{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/turkiye/istanbul","updatedAt":"2026-07-23T14:28:34.352Z","place":{"city":"Istanbul","country":"Türkiye","countryCode":"TR","lat":41.01384,"lon":28.94966},"safety":{"score":64,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":45,"categories":[{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":62},{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":73},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":82},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":50}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Tue, 09 Jun 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/turkey-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-10T11:05:48.7545226-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/turkiye"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":3.22789482308636,"display":"3.2 / 100k","year":"2023","score":77,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":0.5,"display":"0.5%","year":"2019","score":96,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":5,"display":"5","year":"2021","score":80,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":6.5,"display":"6.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":79,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":49.3131044,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":42.4489468,"display":"42/100","year":"2024","score":42,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":36.4544855,"display":"36/100","year":"2024","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":49.9654888,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":51.5312748,"display":"52/100","year":"2024","score":52,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":37.6897898,"display":"38/100","year":"2024","score":38,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":48.01,"display":"48.0 / 100 · city-level","year":null,"score":52,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"numbeo_safety_index","label":"Safety index (crowdsourced)","value":51.99,"display":"52.0 / 100 · city-level","year":null,"score":52,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":58.6,"display":"58.6%","year":"2024","score":60,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":2.6,"display":"2.6%","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":0.9,"display":"0.9%","year":"2024","score":89,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.1,"display":"0.10 / 100k","year":"2025","score":96,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":13.07,"display":"13.1%","year":"2016","score":70,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":52,"display":"US AQI 52 · Moderate","year":null,"score":89,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":30.548007727,"display":"31 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":80,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":36,"display":"July: highs ~36°C · high heat","year":null,"score":80,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Flood (green)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":70,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Flood","severity":"green","title":"flood alert in Bulgaria","distanceKm":495}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Istanbul remains a moderately safe destination for visitors, though petty crime and occasional protests require vigilance.","summary":"The city’s overall safety index is 67/100, driven by low homicide and terrorism rates but tempered by moderate political stability and rule‑of‑law scores. Petty theft, especially pickpocketing and shoe‑shiner scams, is concentrated in the historic tourist core, while larger demonstrations can disrupt central districts. Travelers who stay alert in crowded areas, avoid known scam zones, and keep abreast of local protest notices will find Istanbul enjoyable and secure.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging is uncommon but can occur in poorly lit side streets or near transport hubs after dark; stay in well‑populated areas."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"High","note":"Pickpocketing and bag‑snatching are frequent in Sultanahmet, Taksim Square, Istiklal Caddesi, Galata Bridge and during tram or ferry boarding."},"safeAreas":["Kadikoy","Besiktas","Üsküdar","Nişantaşı","Sarıyer"],"avoidAreas":["Aksaray – known for high‑drink‑price bar scams and aggressive touts","Beyazit – frequent fake‑guide and overpriced club schemes","Şişhane metro vicinity – persistent shoe‑shiner scam targeting tourists"],"scams":["Shoe‑shiner scam: brush dropped near Sultanahmet, Galata Bridge or Şişhane, then inflated fee demanded","Bar/club overcharge scam: friendly strangers invite you to a venue with hidden high bills, especially in Aksaray, Beyazit and Taksim","Taxi “scenic” route scam: drivers take unnecessarily long routes to inflate fare, common near major hotels and airports"],"zones":[{"name":"Kadikoy","level":"safe","note":"Asian‑side residential district with low crime, vibrant cafés and good transport links."},{"name":"Besiktas","level":"safe","note":"Affluent neighbourhood along the Bosphorus; petty crime rare, well‑policed."},{"name":"Üsküdar","level":"safe","note":"Quiet, family‑oriented area with minimal tourist‑targeted scams."},{"name":"Nişantaşı","level":"safe","note":"Upscale shopping district; low street‑crime rates and strong security presence."},{"name":"Sarıyer","level":"safe","note":"Northern, leafy suburb; very low incidence of visitor‑oriented crime."},{"name":"Sultanahmet","level":"caution","note":"Historic core; high pickpocketing and shoe‑shiner scam risk, especially around major sights."},{"name":"Taksim","level":"caution","note":"Central square and Istiklal corridor; crowded, frequent scams and occasional protest activity."},{"name":"Galata","level":"caution","note":"Tourist‑friendly but pickpocketing hotspot on the bridge and surrounding streets."},{"name":"Aksaray","level":"avoid","note":"Known for inflated bar bills, fake guides and aggressive touts targeting tourists."},{"name":"Beyazit","level":"avoid","note":"Cluster of clubs and touts running overcharge scams; best avoided after dark."}]}}