Turkey and Egypt tour safety

Check the level of risk to travel to each of those countries on United States State Department website; that may help you make up your mind.

We are now heading home from the Best of Turkey tour. Turkey is as safe as any other country ( I suppose if you go the far E or SE side near Syria, Iran, etc., you might want to be a bit more cautious. The main demonstrations in Istanbul take place in the Taksim square area. We saw small demonstrations by students near Istanbul U and Galata bridge but all very peaceful. The Turkish people are warm and friendly - the sales people a bit overbearing but fun and true cultural experience. You will have a blast!

I know people are sincere and mean well when they say, “I went, and I felt safe”. But personal feelings often have very little to do with reality. I recently went to Kyiv and I felt safe. I also feel safe in Hungary so by the logic Ukraine is as safe as Hungary because “I felt it to be”. The problem with the question is for someone to answer you they, if they wish to admit it to themselves or not, they take on a responsibility for your welfare.

Turkey I think I would wait if it were the first trip. Trips are precious and you don’t want anything interrupting it and the odds are higher for that in Turkey; and no, it’s not as safe or predictable as it was 2 months ago. Egypt, no, I wouldnt go right now and that’s a shame because it is spectacular, and the people are wonderful. For some context I have been to both Turkey and Egypt and Ukraine (this year) and places like Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, russia, Honduras and South Africa. So personally, I can cope with places that are on the fringe. But I like to believe that I travel smart in terms of safety and in terms of investment and enjoyment.

Egypt is a Level 3. Read the advisory and read as much else as you can find and decide. Also check your medical, evacuation and travel insurance and ensure that it will cover you in a Level 3 country. Or cover your needs once you return home if something happened in a Level 3 country. Sign up for the STEP notifications and be prepared to change your trip if something happens as the likelihood is greater in Egypt than Italy.

Turkey is a Level 2 country, but also a little volatile right now. Sign up for the STEP notifications and be prepared to change your trip if something happens as the likelihood is greater in Turkey than Italy.

State Department Travel Advisories and STEP enrollment: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
Turkey Information Page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html
Egypt Information Page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html

We have hotel reservations for Istanbul for the end of October. We can cancel up to 3 days before arrival. We haven’t purchased our plane tickets yet and will probably wait till the end of July or August. It will be an add on to a longer trip so if we have to change or cancel we will.

Hello,
I'm a Turk, and I came across this form by chance — your topic caught my attention.
Turkey is a country with wonderful people and is very rich in terms of tourism. If you're thinking about visiting Istanbul, I can give you some recommendations.

Eminönü is a very popular spot among tourists. The Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Mosque, and the Basilica Cistern are all located next to each other. When you arrive in Eminönü, you can reach all three within a 5-minute walk.

To get to Eminönü from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, take the metro and get off at the final stop, "Kadıköy." From there, go to the ferry terminal and take the ferry to "Eminönü." Once you get off the ferry, you can walk to these attractions easily.

Last week, I traveled to Egypt alone, and since I had never been there before, I was a bit nervous. But on the first day, I realized how warm and friendly the people were, and I found them very helpful. I definitely recommend visiting Egypt as well.

Egypt is a very affordable country, and it's a good idea to carry cash with you.

Places you should see in Cairo, Egypt:

The Pyramids
Saqqara
Khan El Khalili Bazaar

Two days are usually enough to visit these places in Cairo. After that, you can go to Luxor, where you'll find ancient tombs of the pharaohs. You can travel to Luxor either by plane or by bus. However, I recommend flying, as the bus ride between Cairo and Luxor takes around 10 hours. There are daily morning flights from Cairo to Luxor, and the average price is between $45 and $80.

Two days are also enough for Luxor. After that, you can head to Hurghada, where you can enjoy ATV tours and more. Hurghada is more known for beach vacations, and many international flights depart from there.

The only thing you need to be cautious about in Egypt is the sellers. They usually ask for five times the normal price, but if you negotiate, you can buy things at a fair rate.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Have a great trip!