Is Istanbul Safe for Women? Crime Rates in Istanbul

Safety rating

Moderate
3.3 /5

Women living in Istanbul consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 3.3 out of 5.

Crime rating

Low
2.4 /5

Women living in Istanbul consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 2.4 out of 5.

Violence rating

6%

On average 6% percentage of women in Turkey have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.

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Crime & Safety Statistics

Based on 65 experiences

Safety rating:

3.3/5Moderate

Safety walking alone after dark:

2.8/5Moderate

Safety using public transport:

3.7/5Safe

Crime rate:

2.4/5Low

Worries of being sexually harassed:

2.5/5Moderate

Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped:

2.2/5A Bit Worried

Worries of being physically attacked:

2.1/5A Bit Worried

Worries of home broken and things stolen:

1.6/5A Bit Worried

Worries of being mugged or robbed:

1.8/5A Bit Worried

Worries of being kidnapped or murdered:

1.7/5A Bit Worried

Is Istanbul safe for women?

First thing is can say about Istanbul's safety is: It's hard to say a specific thing. Because mostly it depends on where you are. When we compare European and Asian side, Asian side is safer but European side is much more enjoyable. For example Beşiktaş, Bebek, Sarıyer. And for Asian part Kadıköy is enjoyable and fun. If you're going crowded places during night i suggest you to go with a friend. I think Istanbul is better for group travelling, not for solo travelling.

Posted: October 19, 2024
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You need to stay away from narrow streets and some neighbourhoods especially when its dark. When its dark if you need to use public transportation, stay close to other woman or safe people, bad people should think that you are not alone.

Posted: September 29, 2024
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Beyza

Beyza

I would say Istanbul is overall safe for foreign visitors. I would recommend being careful as a tourist and watch out for pickpockets. I wouldn’t say Istanbul is as bad as Paris or Barcelona. However, incidents still happen.

Posted: September 16, 2024
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Melike

Melike

Istanbul is like a vast country, and the sense of safety can vary in different areas. For example, due to the crowds of tourists, you won't face any issues in districts like Beyoğlu and Fatih during the day as long as you're cautious, but it's normal to feel less safe late at night. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the city has a stray dog issue, so it’s important for those who are afraid of dogs to be aware of this.

Posted: September 11, 2024
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Istanbul is a beautiful city, it is actually very safe if you go to right places, like beşiktaş, bebek, ortaköy, But some specific places are dangerous to visit like tarlabaşı, bağcılar, fatih, you should not go to places like these

Posted: September 8, 2024
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Yes, Istanbul is a safe destination, but I don’t recommend it as a destination for traveling solo for the first time. I’ll explain why. If you’re from the US of Europe, you’ll find the culture in Istanbul to be very different and it will take you a few days to learn how to navigate it. view of istanbul from hamdi restaurant First, you need to learn how to haggle. Taxi drivers, people who sell in bazaars, literally anyone who is selling something to foreign tourists will try to get as much money from you as possible. They usually give you a much higher price and you’ll have to negotiate so you don’t get scammed. Second, English is not as widely spoken in Istanbul as it is in other countries. So you’ll have to navigate the language barriers on top of having to haggle. Google maps and Google translate will be your best friends. Third, Turkish men can be a bit much at times. You might get stares and the occasional catcall. It’s best to avoid eye contact and wear more modest clothing to avoid unwanted attention. You can have a safe trip and an enjoyable experience in Istanbul (I did!), but I don’t think it’s the best place for beginner solo travelers.

Posted: September 1, 2024
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Gökçe

Gökçe

Istanbul is a very crowded city. There are as many tourists and refugees in the city as there are locals. The city is awake and bright at all hours, but it is worth being careful at night. On public transport and in crowded places, especially women should protect themselves more. Security levels vary from district to district. You can travel more comfortably in places such as Kadikoy, Besiktas and Beyoglu.

Posted: August 28, 2024
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One of the safest metropols in the world! Of course with the vast population there are also bad people but in general many places are 100% safe. People are friendly in Istanbul but not too friendly, they know their boundaries. If someone doesn't know their boundaries they are not friendly, don't think that

Posted: August 28, 2024
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Nihal

Nihal

There is dangerous areas to stay away from. But they're are also safety places, no worry! I can guide you to those places. Picturesque views, delicious foods, great desserts, amazing activities and history

Posted: August 23, 2024
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There are so many activities to do for every sense of entertainmant. You can have a lot of fun. It's a big city. There is never a shortage of places to visit and see. The weather is most pleasant in spring and autumn. Security varies depending on where you are.

Posted: August 18, 2024
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Is Istanbul worth visiting?

Travel rating

4.5 /5

based on 82 experiences from female travelers

Solo travel

I’ve traveled solo in Istanbul and I felt incredibly safe. Common sense and street smarts. Using the tram is easy. There’s so much to do. Not knowing Turkish is fine.

Posted: November 1, 2024
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Solo travel

I felt safe but sometimes cat called by some people. Or at night street get too empty with no police around. Overall very late at night it's not super safe to be around shady places. Generally i had nice experience amd i enjoyed it

Posted: October 18, 2024Experienced: September, 2024
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Meet locals in Istanbul

Seda

Seda

About Me

I live in Istanbul. I am 26 years old. I work at the airport and travel whenever I can. I visited 39 cities in Turkey. I'm here for more.

Speaking

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Arzu

Arzu

About Me

My name is Arzu. I live in İstanbul, Turkey. I am a Math teacher.

Speaking

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Safety in Turkey

Frequently asked questions

Is Istanbul safe?

Women living in Istanbul consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 3.3 out of 5.

Is Istanbul safe to walk alone at night?

Women living in Istanbul consider walking alone at night to be moderately safe, with an overall safety rating of 2.8 out of 5.

Is public transport safe in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider public transport to be relatively safe, with an overall safety rating of 3.7 out of 5.

What is the crime rate in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 2.4 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of being sexually harassed to be moderate, with an overall risk rating of 2.5 out of 5.

What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 2.2 out of 5.

What is the risk of being physically attacked in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of being physically attacked to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 2.1 out of 5.

What is the risk of burglary in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of burglary to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.6 out of 5.

What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of being mugged or robbed to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.8 out of 5.

What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Istanbul?

Women living in Istanbul consider the risk of being kidnapped or murdered to be relatively low, with an overall risk rating of 1.7 out of 5.