Turkey eSIM
Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast.
Network: Türk Telekom (5G)
Install before you fly: setup in Turkey can be tricky.
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Turkey. Networks: Türk Telekom (5G).
- Validity
- 3 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
Tested Latest test
In Istanbul, this eSIM connected to the Vodafone network and worked well. Data reaches the internet via the Netherlands, so websites see a Dutch IP address.
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Place
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Network
- Vodafone (4G)
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Turkey: the quick facts
Turkey is the mosques and bazaars of Istanbul, balloons over Cappadocia and long beaches on the Turkish Riviera. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our Turkey eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online in Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya and the rest of the country.
- CurrencyTurkish lira (TRY, ₺)
- PlugsType C and F, 230 V, as in Germany and FranceSame as EU
- LanguageTurkish, English in tourist areas
- Emergency112 for police, ambulance and fire
- Taxi appsBiTaksi, Uber and yellow taxis
- NetworksTürk Telekom (5G where available); also connected to Vodafone (4G) in our own Istanbul test
- Time zoneUTC+3 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Turkey
Most trips start in Istanbul or on the coast around Antalya and Alanya, and many add Cappadocia or Pamukkale.
Sultanahmet, Istanbul
The old city, with the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace within walking distance of each other.
Galata and the Bosphorus
Views over the old city from Galata Tower, and ferries that cross between Europe and Asia.
Eminönü and the Golden Horn
The ferry piers below Süleymaniye Mosque, with the Spice Bazaar next door and the Grand Bazaar a short walk uphill.
Cappadocia
Fairy chimneys, cave hotels and hot-air balloons at sunrise. Balloons only fly in good weather, so plan a spare morning.
Pamukkale
White travertine terraces with thermal pools, next to the ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis.
Antalya and Alanya
The heart of the Turkish Riviera, with long beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Antalya has the walled old town of Kaleiçi, and Alanya a castle on a peninsula above the sea.
How do we compare?
Often cheaper, especially on fixed data, with hotspot included on every plan.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Often cheaper10 GB from €8,49 | Yes | No | No |
Multiple networksTürk Telekom first, Vodafone in our own test | Türk Telekom + Vodafone | Türk Telekom | Turkcell + Türk Telekom |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB and unlimitedPick a plan that fits your trip | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs Turkey SIM card
You can also buy a tourist SIM card from Turkcell, Vodafone or Türk Telekom when you land. Per GB, the package price of a local SIM is often lower, but a new Turkish line comes with one-off tax and fees. Here is how it compares with our eSIM.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Operator shop or Istanbul Airport |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After buying and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | From 420 TL, plus about 1,050 TL new-line fees |
| Passport | Not needed | Needed |
| IMEI registration | Not needed up to 120 days | Not needed up to 120 days |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Staying a month and using a lot of data? Then a local SIM can be the cheapest option. For a holiday of one or two weeks, the eSIM often costs less once the new-line fees are counted, and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in Turkey: lira, cards and ATMs
Turkey uses the Turkish lira (TRY, ₺). Prices are in lira, and the rough converter below gives you a quick idea.
- Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and shops. Markets and small shops often want cash.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose lira.
- Use ATMs inside a bank branch or a mall.
- In Istanbul, an İstanbulkart pays for the metro, trams, buses and ferries. You buy and top it up at machines at the stations.
Rough lira converter
About
| ₺ 100 | ≈ €1.78 |
|---|---|
| ₺ 500 | ≈ €8.92 |
| ₺ 1,000 | ≈ €18 |
| ₺ 5,000 | ≈ €89 |
| ₺ 10,000 | ≈ €179 |
Approximate, rounded rate for a rough idea only. Your bank or card uses its own rate.
Weather and best time to visit Istanbul and Turkey
Istanbul has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. This pattern is for Istanbul, so check Antalya, Alanya and Cappadocia separately.
-
Spring and autumn
April to May, September to OctoberMild weather and fewer crowds, a good time for Istanbul, Cappadocia and Pamukkale.
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Summer
June to AugustHot and dry, with the least rain in July and August. Beach season around Antalya and Alanya.
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Winter
November to MarchCool and wet, with December as the wettest month. Museums and mosques are quieter.
BiTaksi vs Uber: which taxi app to use in Istanbul
In Istanbul, BiTaksi and Uber both book the city's licensed taxis. BiTaksi is the local app and adds a service fee per ride. Uber shows an estimated fare before you book. With both, you can pay by card in the app or in cash. Install both and compare for each ride.
BiTaksi
The local taxi app, in Istanbul and 33 other cities, including Antalya. Pay by card, in cash or with İstanbulkart.
Uber
Books a yellow or black taxi in Istanbul, with an estimated fare before you request. Pay by card in the app or in cash.
Yellow taxis
Licensed city taxis with a meter. You can also find one at a taxi rank or hail one on the street.
Taxis from Istanbul Airport
With Uber at Istanbul Airport, you request the ride in the app and walk to the taxi line outside Exit Door 9 or 13 on the Arrivals floor. Show the 6-digit PIN from the app to the first driver in the line. Install the apps at home, because sign-up sends a code to your own number.
Internet rules in Turkey: IMEI, eSIMs and blocked sites
IMEI and the 120-day rule
Phones brought from abroad work in Turkey for 120 days from your entry date without registration, says the Turkish telecom authority (BTK). After that, an unregistered phone is cut off. Registering a phone costs 54,258 TL in 2026, so for a normal holiday you do not need to do anything.
Foreign eSIMs
Since July 2025, Turkey blocks the websites and apps of several foreign eSIM providers. An eSIM installed before you travel keeps working. Installing our eSIM in Turkey still works at the moment, but this may be restricted one day. Buy your plan and install the eSIM at home before your flight.
Blocked sites and VPN
Turkey blocks many websites by court order, and apps such as Discord and Roblox have been blocked since 2024. During protests, social media has been slowed for hours or days. Freedom House reports that there is no legal ban on VPN use, but the telecom authority (BTK) has ordered internet providers to block many VPN services. Their websites and downloads may not work in Turkey, so if you want to use a VPN, install and set it up at home before departure. Even then, a VPN connection can be blocked or slowed.
Sources: BTK device registration, Vodafone Turkey on the 2026 registration fee and Freedom House, Freedom on the Net 2025 and 2024 (VPN blocks). Rules change, so we review this section regularly.
Internet in Istanbul for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya and across Turkey, so you do not depend on hotel or cafe wifi. Runs on Türk Telekom (5G where available); also connected to Vodafone (4G) in our own Istanbul test. Coverage is best in cities and tourist areas. In the mountains and in remote areas, expect gaps.
Tested in Turkey. In October 2026 we tested this eSIM in Istanbul. It connected to the Vodafone network on 4G and worked well. Data reaches the internet via the Netherlands, so websites see a Dutch IP address.
Using hotspot in Turkey
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Istanbul or Antalya, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Turkey is a famous travel destination for people from Asia and Europe. In the Netherlands, it is known for all-inclusive holidays on the Turkish Riviera. Istanbul is a historic city, and Cappadocia and Pamukkale offer something that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. I have been to Turkey more than four times, and it is the hub I use most to fly from Europe to Asia. Turkey has some restrictions when it comes to eSIMs, but I'm glad I can make it work for you. At this point, I can still offer installation in Turkey, but this might be restricted one day. That's why I recommend installing your Turkey eSIM before departure, so you're really online as soon as you land. Have a great time in Turkey!
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Turkey eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Turkey?
Yes. Buy your plan before your flight, install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing. Installing in Turkey still works at the moment, but Turkey restricts foreign eSIM providers and this may be restricted one day.
Can I use a VPN in Turkey?
Freedom House reports that there is no legal ban on VPN use in Turkey, but many VPN services are blocked on the orders of the telecom authority (BTK). VPN websites and downloads may not work once you are there, so install and set up your VPN at home before departure. A VPN connection can still be blocked or slowed.
Do I need to register my phone's IMEI in Turkey?
Not for a normal holiday. The Turkish telecom authority (BTK) says phones brought from abroad work for 120 days from your entry date without registration. Registration, which costs 54,258 TL in 2026, is only needed for longer stays.
Does hotspot work with the Turkey eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
When do my days start?
When the eSIM first connects in Turkey. Installing at home does not start your plan.
Which plan fits two weeks in Turkey?
Light use, such as maps, messaging and some social media: the 20 GB plan. Streaming or laptop work: the 15-day unlimited plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Turkey?
Often, yes, on fixed data: when we last checked, our 1, 5, 10 and 20 GB plans cost less than Airalo's. For 50 GB and most unlimited lengths Airalo costs less, and Holafly sells unlimited plans of up to 90 days.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Turkey?
Plans from €2,49 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.