Amid the ongoing conflict in Iran and significant flight disruptions throughout the Middle East, travelers with plans to visit neighboring country Türkiye may be wondering whether to continue or cancel their trips.
The Israeli and American military operations in Iran that escalated on February 28 have triggered retaliatory strikes across the region, with drones and falling debris damaging popular tourist areas in Dubai and Cyprus. On March 4, NATO air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile heading towards Turkish airspace, according to the Turkish Defense Ministry. There were no reported casualties or injuries from the incident. The attempted attack on Türkiye, which shares a border with Iran, marks the first time a NATO alliance member has been drawn into the conflict.
As of Friday, March 6, the State Department’s Türkiye Travel Advisory is placed at a Level 2, encouraging travelers to “exercise increased caution” (the same rating as Egypt and France, for example). A February 28 travel alert from the US embassy in Türkiye notes that “US government personnel in Türkiye have been instructed to avoid travel to the US Consulate Adana consular district, which comprises Türkiye’s 22 southeasternmost provinces.”
“Military activity in the Middle East region may disrupt international travel, including air travel to [and] from Türkiye,” the advisory adds.
According to regional travel specialists, most of the country is currently considered safe to visit, including popular vacation destinations such as Istanbul, Antalya, Göreme, Ankara, and Bodrum. “The consensus on the ground in Türkiye is the same as both Egypt and Jordan,” says Chris Bazos, Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist, co-founder, and president of Travelous, a travel agency with operations across the Middle East. “All is well, and it’s business as usual,” he says.
Per the US State Department advisory, the only regions placed at an increased Level 4 rating of “do not travel” in Türkiye are the Sirnak province, Hakkari province, and any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Syrian border due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, and civil unrest.
Because, at the time of writing, the State Department does not advise against all travel to Türkiye, your travel insurance is unlikely to cover trip cancellations, and you’re unlikely to receive a full refund if you decide not to travel. If you want to look into postponing your trip, it’s best to contact your travel insurance provider or airline directly. Should your trip be impacted, see our full guide on what travel insurance covers during airspace closures.
This is a developing news story and will be updated with information as it becomes available. Additional reporting by Condé Nast Traveller UK.
