Sure, IST is perfectly safe, but has a long string of unfortunate events (often seeming to be unrelated). The latest being the closure of IST the airport due to a large fire (now how many airports have been closed due to a fire in the past decade?). I guess shoddy construction has as much to do with the risks of being in IST as anything else.

In hindsight the terrorist warnings that started this thread (2 years ago) were both right and wrong; or rather the attacks did happen but were not greatly disruptive. And of course the UK city attacks alluded to in this thread did happen, with the tube bombings in London the following year. Hard to rate these things, but I'd put London, Paris and New York at higher risk than IST (but Frankfurt at lower risk).

I was there with Mrs. TrojanTraveler and friends over Memorial Day weekend, and it was completely safe, with the Turks their usual hospitable selves. A lot has heated up there in the past two months politically, mostly the regular secular vs. Islamic issues, but you likely won't find any impact. That said, you should keep an eye on the situation, depending on how far in the future you plan on visiting.

There is always the possilbility of terrorism in IST, just as there is when you fly. The odds of anything happening to you physically are slim. I was cautious but not worried, but no more concerned than where I live (Manhattan), probably less so.

I went to IST late May and I didn't find the city unsafe in any way. It was my first time in Turkey and I have to admit that I was positively surprised since TK and the city were both a very nice experience, a lot nicer than I would have thought. I will probably be going there again in October.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much.

Have not been in IST in about 5 years, but I now live in Israel, and I dont think that I have to explain to you all the warnings over here. (I am still typing, aren't I.) Be smart dont do stupid things and you will be ok. Alot of pickpockets and scam artists, yes, but bombings are another thing.

Huh? A cargo terminal caught fire and the airport was totally closed for perhaps a grand total of 7 hours? I can recall at least a half dozen airports in Europe and the US closed because of fire in the last decade, with the stupidest being Schipol being shut becase of a large fire at the Burger King there 4-5 years ago. Incidentally the Cargo terminal in question was not near the pax terminals and was/is a shoddy old structure.

The fire would be condiered by Turks to be the FIRST of recent incidents, not the last, others being the shootings of pro-secular judges. The stock mrket crash and the YTL's dive over the last few weeks, down about 17% against the dollar and 22% against the Euro.
The city however is as safe as ever to visit and will remain so.

I have a Friend sunning herself in IST right now. She sent an email describing the great time she is having...

yes, we saw the warnings for our trip to Israel last year and pretty much felt the way most have posted on this thread.

thanks to all who posted ^

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