I went last August. Hot and muggy and lots of people smoking - everywhere - in cabs, restaurants, on the street. Didn’t expect this. I had to shower 2x a day to get the stench off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do whatever you think best.

For me and my family, we will not go there - on safety grounds.

Do you go to movie theaters? Church? Malls? Send your kids to school? You know there are shootings at those places, right?

For an American, Istanbul is very significantly more risky than anywhere in the DMV (yes, much more risky than even SE DC.).

Do what makes you happy, but we will not recommend Istanbul. (Mind, we also do not plan to visit Ukraine anytime soon, either.). Tons of better and safer alternatives to Istanbul in that part of the world.

This is total BS.

I don’t know why people ask this question. Turkey is very far from Gaza. There is no connection. I’m guessing it has to be Islamophobia?

Istanbul is one of the safest cities I’ve ever visited. You can walk around at all hours of the day and night and feel completely safe. I wish I could say the same for DC or NYC!

I want in 2022 and greatly enjoyed it.

Anonymous wrote:Istanbul is the one city where kids threw rocks at us. Not kidding. We were walking back towards Sultanahmet from an old church/mosque near the city walls on the far west side of the city and taking what seemed like a direct route on foot took us through very shabby neighborhoods, and suddenly a few young boys started throwing *rocks* at us from up a hillside.

Pretty well traveled but never had that happen before. Otherwise we saw great sights and had great food in Istanbul. It was our second trip there.

It's like South Africa, there's underlying tensions but as a tourist with street smarts, you should be fine.

Kids threw rocks at us in Netherlands too. The tour guide shrugged and complained about immigration.

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky:

Can someone who refuses to set foot in the Red States of the South explain how they justify vacationing in Istanbul and the like?

Truly curious what sort of mental/ethical gymnastics are at play.

Has anyone on this thread indicated that they are such a person?

Not being snarky:

Can someone who refuses to set foot in the Red States of the South explain how they justify vacationing in Istanbul and the like?

Truly curious what sort of mental/ethical gymnastics are at play.

Anonymous wrote:Why would you support Erdoğan and his authoritarian policies? Definitely not a place I'd bring my family

This!!!
If you go and do have a problem, you are screwed. It’s a big world out there. Keep looking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do whatever you think best.

For me and my family, we will not go there - on safety grounds.

Do you go to movie theaters? Church? Malls? Send your kids to school? You know there are shootings at those places, right?

For an American, Istanbul is very significantly more risky than anywhere in the DMV (yes, much more risky than even SE DC.).

Do what makes you happy, but we will not recommend Istanbul. (Mind, we also do not plan to visit Ukraine anytime soon, either.). Tons of better and safer alternatives to Istanbul in that part of the world.

I wouldn't go to Turkey

We went in 2013 and loved it. Went back just a few years later, and it was very different in tone/feel. First time, there were people telling us we didn’t have to cover our heads to enter the Blue Mosque (we did anyway). Second time, as soon as I entered the outdoor courtyard of the same mosque, I was immediately approached and admonished to cover my arms & head right away (I was wearing a short sleeve t-shirt). There were many more women in full cover (just a slit for eyes), and the attitude towards westerners was different.

Now the Hagia Sophia has gone from museum back to mosque, etc. I wouldn’t personally visit right now, though statistically speaking, you’d probably be fine.

We went in the heyday of Turkey attracting US tourism, around 2011/12 and I loved it beyond measure. Haven't been back. Don't love Erdogan. But, we're transiting through there this year and have a 36 hour layover and I'm thrilled. Istanbul is an amazing city and it is huge. The central area remains largely safe. I know several folks who have been to Istanbul in the last year and they had nothing but positive things to say. That's anecdata, for sure, but so is all of the information shared on this board.

I went to Istanbul in 96 and felt safe, but having said that my cousin is married to a woman from Turkey and last time they were there someone shot him in the legs mistaking him for some other Westerner.

Why go when this is happening? You have to be a total moron.

Anonymous wrote:Do whatever you think best.

For me and my family, we will not go there - on safety grounds.

Do you go to movie theaters? Church? Malls? Send your kids to school? You know there are shootings at those places, right?

Do whatever you think best.

For me and my family, we will not go there - on safety grounds.