112
Police, ambulance, fire and gendarmerie in one number. Multilingual, 24/7, free.
- Call
- Dial 112
Emergency · 112
Emergency help in Istanbul
If you're in trouble in Istanbul or anywhere in Türkiye, this page has the numbers and the steps. Save it offline before you travel — every minute matters in an emergency.
Updated
01 · Numbers
Useful Türkiye phone numbers
112 covers everything — but a few specialist lines exist if you know what you need.
155
The old police line. Still works — auto-redirects to 112 in most regions. Use 112 first.
158
Sahil Güvenlik. Maritime emergencies, drownings, boat trouble on the Bosphorus or Marmara.
184
Non-emergency health questions, drug info, hospital locations. Turkish-speaking; for English use 112.
183
Social services, domestic violence, child protection, women in danger. 24/7.
KADES app
Free Turkish government app. One tap sends your live location to the nearest police unit. Use it if you feel followed or unsafe.
- Get it
- App Store · Google Play
153
Istanbul municipality complaint line. For licensed-taxi disputes, public transport problems, ticket misuse.
170
Traffic accidents and reckless-driver complaints. After an accident, also call 112 for medical and police on scene.
177
Forest fire reporting. Relevant if you're on the Asian-side outskirts or a coastal day-trip in summer.
02 · Scenarios
What to do if…
Common bad situations with concrete first steps. Tap any item for the full answer.
I lost my passport in Istanbul
1. Go to the nearest police station (polis karakolu) and file a report (kayıp ihbar). You'll receive a written police report — keep this paper, you'll need it to leave the country and to claim insurance.
2. Contact your country's consulate in Istanbul (most major countries have one). They issue an emergency travel document, usually within 24–48 hours. Bring the police report, a passport-size photo, your ID copy and proof of nationality.
3. If your flight is leaving the same day, ring your airline — they may rebook you free of charge once you have the emergency document.
I was robbed or pickpocketed
1. Move to a safe area, then call 112. If injured, ask for ambulance.
2. File a police report at the nearest polis karakolu. Bring an ID copy. Without a report, your travel insurance won't pay out and your bank may not refund stolen card transactions.
3. If your phone or wallet is stolen, immediately freeze cards via your bank app or call your bank's lost-card line. Then change passwords for any account you were logged into.
4. Pickpocket hot-spots: crowded trams (T1 line through Sultanahmet), Istiklal Avenue, the Grand Bazaar. Front pockets, anti-theft bags, no phone in back pocket.
I have a medical emergency
1. Call 112. Multilingual operators dispatch an ambulance to your location. Free of charge for the ambulance ride.
2. State hospital emergency wards (acil servis) treat tourists for free in genuine emergencies. For non-emergencies, expect to pay.
3. If you'd prefer English-speaking staff and faster service, name a private hospital when 112 asks: American Hospital (Nişantaşı), Acıbadem (multiple branches), Memorial, Liv Hospital, Florence Nightingale. Check that your travel insurance covers private hospitals before your trip.
4. Pharmacies (eczane, marked with a green E) sell most common medications without a prescription. Every neighbourhood has a 24/7 duty pharmacy (nöbetçi eczane).
A taxi driver overcharged me or wouldn't run the meter
1. If the issue is happening live: politely ask for the receipt (fiş), photograph the licence plate, and refuse to pay more than what the meter shows.
2. Report to the Istanbul municipality complaint line 153, or the Tourist Police (Turizm Polisi). Provide the plate number, time, route and amount. The driver's licence can be revoked.
3. If you used an app (BiTaksi, Uber, iTaksi), file an in-app complaint — the company will investigate, refund the difference and sometimes ban the driver.
4. Read the full guide: Official taxi ranks & how to spot scams.
My phone was stolen / I lost it
1. From any working phone, sign into Find My iPhone / Find My Device on the web — mark it lost, lock it remotely, wipe it if needed.
2. Call your mobile carrier and suspend the SIM so it can't be used for fraud. If using a Turkish SIM, the carrier kiosks at IST/SAW airports can help in person.
3. File a police report — required for insurance claims and to deregister the phone with the IMEI.
4. Contact your bank if any payment apps were on the phone.
I think my drink was spiked
1. Call 112 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Spiked drinks can cause collapse fast — don't wait to "see how you feel".
2. If you're with someone trustworthy, ask them to stay with you and not let anyone separate you from the group.
3. Report the incident at the nearest police station, ideally on the same night so a toxicology test can confirm what was used.
4. Common in tourist bars in Beyoğlu and around Taksim. Watch your drink, refuse drinks from strangers, leave with people you arrived with.
I was sexually harassed or assaulted
1. Move to a safe public place. Call 112 or use the KADES app (one tap, no need to talk).
2. Don't shower or change clothes if you can avoid it — physical evidence helps the case. Go to a state hospital emergency department for a forensic exam.
3. File a report at any police station — the Tourist Police in Sultanahmet, Taksim or Beyoğlu have English-speaking female officers. You can request one.
4. If you need ongoing support: 183 (women & social services), or your country's consulate.
My hotel turned out to be a scam / overbooked / not as advertised
1. Document everything — photos, screenshots of the booking, what you actually got.
2. Open a dispute with the booking site (Booking.com, Hotels.com, Airbnb) before you leave — easier while still on-site.
3. For serious cases (fake hotel, refusal to refund), file with the İl Turizm Müdürlüğü (Provincial Tourism Directorate) and call 153. Tourist Police can also intervene on the spot.
4. If you used a credit card, file a chargeback with your bank when home — Turkish merchants are subject to international card-network rules.
03 · Police
How to find police in Istanbul
Look for the blue POLİS sign on the building, white police cars with a blue stripe and a roof bar that reads "POLİS".
Tourist Police · Sultanahmet
Specialist unit for tourist incidents in the historic peninsula. English, sometimes Arabic and Russian. Use this if you're robbed near Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque or the Grand Bazaar.
- Where
- Yerebatan Caddesi, near the Basilica Cistern entrance
Tourist Police · Taksim
Covers Beyoğlu, Istiklal Avenue, the Galata district and surrounding nightlife. Open 24/7.
- Where
- Off Istiklal Avenue, near Galatasaray Square
Airport police (IST & SAW)
Both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) have a permanent on-site police office inside the terminal. There is no separate phone line for airport police — dial 112 and ask for the airport unit, or walk into the police office in arrivals. Ask any airport staff to point you to polis.
Neighbourhood police (karakol)
Every Istanbul neighbourhood has a polis karakolu. Search "polis karakolu" or "police station" on Google Maps. Most stations have at least one English-speaker on duty during the day.
Jandarma (rural)
If you're on a day-trip outside city limits — the gendarmerie (military-style uniforms) handles emergencies in rural areas. Same number: 112.
Online police
For non-urgent reports you can also file online via the General Directorate of Security: egm.gov.tr.
Police types in Türkiye
- Polis — urban civilian police. Blue uniform, blue stripe on white cars. Handles all city-area crime.
- Jandarma — gendarmerie, rural areas, military-style green/khaki uniforms. Same emergency number 112.
- Turizm Polisi — specialist tourist police, English-speaking, in major hubs (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beyoğlu, Şişli).
- Sahil Güvenlik — Coast Guard, on the Bosphorus and coastal areas. Direct number 158, also 112.
- Trafik Polisi — traffic police, white-and-blue motorbikes. Roadside accidents, traffic disputes.
04 · Hospitals
Hospitals & medical care
Türkiye has both state hospitals (free in emergencies) and private hospitals (paid, English-speaking, faster service). For tourists, private is usually the smoother experience.
State hospitals (Devlet Hastanesi)
Genuine emergency treatment is free for everyone, including foreigners. Long waits possible, English not always spoken. Ambulance from 112 will take you here by default.
American Hospital
The most foreigner-friendly private hospital. Full English service, accepts most international travel insurance directly.
Acıbadem
Largest private hospital chain. Branches across both sides of the city. JCI-accredited, English staff, direct billing for major insurers.
- Site
- acibadem.com.tr
Memorial Hospital
Strong reputation for English-speaking emergency care. Şişli branch closest to Taksim; Bahçelievler near IST airport.
- Site
- memorial.com.tr
Florence Nightingale
European-side hospital network. Şişli branch for central trips, Çapa for the historic peninsula.
Pharmacies (Eczane)
Look for the green "E" sign. Most common medications without prescription. Every neighbourhood has a 24/7 duty pharmacy (nöbetçi eczane) — list posted on every pharmacy door.
Always travel with insurance documentation handy. State hospital ER is free; private hospital ER fees range €60–€200 just to be seen.
05 · Consulates
Your country's consulate in Istanbul
Most major countries have a consulate in Istanbul (the embassy is in Ankara). For lost passports, deaths, or detentions, the consulate is your main contact.
Most consulates cluster in two areas:
- Beyoğlu / Tepebaşı / İstiklal area — historic district, walking distance from Taksim. UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Greece and others have buildings here, many in 19th-century palaces.
- Levent / Etiler / İstinye — modern business district on the European side. US, Canada, Switzerland and several Asian/Arab states have consulates here.
Find your country's consulate by searching "[Country] consulate Istanbul" on Google Maps or your foreign ministry's travel page. Save the address and phone number to your phone offline before you arrive.
For after-hours emergencies (death, detention, mass incident), every consulate has a 24/7 duty officer line — listed on their website.
06 · Phrases
Useful Turkish phrases for emergencies
Most people in Istanbul speak some English, but in a true emergency these short phrases get help fast.
- Help! / I need help Yardım edin! / Yardıma ihtiyacım var. / yar-DUM e-DEEN /
- Call the police Polis çağırın! / po-LEES cha-uh-RUN /
- Call an ambulance Ambulans çağırın! / am-boo-LANS cha-uh-RUN /
- Where is the hospital? Hastane nerede? / has-ta-NEH neh-reh-DEH /
- Where is the police station? Polis karakolu nerede? / po-LEES ka-ra-ko-LOO /
- I lost my passport Pasaportumu kaybettim. / pa-sa-por-too-MOO kai-bet-TEEM /
- I was robbed Soyuldum. / so-yool-DOOM /
- I don't speak Turkish Türkçe bilmiyorum. / TURK-cheh bil-mi-yor-OOM /
- Do you speak English? İngilizce biliyor musunuz? / in-gi-LEEZ-cheh bil-i-yor MOO-soo-nooz /
07 · FAQ
Türkiye 112 emergency — frequently asked
Quick answers to the most common emergency-number questions from travellers. Click any item to expand.
What is the emergency number in Türkiye?
112 is the official emergency number for the Republic of Türkiye. It covers police, ambulance, fire, gendarmerie and coast guard in one number. Works 24/7 across the country.
Is 112 free to call in Türkiye?
Yes. 112 is free from any phone in Türkiye — even from a locked phone or a phone without a SIM card. SMS to 112 is also supported for hearing-impaired travellers.
Do 112 operators in Türkiye speak English?
Yes. Türkiye's 112 service has multilingual operators trained in English, Arabic, Russian, German and French. Just state your language at the start of the call.
What does 112 cover in Türkiye?
All emergencies are routed through 112: Polis (police), Ambulans (ambulance), İtfaiye (fire), Jandarma (gendarmerie, for rural areas) and Sahil Güvenlik (coast guard). Since 2018, all separate lines have been merged into 112.
How do I contact police in Istanbul?
For emergencies, dial 112. For non-urgent tourist incidents, visit a Tourist Police (Turizm Polisi) station — they have English-speaking officers in Sultanahmet (near Basilica Cistern) and Taksim (off Istiklal Avenue). Every Istanbul neighbourhood also has a local polis karakolu.
What is the airport police number in Istanbul?
There is no separate phone line for airport police in Istanbul. Dial 112 for any emergency at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Both airports have a permanent on-site police office inside the terminal — ask any staff member to point you to polis.
Is 155 still used in Türkiye?
155 is the legacy direct police number. It still works and auto-redirects to 112 in most regions. Use 112 first — it's faster and routes to whichever service you need.
What is KADES in Türkiye?
KADES is a free official Turkish government app for women's safety. One tap sends your live location to the nearest police unit — no need to speak. Available for iOS and Android. Especially useful if you feel followed or unsafe and cannot make a phone call.