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Make sure your trip stays a delight. Choose travel insurance for Turkey.
From exploring ancient history and wandering spice-laden markets to relaxing on its sunny shores, Turkey ticks a lot of boxes.
With more than 350 Blue Flag beaches, there are plenty of resorts to choose from. And if water sports are your thing, the opportunities are endless.
Turkish lira is the national currency, although many tourist areas accept euros too. One thing’s for certain, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you’re looking for souvenirs.
But to come home with the best holiday memories, be sure to take travel insurance with you.
Taking out travel insurance isn’t compulsory for a trip to Turkey. But it’s sensible so you can be protected against unexpected events.
It’s best to buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you’re covered in case you later need to cancel for reasons beyond your control.
Even when you’re on holiday, things don’t always go to plan. And unfortunately, in Turkey, you won’t be able to use an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or General Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to access free urgent medical treatment.
So if something suddenly affects your trip - like, getting injured while you were away - you could be facing expensive costs without any cover in place.
Every insurer will offer different levels of protection. But to have peace of mind in Turkey, look out for a policy that covers:
Travel insurance will cover you if you get ill or accidentally injured on holiday, typically for costs up to £5 million.
You’ll be covered if you need to cancel or cut short your trip because of an emergency.
It can cover costs like extra accommodation and car hire if you’re unable to travel.
This covers the cost to transport you back home after an illness or injury, or death.
If you’re taking expensive items with you, check the single-item limit. You may need to pay extra to cover them.
Most policies will cover the cost of replacements.
This can cover legal costs if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property.
Yes, you’ll need to check your policy documents but situations and circumstances that won’t be covered on your Turkey trip include:
There are public and private hospitals in Turkey, but you won’t be able to use your EHIC or GHIC card to access free treatment.
State healthcare generally provides standards similar to the NHS. However, unless it’s an emergency, tourists are usually sent to private hospitals.
These aren’t as expensive as the UK, but the costs can soon add up - so make sure your travel insurance has enough cover.
You can also use one of the many pharmacies in Turkey. Most are open 24 hours and pharmacists are able to provide consultations and prescribe medication.
But if it’s an emergency, you can call 112 and ask for an ambulance. Just bear in mind that private ambulances tend to arrive more quickly.
Crime levels in Turkey are moderate. You may encounter pickpocketing, particularly in the larger cities like Istanbul.
We found that 73% of 1,046 annual travel insurance policies on Defaqto covered money up to a maximum sum of £399 or less, and 26% offered a benefit for injury following a mugging of up to £1,999.[3]
Check gov.uk to find the latest information about safe places to travel, terrorism, and safety when visiting Turkey.
This depends on the insurer - although Turkey isn’t in the European Union, some include it under European cover. Otherwise, Turkey will fall under worldwide travel cover.
To make sure you’ve got the right cover for your trip, check your policy details.
If you’re a British passport holder, you won’t need a visa for Turkey unless you’ll be staying for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period.
You can buy an e-visa online using the official Republic of Turkey e-visa website. Apply at least 48 hours before travel and keep a printed copy of your e-visa with you.
Be aware that your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive.
For more information, check the government’s website for advice about Turkey’s entry requirements.
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[3]Last checked 11 May 2023