Is Türkiye Safe in 2026? What Travellers Should Know About Prices, Politics and Istanbul
Updated: Aug 4
Turkey remains one of the world’s most popular travel destinations in 2026. However, rising prices, new Airbnb regulations and a more visible political climate have changed the overall travel experience.
That doesn’t mean you should cancel your trip. It simply means it’s worth knowing what to expect before you arrive.
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Is Turkey Still Safe to Visit?
The short answer is yes.
For the vast majority of travellers, Turkey remains a safe destination. Millions of people visit the country every year without experiencing anything more dramatic than excellent food, warm hospitality and unforgettable cultural experiences.
That said, Turkey is no longer quite the same destination many people remember from package holidays or their first visit ten or twenty years ago.
Not because tourists generally feel unsafe - quite the opposite. But because the country has changed. Prices have risen significantly, and the political situation has become more visible in everyday life, particularly in Istanbul.
For most visitors, the trip will unfold exactly as planned. Demonstrations, police operations and temporary road closures are usually limited to specific areas of the city. Many tourists never even realise anything unusual is happening until they read about it in the news afterwards.
One thing I have noticed in recent years is that people now travel differently.
Travellers spend more time planning, compare hotels and flights more carefully, and pay much closer attention to prices than they used to.
Rather than simply looking for the cheapest holiday, many now want to know whether the overall experience is worth the money.
Prices
One of the first things most visitors notice is the cost.
Turkey is no longer the bargain destination that many people still associate with the country. Prices have increased considerably, both in the coastal resorts and in major cities such as Istanbul.
Hotels, restaurants and all-inclusive holidays now often cost almost as much as comparable destinations in Southern Europe. At the same time, entrance fees to many of Turkey’s most famous attractions have increased sharply over the past few years.
That doesn’t necessarily make Turkey an expensive destination. It simply means that planning your travel budget has become more important than it used to be.
Flights
The same applies to airfares.
Flight prices fluctuate far more than they once did, so it is often worth comparing departure dates, airports and airlines before booking.
Prices can change dramatically within just a few days, and it is not unusual to see the same flight become significantly more expensive from one week to the next.
If your travel dates are flexible, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money.
Airbnb
Airbnb in Istanbul is no longer the budget-friendly alternative it once was.
Stricter regulations on short-term rentals mean that hosts now have to meet a number of new legal requirements and obtain official permits.
As a result, the number of available properties has fallen in many parts of the city, pushing prices upwards.
In popular neighbourhoods such as Kadıköy, Galata and Cihangir, the price difference between a hotel and an Airbnb has become much smaller than it used to be.
When planning your stay, it is therefore worth comparing both options rather than assuming Airbnb will always be the cheaper choice.
Politics in Practice
One of the biggest differences between travelling in Turkey today and just a few years ago is the country’s political climate.
Most visitors will never become directly involved in Turkish politics. Even so, political tensions can occasionally have a visible impact on everyday life, particularly in Istanbul.
The arrest of opposition politicians, public demonstrations and large-scale police operations can sometimes lead to temporary road closures, closed metro stations and disruptions to public transport with very little notice.
Metro stations, ferry terminals and central public squares may occasionally be closed or cordoned off. Demonstrations are often dispersed quickly, and areas such as Taksim Square can become inaccessible for several hours - or even an entire day.
For most visitors, this simply means taking a different route or adjusting their plans slightly. Even so, it is part of modern-day Istanbul that many first-time visitors do not expect.
Pride Events
If you are visiting Istanbul during the second half of June, don’t be surprised to encounter closed metro stations, blocked streets and a significant police presence.
This is linked to Istanbul Trans Pride, Istanbul Pride and the annual Pride March, all of which the authorities have attempted to prevent for many years.
Since 2015, Pride events have officially been banned on the grounds of public safety and public order. The result has been extensive police operations, road closures and arrests of people suspected of taking part in the events.
In recent years, the authorities have also carried out preventive arrests of people believed to be on their way to the demonstrations.
The impact of Pride Week extends well beyond those actually participating. Metro stations are closed, central areas are sealed off and the heavy police presence becomes a highly visible part of the cityscape. It is one of the times of year when Turkey’s political development is most noticeable to visitors.
A City in Transition
Politics in Istanbul is not only reflected in demonstrations and police operations.
In recent years, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has restored a large number of historic buildings through its cultural heritage programme, IBB Miras, making many of them accessible to the public once again.
At the same time, an increasingly visible power struggle has developed between the national government and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality over cultural institutions, historic sites and public spaces.
Several projects previously managed by the municipality have been taken over or challenged by state authorities.
Most tourists will probably never notice these developments directly. Nevertheless, they form part of the story of an Istanbul that is changing - politically, culturally and administratively.
Think About Where You Spend Your Money
None of this changes the fact that Turkey still has an enormous amount to offer.
At the same time, some travellers now choose not to visit Turkey because of the country’s increasingly authoritarian political direction.
That is a personal decision, and one that many people make for political or ethical reasons.
However, as a visitor, you are unlikely to encounter the political elite. Instead, you will meet the family running the small hotel, the waiter serving your dinner, the café owner around the corner or the shopkeeper welcoming you into a local business.
If you decide to visit Turkey, it may therefore be worth considering where your money goes. Choosing locally owned hotels, restaurants and independent businesses is often a direct way of supporting the people whose livelihoods depend on tourism.
Turkey Is Still Worth Visiting
So, is Turkey still worth visiting?
My answer is still yes.
Turkey continues to offer an extraordinary combination of history, culture, landscapes, hospitality and cuisine that few destinations can match.
What has changed is not the country’s ability to provide memorable experiences, but the way travellers need to plan their visit. Turkey is no longer the spontaneous budget destination many people remember. A little more planning - both financially and practically - will help ensure a much better trip.
So yes, travel to Turkey. Explore Istanbul. Just do so with open eyes and a little more preparation than you might have needed a few years ago.
As always, good preparation is better than unnecessary worry. Remember to register with
your own country’s travel registration service if one is available.
Updated August 4th 2026 June 21st 2026
