Emergency guide for Sultanahmet: hospitals, pharmacies, police and lost passports

Which number do I call in an emergency?

Türkiye has a single emergency number, 112, for ambulance, police, gendarmerie and fire. It is free from mobile phones, and operators can help in English when needed. Stay calm and give the address first: your hotel name and street are enough. Hotel reception can also call an ambulance and direct you to a hospital.

For women travellers, the Ministry of Interior’s KADES app calls for help and shares your location with one button.

Which hospitals are closest to Sultanahmet?

• Haseki Training and Research Hospital: a large public hospital in Fatih, about 10–15 minutes from Sultanahmet by taxi.
• Bezmialem Vakıf University Hospital: a large university hospital in Fatih, at a similar distance.
• Private hospitals and clinics: many in the area and across the city have international patient departments, usually with shorter waits.

Hotel reception will know the nearest hospital with a paediatric emergency department. Foreign visitors without Turkish social security pay for treatment, so we recommend travel health insurance for the whole family before you travel. Bring any regular medicines with their prescriptions.

How do I find a pharmacy at night or on a holiday?

Pharmacies (eczane) are marked with a large red “E”, and there are several on Divanyolu Avenue. In the evening and on holidays, every closed pharmacy shows the name and address of that day’s open duty pharmacy (nöbetçi eczane) on its door. You can also find it on the Istanbul Chamber of Pharmacists website or by searching “nöbetçi eczane”.

For baby food, nappies and children’s medicines, see our Sultanahmet with a baby and kids guide.

What does the Tourism Police do?

The Istanbul Tourism Police office is on Yerebatan Avenue, right next to the Basilica Cistern entrance, a few minutes’ walk from the Sultanahmet tram stop. You can walk in without an appointment.

• They write official reports for theft and lost property, which you need for insurance claims.
• They handle complaints about taxis not using the meter, overcharging and street scams.
• They help you reach your consulate.

For price problems in restaurants and shops, you can also call the Ministry of Trade consumer line, ALO 175.

What should I do if I lose my passport?

1. Report the loss or theft at the Tourism Police or the nearest police station and get a written report.
2. Contact your country’s consulate in Istanbul for an emergency travel document. Bring the police report, passport photos and a copy of your passport if you have one.
3. If your child’s passport is lost, a birth certificate or family register speeds things up.
4. If your flight is soon, tell your airline and us; we will help sort out your hotel registration and stay.

Before you travel, save photos of the whole family’s passports on your phone and in your email. Which documents you need is explained in our passports, visas and documents for an Istanbul trip with children guide.

Safety tips for crowded places

• In crowded places such as the Grand Bazaar, trams and squares, carry your bag and phone in front of you.
• Put a card with the hotel name and your phone number in your children’s pockets, and teach them to show it to a police officer or shop assistant if they get lost.
• Take taxis from official ranks and make sure the meter is on.
• Politely refuse unsolicited help or offers to take you to a shop or restaurant.