Is Turkey Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Traveling solo as a woman in Turkey is generally safe. Large cities like Istanbul and Ankara, as well as tourist hubs such as Antalya and Cappadocia, are typically welcoming to foreign visitors. However, like many places, it demands a certain level of consciousness and alertness, especially at night. Always be aware of your surroundings, maintain personal boundaries, and avoid secluded areas. It can be helpful to learn a few key phrases in Turkish, but most people in Turkey's tourist areas speak English.

Safety rating

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How safe is Turkey?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Moderate

Turkey's safety can vary greatly depending upon the location and specific circumstances. Major cities like Istanbul and Ankara maintain a lively nightlife and are generally safe, yet usual precautions should be taken, as in any major city. Walking alone at night is generally safe in busy neighborhoods and tourist zones, but it's always advisable to stay within well-lit areas and avoid less populated locales. Small towns and rural areas may pose increased risks due to lower police presence and less infrastructure. As always, it's crucial to stay alert, informed, confident, and aware of your surroundings.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

In Turkey, the public transportation system, which includes buses, trams, and the metro, is generally quite secure and reliable. Even during night hours, it's possible to use these services without encountering major safety concerns. However, like any travel scenario, it is advised to stay vigilant, especially in crowded areas, as pickpocketing can sometimes occur. Other than that, many female solo travelers have found public transportation in Turkey to be a viable and mostly safe option for moving around.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Moderate

As a solo female traveler in Turkey, it is not uncommon to encounter some level of street harassment. This could range from catcalling to persistent vendors and unsolicited advances. That said, it usually doesn't escalate beyond verbal exchanges and tends to largely occur in crowded, tourist-heavy areas. The majority of Turkish locals are friendly, respectful, and incredibly hospitable. However, understanding that street harassment is circumstantial and can vary based on the specific region, time, and even your outfit is beneficial. Practicing caution and choosing to ignore or address such behavior assertively can be of great help in these scenarios.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Moderate

In Turkey, petty crimes such as pickpocketing and purse snatching are somewhat common, particularly in crowded areas such as markets and public transportation. Be particularly cautious in tourist-heavy areas, as these tend to be the spots where such activities are most prevalent. However, if vigilant, it is generally easy to avoid such incidents.

Is Turkey worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 226 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.2/5

Food

4.5/5

Budget-friendly

3.8/5

Antalya, Solo travel

I loved antalya, i felt very safe there. i stayed in konyaalti, very nice area, stunning beach, with a lot of beach clubs restaurants … i would recommand the suluada boat trip, visiting the duden waterfalls, the old town as well, i ate the lahmacun which was very delicious, i would say its quite expensive, for transport i used taxis mainly and it was fine

Posted: June 26, 2025
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Silvia

Silvia

Germany

Istanbul, Solo travel

Features everything you could ever want to vist, good food, nice buildings, good transport. Problem, I didn't feel very safe. People there try to profit off the fact that youre not from around. But otherwise nice. Bring water

Posted: June 24, 2025Experienced: May, 2024
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Istanbul, Solo travel

Safe place for solo travelers. However, the taxi guys are ruthless if they see you are traveling alone as a woman or with a female friend. The biggest turn off was that taxi drivers dropped me off me and my friend in some place that we didn't ask to be dropped off. And when we asked them to take us to our actual destination, one of the drivers got aggressive and opened the door asking us to get out. We wanted to visit the Haggia Sophia instead we ended up in a different mosque in a strange part of the city. Trying to find our way back same and the issue occurred. We got dropped off at a bridge that had no sidewalk for pedestrians and had to walk on the shoulder of the road. After this experience, we decided to only explore places we could reach by foot.

Posted: June 24, 2025Experienced: December, 2021
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Karina

Karina

Kazakhstan

Kemer, Family travel

yes i felt so safe there , people are so kind and nice, love the attention i get there, everyone was super nice and gave me lots of discounts also the weather the scenery was amazing nature is great

Posted: June 20, 2025Experienced: July, 2024
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Bodrum, Couple travel

I was impressed by the greeness of the country, people were nice but in this city cashiers not always knew english. Water in pool was warm, but food was good. Beautiful sunsets by the sea under the mountains

Posted: June 19, 2025
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Katie

Katie

Ireland

Istanbul, Family travel

I’ve been to many cities before and I can honestly say I’ve never felt anywhere near as safe as I felt in Istanbul. Petty crime is a big no no here and heavily punished so people just don’t do it. At cafés, people would leave their phones and bags on the table while going to the bathroom and no one would touch it. It was really refreshing to not have to worry about getting your stuff stolen. Everyone was also super kind and welcoming. Hotel’s are very cheap and public transport is simple and inexpensive and there are many different options for transport. You can take the subway from the airport into the city and between the European and Asian sides (I’d recommend seeing both, as they are very different) Food is generally cheap, but research places before hand as certain restaurants, particularly in Sultanahmet (touristy area) can be incredible experience.

Posted: June 18, 2025Experienced: June, 2025
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Is Turkey safe for women?

Safety index

3.7 /5

Based on 803 local experiences

Crime index

2.7 /5

Based on 803 local experiences

Asude

Asude

Erzurum

It’s really safe city. Sometimes I walk at night and I feel safe enough. No one attacekd me before or any of my things stolen before. Just people doesn’t so much respectfull to different cultures. When they see a different person they can stare at you.

Posted: June 29, 2025
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Güzeltepe

Its definetly not safe for a foreigner. Saying that as someone who grew up there and still living. Those peoples even stole my toys when i was a little girl 😔 monsters.. Jokes aside its really not safe. Try to stay away from espically man in İzmir cause they are high potential harrasers.

Posted: June 29, 2025
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Safety in Turkey