Western Asia · Capital Ankara
Each opens that government's own advisory for Türkiye — the authoritative version, updated far faster than this page.
Türkiye is a mainstream destination with a well-organised scam economy in Istanbul and genuine security restrictions in the south-east near the Syrian and Iraqi borders, which several governments advise against visiting.
The country is also seismically very active. The 2023 earthquakes killed more than 50,000 people, and much of the country sits on major fault lines including one running close to Istanbul.
Each region is coloured by the advice that applies to most of it, drawn by hand from the wording of all five government advisories. Numbered markers flag localised warnings — usually a border strip or remote interior — that cover only a small part of an otherwise lower-risk region.
A numbered marker warns about the small area described in its note — the rest of that region carries the base advice. Mapped by hand from the official wording in July 2026; always check the current advisory before you book.
Each pillar is scored 0–100 against every other country. Longer bar = more risk.
Biggest factor here: conflict & terrorism. Armed conflict, political violence and terrorism exposure.
The things worth knowing before you land.
Average daytime high and nightly low for Ankara, over 2010-2019. Bars are rainfall; the colour band is how hot the days get.
Mildest and driest around May to October.
Patterns reported repeatedly by travellers and local police. None of this is about individual businesses — it's about set-ups you can learn to spot in seconds.
A shoeshine walking ahead of you drops a brush. You pick it up and hand it back; he insists on a free shine in gratitude, then demands a very large payment, often with a sob story about his family.
How to avoid it: Do not pick up the brush. If a shine has started, agree the price out loud before he continues.
A friendly English-speaking man invites a lone male traveller for a drink. Hostesses join, a bottle appears, and the bill arrives at several thousand euros with security preventing you leaving until you pay by card.
How to avoid it: Do not go to a bar chosen by someone who approached you. This specific set-up appears in most governments' advice for Istanbul.
Sources UK FCDO Türkiye safety and security US State Department Türkiye information
A helpful stranger offers directions or tea, then steers you to a relative's carpet, leather or jewellery shop where prices are many times the going rate and high-pressure selling follows.
How to avoid it: Decline offers of guidance from people who approach you. If you want a carpet, decide the price you will pay before entering, and be willing to walk out.
Sources Türkiye tourism official portal
The meter runs on the night tariff by day, a long route is taken, or a 200-lira note you handed over is swapped for a 20 and you are told you underpaid.
How to avoid it: Use a ride-hailing app so the fare is fixed and logged. If paying cash, say the note value aloud and photograph it.
Sources Istanbul municipality transport
Specific places that come up again and again — either in government advisories or in traveller reports. Everywhere else in Türkiye is not automatically fine, but these are the areas worth a plan.
Şırnak, Hakkari, Mardin and the areas within 10km of the Syrian border carry formal do-not-travel advice from several governments.
The centre of the nightclub bill scam and general late-night opportunism.
Runs close to Istanbul and the Marmara region. A major event is considered a matter of when, not if.
Istanbul sits near the North Anatolian Fault and a significant earthquake is considered likely within decades. Know where the exits are in your accommodation, and follow drop-cover-hold guidance rather than running outside during shaking.
Vaccinations, malaria and outbreaks. This atlas does not give medical advice — it is personal, it changes, and it is the one thing worth getting from a doctor. Both national services publish current advice for Türkiye:
Check the official advisory before you book. This page reflects data as of August 2026. Advisories change without warning, and only your own government's advice affects your travel insurance.