Istanbul Traveller Health Guide: Seasonal Illnesses, Street Food and Finding a Doctor
Health guide for visitors to Istanbul: crowded transport, long walks, street food, winter respiratory infections, spring pollen and how to reach a doctor on either side of the Bosphorus.
Istanbul is a city of more than fifteen million people spread across two continents, and almost every health problem visitors report is linked to its scale. Days are long, distances are big, hills are steep, transport is crowded and the food is irresistible. Understanding how the city works helps you stay well, and also helps you decide when it is worth calling a doctor to you rather than crossing the city in traffic.
Winter: the respiratory season
Istanbul’s winters are cold, damp and grey. From November to March colds, flu, bronchitis, sore throats and ear infections circulate quickly on crowded metro lines, trams, Marmaray and ferries. Travellers from warmer places are often caught out by the wet cold. Dress in layers, keep your hands clean and stay home if you have a fever. A video consultation can save you a trip across town when you are unwell.
Spring and autumn: pollen and unpredictable weather
April and May bring pollen from the many trees along the Bosphorus and in the city’s parks, and visitors with allergies and asthma often struggle. In autumn the weather swings between warm and chilly, and sudden rain is common. Carry your usual allergy medicine and a light waterproof jacket.
Summer: heat and humidity
Summers are hot and humid, and a day of sightseeing in Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus can mean many hours on your feet in the sun. Heat exhaustion, dehydration, headaches and blisters are the usual complaints. The steep, cobbled streets of Galata, Balat and Beyoglu are the source of many ankle sprains, so wear shoes with good grip, not flip-flops.
Street food and traveller’s diarrhoea
Simit, balik ekmek, doner, roasted chestnuts and stuffed mussels are part of the Istanbul experience. Most of it is fine, but stuffed mussels and anything that has sat warm for hours is a common cause of stomach bugs. Eat at busy stalls where the food turns over quickly, choose food that is hot, and drink sealed water. If you get diarrhoea, replace fluids with oral rehydration salts from a pharmacy and rest; see a doctor if it lasts more than a few days, if there is blood or if you are dizzy.
The hamam and the hot bath
A Turkish bath is a highlight for many visitors, but heat, steam and a vigorous scrub can lower blood pressure and dehydrate you. Drink water before and after, avoid it if you are unwell, pregnant, or have a heart condition, and do not combine it with alcohol.
Traffic, distance and getting a doctor
Crossing the Bosphorus at rush hour can take over an hour, so choosing a doctor on your own side of the city, or having the doctor come to you, makes sense. In an emergency call 112. Many private hospitals and clinics operate on both the European and Asian sides, and an on-demand doctor can see you by video wherever you are, send an e-prescription to a pharmacy nearby and arrange a hotel or home visit in selected areas. Choose your neighbourhood below.