Turkey : Safety by City
Turkey - safety as a country Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and, at the same time, the second-largest city in the country after Istanbul.
It is also the administrative center of Turkey and a huge university town.
As there are more than ten universities in Ankara, a considerable amount of the city’s population is made up of students.
Since it’s is the capital, it hosts many different activities, concerts, and organizations, and there are many huge parks where you can spend your time in Ankara.
There aren’t nearly as many foreigners or English-speakers living in Ankara as there are in Istanbul, which is why many people say it’s a lonely city.
Warnings & Dangers in Ankara
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Ankara is safe to visit. You should be aware that tourist hotspots, restaurants, shops, and public transportation are places where most thefts and pickpocketing occur, and that violent crime exists here, too.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
Generally, transport in Ankara is rather safe and reliable, though if you're driving you should keep in mind that local drivers in the country are reckless and tend to ignore traffic rules and signs.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
As for pickpocketing, it is a recurring concern on the streets of Ankara, which is a popular tourist destination, so be careful and hold your bags tightly by your side.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
As for natural disasters, floods and heavy rains have been known to hit Ankara, but apart from that, you're perfectly safe here.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
The majority of violent crime doesn't happen in Ankara so you don't have to worry but do avoid deserted areas and places that are poorly lit and abandoned.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
Terrorism is the greatest worry for tourists, as it's been active in Turkey in recent years. The deadliest terrorist attack happened in January 2017. Most of these attacks are linked to Kurdish separatist terrorist activities in south-east Turkey.
SCAMS RISK: HIGH
The common scam in Ankara is locals befriending tourists, taking them out for a drink, or dinner and then expecting the tourist to pay for it. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
If you're a woman traveling solo you should avoid walking alone after dark in this country. There have been reports of sexual assaults and verbal insults. These can happen even if you are accompanied by a group. Avoid isolated or poorly lit areas.
So... How Safe Is Ankara Really?
Ankara is mostly safe when it comes to crime and its biggest risks stem from their political situation and terrorism risks.
However, that isn’t to say that violent, as well as petty crimes, don’t exist in Ankara, because they do.
Since the city dies after a certain hour in the evening, city streets can get desolate and dangerous.
Moreover, being an alone woman may also be risky in the city.
As long as you stay away from the Sincan district, which is full of drug dealers and other sorts of dangerous people, you’ll be perfectly fine.
Another advice that might come in handy in Ankara is that you should take every precaution while driving, as drivers in this country are mostly reckless and completely ignoring traffic signs, commonly causing traffic accidents.
The real danger in Turkey and the reason many tourists are a skeptic when it comes to safety in this country are the continuous and frequent terrorist attacks all around Turkey that have to do with the political situation in the state and most of them are linked to Kurdish separatist terrorist activities in south-east Turkey.
However, recently the situation has settled and the last attack happened in January 2017.
How Does Ankara Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Ankara | 58 |
| Antalya | 74 |
| Istanbul | 58 |
| Izmir | 73 |
| Bursa | 66 |
| Bodrum | 70 |
| Kusadasi | 68 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
| Niagara Falls (Canada) | 87 |
| Calgary (Canada) | 82 |
Useful Information
Visas
Some nationals do need a visa to enter Turkey, but they can be purchased online at http://www.evisa.gov.tr/ before traveling to Turkey. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past the date of your arrival to Turkey. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Turkish embassy for further information.
Currency
The Turkish lira is the official currency in Ankara. ATMs are widespread throughout the country and credit cards are widely accepted in most establishments.
Weather
Generally, the best time to visit Ankara is during April, May, September, and October as they are pleasantly warm. The summer months from June through to September are very hot.
Airports
Ankara Esenboğa Airport is the international airport of Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. The airport is located northeast of Ankara, some 28 km from the city center.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Ankara, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Ankara Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 3 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 18 | 12 | 5 |
| Low °C | -5 | -3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 | -2 |
| High °F | 37 | 41 | 52 | 61 | 70 | 77 | 84 | 84 | 77 | 64 | 54 | 41 |
| Low °F | 23 | 27 | 32 | 39 | 46 | 52 | 57 | 57 | 50 | 41 | 34 | 28 |
Turkey - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Alanya | 76 |
| Ankara | 58 |
| Antalya | 74 |
| Bodrum | 70 |
| Bursa | 66 |
| Eskisehir | 85 |
| Istanbul | 58 |
| Izmir | 73 |
| Kusadasi | 68 |
Ankara very safe generally
I lived in Ankara for 18 months, home at the time was London. Never had any incidents of personal danger at any point, and this included wandering home from clubs and bars at 2am or later.
Public transport is excellent and a token of how safe the city is. On municipal buses you use a prepaid travel card. The buses are so crowded that what usually happens is that you pass your card down to the front of the bus, somebody touches the machine at the front and the card makes its way back down the bus to you. Now the first time I did this I thought ‘ I’ll get somebody else’s card back with half the credit’ that never happened. Similarly, on a dolmus (small mini buses) you pay with cash. You pass your money down the bus when it’s busy and you always get the right money back. It sums up the general honesty of the place.
I was living in Çankaya and the only other general worry was the packs of stray dogs. They are mostly harmless and look more worrying than they are.
The only negative experience I ever had was on National Day in October. Police were just overly heavy handed. Oh, and everybody smokes (I am convinced Turkish people don’t smoke after sex but during it!). Finally, as a pedestrian drivers are oblivious – be careful!
Otherwise, Ankara is one of my favourite cities in the world. A great cafe society and
I like it
It was good I was born there and very safe overall risk should be low
Ankara Is A Beautiful City But The Only Trouble Is Altundağ And Sincan Because I Lived In Mamak, The Most Dangerous Districts Of Ankara It’s A Quiet Place But Don’t Go To Gülveren Çankaya Yenimahalle and Mamak are the Best Places
Good
yay