Unfortunately, there are a few safety issues you should be aware of in Istanbul. Taxis are notorious for ripping off tourists picked up in Sultanahmet or Taksim – make sure the ‘day rate’ is set during the day (one light on the meter, not two). It’s a good idea to ask at the hotel you’re staying at where there is a reputable taxi stand.In addition, be aware that there are other tourist scams going on in night clubs. New ‘friends’ will leave an exorbitant bill. That drink might be drugged. Use common sense, it’s a very, very big city with typical big city safety problems.
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Having spent a few months in Istanbul traveling alone as a woman I would say its not a safe city to be in. The traffic an roads are terrible and they drive very chaotic and fast. Also, there are a lot of scams that go on and as a woman alone, you get followed and hit upon. Also, there is a huge mafia there, in particular in tourist areas. They are always talking about money(para). Also, dont get fooled by the sweet smiles, they are not the nicest of people and I found some of them to be brutal, disrespectful of women and have a very different mindset to the people of other countries. Take care if travelling there
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