as best we could. I’ll post a travel journal by the end of the week…

Yeah, that shocks me!

Where are the new tourists coming from?

I’m afraid I’ll be disappointed if I go back...

Hi Miranda,

In order, Russians, Iranians, Germans, then Americans and Brits. The French aren’t absent, but their presence is about the same as Saudis or Uzbeks... Qualitatively, they’re bigger spenders; the Eastern mentality is that you only travel if you’re ready to pay the price without haggling, and if not, you stay home.

Michel

Hello,

When I was there in June, I heard a lot of Spanish being spoken. Since I don’t speak the language well, I couldn’t tell which country the speakers were from.

Hi Miranda,

In order, Russians, Iranians, Germans, then Americans and Brits. The French aren’t absent, but their presence is about the same as Saudis or Uzbeks... Qualitatively, they’re bigger spenders; the Eastern mentality is that you only travel if you’re ready to pay the price without haggling, otherwise you stay home.

Michel

Yeah, but that’s just willingly getting ripped off. There’s a difference between paying a lot in a high-cost country (I spent the summer in Switzerland, so...) and paying more just because you’re a tourist—aka a sitting duck.

Places where you get ripped off really bother me.

But Istanbul’s a huge city. Since I already know the "tourist spots," I can check out other areas.

Yeah, but that’s just asking to get ripped off. There’s a difference between paying more in a high-cost country (I spent the summer in Switzerland, so yeah...) and paying more just because you’re a tourist—aka a sitting duck.

What you call "getting ripped off," they see as "upholding a status"—it’s a matter of honor for them. You might be in for some surprises if you think you’ll pay less by avoiding places you identify as touristy. Usually, it’s just as expensive, if not more, especially if it’s by the Bosphorus.

Michel

Yeah, but that’s willingly getting ripped off. There’s a difference between paying a lot in a high-cost country (I spent the summer in Switzerland, so...) and paying more just because you’re a tourist—so, a sitting duck.

Places where you get ripped off really bother me.

Istanbul’s a huge city, and since I already know the "tourist traps," I can check out other spots.

+1

I also visited the iconic sites a few years back while avoiding those inflated prices. Now I skip them entirely, especially seeing those long lines. I love Istanbul, and you can enjoy its wonders in other ways.

You might get surprised, thinking you’ll pay less by staying away from places you see as touristy—it’s often just as expensive, if not more, if it’s along the Bosphorus.

Exactly. I had some great surprises at two restaurants near Hagia Sophia: charming, very reasonable prices, and hardly anyone there. Outside, crowds everywhere. A bit further, dozens of restaurants side by side, packed. I think people just love to cluster together and spend their Turkish lira in the heart of the action! On the Asian side, I didn’t notice huge price differences. It’s kind of hit or miss… And anyway, I didn’t always pay close attention—otherwise, it ruins the trip.

Hello

However, I don’t know if any members have mentioned this here or elsewhere, but it’s so expensive!!! Tourists are getting ripped off—drinks, restaurants, visits, etc., are even more expensive than in France(!)

I discovered this while planning my second trip to Istanbul (September). Topkapi entry at 64 €, Hagia Sophia at 32 € 🏴‍☠️ Same seems to go for restaurants... I think I paid 15 € for Topkapi back in 2019. Luckily, my flight and the apartment I found near Galata are super reasonable. But I was expecting a budget-friendly week...

Same here: in a country where the currency has lost 30% in a year against the euro, seeing these entry prices is crazy…

I wanted to go back to the Basilica Cistern—33 €, not sure… even Hagia Sophia, I’m hesitating…

We’ll see when we get there, but I wasn’t expecting this