Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Latest flight and holiday advice
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TURKEY is a Brit-loved holiday destination, with sun-soaked beaches, rich culture and amazing food.
But as tensions escalate in the region between Israel and Iran, many holidaymakers heading to Turkey are asking themselves whether it is safe to go — here's what you need to know.
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4.4million British tourists visited Turkey last year
Credit: Getty
Is Turkey close to Iran?
Turkey shares part of its eastern border with Iran.
Iran is currently engaged in hostilities with Israel and both sides have launched missile strikes in the last few days.
Some of these have affected neighbouring countries such as Qatar, which despite not being actively involved in the conflict was the target of an attack on a US air base.
A ceasefire was announced yesterday morning (Tuesday June 24) but the deal was broken not long after.
Turkish tourist hotspots such as Bodrum, Istanbul and Cappadocia are not located near the country's border with Iran.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey?
Turkey was visited by 4.4million British tourists in 2024.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has not changed its travel advice for the country.
A statement — which predates the Israel-Iran unrest — reads: "FCDO advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism."
However, it does not advise against travel to any other part of Turkey, indicating that the majority of the country is safe to visit and holidays can go ahead.
Have flights to Turkey been affected?
Several countries in the Middle East closed their airspaces in recent days, with a number of airlines cancelling flights as a result.
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Turkey shares part of its border with Iran
Credit: Getty
Many planes flying over the region were diverted to different airports, causing widespread chaos and severe delays including for travellers heading to Doha and Dubai.
Flights to Turkey are not currently affected by the volatile air traffic situation and package holidays to the country are continuing as normal.
Antalya, Dalaman, Istanbul and Bodrum Milas airports are all operating without delays, according to data on tracking site FlightRadar.
Can I cancel my holiday?
It is unlikely that you will be able to claim a refund from either a holiday provider or insurance company due to the FCDO having not advised against travel to Turkey.
If you wish to change the date or time of your trip, it is worth contacting the relevant airline or tour operator to see if they can offer any flexibility.
However, there is no guarantee that you will receive a refund for your booking.
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The Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Turkey
Credit: Alamy
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