Is it safe to travel to Turkey?
Turkey was established as a secular republic by Kemal Ataturk in the 1920s, and that secular tradition was fiercely defended by the military which had a habit of deposing governments it felt were moving in the wrong direction. In recent years, however, secularism has been on the wane, with a concurrent growth in Islamic populism, and many observers detect a worrying drift towards authoritarianism. In 2017 the country switched to a presidential system, abolishing the role of prime minster, and placing key executive powers in the hands of President Recep Erdoğan.
Our Turkey Vacations
Cappadocia walking vacation in Turkey
Trek the unique and fairytale landscape of Cappadocia
From
US $1179
8 days
ex flights
The Carian Trail hiking vacation in Turkey
Self guided walking vacation along the Aegean Coast in Turkey
From
£585
8 days
ex flights
Small group tour of Turkey
The perfect introduction to cosmopolitan and memorial Turkey
From
£619 to £879
8 days
ex flights
Turkey small group tour
Discover the wonders of Turkey on this 10 day tour
From
£730 to £1099
10 days
ex flights
The Lycian Way hiking vacation in Turkey
Follow one of Turkey's most spectacular coastal trails
From
US $620 to US $670
8 days
ex flights
Walking Turkey’s Turquoise Coast vacation
Walk the turquoise coast exploring the forests, hills & coastline
From
US $620
8 days
ex flights
Cirali beach accommodation, Turkey
Luxurious beach bungalows on Cirali's stunning beach front
From
£840 to £960
per cottage per week (sleeps 2)
Hiking vacation in Turkey, along the Lycian Way
Ancient coastal trail through foothills of Taurus mountains
From
£695
8 days
ex flights
Beach vacation in Cirali, Turkey
Boutique beach bungalows with lots of rustic charm
From
£320 to £390
7 days
per person per week
Active vacation in Turkey
Forge a path through unexplored terrain into the historical heart of Turkey
From
US $1430 to US $1495
12 days
ex flights
Eastern Europe cultural tour
Descend to the dark ages on this tour of Dracula's country.
From
US $1470 to US $1984
15 days
ex flights
Turkey small group vacation, a food adventure
Exotic 2 week culinary and cultural tour of Turkey.
From
US $1605 to US $1765
10 days
ex flights
Luxury gulet cruise in the Aegean
5 star services while cruising the Greek Islands in luxury
From
£945 to £1185
8 days
ex flights
Family Lycian activity vacation in Turkey
High adventure under the Mediterranean sun
From
US $1349 to US $1599
8 days
inc UK flights
Central Asia Silk Route overland tour
Overland tour from Bishkek to Istanbul
From
£3460
55 days
ex flights
Eastern Turkey tour, small group
Discover Turkey's most well-hidden secrets
From
£4045
14 days
ex flights
Turkey history tour
Some of western civilization's most impressive historical sites
From
US $1479 to US $1549
15 days
ex flights
Silk Road overland vacation
Once in a lifetime Trans-Asian Silk Road Adventure
From
£10995
47 days
ex flights
Family activity vacations in Turkey
Activities, adventure & stunning coastal views
From
£1095 to £1445
8 days
inc UK flights
Family sailing vacation in Turkey
Explore southern Turkey, Dalyan to Delikada Island
From
US $1010
8 days
ex flights
Lycian Way hiking vacation in Turkey
Self guided walking vacation in the heart of ancient Lycia.
From
£550
8 days
ex flights
Turkey small group tours
A comprehensive small group tour of classical Turkey
From
£1835
15 days
ex flights
Archaeology tour of Eastern Turkey
Discover the incredible history of Eastern Turkey
From
US $4315
11 days
ex flights
The Great Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus vacation
Our classic Silk Road Adventure via the Caucasus 48 day tour
From
£10895
47 days
ex flights
Turkey winter tour, small group
Combine man-made wonders and natural phenomena
From
US $1260 to US $1399
15 days
ex flights
Xian to Istanbul overland tour
Expereince the Silk Road and the beautiful Caucasus
From
£8830 to £9085
42 days
ex flights
Turkey small group vacation
Experience stunning sights & tantalising tastes of Turkey
From
US $1770 to US $2070
15 days
ex flights
Turkey & Greek Islands small group vacation
Turkey & Greek Islands
From
£1839 to £1990
14 days
ex flights
Turkey history tours, small group
Explore the wild and romantic Aegean coast
From
US $740 to US $780
8 days
ex flights
In July 2016, a coup attempt failed and ushered in a state of emergency that lasted for two years. During that time, thousands of judges, police, teachers, civil servants and journalists were detained indefinitely, and various human rights groups suggest that the government’s crackdown on free speech continues. The Gülen movement was accused of being behind the coup. This organisation promotes education and a tolerant form of Islam and is led by the cleric Fethullah Gülen, once an ally of Erdoğan but now living in exile in the United States.
Tension between the Turkish government and the Kurds is another volatile issue in Turkey. Around a fifth of the Turkish population are Kurds. The PKK, a militant and political organisation originally sought an independent Kurdish state, but is now fighting for equal rights and Kurdish autonomy. Years of armed conflict have left 40,000 people dead and the simmering insurgency continues to erupt frequently.
The ongoing Syrian civil war on Turkey’s southeastern border is another source of tension. Turkey has so far offered temporary protection to around 3.5 million Syrian refugees fleeing the ongoing civil war there. This is thought to be the largest refugee population in the world, with nearly half believed to be aged under 18. The situation has led to tension in several provinces, especially those in the southeast near the border, and put significant strain on public services. Turkey is no longer registering refugees and there are concerns it is engaging in forceful repatriation.
What do our operators say?
Ralph Foulds, from our supplier Encounters Travel: “Turkey is a fascinating country, but its geographic location bordering Iran, Syria and Iraq has posed challenges for a long time. There have been various security incidents in both Istanbul and Ankara, as well as the south and east of the country in areas bordering Syria and Iraq, and the threat of repeat attacks in these areas remains. In addition there was the recent attempted coup in 2016. The Turkish authorities seem to have a firm grip on the country now though and there are plenty of police check points on the roads throughout the country as well as a visible police presence in Istanbul and other cities.”
“Despite this, we continue to find Istanbul a very welcoming, friendly and safe city, as well as an exciting place to visit. Travelers feel safe exploring the bazaars, markets, city streets, bars and restaurants, and no more than standard caution is needed to explore alone at night, but you should avoid any demonstrations and be generally vigilant.”
“The south east of the country contains some really special places. The towns of Diyarbakir, Urfa, Harran and Mt. Nemrut are fascinating. We have checked out this region again recently and found it stable and very welcoming to tourists, but we still have concerns about the situation and are not yet ready to re-start trips there. However, Istanbul, the west coast, Cappadocia, the Black Sea region and Eastern Turkey are great places to visit at the moment. Sites and hotels are still quieter than they were a few years ago, which improves the experience for people visiting now.”
Our top Turkey Vacation
Cappadocia walking vacation in Turkey
Trek the unique and fairytale landscape of Cappadocia
From
US $1179
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 18 Apr, 2 May, 23 May, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct
2020: 18 Apr, 2 May, 23 May, 29 Aug, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Turkey or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
What does the UK Foreign Office say?
The political and security situation in Turkey is a lot calmer than it was in 2016. Current FCO advice states that there is an ongoing risk of terrorist incidents in the south and east of the country, as well as cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, so travelers should exercise due caution. ID checks are possible in places. The FCO advises against all but essential travel to certain provinces including Siirt and Hakkari, or to within 10km of the Syrian border. The same advice goes for Diyarbakir, unofficial capital of the so called Turkish Kurdistan, and its Sur district, which have seen heavy conflict between the Turkish military and the PKK in recent years.Do I need special insurance?
Naturally, you should ensure you have adequate travel insurance in place before any trip away, but many insurance providers will refuse cover if the FCO recommends against non essential travel to a destination. As of November 2018 most parts of Turkey are deemed safe to travel by the FCO so you should not have difficulty in finding insurance to visit places such as Istanbul, the Lycian Coast, Bodrum or Cappadocia. Should that situation change however, there are certain insurers that can assist with specialist policies. Campbell Irvine Direct, who we work with, offers specially tailored policies for anyone traveling to countries which have FCO travel warnings in place.More about Turkey
Depending on whether you’re contemplating Istanbul, Ankara or Antalya will discern the best time to visit Turkey.
Delve deep into our Turkey travel guide to discover what we rate & what we don’t to help you travel like a local.
Our Turkey map & itineraries page is designed to help you make the most of your time before you’ve set off.
Our top Turkey activities include sailing on traditional gulet boats, making the most of family activities and the old ways of walking.
A beguiling meeting place of East and West, Istanbul has the kind of mythical appeal that makes other cities jealous.
Gulet cruising vacations in Turkey take you back to the place where this elegant form of travel originated.
Exploring Turkey’s Cappadocia region, with its towering rock spires and vast underground cities, is a surreal experience.
For those in the know, Cirali on Turkey’s Antalya coast is something of a hidden gem.
From the Istanbul spice market to the vineyards of Cappadocia we run through which Turkish food and drink you should be eating on your trip.
Traveling in Turkey with kids is all about variety and adventure with plenty of both to be found on our dedicated page
Our Turkey travel advice comes straight from our friends in Turkey with plenty of seasonal suggestions too.
Responsible tourism in Turkey is definitely worth paying attention to, from battling overdevelopment to saving sea life
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Christine McIntosh] [Election posters: Osman Orsal ]
[Turkish market: Eric Borda]
Back to the top
- Recently viewed
