Is it still safe to travel to the eastern Mediterranean from Germany?

Turkey, Egypt and Cyprus have long been favourite travel destinations among people living in Germany.

But after the US and Israel attacked Iran, triggering reprisal strikes and airspace closures over surrounding regions, even holidays far from the fighting feel less secure.

With Easter and other spring holidays approaching, many travellers who had previously booked trips to the region may be wondering whether it’s still safe to go – and what their options are if they decide not to.

Note that the situation is developing and could change. But here’s what travellers should consider at the moment according to travel agents and official warnings:

Is it safe to travel to the eastern Mediterranean?

According to the German Foreign Office, there is no general travel warning currently in place for the Mediterranean holiday destinations of Turkey, Cyprus or Egypt.

The German Foreign Office has issued travel warnings for a wide range of countries, including Israel, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and several Gulf states. Also major hubs such as Dubai have seen widespread disruption, leaving some passengers stranded and forcing airlines to reroute or cancel flights.

Jochen Femppel, Head of Direct Sales at DERPART, told The Local on Monday that the travel booking company was continuing to see "a stable travel situation" in classic destinations such as Antalya (Turkey), Hurghada (Egypt) and Paphos (Cyprus), while closely monitoring developments.

That does not mean there are no risks, but it does mean that travel to those areas is still considered possible – from both an official and a commercial perspective.

READ ALSO: Germany's biggest airline sees soaring demand for direct flights

Regional warnings

Some travel advisories are in place in specific regions. 

In Turkey, Germany advises against non‑essential travel to border provinces with Iran, Iraq and Syria, including Ağrı, Van and Şırnak.

On Monday, NATO forces intercepted an Iranian missile in Turkish airspace for the second time in less than a week. Debris from the missile fell in southeast Turkey, with no reports of injuries.

These areas are hundreds – in some cases more than a thousand – kilometres away from mainstream holiday destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir or Istanbul.

The warning is not aimed at travellers flying directly to beach resorts or staying in major cities, in other words.

The US State Department currently rates Turkey as "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution", citing terrorism, armed conflict in the southeast and arbitrary detentions. (The US also has a Level 2 warning citing "terrorism" in place in Germany since May 13th, 2025.)

The US also adds a "Level 4: Do not travel" warning for southeast Turkey. On Monday, the US Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government employees and their families from the consulate in Adana, southeast Turkey, due to the safety risks. 

The UK Foreign Office similarly advises against travel to specific border areas and warns that regional escalation could cause sudden disruption.

Neither foreign office advises against travel to Turkey as a whole.

In Egypt, Germany has a partial travel warning covering northern Sinai, certain border regions and remote desert areas. Popular destinations such as Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor and Cairo are not included in the warning.

The German Foreign Office describes the overall security situation as “stable and calm”, while advising vigilance, and organised rather than independent excursions.

Here too, the US and UK also advise against travel to parts of the country – particularly border regions and remote areas – but maintain lower advisory warnings in mainstream tourist destinations.

READ ALSO: How to maximise your public holidays like a German this spring

The British military base at Akrotiri in Cyprus was hit by a suspected drone in early March.

Germany has not issued a travel warning for the island but explicitly states that “further security‑related incidents cannot be ruled out” and advises travellers to avoid military installations. Resort areas in the south currently remain unaffected by specific restrictions.

Similarly, the UK has updated its guidance to stress that attacks cannot be ruled out. 

The US, by contrast, has raised its advisory level for Cyprus to "Level 3: Reconsider travel".

What if I no longer want to travel?

Uncertainty in the region is clearly having an effect on peoples' travel plans. German tour operators report isolated cancellations, particularly for Egypt. But they are also continuing to take new bookings for the eastern Mediterranean.

Should you feel uneasy about travel to the region, you can always cancel your booking, but whether you can collect a refund for your booking depends on the circumstances.

In Germany, free cancellation is generally guaranteed only when an official travel warning is in place – when there is a concrete threat to life and limb for all travellers in a particular country or region.

A travel advisory, by contrast, flags elevated risks without advising against travel altogether. Generally speaking, it will not automatically exempt customers from having to pay cancellation fees.

Why the type of booking matters

Femppel at the DEPART travel agency emphasised that the way a trip is booked can make a significant difference if the situation changes.

“For package tours, we are in close contact with the respective tour operators and can support re-bookings or cancellations if travel warnings are issued,” he said.

Those who book flights and accommodation separately may have fewer automatic protections when the situation changes.

In a report by BR24, a lawyer in travel and aviation law, explained that if individually booked flights or hotels are still running, “you cannot usually cancel free of charge”.

Travel insurance may offer little additional protection: the lawyer also noted that geopolitical conflict such as the current Middle East crisis is “not usually a reason for insurance coverage” unless it is explicitly included in the policy.

For these reasons package travellers may benefit from stronger rights and clearer support structures if flights are cancelled, routes change or official warnings escalate.

For those travelling independently, flexibility is often lower – and the financial risks can be higher if circumstances shift at short notice.

READ ALSO: Do you need travel insurance for the EU if you live in Germany?

What should holidaymakers do now?

“We advise customers who have already booked a trip and have questions about the current situation to contact their travel agency and review possible options together,” said Femppel.

Depending on how the trip was booked, that may include rebooking or adjusting travel plans if circumstances change.

If you did not book your trip with a travel agency, you'll want to review cancellation policies on flights and accommodation if or when you are considering making any changes.

Beyond booking arrangements, travellers are also encouraged to make sure they can be reached quickly in an emergency. In Germany, that means registering with ELEFAND, the Foreign Office’s electronic crisis prevention list.

German nationals (and non-German family members) who are travelling abroad or living overseas can register their contact details and travel plans so that German embassies or the Foreign Office can get in touch if the security situation changes.

Other countries offer similar registration systems for their own citizens.

Anyone thinking of travelling to the eastern Mediterranean this spring is also advised to:

• Check official government advice regularly, as the situation can change quickly.
• Pay close attention to regional warnings, not just country names.
• Avoid demonstrations, large crowds and military installations, even in otherwise tourist‑oriented areas.
• Clarify cancellation terms and flexibility before travelling, especially if you booked flights and accommodation separately.