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Older travellers with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD or arthritis can usually enjoy Istanbul with good preparation: bring enough medicine in its original packaging, plan around heat and hills, and know where help is. A nurse or doctor can visit your hotel for checks, medicines and dressings. Chest pain, sudden weakness or breathlessness need 112.
Before you travel: a checklist
A little planning at home prevents most problems abroad:
- See your GP or specialist before booking if you have had a recent hospital stay, a change of medicine or new symptoms, and ask whether the trip is sensible right now.
- Ask for a written summary of your conditions, medicines (with their generic names) and allergies, ideally in English, and keep a copy on your phone.
- Pack enough medicine for the whole trip plus several extra days for delays, in the original packaging, in your hand luggage, with a copy of each prescription. British prescriptions are not accepted in Turkish pharmacies.
- Check controlled medicines. Controlled drugs are treated as prohibited goods at Turkish customs, and anything that might be restricted must be declared; our guide to travelling to Turkey with prescription medication explains the steps.
- Bring your devices: blood pressure monitor, glucose meter, spacer, hearing aid batteries and chargers. Türkiye uses 230-volt, two-pin European sockets, so pack an adapter.
- Declare pre-existing conditions to your travel insurer. UK visitors should know that the GHIC and EHIC are not valid in Türkiye.
- Book airport assistance in advance if long walks or stairs are difficult.
Managing medicines across time zones
Istanbul keeps the same time all year, three hours ahead of UTC, which is two or three hours ahead of the UK depending on the season. For most tablets, simply moving to local time over a day or two is fine, but some medicines are time-critical.
If you use insulin, medicines for Parkinson's disease, blood thinners or anything your doctor has told you to take at exact intervals, ask before you travel how to adjust the timing. A few practical habits help:
- Use a weekly pill organiser and set phone alarms in local time.
- Carry a day's supply in your day bag, not just in the hotel room.
- Keep medicines that need refrigeration in the room fridge, and check it is cold enough.
- Keep a written list of what you took and when during travel days.
If you lose your medicines or run short, do not guess at a replacement. Our guide to lost or forgotten prescription medicine in Istanbul explains what to do, and medication support can help you organise doses already prescribed to you.
Heat, hills and getting around
Istanbul summers are hot and humid, and older people, especially those with heart or kidney conditions or on water tablets, are more likely to become unwell in the heat. Drink regularly even when you are not thirsty, rest indoors in the middle of the day, keep your room cool, and watch for dizziness, confusion or unusual tiredness. See our guide to heat and dehydration during an Istanbul summer.
The old city is beautiful but demanding on the legs. Steep hills, cobbled lanes, uneven pavements and steps without handrails are common in areas such as Galata, Balat and around the Grand Bazaar. Practical tips:
- Plan each day around one or two main sights, with rest stops.
- Use taxis for hills and longer distances; trams, ferries and the funicular save climbs but often involve steps.
- Consider wheelchair rental for long museum and palace visits, even if you walk well at home.
- Ask your hotel for a room close to the lift.
Preventing falls
Falls are one of the most common reasons older visitors need medical care abroad. Wear supportive shoes with good grip, and take extra care on polished marble in mosques, palaces and hotel bathrooms, especially when wet. Use the handrail on ferries and trams, and do not rush to board.
At night, leave a light on in the bathroom or use your phone torch. Ask the hotel whether a shower chair or bath mat is available. Remember that new medicines, jet lag, heat and alcohol all increase the risk of dizziness.
If you do fall, take a moment before getting up and check for pain. Anyone who takes blood-thinning medicine and hits their head should get medical advice the same day, even if they feel fine.
When a nurse or doctor at your hotel helps
Many problems do not need a hospital trip. A nurse at your hotel can check blood pressure and blood sugar, give injections that a doctor has prescribed through the injection service, change dressings, and help you stay on top of your medicines. The visit takes place where you are staying — hotel, Airbnb or private residence.
For new symptoms, such as a fever, a cough, a urine infection or unusual confusion, a doctor visit at your hotel includes an examination and a decision on treatment, and blood tests can be taken in your room if the doctor requests them. In older people, sudden confusion is often the first sign of an infection, so it should never be put down to tiredness alone. Our medical team speaks English, so nothing is lost in translation, and requests are accepted around the clock.
Warning signs: call 112
Older people and those with heart or lung conditions can become seriously ill quickly. Call 112 in Türkiye or go to the nearest emergency department (Acil) for:
- Chest pain, pressure or tightness, especially if it spreads to the arm, neck or jaw
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, slurred speech or sudden confusion, which can be signs of a stroke
- Severe breathlessness, or lips turning blue or grey
- A fall with a head injury, especially on blood-thinning medicine, or a possible broken hip
- Fainting or collapse
- Very high or very low blood sugar that does not respond to the usual plan
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Related Services
- Nurse at Your Hotel — checks, injections and dressings where you are staying.
- Medication Support — help organising medicines already prescribed to you.
- Wheelchair Rental — mobility support for long sightseeing days.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I bring my prescription medicines to Turkey?
- Yes, in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and enough for the whole trip. Controlled medicines must be declared and may need extra paperwork.
- What should I do if I run out of medicine in Istanbul?
- Do not guess at a replacement. British prescriptions are not accepted in Turkish pharmacies, so a doctor here needs to assess you before any new prescription.
- Can a nurse check my blood pressure or blood sugar at my hotel?
- Yes. A nurse can visit your hotel, Airbnb or residence for checks, prescribed injections and dressings.
- Is Istanbul difficult for older people with limited mobility?
- The old city has hills, cobbles and steps, but taxis, careful route planning and wheelchair rental make it manageable for many visitors.
If you or a parent need a nurse or doctor during a stay in Istanbul, send a WhatsApp message with the health conditions, current medicines and where you are staying.