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Food poisoning usually causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps, sometimes with a fever, and most people recover within a week without special treatment. The priority is fluids: small sips often, plus rehydration salts if you are losing a lot. See a doctor if you cannot keep fluids down, notice blood or feel very weak.
Food poisoning symptoms to expect
Typical symptoms are feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, a temperature and a general sense of being unwell. They can start within hours of the food or a few days later, depending on the germ.
Most people find the worst is over in one or two days, although tiredness and a delicate stomach can linger. NHS guidance says food poisoning usually gets better within a week. What matters on day one is less the exact cause and more how much fluid you are losing and whether you can replace it.
Food poisoning or a stomach bug?
From the inside they feel almost identical, and for most travellers the care is the same. A few clues point one way or the other:
- Food poisoning is linked to a meal. Several people who ate the same dish may fall ill around the same time, while others in your group stay well.
- A stomach bug such as norovirus spreads from person to person. It often moves through a family, a tour group or a ship over several days, whatever people ate.
- Timing is unreliable on its own, because some germs take a day or two to cause symptoms. The meal just before you fell ill is often not the culprit, as our guide to Turkey tummy explains.
The distinction matters most for the people around you. If it might be a bug, keep hands, towels and bathrooms as separate as you can.
How to stay hydrated with food poisoning
Replace fluid steadily rather than in big gulps. If you are vomiting, take a small sip every few minutes; the stomach tolerates that far better than a full glass.
- Water, weak tea and clear broth are all fine.
- Oral rehydration salts, sold in every pharmacy (Eczane), replace the salts you lose as well as water. Mix them exactly as the packet says.
- Avoid alcohol and very sugary drinks until you have recovered.
- Pale urine every few hours is a sign you are keeping up; very little or dark urine is a sign you are not.
Eat when you feel ready. Plain food in small portions is easiest, and there is no need to starve yourself once the vomiting has settled. In Istanbul's summer heat you lose extra fluid through sweat, so aim higher than you would at home. Our piece on heat and dehydration during an Istanbul summer has more on this.
What a hotel doctor visit involves
A doctor visit at your accommodation is useful when you are too unwell, weak or dizzy to travel to a clinic. The visit takes place where you are staying: hotel, Airbnb or private residence.
The doctor will ask what you ate and drank over the last few days, when symptoms began and whether anyone else is ill, then examine you, check how dehydrated you are and look at your abdomen. Based on that, they decide whether you can manage with fluids and rest, whether medicine is appropriate, whether blood tests at your hotel would help, or whether hospital care is the safer place. You receive a written summary, which is also useful for a travel insurance claim. See food poisoning treatment at your hotel for how requests work.
Medicines: what helps and what to be careful with
Ask a pharmacist before taking anything, and mention any conditions, pregnancy and other medicines. Anti-diarrhoea medicines can ease symptoms for some adults, but they are not suitable for everyone, and should be avoided if you have a high temperature or blood in your stool unless a doctor advises otherwise. Antibiotics are not needed for most food poisoning, and they are prescription medicines in Türkiye; a doctor decides after an assessment whether they are appropriate. If you take regular medicines such as contraceptive pills, diabetes, blood pressure or epilepsy medicines, vomiting and diarrhoea can stop them working properly, so ask a doctor or pharmacist what to do.
Eating again and getting back on your feet
Once the vomiting has settled, start with small portions of plain food. Simple options are easy to find in Istanbul: lentil soup (mercimek çorbası), plain rice (pilav), bread, simit, yoghurt and bananas. Build up gradually over a day or two. Avoid rich, spicy and fried dishes, alcohol and very strong coffee until your stomach feels normal again. Rest more than you think you need; tiredness after food poisoning is common and can last several days.
Avoiding it for the rest of the trip
- Choose busy places where food is cooked fresh and served hot.
- Be cautious with buffets, cream desserts and dishes that have been sitting in the sun.
- Wash or sanitise your hands before eating.
- Drink bottled or filtered water and check ice in less busy venues.
- See our street food safety checklist for local tips.
Red flags: when food poisoning needs urgent care
Some signs mean you should not wait for food poisoning to pass. Arrange a same-day medical assessment if you have:
- Vomiting for more than two days, or diarrhoea for more than seven
- Signs of dehydration: little or no urine, dizziness, a very dry mouth or sunken eyes
- A high temperature that does not settle
- Pregnancy, a long-term condition, a weakened immune system, or an unwell baby, young child or older adult
Related Services
- Food Poisoning Treatment — assessment at your accommodation when symptoms follow a meal.
- Hotel Doctor in Istanbul — in-person care for travellers who cannot easily get to a clinic.
- Blood Test at Your Hotel — if the doctor decides tests are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does food poisoning last?
- Most people feel better within a few days, and NHS guidance says it usually clears within a week. Vomiting normally settles first; tiredness can last a little longer.
- Should I eat when I have food poisoning?
- Eat when you feel able. Small, plain meals are easiest. Fluids are more important than food in the first day.
- How do I know if I am dehydrated?
- Watch for dark or very little urine, dizziness when standing, a dry mouth, headache and tiredness. Severe dehydration with confusion or fainting is an emergency.
- Can a doctor come to my hotel in Istanbul for food poisoning?
- Yes. A doctor can examine you at your hotel, Airbnb or residence. Response time across central Istanbul is typically 30-60 minutes; elsewhere, timing is confirmed per address.
If you would like a doctor to check how you are doing, send a WhatsApp message with your symptoms and your hotel name.