Is it safe to drive to Istanbul?

Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, have hit the headlines a lot recently. Riots over the redevelopment of Istanbul’s Gezi Park, along with general anti-government feelings, have made parts of the city centre no-go areas. But for those considering the journey across Europe to Turkey, is this sprawling metropolis too dangerous to visit?

For people who love driving holidays, a journey to Istanbul might be hard to beat, taking in as it does many fantastic countries. And what’s more, most short term European breakdown cover policies cover you up to the west side of the Bosphorus (including the west, and main, part of Istanbul), including that of startrescue.co.uk.

But the notion of angry crowds being dispersed by tear gas doesn’t make for an attractive destination.

So how bad is it? This report from CNTraveler.com suggests that many people are visiting Istanbul, even the central areas, and have not found themselves in any trouble. Obviously, caution should be exercised, as being anywhere near an irate crowd could present some risks. Relatively peaceful protests can turn nasty fairly quickly, especially if the Turkish police arrive with their preferred crowd-sedative, tear gas.

The Foreign Office reflects this feeling – that western Turkey is generally safe: “While demonstrations continue to take place in other cities [aside from Istanbul] across Turkey, they are broadly peaceful and sporadic. Violent confrontations between police and protesters - which mainly occurred in central Ankara, particularly in the Kizilay area, and central Izmir near the waterfront - have now largely decreased.

However, further disturbances can’t be ruled out. You should avoid all demonstrations and follow the advice of the police or local authorities.”

Visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for more information.

The far east of Turkey – a long way from Istanbul – is considerably more dangerous, and is generally not covered by most breakdown insurers.

The bottom line is if you want to drive to Istanbul and its treasure trove of ancient architecture, and be amazed by the warmth of the weather and the people, many would argue it is worth the very small risk to do so.