Turkey

Recommended Vaccinations For Turkey

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B Vaccine

There is a significant risk of infection with hepatitis B for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

A dose of Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended for all travellers over 6 months of age.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

There is a risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through the consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Recommended Medications For Turkey

For Some Travellers

Anti-malarial Drugs

Anti-malarial medication is not recommended.

Diseases To Be Aware of for Turkey

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis B

There is a significant risk for acquiring hepatitis B in Turkey.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in Turkey through contaminated food or water. Infection can still occur at tourist destinations and resorts.

For Some Travellers

Schistosomiasis

There is a very low risk of schistosomiasis in this country.

Measles

There is a risk of Measles in this country, especially in infants aged 6 to 11 months.

Tuberculosis

Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis, if visiting ill friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with infected persons.

Hanta Virus

There is a risk of acquiring Hanta Virus in this country through the consumption of food and water contaminated by an infected rodent or through rodent bites.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

There is a risk of acquiring Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in this country through specific insect, bug or tick bites or by coming in close contact with a person or animal infected with this disease. Travellers involved in activities like hiking, camping, working with animals, and visiting farms and forested areas are at a higher risk. There are no vaccinations (or medications) to prevent Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in Turkey, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas, where food and water sources may be contaminated.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis occurs in Turkey, commonly in the southeastern region and the Tigris-Euphrates basin, the Aegean coast, the Mediterranean coast, and the Black Sea coast. It is usually more common in rural than urban areas, and the risk of acquiring leishmaniasis is increased in travellers who spend time outdoors in rural areas and at night when sand flies typically feed.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in this country. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in Turkey

Personal Safety

Petty crime like pickpocketing and street robbery happens in major tourist areas of Istanbul. You need to watch your belongings in crowded spaces like bazaars and public transport. Scams targeting tourists exist, including overly friendly strangers offering unsolicited help, restaurant bill inflations, and unofficial taxi drivers. Sexual assaults have been reported in coastal resort areas, with 56 cases among British travelers reported to consular staff in 2024. Many incidents involved people the victim met during their stay, including hotel or spa staff. Be cautious about accepting drinks from strangers as spiking occurs. You must carry photo identification at all times, and police conduct random checks especially in busy areas of Istanbul. Counterfeit 50 and 100 US dollar bills are in circulation, and many banks and exchanges may refuse them. Violent crime against tourists is relatively rare. Crime rates overall are lower than in many Western countries. Tourist areas have increased police presence and specialized tourist police units. Turkey sits in an earthquake-prone zone, with the North Anatolian fault running 20km south of Istanbul. Major earthquakes occurred in February 2023 in southeastern provinces and in April 2025 in the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul. Aftershocks can continue for days or weeks following an earthquake. Wildfires happen frequently during summer months from June to September, particularly in Mediterranean and Aegean coastal provinces. Extreme heat affects many areas during summer. Methanol poisoning from illegally produced spirits and counterfeit alcohol has caused deaths and serious illness in Turkey, including in Ankara and Istanbul.

Extreme Violence

Terrorist attacks have occurred in Turkey, with notable incidents in October 2024 when five people were killed and 22 injured in an attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries facility near Ankara, in February 2024 at a courthouse in Istanbul, and in January 2024 at Santa Maria Catholic Church in Istanbul. The PKK continues terrorist attacks in Turkey, with 51 state security forces, 196 PKK members, and 11 civilians killed in PKK-related clashes in 2023 according to the International Crisis Group. Most terrorist attacks have occurred in southeast Turkey, Ankara, and Istanbul. ISIS carried out 20 attacks inside Turkey between March 2014 and January 2017, killing 308 people. The group’s first successful attack since 2017 occurred in January 2024 at an Istanbul church. Turkish authorities have conducted at least 7,726 operations against ISIS from 2014 to 2023 and detained more than 20,000 individuals for alleged ISIS affiliations. Extremist groups based in Syria, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda linked groups, have the capacity to carry out attacks in Turkey. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping areas, government buildings, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, and parks. Attacks have involved knives, firearms, explosives, suicide bombings, car bombs, and improvised explosive devices. The PKK has traditionally focused on targeting Turkish security forces but has also conducted attacks in major cities. Violence and armed conflict continue near the Syrian and Iraqi borders. Events in Israel and Palestine have led to heightened tensions and demonstrations continue near diplomatic missions in Ankara and Istanbul.

Political Unrest

Major protests began throughout Turkey in March 2025 following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. Hundreds of thousands of people protested in cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, marking the largest anti-government demonstrations in over a decade. Police detained more than 1,100 people during the first five days of protests. Authorities have used tear gas, water cannons, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse protesters. Clashes between police and protesters occurred outside Istanbul University and other locations. The Istanbul governor’s office expanded bans on demonstrations and imposed restrictions on vehicles transporting potential protesters. Demonstrations may become violent and can be dispersed without warning. Local authorities can ban public gatherings, celebrations, demonstrations, and protests without much notice and may impose or extend curfews without warning. Tear gas can spread to surrounding areas beyond the immediate protest zone. Anti-refugee riots occurred in July 2024, beginning in Kayseri and spreading to cities including Istanbul, Hatay, Adana, Urfa, Bursa, Gaziantep, Konya, Izmir, and Antalya. Regular demonstrations take place in Istanbul and other cities, often outside diplomatic missions connected to regional conflicts. You must avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops. Local transport routes may be disrupted during protests. More than 300 individuals were detained in February 2025 in raids targeting journalists and activists. The country has detained tens of thousands of people on terrorism-related charges that appear to be politically motivated.

Areas To Avoid

You must not travel within 10 kilometers of the Syrian border due to terrorism, armed conflict, and civil unrest. Terrorist attacks including suicide bombings, ambushes, car bombs, explosive devices, shootings, and illegal roadblocks leading to violence have occurred in these areas. You should avoid Sirnak province and Hakkari province entirely due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups and the unpredictable security situation. The Turkish government has declared some areas in villages along the Syrian border as special security zones as part of cross-border military operations. The southeastern provinces including the areas near Iraqi and Syrian borders have experienced clashes between Turkish forces and terrorist groups, making overland travel risky. If you must travel through southeastern Turkey, use commercial air travel whenever possible. If road travel is necessary, drive only during daylight hours and on major highways. Public transportation is strongly discouraged in the southeastern region. Foreigners and individuals associated with Western countries are possible targets for kidnappings and violence by terrorist groups in border areas. Kilis, a border city near Syria, has experienced military operations, terrorism, rocket attacks from Syria since 2016, and was heavily affected by earthquakes in February 2023. Travel to this city is not currently advised. Roadblocks monitored by Turkish Jandarma are present on roads in southeastern areas. Cities affected by the February 2023 magnitude 7.8 earthquake in southeastern Turkey may have continued infrastructure damage, restricted access, and ongoing recovery challenges. Major tourist destinations including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya, Bodrum, Marmaris, Izmir, and Ankara are considered safe for visitors and maintain well-developed tourist infrastructure.