Country Focus: Turkey

Visiting Turkey

Turkey remains a popular destination for UK residents and most people have a safe and healthy trip [1]. However, understanding common health issues and following sensible precautions will help you to reduce your risk of illness or injury.

Advice for travellers to Turkey

Before you travel

See our Turkey Country Information page for current health advice.

Check Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO): Turkey country advice for up-to-date safety and security information and guidance about driving/transport risks. You can also sign up for FCDO email updates about Turkey.

See your GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic to make sure that you are in date for the recommended routine United Kingdom (UK) vaccinations, including polio, diphtheria and tetanus and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR / MMRV). You may also need additional travel vaccines depending on your destination, planned activities, and your personal health. This includes hepatitis A vaccine.

Rabies vaccination may be recommended for some travellers visiting Turkey. Rabies is  a rare but serious viral infection, spread by contact with infected animal saliva (usually a bite, scratch or lick to broken skin) [2,3]. Although rare, rabies has been reported in travellers and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear [4]. Speak to a travel health professional about your individual circumstances to find out if the rabies vaccine is recommended for your trip.

If you have any medical conditions, get advice from your GP or hospital specialist before you go. This will help you manage your condition during your trip and plan for any emergencies. If you take regular medicines, see our guidance on travelling with medication.

Carry a basic first aid kit and make sure you have comprehensive travel health insurance that covers all of your activities and any pre-existing medical conditions. Check the FCDO insurance advice and while travelling keep your insurance documents with you at all times.

Thinking about travelling to Turkey for treatment?

If you are planning any treatment abroad, including cosmetic surgery or other cosmetic procedures, dental care, fertility treatment or a hair transplant, you should [5]:

• discuss your plans with your UK GP, dentist or health professional
• plan carefully and make sure you understand the possible risks and potential complications
• remember that access to follow-up care may be limited once you return home
• research clinics thoroughly, as standards of care and regulation can vary. Using an accredited clinic or hospital does not guarantee a satisfactory outcome
• consider whether language or communication barriers could make it harder to understand your care or explain symptoms and concerns
• think about the impact of having treatment away from family and friends, particularly if you have complications or a longer stay is needed
• check how you would return home in an emergency and what this would cost
• check that your travel insurance covers any additional healthcare you might need, including treatment for any complications from your procedure or treatment abroad

The FCDO has a list of medical providers in Turkey and provides guidance about medical tourism in Turkey. For more general information see our medical tourism factsheet and the NHS treatment abroad checklist.

While you are away

Be aware of your personal safety at all times.

Check local and national government advice and FCDO country information regularly for updates.

Insect or tick bites can be irritating and may lead to skin infections. In Turkey, they can also spread certain infections, such as West Nile virus and, rarely, malaria. See our factsheet on insect and tick bite avoidance for advice on how to protect yourself and your family.

A recent study highlighted the risk of gastroenteritis (diarrhoea and vomiting) in travellers returning from popular holiday destinations, including Turkey [6].  Practise good food and water hygiene at all times, even in high-end, all-inclusive resorts. To reduce your risk:

• wash your hands often, with soap and water
• only use alcohol hand gel if handwashing facilities are not available
• eat freshly prepared food that is fully cooked and served hot.
• avoid fruit that you have not peeled yourself and salads not washed with bottled or boiled water
• if there is no clean water supply, drink only bottled or boiled tap water (this includes brushing your teeth), and avoid ice in your drinks
• avoid swallowing water from ponds, lakes and untreated swimming pools
• be prepared to manage travellers’ diarrhoea, including carrying oral rehydration sachets

Get urgent medical help for symptoms that last more than a few days or are not improving. This is especially important for babies, young children and pregnant women as they are at higher risk of serious complications. 

Drink spiking and methanol poisoning is a risk worldwide [7]. To reduce your risk:

• always keep your drink with you, never leave it unattended
• do not drink anything that looks, smells or tastes odd
• never accept drinks from strangers
• only drink alcohol from reputable stores, bars, clubs or restaurants
• avoid homemade or streetside alcohol - do not drink from unlabelled bottles
• be cautious about alcohol that is very cheap or free, as well as pre-mixed spirit-based drinks like cocktails, shots or drinks served in 'buckets' or jugs
• stick with sealed or bottled branded drinks from licensed bars, restaurants and shops or buy alcohol in duty-free before you arrive

If you suspect methanol poisoning or hangover-like symptoms are not improving, seek emergency medical help immediately. Tell doctors about any recent alcohol you or your friends and family drank. Treatments can help if given early enough. Check the FCDO for further guidance.

Rabies has been reported in animals, including bats, in Turkey:

Avoid contact with all animals, even if you have had a course of pre-travel rabies vaccine. If you are bitten, scratched, or have any potential exposure to animal saliva:

• wash the wound thoroughly
• follow immediate first aid advice 
• seek urgent medical help, this is important even if the injury appears minor or you have had pre-travel rabies vaccinations.
• if you have received rabies vaccine, remember to take your vaccination record with you.

Temperature and humidity can be very high. Remember to drink plenty of fluids and protect yourself from the sun by wearing appropriate clothing, and sunglasses. Regularly apply high-factor sunscreen.

When you return

If you or anyone in your family is ill after travel, or you had a rabies exposure, seek urgent medical advice. Always tell your healthcare provider that you have been abroad recently and mention that you visited Turkey even if your trip was several weeks or months ago. If you had treatment while you were away, make sure you bring any vaccine or treatment records to your appointment.