Liverpool are set to take on Galatasaray at RAMS Park on Tuesday, in the Istanbul-based club's first Champions League round of 16 appearance since 2013-14.
The Reds will be the favourites to progress from the tie, though given that Cimbom beat Arne Slot's side 1-0 at this ground in the league phase, it remains to be seen whether the Premier League champions can take their revenge.
However, some Liverpool fans heading to the game will be wondering whether the negative reputation that Istanbul has amongst English football supporters holds true in 2026.
If you are concerned about safety in Istanbul, then – hopefully – we at Football Ground Guide have all the answers you need below.
Is Istanbul safe for travelling football fans?
General safety
Istanbul is generally considered to be a safe place to visit, but the situation is slightly different for football fans. There have been multiple incidents in the past (more on this shortly) where local hooligans have targeted English fans and attacked them.
Supporters are advised to avoid certain areas, depending on which team their club is facing. For example, if you are in Istanbul to see your club take on Galatasaray, then you should avoid Taksim Square. However, if your club are playing Fenerbahce, then this is somewhere that you may find even allies.
The general rules around a visit to Istanbul are to stick together in groups and avoid wearing anything that will identify you as an English football supporter.
Galatasaray vs Liverpool 😤#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/1TPbHw42Nd
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) February 27, 2026
Previous incidents
The darkest incident for English football fans in Istanbul came in April 2000 when Leeds played Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-finals. In the build-up to the match, two Leeds supporters were tragically stabbed to death by Galatasaray ultras in a clash between both sets of fans.
There have been other incidents, albeit not as tragic, in the years before and since Leeds' visit to Istanbul. For a period, English fans were escorted from the runway upon arrival in Istanbul to the stadium of whichever team they were facing to avoid them spending any time in the city centre.
Alcohol laws
Alcohol is widely available for purchase in bars, pubs, restaurants and shops in Istanbul, though it is not usually possible to buy it inside the city's Stadiums. Still, given its reputation, it would be advised not to take drinking to the extreme in Istanbul, as it is important to have your wits about you at all times.
