Practical Notes on Safety and Budget When Travelling in Turkey

Turkey is a hospitable country, but as in any tourist destination, the informed traveller gets around more comfortably. The following isn't meant to scare you; it's a reminder of where holidays most often go wrong. You don't need to memorise it all; add it to the notes on your phone.

1. Emergency: 112

Emergency services such as ambulance, police, gendarmerie, fire brigade, forest fire and coast guard are gathered under a single number, 112. The line runs around the clock and offers support in several languages. 112 can be called even without a SIM card or credit on your phone. When you call, stay calm and give the city, district, hotel name, street and a nearby landmark. For foreigners, the 157 Foreigners Communication Centre is also available; you can contact it about a lost passport, visas or general support.

2. If you rent a short-term home, check the permit

In Turkey, short-term home rentals for tourism generally require a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Unlicensed rentals can cause problems at an inspection and risk you being removed from the property in the middle of your holiday. Ask the owner for the permit before booking; since the rules have changed in recent years, also check the Ministry's current page.

3. When taking a taxi

• Make sure the meter is reset and switched on at the start of the ride.
• The starting fare, per-kilometre rate and any night tariff vary from city to city; watch the meter before you get in or during the ride.
• Open a navigation app and follow the route. Lengthening the route is one of the most common complaints.
• Ignore people who approach you at the airport exit saying “cheaper”. Go from the taxi rank or with a pre-arranged transfer.
• We explain the difference between a fixed-price private transfer and the meter in our transfer guide.

4. When renting a car and on long drives

• Choose established, well-known companies. Don't sign a blank promissory note or a document whose contents you don't know.
• Take a video around the car when you collect it; we cover the details in our car rental guide.
• On long drives, take breaks at large, well-lit fuel stations with cameras.
• If your car breaks down somewhere you don't feel safe, lock the doors from inside and call 112. Don't open the door to strangers who stop on the road offering help.

5. At the restaurant

• Ask for a menu with written prices.
• For dishes sold by weight, such as fish and meat, ask the portion price before ordering.
• Before sitting down, ask whether there is a cover or service charge for bread, water or meze.
• Before paying, read the bill item by item. There may be items you didn't order.

6. Shopping and bargaining

Prices are fixed in chain stores and shopping malls. In tourist bazaars, bargaining is common for souvenirs, carpets and textiles. Don't buy from the first shop you enter; ask prices in a few places to learn the reasonable range. Set your budget, make a reasonable counter-offer, and if you're buying several items ask for a discount on the total. If you can't agree, there's nothing wrong with politely saying thank you and leaving. For valuable items claimed to be genuine (carpets, jewellery, antiques), ask for an invoice and certificate.

7. Supermarket shopping: quiet savings

Buying things such as water, snacks and toiletries from national supermarket chains rather than beach kiosks or tourist mini-markets makes a big difference on holiday. You can search for chains such as BİM, A101, ŞOK, Migros and CarrefourSA in a map app. If you're buying alcohol, prefer large supermarkets with transparent shelf prices. In Turkey, retail sale of alcohol is prohibited between 22:00 and 06:00; plan your evening accordingly.

8. Museums and archaeological sites

Tickets, passes and opening hours for museums and archaeological sites vary. We've gathered them in our museum guide — confirm on the official page before you go.

9. Keep with you

• A photocopy or photo of your passport/ID (on your phone and kept separately).
• Your travel health insurance policy.
• A note with your hotel's name and address written in Turkish (to show the taxi driver).
• Phone charger and power bank.
• The numbers of your accommodation and transfer company for emergencies.

Scams: the most common scenarios

• “Your car has broken down, I've come to help.” Don't get into a car with strangers on the road or at the airport.
• Overpriced restaurant/bar. A surprise bill at places without a menu, with a “special portion” or entered on someone's invitation. Ask the price before going in.
• Fake guides or being redirected with “it's closed today”. Ignore people who say the museum/site is closed and want to take you somewhere else; check the official page.
• Counterfeit money, mix-ups with change. Don't take your change without counting it.
• ATMs and cards. Prefer ATMs inside banks or well-known ones, keep your card in sight when it's used, and keep notifications on.
• Fake rental listings. Before paying, verify that the property and the owner are real; when sending a deposit, pay through the platform.

Health, pharmacies and emergencies

• There are pharmacies in every neighbourhood; look for the duty pharmacy signs. If you take prescription medicines, carry them in their original packaging together with the prescription.
• Private and state hospitals provide emergency care for foreign tourists; if you have travel health insurance, save the policy number and assistance line.
• Sunstroke and dehydration are common in summer: a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.
• At sea, follow flag warnings and lifeguard instructions; a red flag means stop swimming.

Communication and internet

• Buying a SIM card or e-SIM at the airport reduces roaming charges; compare local operators' packages.
• Download an offline map; signal can be weak in rural areas.
• Install a translation app on your phone; foreign languages may be limited in small businesses.
• For emergencies, keep your hotel's name and address written in Turkish.

Related articles

• Renting a Car in Turkey: What You Need to Know from Contract to Return
• How to Choose an Airport Transfer: Price, Safety, Legality and Common Problems
• What to Look for When Choosing a Hotel? Plus Holiday Routes Away from the Crowds
• Museums of Turkey: What to See Where, Notes on Tickets and Passes