I don't like fear-mongering, and I don't like the other extreme of "nothing can ever happen." In Istanbul, my husband's phone was actually stolen from us once.
Our honest Istanbul safety experience: a phone stolen on the train, keeping bags secure – and at the same time incredible willingness of people to help.
At the same time we've experienced so much helpfulness in that same city that I would never reduce Istanbul to that one incident. Both belong to our story.
Our theft experience on the train
We were out with my parents and our two kids. When we boarded, four men were standing in the doorway area. As our group got on, they initially stepped aside. Everything friendly, laughing, nothing seemed openly aggressive.
My husband was a bit behind us. With two kids you automatically check: Is everyone in? Is nobody stuck between the doors? Are the kids with us? In exactly that brief moment the men blocked the entrance around him again.
Not like in a movie, with violence. More like it looked like jostling and a small misunderstanding. My husband eventually got on and immediately said: "I need to check where my phone is." He had that feeling that something was wrong.
Phone gone. He addressed the men directly. On one of them the phone lit up in his pocket. My husband saw it, took it back, and naturally got angry. My father stepped in between, because he quite rightly thought: you don't get physical with people like that.
It ended well. But it was a serious situation we haven't forgotten.
What I do differently since then
I carry valuables somewhere less accessible on crowded public transport. My bag has an extra fastener or a small lock. It might look a bit excessive. I don't care.
Phone not loosely in outer pockets
I'm especially attentive when boarding and getting off. That's exactly where the jostling happens.
No hero games
That my husband got his phone back was luck. I wouldn't advise anyone to provoke a dangerous confrontation over an object.
- If something happens: create distance, involve security personnel/police and don't escalate. A phone is replaceable.
But now comes the other side of Istanbul
If I only told this one story, it would create a picture that doesn't match our overall experience at all.
We were once on the Asian side somewhere near a basketball stadium and wanted to head towards Etiler. Google Maps showed us a bus stop we simply couldn't find. People came out of a shop and asked where we wanted to go. We spoke practically no Turkish at the time. They flagged down a taxi for us, explained to the driver in Turkish where to take us, and even wrote down for us which bus to take afterward.
They warned us against taking the taxi the whole way to the European side during rush hour, because the traffic jam could get expensive. And exactly as they explained it, it worked.
For me, that's Istanbul too.
English? Not always. Helping? Very often.
Not everyone speaks English. But with hands, feet, a few Turkish basics and a friendly grin, we've reached our destination surprisingly often.
With kids we experience an incredible amount of consideration
My younger son was about five when we first traveled around Istanbul with him. On crowded public transport, older people stood up for him so he wouldn't get squeezed between adults. Teenagers made room for him too when they saw he could barely hold on while braking.
Once even a child, maybe seven or eight, wanted to stand up for me. I just thought: "Sweetie. Very kind. But I'm really not that old yet." Of course it was meant warmly – and that's exactly how I took it.
Safety in Istanbul without fear-mongering
Our theft story is real. But just as real are the many situations in which people helped us. That's why I don't want to dramatize safety, but treat it practically.
Pickpocketing: where attentiveness matters most
As in other megacities, crowded transport, getting on/off, touristy hotspots and dense crowds are situations where I keep valuables close to my body. The important thing isn't fear but habit: close your bag, don't leave your phone loose in an outer pocket, be briefly conscious of it when boarding.
Emergency number in Turkey
For acute emergencies, the Europe-wide known 112 is the central emergency number in Turkey.
Taxi safety
Use official taxis, note the license plate/vehicle details, and roughly know the route for longer trips. If unsure, you can ask the hotel or restaurant to call a taxi for you.
Money and cards
Don't carry all your cash in one place. Keep a second card separately. Don't enter your PIN openly and watch for unusual attachments on ATMs.
Out at night
Personally I feel more comfortable in lively areas than in very dark, empty streets. That's not a statement about an entire district, just my own comfort rule. Anyone traveling alone can plan their route and way back beforehand.
Language
English doesn't work equally well everywhere. Offline translators, your hotel address in Turkish and a few basics help. Our story with the shop on the Asian side shows me how far you can get with patience and friendliness.
Kids in crowds
With kids we agree on meeting points and pay special attention when getting on/off that no one gets separated. Small children should know what to do if they briefly can't see their parents.
Documents
Don't carry your passport openly unnecessarily. Save a digital copy/screenshot securely and note important numbers separately.
Safety is more than theft
Traffic, heat, slippery pavement, steep paths and weather are part of it too. Good shoes, water and a power bank prevent more stress than any dramatic "danger video."
- Istanbul is a megacity. I apply the same basic rules I find sensible in other big cities too. One incident is real – but it's not the whole city.
My conclusion
Being attentive: yes. Being panicked: no. Istanbul is a megacity. In crowds I use the same precautionary rules as in other big cities.
And at the same time I think of all the people who helped us even though we barely spoke the same language. That's exactly why my answer to "Is Istanbul safe?" isn't black or white – it's honest.
– Amra
