Is Istanbul safe for visiting football fans?

Aston Villa are set to take on Freiburg at Besiktas Park on May 20 in the Europa League final in Istanbul.

Unai Emery's side will have the chance to win their first trophy since 1996, and the clinching European silverware would be a significant milestone in the Spaniard's time at the Premier League club.

Many will view Villa as the favourites in that game considering they have had access to significantly more financial resources over the years, while it should be noted the Bundesliga side have never won a major trophy in their history.

It is only natural that fans will want to focus on the football, but travelling supporters will also be keen to know the risks when heading to Istanbul. The city has at times been seen negatively, with the areas around football stadiums historically seen in a poor light amongst English football supporters, but does that hold 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 slightly differs for football fans in the city. There have been multiple incidents in the past where local hooligans have targeted English fans and attacked them.

Supporters are advised to avoid certain areas. For example, if you are in Istanbul to see your club play at Galatasaray's RAMS Park, 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.

2026 UEFA Europa League final 🇹🇷🏆#UELfinal pic.twitter.com/YqT8jxLuTm

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 7, 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.