Istanbul - Would you go there?
 

We are traveling in 3 weeks and have a 2 night stop in Istanbul. We have been there before and loved the city. In-light of all the recent problems we have concerns. I know things have calmed down there now, and we really have no choice but to travel through the country to our final destination. The choice is staying at an airport hotel for 2 nights (boring) or going to our original booked hotel in Istanbul. I'd love to hear from my fellow travelers on your opinions. Would you stay in the city?

I would stay in tne city since you have to transit tnrough Istanbul.

Yes I would stay for a few nights.

Yes, I would definitely stay in the city.

What hotel are you sleeping at?

Have fun.

Thin

I would stay in the city.

I am booked to do the same thing (two nights) in September. I was already concerned about the security and political situation when I booked at the end of April, plus my outbound flight requires me to be at the airport fairly early in the morning. I booked at the WOW airport hotel, which I used for an overnight on a previous trip. However, I intended then, and still intend, to spend the full day in town, but I will avoid the major tourist sites (which I already visited, usually more than once.) I am thinking of visiting the Dolmahbace Palace, taking a Bosphorous cruise (I'd visit the islands, but I already did that), and having a good meal with a good view.

At the moment, it is a huge risk. I would not go near the place

Huge risk of what, precisely?

Simple answer no!

No, I would not go.
https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...l-warning.html

If you do keep these numbers with you. I would also not sit at a cafe drinking, I have heard of people being harassed drinking alcohol in public.

The US State Dept is always alarmist. It is a cliche that if it wrote the advisory for the US no-one would come. However, this time Australia and Canada seem to agree.

The UK has a somewhat different view:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey

I would go, but only you can decide if you will go.

It's my feeling that anything can happen anywhere anytime. I also feel that after any incident may be the safest time to be there. And by far the least crowded. And least expensive. I was just looking at fares to Europe today, so tempting. It's kind of like the stock market, after a crash is the best time to buy. After an incident in a country is the best time to go.

You say you have to stay in the city regardless of whether it's city proper or airport. If you cannot adjust your routing, then stay in Istanbul proper and enjoy your two days there, exercising normal big city caution and perhaps keeping a close eye on shifting current climate to determine if visiting major tourist sights makes sense or not.

I would usually agree with MmePerdu about post incident being the safest time to go (For example, I studied abroad in Jordan some three months after horrible hotel bombings in Amman) but I do think I personally would choose not to visit Istanbul at this time. The ISIS inspired can certainly attack anywhere anytime, but add the recent history of IS related attacks in Turkey to the attacks "carried out" by Kurdish nationalist, and then add an increasingly autocratic Erdogan suspending more civil liberties, firing judges and educators, imprisoning enemies... Well that's just a bit more than I'd usually choose to disregard and move forward with.

Seems like a few too many factors to encourage a visit at this time, especially when there are many other cities in Europe and Asia and elsewhere that maybe can't escape the IS inspired threat (as likely few places can at this point) but don't have the other elements that could create a combustible scenario.

I have been reading othercheleb's post for a while now. It is the recent acts of Erdogan that scare me. I would certainly keep a low profile.

Inspiredexplorer, I agree that there's a lot going these days. But my feeling is still that it's incredibly unlikely that a person like myself would get caught up in anything.

It seems to me that tourists are largely invisible, there to spend money but aren't involved in the politics of a place. And we occupy particular bits of the landscape that may not attract political activity because numbers of disaffected local people don't live or gather in crowds in those neighborhoods. When was the last time we heard of an old lady tourist being killed by terrorists or arrested in a coup?

And there are my personal habits, I don't like crowded places, I go home to my room by dark, don't shop in malls although I do like markets, so that could be a weakness in my assumptions. But I'd be unlikely to be in a crowded market so that might save me. No mosques, few churches, in Istanbul I'd be much more likely to be walking than on a bus.

I'm trying to think of the ways I might be killed, but of course, one cannot predict. But again, I think my habits keep me pretty safe. A bad rash or food poisonings (both in India), bug bites, and an occasional wretched hotel seem to be the worst hazards I can recall suffering in all these years and, so far, lived to tell about it. I'm aware, though, that that could change. But the awareness seems not to stop me.

I love the way MmePerdu thinks. Same here. I don't have any pressing need to head to Turkey these days, but I wouldn't be put off going there. I'd be far less comfortable traveling to Texas or many other U.S. States.

10,000 arrested so far, mostly military, judges and civil servants. Its the civil servant part that would worry me most. Who wants to get stuck in Turkey if there is a bureaucratic shutdown?

A can think of far worse places to be stuck than in Istanbul. In any case, if it came down to it, I think they'd make arrangements to just be relieved of us pesky tourists. The more I think about it, the more interesting it sounds.

No need to be alarmed about sacked bureaucrats. The 50,000 or more are mostly in Ministry of education, Universities, Student housing, etc.

As far as I know all the lovely ladies doing their nails while you wait to finalize a sale at the Municipality and the gentlement waxing their Erdogan similar moustaches before they can put a required signature on a customs dociument are doing well at their posts.

We arrived by THY less than two days ago and whizzed through passport and customs. The baggage came very quickly and the lines at passport control was very short because more than 50% of the passengers were on trafnsit, mostly to African countries because of THY specials, such as $600 cheaper to Cameroon as our uber driver in Chicago told us.

Streets are empty in the daytime, traffic is much better.

Just avoid major gathering points in support of Erdogan (supposedly supporting turkish democracy) at night.

The Bosphorus is grand, The first bridge is lit up in bright red,
food is still very cheap due to the depreciating Turkish Lira.
Hurting hotels are open to negotiations on rates and/or upgrades.

After yesterdays gunning at Munich, who can say which part of the world is safer?

Thanks for the report, OC, stay safe! (Still planning to be there briefly at the beginning of September. Will look at re-booking my hotel!)

Thusdaysd,

write to me on my book gmail at [email protected]

Hello from London OC. Looking forward to seeing you in October though I wonder how things will have moved on by then. I was in Istanbul for the weekend early this month, in between the airport explosion and the coup. Had a wonderful time. My hotel was almost empty. Very few tourists about, no cruise ships and no bus tours. All good for the solo traveller even though not so good for Turkey's tourist industry.

Thanks OC, have done.

Wow, thanks one and all for the very interesting responses. We are watching the news everyday for more information on travel to Istanbul. Right now we are leaning on staying in the city proper and just watching how things go. It's sad because the last time we were there in 2009 we had such a splendid time and the people were so warm and friendly. I hope things improve because I am saddened to see what the citizens there are enduring.

We have also been advised to register with the US Embassy in case anything does happen. We have arranged private cars to take us to and from the airport.

With all that is going on in the world right now is any place truly safe? It is so sad that we live with this new set of rules, but I do consider myself one of the lucky ones to be able to travel, even with the risks. We all know even staying home brings some inherent troubles.

So I will continue to watch my fellow travelers responses and wish you all happy, safe travels.

I would not plan a trip there at this time, but if I'd already made plans, I would keep them. And stay in the city itself, not at the airport. Enjoy your trip!

I am going to Slovenia and Croatia on a tour and we are flying Turkish Airlines from Miami to Ljubjlana - changing planes in Istanbul; same thing flight to Rome - only 4 hr layover. We are not going into the city - but will stay at airport for layovers. Is the airport safe now?

beware of food poisoning at the fast food joints in the international terminal and over-spending at the duty free shops during your four hours. :)

I got an interesting mail from a business company in turkey.
They wanted to reassure their clients and sent us an email so full of propanganda that I thought I was reading Goebbels.
I suppose they want some of these mails to find their way back toward the authorities.

<<don't have any pressing need to head to Turkey these days, but I wouldn't be put off going there. I'd be far less comfortable traveling to Texas or many other U.S. States.>>

Come on! Really?!

There was an attempted coup 2 weeks ago in Turkey! The state department is authorizing the departure of embassy employees' families. Terrorists are explicitly targeting tourists.

You're really going to compare that to the state of Texas?! Gimme a break.

mensayank - I agree with you.
St.Cirq - What a ridiculous thing to say.

Dianedancer, completely agree with you!!!

I don't know why I don't go to Texas, except to change planes at DFW, but the 3 replies above may give me some insight. I'm not afraid to go either place, but suspect boredom would be the greatest danger. I'm going to pretend that's what StCirq means and agree.

St. Cirq......hasn't France had a few terror issues of their own lately? a priest beheaded and many innocents run down in Nice? Maybe you were referring to the (alleged) lack of fine cuisine?

I'd certainly visit Istanbul at the moment, I've always found Turks a friendly bunch though the President seems to be a sort of Trump figure which would put me off. Texas; ask me after November.

Turks are indeed "friendly bunch" but Erdogan is dangerous...rounding up anyone he does not like...cancelling thousands of passports..increasing his hold..sure seems like this is no democracy and would not like to be in the country for the next big more..sad but tourists have choices and better be at least a bit savvy on the situation..if after that you want to go great go!

I would probably postpone a plan for a second visit to Turkey today; but if I were already set up to visit, and/or to transit for a few days, I would certainly go. I agree with those above who suggested the same, with the accompanying precautions for any major city - especially those that have been targeted.

Warm greetings, and wishes for safety, to all those lovely Turkish people. I do hope to go back soon.

St C: >> I'd be far less comfortable traveling to Texas or many other U.S. States.<<

Is there no end to your anti-US nonsense? Yes, of course, TX is far more dangerous than Turkey.

I felt really compelled to respond to this post, only commenting once or twice on this site before. After missing the Istanbul airport bombing by one day, and seeing helicopters from our hotel and having the media cut during the coup and hearing an explosion from where we were staying in the Sultanahmet area, I would safely say I would not go back to Istanbul until things have settled down.

I was recently "caught" in the coupe the day it happened, and my 4 day trip to Istanbul was cut short after 1.5 days in Istanbul. (My flight to Athens 2 weeks early also had a stopover in Istanbul, and my Turkish Airline flight from Houston was originally grounded because of the Istanbul bombing.)

I had a 3 week vacation planned for 6 months, ending in Istanbul. Like many people on this forum, I ignored a ton of the PKK and terrorist activity over the last 6 months that's been increasingly more prevalent throughout Istanbul and rationalized the "chances" of something happening to me in such a large city. The fact is, Istanbul is massive and a highly populous city -- So, more than likely you will be safe and nothing will happen.

However, that's what I originally thought, too. My 4 day trip turned into a 1.5 day trip, stressing trying to find a way back to the US with flights being grounded from Turkey. If you go, be smart and vigilant, and realize that things like this can happen.

And, as somebody who lives in Austin, TX - Trying to parallel safety between Turkey and Texas is non-sense.

It appears you lived to tell the tale. I think most who commented would agree that that was the point, the unlikelihood of death. And the worst that happened was a few days less in Istanbul. I don't get the sense that you feared for your life or that you'll avoid the city permanently. I'm not sure I understand your point, unless it's simply having a story to tell. And a good story it is!