How safe is it to travel to Turkey?

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the situation in Turkey appears to be calming after an attempted coup last week – however travellers should still exercise caution when visiting the country.  

Flights to and from Turkey are returning to normal, according to advice from the FCO, however there is still a level of disruption and travellers may need to arrive early at the airport to account for extra security checks. Travellers are advised to check with their tour operators or airlines before travelling.

Coastal resorts, with the exception of Marmaris, “do not appear to be significantly affected at present”. For visitors to Ankara and Istanbul, the advice is “to avoid public places, in particular demonstrations, and remain vigilant.”

With ongoing security operations taking place across the country, almost 6,000 arrests have been made following the attempted coup which killed over 250.

A number of airlines and tour operators, including British Airways, Monarch, Thomas Cook and Thomson, have reassured customers that flights will be going ahead as usual and they are monitoring the situation for any changes.

In summary: remain vigilant and alert, take extra safety precautions and keep an eye on the FCO website for further updates.

IMG: Turkey, Neha Viswanathan / Flickr cc.