Is Istanbul Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Solo travel experience

Istanbul was a dream coming true for me Every day was a blast I felt super safe as a solo traveler and stayed in a pension in kadiköy Istanbul is expensive but I could eat for 7 euros in local restaurants

Solo travel experience

Hey ladies! I’ve been to turkey 4 times and I highly recommend, it is safe for travelers, tamales specifically. The food was amazing specially Kofte and iskander , am a huge fan ahah Transport is well organised and safe also

Solo travel experience

I visited Istanbul for the first time after experienced the Sochi Olympics 2014. It was the cheapest flight out from Russia at the time. It was a nice surprise to find out there was this country hidden for me but at the same time so close to my heart. I stayed for 7 days and 6 months later I moved there to live for 7 years. Is safe enough if you know how to say - defol- to men who literally harras you on the streets. Is a safe place if you don't mention you are a Christian woman. Is safe if you stay away from their religion. When you are a tourist you are very welcome. But when you live there most of them turn their back to you. Is not safe if you live there and you plan to stay there. Few people would stay close to you once you stay there longer than a visit. Overall experience is good but is not healthy for your heart.

Solo travel experience

Istanbul Even though my family was so scared for me since i was traveling there alone i never felt unsafe. It’s my favorite city that i’ve visited so far and it has a peace of my heart still there. I can’t wait to go there again!

Solo travel experience

As a woman traveling solo, I found the city remarkably safe and welcoming.Istanbul provided a secure environment throughout my visit. From exploring historical sites like the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to navigating bustling markets, tasting the most delicious cuisine: lahmaacun, pide, kebab, balık ekmek... I felt comfortable and respected.I advise against purchasing pre-packaged baklava and spices from touristy areas. Opting for freshly weighed baklava. For gifts, consider planners, calendars, mugs, tote bags with local inspirations, spinning bulbs, Turkish delight, tea sets, and traditional hats for unique souvenirs that capture Istanbul's charm and culture.

Group travel experience

- first things first, we stayed at Airbnb , the host was an amazing person. It was our first time traveling and he was very fun and welcoming person. - i honestly felt safe around the city, we stayed at Besiktas and it was very good , we had very cheap shops around us. - remember, food portions are huge in Istanbul and always try to share 💖

Solo travel experience

My experience in istanbul was very good , i went to asian side , it was safe , food is amazing, transportation is easy by taxi i use apps for taxi , always payment by card , shopping is amazing also , for 4 days it cost me 800 - 1200 dollar as mid cost without flying ticket , I recommend it

Solo travel experience

So, I really fell in love with Istanbul, it's so big and beautiful and it's also budget friendly. Istanbul have a lot of activities from sight seeing to nature to old town to museums to what not more. I lived there for a month in a shared apartment and i got lucky about the rent but some apartments get really expensive as well. Overall Istanbul i had a great experience safety wise but i would suggest to take care of your belongings if you go to Taksim square. (It's a hotspot for all the pickpockets and scammers). The transport all over Istanbul was really great, you just need a Google map and you can easily travel via metros and buses that i suggest instead of taking taxis which costs way too much. I would suggest the must go places are, Blue Mosque, Hagia sofia, Arasta Bazar, (Grand Bazar is over rated and expensive), Dolma Bahçe Palace, and if you are on a budget then instead of taking the Bosphorus cruise, you can take a local ferry that costs 7 to 10 liras and you can travel from European Istanbul to Asian Istanbul. And not to be missed is the food of Istanbul, i don't have a personal favourite because i loved it all from durum to mideye.

Group travel experience

I felt safe,people were really friendly and everyone wanted to help me,even I didn’t know Turkish.Especially aunties 🥹🫶🏻 Food is just amazing and not really expensive, fresh juices were just🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Couple travel experience

Yes i felt safe it was very beautiful the weather was top we did a boat tour that was amazing we loved it the water was so blue and the mountains around us were so big. i would definitely doing again

As a young adult woman in İstanbul, your point of view will change according to where you are in İstanbul. So if you want more open minded people, you should go to Caddebostan, Nişantaşı. Because this places are decent. And avoid to go Ümraniye, Unkapanı, Bağcılar.

In the areas that are defined touristic you don’t need to worry about as a female but apart those places it’s not feeling the safest to wonder around as a female. Especially after the uncontrolled migration of the male population from Middle East. It used to be way safer that you could walk around as a teenager without any worries any time of the day. So stay in safe areas for not being worried, enjoy your travel ladies 🌸

Couple travel experience

I have been to Istanbul for many times, and never got disappointed. This city is always alive, the people are welcoming, eventhough the poor english skills, they try to help you anyhow. I recommened to try as many food as you can. The baked corn and the simit (with nutella) my favourites from the streets. I recommend to stay at Cihangir area, really cool vibes there, so many artists there. If you like techno/melodic-techno music, you should visit zoegarden, sumahan, klein garden…:)

Group travel experience

Would absolutely recommend Istanbul as a destination to explore!! The only thing I would recommend is having a local and/or someone with you who can speak Turkish - you can get around fine without, but we were able to have a bit of a more “authentic” experience, especially when going out to eat.