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The 6 Best Travel Cards for Turkey in 2024

Travel money cards can be a safe, and convenient way to pay for things when you’re abroad. Plus, there are plenty of different travel card types on the US market, including travel debit cards, prepaid travel cards and travel credit cards. What all of these different cards have in common is that they’ve been optimized for travel use, so you can take your pick from varying options to access great exchange rates, low fees, and extra perks when you’re away from home.

Read on for all you need to know, including a closer look at travel money card types, some great options to consider, and the sorts of fees you need to think about when you choose.

Wise – good value debit card for Turkey

First off, let’s introduce the Wise card as a good all-round option that allows you to hold and spend lira, as well as a diverse range of other world currencies.

Wise accounts have the flexibility to hold and exchange more than 40 currencies, plus you can get a linked Wise card for a one-time delivery fee. You can either top up your account in dollars and switch to TRY before you travel, or you can let the card automatically switch currencies as required. All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate, with fees from as low as 0.43%.

You can also get TRY and USD bank account details, as well as local account details for several other major currencies, to receive convenient payments to your Wise account.

Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using the Wise travel money debit card , to help you decide if it's suitable for you.

What is a travel money card?

No matter which type of travel money card you pick, you’ll get an international payment card you can use in a similar way to any other credit or debit card you may already hold. While different cards may have their own features, you’ll usually be able to use them seamlessly in multiple currencies, for chip and PIN or contactless payments, shopping online, and for cash withdrawals.

The big difference with a travel money card is that the card features are aimed at travelers and people living an international lifestyle. Depending on the specific card you select, you may get access to a better exchange rate compared to using your normal card overseas, options to earn cashback, or no foreign transaction fees for example.

6 travel money cards for Turkey compared

We’ll look at each of these card options in a little more detail in just a moment, but let’s start with an overview of how 6 top travel money cards for Turkey line up side by side:

As you can see, the features of different travel money cards can vary pretty widely. In general travel debit cards can be convenient and often fairly cheap to use, while travel credit cards can offer some nice perks like cashback or rewards - but do mean you might run into interest and late payment charges, depending on how you choose to pay.

Travel debit cards often let you top up a linked account online or through an app, so you can set your budget and can’t spend more than you intend. Travel credit cards on the other hand let you spend to your card limit, and then repay the amount over a few months if you’d prefer to. Which is best for you will come down to how you like to manage your money - we’ll dive into a few more details about each card type, next.

What are different types of travel cards?

Broadly speaking, US customers are able to select a travel money card from either a bank or a specialist provider, which may be a travel debit card, travel prepaid card or a travel credit card. We’ll walk through what each travel money card type is, and pick out a couple of good card options, so you can compare and choose.

Travel debit cards
Travel prepaid cards
Travel credit cards

1. Travel Debit Cards for Turkey

Travel debit cards are usually offered by specialist providers, with linked digital accounts you can use to hold and convert a currency balance. While different cards have their own features, travel debit cards can usually be topped up easily online and through an app, with the option to see your balance and get transaction notifications through your phone too. That makes it easier to keep on top of your money, no matter where in the world you are.

Travel debit card Option 1: Wise

Wise is a good value travel money debit card for Turkey.

There’s no fee to open a Wise account, and just a small delivery fee for your Wise card, with no minimum balance and no monthly charge. You just pay low Wise fees from 0.43% when you convert currencies, and transparent ATM fees when you exhaust the monthly free transactions available with your account.

No fee to open a Wise account , no minimum balance requirement
9 USD one time fee to get your Wise card
2 withdrawals, to 100 USD value per month for free, then 1.5 USD + 2%
Hold TRY and 40+ other currencies, convert between them with the mid-market rate
Get local account details to receive TRY and 9 other currencies conveniently

Travel debit card Option 2: Revolut

Revolut has a selection of different account tiers, so you can simply pick the account you prefer - from Standard plans which have no monthly fees, to the 16.99 USD/month Metal plan. All Revolut accounts have linked cards, although exactly what type of card you get depends on your account tier. You can hold around 25 currencies including TRY, and convert currencies with the mid-market rate to your plan’s allowance.

No fee to open a Standard Revolut account, or upgrade for up to 16.99 USD/month
Card delivery fees may apply depending on your account tier
All accounts have some fee free currency conversion with 0.5% fair usage fees after that
Standard plan holders can withdraw 400 USD overseas per month for free
Hold TRY and around 25 other currencies

Pros and cons of using debit travel cards in Turkey

How to choose the best travel debit card for turkey.

Shopping around is the best way to find the right travel debit card for Turkey based on your personal preferences and spending habits. Lots of travel money cards come with a linked account that you can use to hold and exchange dozens of different currencies - these can be super handy because you’ll be able to keep and reuse your card conveniently on your next trip.

For a multi-currency account and card with no monthly fee and a large selection of supported currencies as well as TRY , check out Wise . Or you may decide that Revolut is a good option if you’ll use your account very frequently and would prefer to pay a monthly fee to unlock lots of fee free transactions and extra perks.

Is there a spending limit with a travel debit card in Turkey?

Different providers set their own limits for card use. Limits may apply daily, weekly or monthly, and can apply to different types of transactions. You might find you have a limit to the amount of ATM withdrawals you can make per day, for example, or the value of contactless payments - these limits are set for security and can sometimes be managed and changed in the provider’s app.

2. Prepaid Travel Cards for Turkey

With a prepaid travel card you’ll need to order a card and add funds, to pay merchants and make cash withdrawals. While prepaid travel cards are usually issued on large global networks - and can therefore be used pretty widely - not all cards are accepted globally, so you’ll need to check network coverage in your destination country.

Prepaid travel card option 1: Bluebird American Express prepaid debit card

You can order a Bluebird prepaid debit card for free online. You’ll then be able to top up in cash or from a bank account. You can also add checks or have funds deposited by others - fees apply for some top up methods. While this card doesn’t allow you to hold foreign currencies, you won’t pay a foreign transaction fee to spend your USD balance abroad, which makes it a good choice when you’re away from home.

Get a card for free by ordering online
Top up in a range of ways in USD
No foreign transaction fee when spending overseas
ATM withdrawal fees of 2.5 USD or the equivalent when overseas
American Express cards are not always accepted internationally - check coverage before you travel
No interest to pay

Prepaid travel card option 2: Discover it Secured

Discover it Secured is a credit card, but we’ve included it in our roundup of prepaid cards because it’s a secured card, which means you’ll need to pay an upfront deposit, and can then spend to that deposit level every month. Clear off your bill in full to avoid interest, and you could build a credit score, earn cashback and get no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas, too.

No annual card fee, although interest charges and late payment fees do apply
No foreign transaction fees for spending overseas
ATM withdrawal fees may apply including a 10 USD cash advance fee
Earn cashback on spending and build credit as you do so
Discover network is not always internationally supported - check your destination before you travel

Pros and cons of using prepaid travel cards in Turkey

How to choose the best travel prepaid card for turkey.

There’s no single best travel prepaid card for Turkey - the right one for you will depend on what’s important to you. We’ve picked out a couple of quite different cards here for you to compare and consider - the Bluebird card option may work for you if you’re looking for a prepaid card with no foreign transaction fee. Or, the Discover it Secured may be a winner based on the availability of cash back and the fact you can start to build a credit history while you spend.

Is there a spending limit with a prepaid card in Turkey?

Different prepaid travel cards set their own limits for spending and withdrawals, which can vary between currencies. You’ll need to check your card’s terms and conditions carefully to make sure you pick a provider which suits your needs.

3. Travel Credit Cards for Turkey

Travel credit cards typically offer some extra international features compared to regular credit cards, such as low or no foreign transaction fees or extra option to earn rewards when you’re abroad. In general, travel credit cards are safe and convenient but can be more expensive compared to using a debit card option. Before you select the right card for you it’s important to check the fees, rates, eligibility rules and interest rates which apply, so you can make sure it’s a good fit for you.

Travel credit card option 1: Capital One Venture Rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards card has no foreign transaction fees when you spend overseas. There’s also a comparatively low cash advance fee when you use an ATM, at 3 USD or 3% whichever is higher. You’ll need to repay your bill in full every month to avoid fees and interest, but can earn travel rewards and miles on your day to day spending.

No foreign transaction fee
Earn travel rewards on spending
Get extras like lounge access and free travel insurance
International spending uses the network exchange rate
Variable interest rates which apply if you don’t pay off your bill in full

Travel credit card option 2: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a variable interest rate with no foreign transaction fee to pay. However, you’ll need to pay a 95 USD annual card charge to get your card in the first place. Currency conversion uses the network exchange rate - plus there are benefits and rewards available for cardholders.

Variable interest rates and a 95 USD annual fee
Check your eligibility and order a card online easily
Network exchange rates apply

Pros and cons of using credit cards in Turkey

How to choose the best travel credit card for turkey.

Credit cards aren’t the right option for everyone - but they can be a handy way to earn rewards if you pick the best travel credit card for Turkey based on your spending patterns. When comparing your travel credit card options it’s useful to compare the potential fees against the benefits and rewards, to find the one that balances out best for your specific needs and preferences.

Which cards are accepted in Turkey?

Different cards are issued on their own card networks - and while all the cards we’ve covered in this guide are globally accepted, some networks are more popular in one country than they may be in another. Visa and Mastercard are usually a good bet for a card you want to use in Turkey - but it’s helpful to know that some other card networks which are commonly used in the US, like American Express and Discover cards, are less likely to be accepted in some countries and regions.

Generally the best idea - in Turkey or anywhere else you may travel - is to have more than one means of payment with you, as a back up plan. For example you might want to take a credit card and a specialist travel money card which has been issued on a different network, plus a little cash, so that you always have options if your preferred payment method isn’t available.

Related: How to buy Turkish lira in the US

Conclusion: Which travel money card is best for Turkey?

Using a travel money card for secure spending and withdrawals in Turkey can be a good option, and may also mean your money goes further.

You could opt for a low cost travel debit card which comes with a linked account to hold a selection of currencies - like the Wise account . Or you might prefer a prepaid travel money card like the Bluebird American Express debit card which can be linked to a fee free account. Finally, another option is to get a travel credit card either to earn cashback and rewards, or to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Use this guide to start your research and pick the right option for your specific needs.

Go to Wise Go to Revolut

FAQs - Best travel cards for Turkey 2024

1. Which card is best to use in Turkey?

There’s no single best card to use in Turkey. Which is right for you will depend on your preferences and spending patterns. One good option is to get a multi-currency account from a provider like Wise or Revolut which you can use in Turkey and on future trips, too, as you’ll be able to hold, spend and exchange TRY alongside dozens of other major currencies.

With multi-currency accounts, you can also open a bank account in Turkey . In your Wise account, you can open a TRY balance, get local account details in Türkiye, hold and exchange Turkish lira using mid-market exchange rate.

2. What is the best way to pay when traveling in Turkey?

Spending with your card is convenient when traveling in Turkey, but you’ll be best off having several different payment methods just in case your first choice isn’t supported. For example, you could choose 2 different debit or credit cards, issued on different networks, and you could also get lira in advance so you have some cash on you for those times when cards aren’t available.

3. Can you withdraw cash with a credit card in Turkey?

You can usually make cash withdrawals with a credit card in Turkey at any ATM that supports your card network. You’ll often find that a fee applies, and you may start to accumulate interest on the withdrawn amount immediately. Travel money debit cards from providers like Wise and Revolut can be a lower cost option for cash withdrawals in TRY.

4. Can I use a US card in Turkey?

You can use your US card anywhere you see the card network’s logo displayed. Visa and Mastercard networks are very well supported globally, including in Turkey, making these good options to look out for when you pick your travel debit card for Turkey.

5. Are prepaid cards safe?

Prepaid cards from reputable providers are safe to use at home and abroad. They aren’t linked to your main bank account which can offer extra peace of mind, and may also make it easier to manage your travel budget. However, you’ll need to check the card features and fees carefully to make sure you're getting the best match for your needs.

6. What are the main fees for travel cards when traveling?

The fees applied for travel cards can vary widely depending on the provider and the card type. With debit cards you may find ATM fees, and costs for converting currencies, although specialist providers like Wise and Revolut have linked multi-currency accounts which can bring down the costs of currency conversion. Credit card fees include cash advance charges, foreign transaction fees and interest.

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Top 6 Best Travel Money Cards for Turkey 2024

If you’re heading off to Turkey for a break, a dedicated travel money card can make spending and withdrawing Turkish lira cheaper and more convenient. Different types of travel money cards exist to support different customer needs, including travel debit cards, prepaid travel cards and travel credit cards. The right one for you will depend on your personal preference and how you like to manage your money.

Keep reading to discover more about the various travel money card types, some smart options to consider, and the fees you need to keep in mind while you choose the best one for you.

Wise card - travel debit card for Turkey

Before we get into details about different travel money card options, let’s start with the Wise card as a good all round option for a travel money debit card you can use to hold and spend TRY and a good selection of other currencies too.

Wise accounts are a versatile option for travellers, supporting over 50 currencies and offering a linked Wise card for a low one-time fee.

Top up your account in pounds and switch to USD before you travel, so you know your travel money budget in advance - or if you’d prefer, you can simply allow the card to automatically switch currencies as and when you need it. All currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.41%. Plus you can get USD bank account details - as well as local account details for up to 9 other currencies - to get paid fee free to your Wise account . Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Wise travel money debit card, to help you decide if it’s right for you.

With the option to top up your account in pounds and switch to your desired currency before you travel, you can plan your travel budget easily in advance. Or, you can just let the card automatically switch currencies as you spend. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate for all currency conversions, with low fees starting from just 0.41%. You can also receive fee-free payments to your Wise account with TRY bank account details and local account details for up to 9 other currencies.

Hold and exchange 50+ currencies alongside TRY

No fee to spend any currency you hold, low conversion fees from 0.41%

Mid market exchange rate on all currency conversion

Some fee free ATM withdrawals every month

No ongoing fees and no interest to pay

7 GBP delivery fee

No option to earn points or rewards

Learn more about the Wise card. Get a Wise card

What is a travel money card?

A travel money card can be used for payments online and in stores, and for cash withdrawals, just like your regular bank card can be. However, travel money cards are specifically designed with international use in mind, which means you can expect features and fees that are more optimised for overseas spending. This may include better exchange rates compared to using your regular card abroad, as well as fewer fees. Some travel cards even offer rewards and cashback when you use them internationally.

6 travel money cards for Turkey compared

Before diving into the specifics of each card option, let's first take a quick look at how six of the top travel money cards for Turkey compare to each other.

What are different types of travel cards?

In the UK, customers have the option to choose a travel money card from either a regular bank or a specialist provider. These cards may fall into three categories: travel debit cards, travel prepaid cards, or travel credit cards. We’ll walk through what each travel money card type is, and pick out a couple of good card options, so you can compare and choose.

1. Travel debit cards

2. Travel prepaid cards

3. Travel credit cards

Travel Debit Cards

Travel debit cards are typically provided by specialist companies and come with linked digital accounts that allow you to hold and convert balances in various currencies. Cards all have their own unique features, and topping up your travel debit card can generally be done conveniently online or through a mobile app. With the option to view your balance and receive transaction notifications on your phone, managing your travel money is made easier no matter where you are in the world.

Travel debit card option 1: Wise card

Wise is a good value travel money debit card for Turkey. There’s no fee to open a Wise account, and just a small delivery fee for your Wise card, with no minimum balance and no monthly charge. You just pay low Wise fees from 0.41% when you convert currencies, and transparent transaction fees when you exhaust the monthly free transactions available with your account.

No fee to open a Wise account, no minimum balance requirement

7 GBP one time fee to get your Wise card

2 withdrawals, to 200 GBP value per month for free, then 0.5 GBP + 1.75%

Hold TRY and 50+ other currencies, convert between them with the mid-market rate

Get local account details to receive TRY and 9 other currencies for free

Travel debit card option 2: Revolut card

All Revolut accounts have linked cards, although exactly what type of card you get depends on your account tier. You can hold around 25 currencies including TRY, and convert currencies with the mid-market rate.

No fee to open a Standard Revolut account, or upgrade for up to 12.99 GBP/month

Card delivery fees may apply depending on your account tier

All accounts have some fee free currency conversion with 0.5% fair usage fees after that

Standard plan holders can withdraw 200 GBP (up to 5 withdrawals in total) per month for free

Hold TRY and around 25 other currencies

Pros and cons of using debit travel cards in Turkey

No risk of accruing interest charges or late payment fees

Ability to hold and exchange currencies in advance or at the time of spending

Digital management of accounts, including topping up and viewing balances

Enhanced security, as travel debit card accounts are not linked to your main UK bank account

Cards are issued on popular global payment networks for wider acceptance.

Transaction and currency conversion fees may apply

Cash back and rewards may not be available

How to choose the best travel debit card for Turkey?

The best travel debit card for Turkey really depends on your personal preferences and how you like to manage your money. If you’ll be travelling widely it makes sense to look for an account with mid-market currency exchange and a large selection of supported currencies as well as TRY, like Wise. Other providers like Revolut can also be a good pick, particularly if you’ll use your account very frequently and would prefer to pay a monthly fee to unlock lots of fee free transactions and extra perks.

Is there a spending limit with a travel debit card in Turkey?

Each provider sets its own limits for card usage, which can vary depending on the type of transaction and may apply on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You might find you have a limit to the amount of ATM withdrawals you can make per day, for example, or the value of contactless payments - these limits are set for security and can sometimes be managed and changed in the provider’s app.

Prepaid Travel Cards

With a prepaid travel card you’ll need to order a card and add funds in the supported currency of your choice. Once you have a balance you may then be able to switch to the currency you need, to pay merchants and make cash withdrawals. Prepaid travel cards are usually issued on large global networks - and can therefore be used pretty widely. However, it's important to note that not all prepaid travel cards support all currencies, so you may incur foreign transaction fees if you choose a card that doesn't support all the currencies you use.

Prepaid travel card option 1: Post Office card

You can pick up a Post Office prepaid travel money card in a Post Office branch or order one online. You’ll then be able to top up in pounds or one of the 22 supported currencies, which includes TRY. If you hold TRY in your account there’s no fee to spend when you’re in Turkey, but if you don’t have a TRY balance - or if your TRY balance isn’t high enough for the transaction, you’ll pay a 3% foreign transaction fee.

Hold and exchange 22 currencies including TRY

No fee to spend a balance in a supported currency

3% foreign transaction fee when spending a currency you don’t hold on the card

Variable ATM withdrawal fees - 3 TRY for use in Turkey

No interest to pay

Prepaid travel card option 2: Monese

Monese accounts can be opened by UK residents to hold GBP, EUR and RON. There are several different types of accounts, from the Simple account which has no monthly fees, to fee paying account tiers which have more features. It’s free to spend a balance you hold - but as TRY isn’t a supported currency, you may find you pay a foreign transaction fee of 2% when you’re spending in Turkey. Foreign transaction fees may be waived for higher tier account holders.

Hold a balance in GBP, EUR or RON

Choose a free Simple account, or upgrade to an account with monthly fees

Foreign transaction fees of 2% may apply depending on your account tier

ATM withdrawal fees may apply, depending on the value of withdrawals and the account tier you hold

Track and spend Avios reward points within your account

Pros and cons of using prepaid travel cards in Turkey

Manage your account online or with an app, to add more money or convert funds

Accounts with no monthly fees are available

Selection of supported currencies, with no fee to spend a currency you hold

ATM withdrawals supported globally

Some accounts have extras like options to earn reward points

Typically not a huge range of currencies supported

Transaction fees apply to most accounts

How to choose the best travel prepaid card for Turkey?

There’s no single best travel prepaid card for Turkey - it’ll come down to your personal preference. If you hold a Monese Classic or Premium account already it’s good to know that the 2% foreign transaction fee is waived, which means you get the card network rate when you spend in Turkey. This may be cheaper than using your regular bank card. The Post Office card can also be a strong pick as you can hold a TRY balance, which you can spend for free, plus you can get a card instantly by walking into a Post Office branch.

Is there a spending limit with a prepaid card in Turkey?

Spending and withdrawal limits for prepaid travel cards can vary across different providers and currencies. It's important to carefully review the terms and conditions of each card to ensure that it meets your specific needs.

Travel Credit Cards

Travel credit cards usually come with added international features like reduced or no foreign transaction fees and opportunities to earn rewards while overseas. Although travel credit cards are considered safe and practical, they can also be more costly than using a debit card. Before you select the right card for you it’s important to check the fees, rates, eligibility rules and interest rates which apply, so you can make sure it’s a good fit for you.

Travel credit card option 1: Barclaycard Rewards Visa

The Barclaycard Rewards Visa card has no foreign transaction fees and no international ATM fees. Instead, your overseas spending is simply converted to pounds using the Visa exchange rate, before being added to your monthly bill. You’ll need to repay your bill in full every month to avoid fees and interest, but can earn cashback on your day to day spending.

No foreign transaction or foreign ATM fee

Earn cashback at 0.25% on spending

Protection on purchases over 100 GBP

International spending uses the Visa exchange rate

Variable interest rates which apply if you don’t pay off your bill in full

Travel credit card option 2: Halifax Clarity Mastercard

The Halifax Clarity Mastercard has a variable interest rate which you can see when you check your eligibility for the card. There’s no foreign transaction or foreign ATM fee to pay, and all currency conversion uses the Mastercard exchange rate.

Variable interest rates

Check your eligibility and order a card online easily

No foreign transaction fee

No ATM fee - but interest will accrue instantly when you make a withdrawal

Mastercard exchange rates apply

Pros and cons of using credit cards in Turkey

Spending from 100 GBP has extra consumer protection

Spread the cost of your travel over several months

Check eligibility for a card online with no impact on your credit score

You may pay no foreign transaction fee and no ATM fee

Network exchange rates usually apply, which are usually pretty fair

Interest charged if you don’t repay in full every month

Eligibility rules apply

How to choose the best travel credit card for Turkey?

The best travel credit card for Turkey will depend on your personal preferences. If you’re interested in earning rewards and cash back on your overseas spending, the Barclaycard Rewards Visa might be a good pick, as it has no foreign transaction fee and offers cashback on all spending. Whichever card you’re considering you’ll want to weigh up the potential fees you’ll need to pay against the rewards you can earn to make sure it’s worthwhile.

If you’re off to Turkey you might want to pick up a simple, low cost travel money card for TRY. Travel money cards have different features, and come from regular banks, online specialists and even the Post Office.

Depending on your personal needs, you could go for a low cost travel debit card which comes with a linked account to hold a selection of currencies - like the Wise account. Or you might prefer a prepaid travel money card like the Monese card which can be linked to either a fee free account or an account which has monthly fees in exchange for lower transaction charges. Finally, another option is to get a travel credit card either to earn cashback and rewards, or to avoid foreign transaction fees.

The good news is that the UK market is well served for all types of travel money cards - use this guide to start your research and pick the right option for your specific needs.

FAQ - Best travel cards for the US

You can use your debit card anywhere you see the card network’s logo displayed. Visa and Mastercard networks are very well supported globally, including in Turkey, making these good options to look out for when you pick your travel debit card for Turkey.

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4 Best Travel Cards for Turkey

Getting an international travel card before you travel to Turkey can make it cheaper and more convenient when you spend in Turkish Lira. You'll be able to easily top up your card in CAD before you leave Canada, to convert seamlessly to TRY for secure and flexible spending and withdrawals.

This guide walks through our picks of the 4 best travel cards available for anyone from Canada heading to Turkey, like Wise, BMO or KOHO. We'll walk through a head to head comparison, and a detailed look at their features, benefits and drawbacks.

4 best travel money cards for Turkey:

Let's kick off our roundup of the best travel cards for Turkey with a head to head comparison on important features. Here's an overview of the providers we've picked to look at, for customers looking for ways to spend conveniently overseas when travelling from Canada:

Each of the international travel cards we’ve picked out have their own features and fees, which may mean they suit different customer needs. Keep reading to learn more about the features, advantages and disadvantages of each - plus a look at how to order the travel card of your choice before you head off to Turkey.

Wise travel card

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, to order a Wise travel card you can use for convenient spending and withdrawals in Turkey. Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies, so you can top up in CAD easily from your bank or using your card. Whenever you travel, to Turkey or beyond, you’ll have the option to convert to the currency you need in advance if it’s supported for holding a balance, or simply let the card do the conversion at the point of payment.

In either case you’ll get the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees whenever you spend in TRY, plus some free ATM withdrawals every month - perfect if you’re looking for easy ways to arrange your travel cash.

Wise features

Wise travel card pros and cons.

Hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate
Spend seamlessly in TRY when you travel
Some free ATM withdrawals every month, for those times only cash will do
Ways to receive payments to your Wise account conveniently
Manage your account and card from your phone
ATM fees apply once you've exhausted your monthly free withdrawals
Physical cards may take 14 days to arrive (you can use your virtual card right away)

How to apply for a Wise card

Here’s how to apply for a Wise account and order a Wise travel card in Canada:

Open the Wise app or desktop site

Select Register and confirm you want to open a personal account

Upload your ID document to complete the verification step

Tap the Cards tab to order your card

Confirm your mailing address, and your card will be on the way, and should arrive in 14 days

BMO travel card

If you’re looking for a card from a major bank for spending in Turkey, you may be considering BMO. There are a few different card options which may appeal to travellers, including a prepaid card which allows you to top up in CAD and spend in TRY with a foreign transaction fee. This is a useful product when overseas as it’s not linked to your normal bank account - but the fees do push up costs overall.

Alternatively, check out the BMO credit card options - these are helpful if you want to spread the costs of your travel over a few months, but can also come with their own fees and charges.

BMO features

Bmo travel card pros and cons.

Selection of cards including credit and prepaid options
Not linked to your everyday account which can be more secure when spending overseas
Various perks available depending on the card you pick
Full range of banking services available
2.5% foreign transaction fee for prepaid card
6.95 CAD annual fee for prepaid card - credit cards are also likely to have an annual fee
ATM fees and cash advance charges apply

How to apply for a BMO card

Here’s how to apply for a BMO account and order a travel card in Canada:

Visit the BMO website or app

Select the card you want - for a prepaid Mastercard there’s no credit check, spo ordering is quick and easy

Tap Apply now and complete the details as prompted

Pay any annual fee required

Your card will be mailed to you

CIBC travel card

CIBC has a prepaid Visa card you can use for spending conveniently in Turkey if you’d like to get a card that’s not linked to your normal bank account. You can even pick your card up at the airport, add some money in CAD and either convert to the currency you want in advance, or pay a foreign transaction fee of 2.5% when spending.

There are also lots of options for CIBC credit cards you could use for secure spending in TRY, which can be handy if you’d like to spread the costs of your trip over a few months and don’t mind paying interest on your balance while you do so.

CIBC features

Cibc travel card pros and cons.

Hold 10 currencies on the prepaid card - credit cards are also available
Collect your prepaid card easily at the airport
Cards are accepted anywhere you see the Visa logo
Lots of other services available if you want a full bank account
Prepaid cards have a 2.5% fee when spending a currency you don't hold
ATM fees apply
Exchange rate markups may apply when you add a foreign currency balance

How to apply for a CIBC card

You can apply for a CIBC account and order a travel card in Canada online, or as you pass through Pearson airport. You don’t have to be an existing CIBC customer to get a card - bear in mind that delivery fees apply if you order online.

KOHO travel card

KOHO has several different cards which could be handy for spending in Turkey. There are basic KOHO card options which have a foreign transaction fee of 1.5%, or you can choose to upgrade to a card with a monthly fee which may mean your foreign transaction fee is either waived or reduced. You’ll need to top up a balance in CAD, and there’s no option to switch over to TRY before you travel - but you can easily keep an eye on all your transactions and the applied exchange rates in the KOHO app.

KOHO features

Koho travel card pros and cons.

Various cards available depending on your needs
Widely accepted
Some accounts offer extra perks like no foreign transaction fee or cash back
Virtual cards available
1.5% foreign transaction fee for the basic card
ATM fees apply when overseas, which vary depending on the ATM operator
Some accounts have monthly fees

How to apply for a KOHO card

Here’s how to apply for a KOHO account and order a travel card in Canada:

Visit the KOHO website or app

Select the card you want to apply for

Tap Open account and complete the details as prompted

Your card will be mailed to you once your account has been verified and any required fee has been settled

What is a travel money card?

A travel money card is a card you can use for secure and convenient payments and withdrawals overseas.

You can use a travel money card to tap and pay in stores and restaurants, with a wallet like Apple Pay, or to make ATM withdrawals so you'll always have a bit of cash in your pocket when you travel.

Although there are lots of different travel money cards on the market, all of which are unique, one similarity you'll spot is that the features and fees have always been optimised for international use. That might mean you get a better exchange rate compared to using your normal card overseas, or that you run into fewer fees for common international transactions like ATM withdrawals.

Travel money cards also offer distinct benefits when it comes to security. Your travel money card isn't linked to your Canadian dollar everyday account, so even if you were unlucky and had your card stolen, your primary bank account remains secure.

Travel money vs prepaid card vs travel credit card

It's helpful to know that you'll be able to pick from several different types of travel cards, depending on your priorities and preferences. Travel cards commonly include:

Travel debit cards
Travel prepaid cards
Travel credit cards

They all have distinct benefits when you head off to Turkey or elsewhere in the world, but they do work a bit differently.

Travel debit and prepaid cards are usually linked to an online account, and may come from specialist digital providers - like the Wise card. These cards are usually flexible and cheap to use. You'll be able to manage your account and card through an app, although you can also often add money in person by visiting a branch, if the card provider has in-person branches.

Travel credit cards are different and may suit different customer needs. As with any other credit card, you may need to pay an annual fee or interest and penalties depending on how you manage your account - but you could also earn extra rewards when spending in a foreign currency, or travel benefits like free insurance for example. Generally using a travel credit card can be more expensive compared to a debit or prepaid card - but it does let you spread out the costs of your travel across several months if you'd like to and don't mind paying interest to do so.

What is a prepaid travel money card best for?

Let's take a look at the advantages of using a prepaid travel money card for travellers going to Turkey. While each travel card is a little different, you'll usually find some or all of the following benefits:

Hold and exchange foreign currencies - allowing you to lock in exchange rates and set a travel budget before you leave
Convenient for spending in person and through mobile wallets like Apple Pay, as well as for cash withdrawals
You may find you get a better exchange rate compared to your bank - and you'll usually be able to avoid any foreign transaction fee, too
Travel cards are secure as they're not linked to your everyday CAD account - and because you can make ATM withdrawals when you need to, you can also avoid carrying too much cash at once

Overall, travel cards offer flexible and low cost ways to avoid bank foreign transaction and international ATM fees, while accessing decent exchange rates.

How to choose the best travel card for Turkey

We've picked out 4 great travel cards available in Canada - but there are also more options available, which can make choosing a daunting task. Some things to consider when picking a travel card for Turkey include:

What exchange rates does the card use? Choosing one with the mid-market rate or as close as possible to it is usually a smart plan
What fees are unavoidable? For example, ATM charges or top up fees for your preferred top up methods
Does the card support a good range of currencies? Getting a card which allows you to hold and spend in TRY can give you the most flexibility, but it's also a good idea to pick a card with lots of currency options, so you can use it again in future, too
Are there any other charges? Check in particular for foreign transaction fees, local ATM withdrawal fees, inactivity fees and account close fees

Ultimately the right card for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. If you're looking for a low cost card with the mid-market rate, which you can use in 150+ countries, the Wise card may be a good fit. If you'd prefer to pay a monthly fee to get higher no-fee transaction limits, take a look at Wise. And if you need to get a card in a hurry, check out a travel card from a provider with a physical branch network, or your high-street bank.

What makes a good travel card for Turkey

The best travel debit card for Turkey really depends on your personal preferences and how you like to manage your money.

Overall, it pays to look for a card which lets you minimise fees and access favourable exchange rates - ideally the mid-market rate. While currency exchange rates do change all the time, the mid-market rate is a good benchmark to use as it’s the one available to banks when trading on wholesale markets. Getting this rate, with transparent conversion fees, makes it easier to compare costs and see exactly what you’re paying when you spend in TRY.

Other features and benefits to look out for include low ATM withdrawal fees, complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access or emergency cash if your card is stolen. It’s also important to look into the security features of any travel card you might pick for Turkey. Look for a card which uses 2 factor authentication when accessing the account app, which allows you to set instant transaction notifications, and which has easy ways to freeze, unfreeze and cancel your card with your phone.

For Turkey in particular, choosing a card which offers contactless payments and which is compatible with mobile wallets like Apple Pay could be a good plan. Card payments are extremely popular in Turkey - so having a card which lets you tap and pay easily can speed things up and make it more convenient during your trip.

Ways to pay in Turkey

Cash and card payments - including contactless, mobile wallet, debit, credit and prepaid card payments - are the most popular ways to pay globally.

In Turkey card payments are common in most situations. You’ll be able to make Chip and PIN or contactless payments or use your favourite mobile wallet like Apple Pay to tap and pay on the go. It’s still worth having a little cash on you just in case - and for the odd situations where cash is more convenient, such as when tipping or buying a small item in a market.

Which countries use TRY?

If you have TRY, you should be able to use it in a few countries. You may decide to keep your travel card topped up with a balance for this trip to Turkey or for the next time you’re headed somewhere which uses TRY.

What should you be aware of when travelling to Turkey

You’re sure to have a great time in Turkey - but whenever you’re travelling abroad it's worth putting in a little advance thought to make sure everything is organised and your trip goes smoothly. Here are a few things to think about:

1. Double check the latest entry requirements and visas - rules can change abruptly, so even if you’re been to Turkey before it’s worth looking up the most recent entry requirements so you don’t have any hassle on the border

2. Plan your currency exchange and payment methods - you can change CAD to TRY before you travel to Turkey if you’d like to, but as card payments are common, and ATMs widely available, you can actually leave it until you arrive to get everything sorted as long as you have a travel money card. Top up your travel money card in CAD and either exchange to TRY in advance or at the point of payment, and make ATM withdrawals whenever you need cash. Bear in mind that currency exchange at the airport will be expensive - so hold on until you reach Turkey to make an ATM withdrawal in TRY if you can.

3. Get clued up on any health or safety concerns - get travel insurance before you leave Canada so you have peace of mind. It’s also worth reading up on any common scams or issues experienced by tourists. These tend to change over time, but may include things like rip off taxis or tour agents which don’t offer fair prices or adequate services.

Conclusion - Best travel cards for Turkey

Ultimately the best travel card for your trip to Turkey will depend on how you like to manage your money. Use this guide to get some insights into the most popular options out there, and to decide which may suit your specific needs.

FAQ - best travel cards for Turkey

When you use a travel money card you may find there’s an ATM withdrawal fee from your card issuer, and there may also be a cost applied by the ATM operator. Some of our travel cards - like the Wise card - have some no fee ATM withdrawals every month, which can help keep down costs.

Travel money cards may be debit, prepaid or credit cards. Which is best for you will depend on your personal preferences. Debit and prepaid cards are usually pretty cheap and secure to spend with, while credit cards may have higher fees but often come with extra perks like free travel insurance and extra reward points.

There’s no single best prepaid card for international use. Look out for one which supports a large range of currencies, with good exchange rates and low fees. This guide can help you compare some popular options, including Wise, BMO or KOHO.

Yes, you can use your local debit card when you’re overseas. However, it’s common to find extra fees apply when spending in foreign currencies with a regular debit card. These can include foreign transaction fees and international ATM charges.

Usually having a selection of ways to pay - including a travel card, your credit or debit card, and some cash - is the best bet. That means that no matter what happens, you have an alternative payment method you can use conveniently.

Yes. Most travel debit cards have options to make ATM withdrawals. Check the fees that apply as card charges do vary a lot. Some cards have local and international fees on all withdrawals, while others like Wise let you make some no fee withdrawals monthly before a fee kicks in.

Both Visa and Mastercard are globally accepted. Look out for the logo on ATMs and payment terminals in Turkey.

The cards you see on this page are ordered as follows:

For card providers that publish their exchange rates on their website, we used their CAD / TRY rate to calculate how much Turkish Lira you would receive when exchanging / spending $5,000 CAD. The card provider offering the most TRY is displayed at the top, the next highest below that, and so on.

The rates were collected at 15:54:21 GMT on 19 February 2024.

Below this we display card providers for which we could not verify their exchange rates. These are displayed in alphabetical order.

Send international money transfer

More travel card guides.

Turkish Lira card

Travelling from the UK to Turkey? Spend effortlessly in Turkish Lire (TRY) with a multi-currency card.

40+ million worldwide customers use Revolut

Revolut offers so much more than a travel card. Exchange currencies, send money abroad, and hold 36 local currencies in-app. These are just some reasons why our customers rely on us for their travel spending.

How does a Turkish Lira card work?

How to get your TRY card

Get your Turkish Lira card in 3 steps

Get revolut.

Join 40+ million people worldwide saving when they spend abroad with Revolut.

Order your card

Order your free Turkish Lira card. Top up your balance in GBP or 36 other currencies.

Spend like a local

Start spending in Turkish Lire.

Currency exchange fees subject to fair-usage limits and weekend markups. Currency exchange shown is only an indicative example.

Why should I get a Turkish Lira card?

Where is the Turkish Lira card available?

Spend confidently with a Turkish Lira card

How to save money when spending in Turkish Lire

Tips for saving money in Turkey

Don't exchange at airports or at home.

No need to exchange cash before you travel — use your travel money card to spend or withdraw money from an ATM.

Choose TRY as the local currency

Choose the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants.

Save with a travel money card

Spend in Turkish Liras like a local with Revolut.

How to avoid unwanted ATM fees

Need to make TRY withdrawals in Turkey?

Fee-free Turkish Lira ATM withdrawals

Fee-free atm withdrawals up to £200, fee-free atm withdrawals up to £400, fee-free atm withdrawals up to £800.

ATM withdrawals are subject to fair-usage fees depending on plan. Currency exchange fees may apply.

What are you waiting for?

Save when you travel with a TRY travel card

Rating as of 26 Apr 2024

703K Reviews

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Need a little more help?

Turkish Lira currency card FAQs

Is it better to use a travel money card rather than cash in turkey.

There is no 'best' way to spend in Turkish Lire, but here are some tips to help you save money:

Don’t exchange cash at the airport. It’s much cheaper to withdraw money from an ATM with your Turkish Lira card.
Don't carry more cash than you need. When you return home to the UK, you’ll have to re-convert this cash back to GBP.
Always choose TRY as the local currency when spending with your card in shops and restaurants.
Download the Revolut app, then sign up to get instant notifications on what you spend and manage your balance.

Are travel money cards safe and secure?

Where can i use my try travel money card, how much can i pay using my turkish lira card.

There is no limit to the amount that you can spend using your Turkish Lira card. Just top up in-app with however much you want and enjoy your travels.

How can I avoid unwanted ATM fees in Turkey?

There are tonnes of benefits to a Turkish Lira card. Let’s look at a few:

Send and spend in Turkish Lire and 150+ other currencies.
No need to exchange or carry cash. Pay with your Turkish Lira card, either contactless or with chip and PIN.
No need to wait for your physical card to arrive. Instantly add your card to Google Pay or Apple Pay.
Create single-use virtual cards for safe online shopping or travel bookings.
Enjoy fee-free ATM withdrawals between £200 and £2,000 monthly, depending on your plan.
Get instant payment notifications to keep track of how much you spend.
Stay in control of your card’s security, with card freezing and spending limit controls.
Easily manage your spending around the world with the free Revolut app.

How do I get a Turkish Lira travel money card?

To order your Revolut debit card and start spending in Turkish Lire, simply:

Download the Revolut app on your Android or iPhone and sign up for free.
Order your free Turkish Lira card. Top up your balance in GBP or 150+ other currencies.
Get your card in the post or add it to Google Pay or Apple Pay to use it immediately.
Start spending like a local in Turkish Lire.

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2 Best Travel Cards for Turkey

Getting an international travel card before you travel to Turkey can make it cheaper and more convenient when you spend in Turkish lira. You'll be able to easily top up your card in AUD before you leave Australia, to convert seamlessly to TRY for secure and flexible spending and withdrawals.

This guide walks through our picks the best travel cards available for anyone from Australia heading to Turkey, like Wise or Revolut. We'll walk through a head to head comparison, and a detailed look at their features, benefits and drawbacks.

2 best travel money cards for Turkey:

Revolut travel card

Choose a Revolut account, from the Standard plan which has no monthly fee, to higher tier options which have monthly charges but unlock extra features and benefits. All accounts come with a smart Revolut card you can use in Turkey, with some no fee ATM withdrawals and currency conversion monthly, depending on the plan you pick. Use your Revolut account to hold and exchange around 30 currencies, and get extras like account options for under 18s, budgeting tools and more.

Revolut features

Revolut travel card pros and cons.

Pick the Revolut account plan that suits your spending needs
Hold and exchange 30+ currencies, and spend in 150 countries
Accounts come with different card types, depending on which you select
All accounts have some no fee currency exchange and some no fee ATM withdrawals monthly
Some account tiers have travel perks like complimentary or discounted lounge access
You need to upgrade to an account with a monthly fee to get all account features
Delivery fees may apply for your travel card
Fair usage limits apply once you exhaust your currency conversion and ATM no fee allowances
Out of hours currency conversion has additional fees

How to apply for a Revolut card

Set up your Revolut account before you leave Australia and order your travel card. Here’s how:

Download and open the Revolut app

Upload your ID document to complete the verification step

Follow the prompts to confirm your address and order your card

Pay any required delivery fee - costs depend on your account type

Wise travel card

Open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, to order a Wise travel card you can use for convenient spending and withdrawals in Turkey. Wise accounts can hold 40+ currencies, so you can top up in AUD easily from your bank or using your card. Whenever you travel, to Turkey or beyond, you’ll have the option to convert to the currency you need in advance if it’s supported for holding a balance, or simply let the card do the conversion at the point of payment.

Wise features

Wise travel card pros and cons.

Hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate
Spend seamlessly in TRY when you travel
Some free ATM withdrawals every month, for those times only cash will do
Ways to receive payments to your Wise account conveniently
Manage your account and card from your phone
10 AUD delivery fee for your first card
ATM fees apply once you've exhausted your monthly free withdrawals
Physical cards may take 7 - 14 days to arrive (you can use your virtual card right away)

How to apply for a Wise card

Here’s how to apply for a Wise account and order a Wise travel card in Australia:

Open the Wise app or desktop site
Select Register and confirm you want to open a personal account
Register with your email, Facebook, Apple or Google ID
Tap the Cards tab to order your card
Pay the one time 10 AUD fee, confirm your mailing address, and your card will be on the way, and should arrive in 7 - 14 days

What is a travel money card?

A travel money card is a card you can use for secure and convenient payments and withdrawals overseas.

You can use a travel money card to tap and pay in stores and restaurants, with a wallet like Apple Pay, or to make ATM withdrawals so you'll always have a bit of cash in your pocket when you travel.

Travel money cards also offer distinct benefits when it comes to security. Your travel money card isn't linked to your Australian dollar everyday account, so even if you were unlucky and had your card stolen, your primary bank account remains secure.

Travel money vs prepaid card vs travel credit card

It's helpful to know that you'll be able to pick from several different types of travel cards, depending on your priorities and preferences. Travel cards commonly include:

Travel debit cards
Travel prepaid cards
Travel credit cards

They all have distinct benefits when you head off to Turkey or elsewhere in the world, but they do work a bit differently.

What is a prepaid travel money card best for?

Hold and exchange foreign currencies - allowing you to lock in exchange rates and set a travel budget before you leave
Convenient for spending in person and through mobile wallets like Apple Pay, as well as for cash withdrawals
You may find you get a better exchange rate compared to your bank - and you'll usually be able to avoid any foreign transaction fee, too
Travel cards are secure as they're not linked to your everyday AUD account - and because you can make ATM withdrawals when you need to, you can also avoid carrying too much cash at once

Overall, travel cards offer flexible and low cost ways to avoid bank foreign transaction and international ATM fees, while accessing decent exchange rates.

How to choose the best travel card for Turkey

We've picked out 2 great travel cards available in Australia - but there are also more options available, which can make choosing a daunting task. Some things to consider when picking a travel card for Turkey include:

What exchange rates does the card use? Choosing one with the mid-market rate or as close as possible to it is usually a smart plan
What fees are unavoidable? For example, ATM charges or top up fees for your preferred top up methods
Does the card support a good range of currencies? Getting a card which allows you to hold and spend in TRY can give you the most flexibility, but it's also a good idea to pick a card with lots of currency options, so you can use it again in future, too
Are there any other charges? Check in particular for foreign transaction fees, local ATM withdrawal fees, inactivity fees and account close fees

What makes a good travel card for Turkey

The best travel debit card for Turkey really depends on your personal preferences and how you like to manage your money.

When you head off to Turkey you can expect to find you’ll be able to use your card a lot - but not always. Some merchants still prefer cash payments - so choosing a card which is easy to pay with, but which also has simple and low cost ways to make ATM withdrawals should mean you’re covered no matter what happens

Ways to pay in Turkey

Cash and card payments - including contactless, mobile wallet, debit, credit and prepaid card payments - are the most popular ways to pay globally.

Which countries use TRY?

You’ll find that TRY can only be used in Turkey. If you don’t travel to Turkey frequently it’s worth thinking carefully about how much to exchange so you’re not left with extra foreign currency after your trip. Or pick a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut which lets you leave your money in AUD and convert at the point of payment with no penalty.

What should you be aware of when travelling to Turkey

2. Plan your currency exchange and payment methods - you can change AUD to TRY before you travel to Turkey if you’d like to, but as card payments are common, and ATMs widely available, you can actually leave it until you arrive to get everything sorted as long as you have a travel money card. Top up your travel money card in AUD and either exchange to TRY in advance or at the point of payment, and make ATM withdrawals whenever you need cash. Bear in mind that currency exchange at the airport will be expensive - so hold on until you reach Turkey to make an ATM withdrawal in TRY if you can.

3. Get clued up on any health or safety concerns - get travel insurance before you leave Australia so you have peace of mind. It’s also worth reading up on any common scams or issues experienced by tourists. These tend to change over time, but may include things like rip off taxis or tour agents which don’t offer fair prices or adequate services.

Conclusion - Best travel cards for Turkey

FAQ - best travel cards for Turkey

When you use a travel money card you may find there’s an ATM withdrawal fee from your card issuer, and there may also be a cost applied by the ATM operator. Some of our travel cards - like the Wise and Revolut card options - have some no fee ATM withdrawals every month, which can help keep down costs.

Yes. Most travel debit cards have options to make ATM withdrawals. Check the fees that apply as card charges do vary a lot. Some cards have local and international fees on all withdrawals, while others like Wise and Revolut, let you make some no fee withdrawals monthly before a fee kicks in.

Both Visa and Mastercard are globally accepted. Look out for the logo on ATMs and payment terminals in Turkey.

The cards you see on this page are ordered as follows:

For card providers that publish their exchange rates on their website, we used their AUD / TRY rate to calculate how much Turkish lira you would receive when exchanging / spending $6,000 AUD. The card provider offering the most TRY is displayed at the top, the next highest below that, and so on.

The rates were collected at 15:54:21 GMT on 19 February 2024.

Below this we display card providers for which we could not verify their exchange rates. These are displayed in alphabetical order.

Send international money transfer

More travel card guides.

I'm in Turkey right now -- 5 things to know about entering as a US resident

Editor's Note

Before the pandemic, Turkey saw a record number of visitors in 2019. As a traveler here now in a reopened Istanbul , I can see why.

The incredible culture and cuisine are set among a historical and religious backdrop that spans centuries. It's an impressive city -- and not just because its 20 million residents stretch across two separate continents.

But if the pace of big city life isn't for you, the varying regions throughout Turkey offer something for everyone.

If you're a U.S. resident considering a trip -- or have one already planned -- here are five things that you should know about entering Turkey, as someone who has done it twice this summer.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chris Dong (@thechrisflyer)

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Proof of vaccination gets you in

There are several ways to enter Turkey as a U.S. resident, depending on your vaccination status.

If you're fully vaccinated , as I am, you simply need to present proof at the airport during check-in. You must have been vaccinated at least 14 days before entering Turkey or have had COVID-19 in the last six months.

If you're not fully vaccinated, there is a COVID-19 testing option. You can either show a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of entry or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of entry.

Related: Why I packed 8 COVID-19 tests to fly to Portugal — and what it's like to enter now

A mandatory health tool acts as a COVID-19 tracker

Before departing from the U.S., you'll have to fill out this health form within 72 hours of travel. Your contact and travel information is the basis for a contact-tracing tool that the Turkish government uses for COVID-19.

A QR code (called a HES code) is generated, which is used nationwide by both tourists and residents alike.

The code isn't just checked upon departure from the U.S. In fact, you're also required to show it at many establishments -- indoor malls, some restaurants, all public transportation, at hotel check-in, and both international and domestic flights.

I had my HES code checked on my phone at each hotel that I arrived at, along with domestic flights and even while shopping at some malls in Istanbul.

In addition, as of Sept. 6, 2021, proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within the past 48 hours is now required to enter some businesses, such as theaters or cinemas, that are hosting crowded events.

Don't forget your visa

Turkey requires a visa for U.S. passport holders. You have two options: an e-visa or visa on arrival. In my experience doing the e-visa process, it's fairly seamless and you should receive it within an hour of submitting payment. The website is a bit clunky but works in practice.

Two things that you should be aware of:

Don't fall for scam visa websites offering assistance (there is only one official site ).
Have a screenshot or printed copy of your e-visa handy if you're going that route. I had to show this not only at check-in but also upon arriving in Turkey.

In addition to the COVID-19 requirements and the HES code, an agent at check-in will also check for your visa.

It'll take time to get through Istanbul Airport

If you're coming from the U.S., chances are high that you'll be flying into the new Istanbul Airport (IST). It's a gorgeous megastructure, but it will require some serious walking from deboarding through to finally exiting the airport. Expect signage that isn't the clearest, either.

Also, know that PCR and rapid antigen testing is available at Istanbul Airport should you need to get it upon departure. Impressively, the testing center is open 24 hours a day. It's in front of Entrance 14 in the arrivals hall. The test fee is 250 TL or about $35.

Related: Deal alert: There's a new option to fly lie-flat business class to Europe for 34,000 miles

Almost everything is open to capacity

From bars to restaurants to entertainment, nearly everything is open to capacity in Turkey. The only services that remain suspended  indefinitely are hookah bars and lounges.

While masks are technically required at all times, I didn't see anyone enforce this. For instance, while most hotel staff are masked up, several taxi drivers I encountered were not.

Bottom line

From Istanbul to Bodrum and beyond, Turkey has been a hot spot for travelers -- and will continue to be, despite the pandemic.

If visiting has been on your list, know that it is very feasible at present. Of course, rules are constantly changing, so keep abreast of the latest both here at TPG as well as the official information at the U.S. Embassy for Turkey website.

Note that Turkey is currently on the State Department's Do Not Travel list .

Best Turkey Sim Card For Tourists in 2024

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler. Globetrotter, Adventurer, and Frequent Traveler to Turkey!

This website uses affiliate links. For more information, click here .

If you’re visiting Turkey anytime soon, you’re going to want to stay connected. This is why you should consider getting yourself a Turkey sim card for tourists.

Whether you need data plans so you can share photos with those back home, you want to stream Netflix whilst camping, or you have business calls you need to make – there are many reasons why you need the best Turkish sim card when visiting the country.

But what are the best Turkish sim cards for tourists and how much will it cost? Is it worth getting a sim card or should you look towards eSIM deals? These are all great questions we’ll be answering in this guide to the best Turkey Sim Cards for tourists.

Our Top Pick

Airalo E-Sim Cards

If you need a SIM card but don’t have a lot of time, then our top pick for tourist SIM cards in Turkey is the e-Sim packages from Airalo .

You can choose from as little as 1GB for 7 days up to 20 GB for 30 days packages .

The prices are the most affordable and the most transparent we have found compared to local companies and it’s quick and easy to connect. You can read our full review of Airalo in Turkey here .

Why Buy a Prepaid Tourist Sim Card in Turkey?

There are many reasons why you should consider buying a sim card, and not just so you can share Instagram stories.

There are many network providers these days that allow you to use your home network abroad. T-Mobile and 3 are two examples of companies that allow their contract users to use data abroad, but there’s always a catch.

Some network providers only allow their users to use 2G abroad. To put that into perspective for you, it will take you 5 minutes to load a webpage. Other network providers only allow you to use 500MB. This can be used up in a few days and is not suitable for more than a weekend in Istanbul .

So if you want to stay connected, or you need calls and texts while you’re away, the solution is to get a tourist sim card in Turkey.

Getting a Turkish sim card means you have access to fast, reliable data since you are connected to the country’s network. Having fast data is extremely helpful for using things like Google Maps, and Google Translate, and looking up information about attractions or how to get from A to B (such as how to get to Ephesus from Istanbul ).

A local sim card also gives you calls and texts, which is extremely useful when you want to book tours and need to keep in contact with the guide or driver.

But most importantly, having a tourist sim card in Turkey means additional safety. Not only so you can call emergency services, but so you can look up directions when you’re getting lost, you can download maps and GPS tools.

Are you reading this from Turkey? Maybe you need a VPN!

If you’re already in Turkey, there is one thing you absolutely NEED: a reliable VPN .

You may find some of your favorite websites and apps are blocked in Turkey , such as popular hotel site booking.com

A VPN allows you to get passed this ruling and enables you to browse these sites without any hassle, and it’s completely legal.

We use Express VPN when we’re in Turkey and we’d recommend it to anyone. It’s affordable, quick, and easy to use.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Turkish Sim Card

Before you go browsing through the airport service counters, you need to know what to look for in a Turkish sim card. Here are some things you need to consider before making a purchase.

What is the registration process?

Usually, the registration process is quite simple. When we bought our Turkish sim card in Istanbul, we only had to present our passport for them to register our details to the sim card.

How do you activate the sim?

If you’re buying your sim card from a shop, the assistant will set it all up for you and you’ll likely be connected before you’ve even left the store. If you’re buying a sim card online or opting for an E-Sim, does the activation process seem simple? Will you have access to the tech support if you cannot figure it out?

What if you need to top up?

You should make sure to ask how to top up your sim card when purchasing it. If you buy your sim card from a store, they will usually tell you where you can top up such as from kiosks, convenience stores, or coming back to one of their stores.

You are usually given a card with your sim card that has these details on it so do not throw this away.

Where to Get Sim Cards in Turkey

The good news is there are many ways you can buy a sim card in Turkey, so you don’t need to worry about finding a place. Here are three main ways to buy a Turkish sim card…

At The Airport

The most obvious place to get a sim card is at the international airports (Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir etc). However, we don’t recommend this. When we landed at Istanbul airport, we compared deals to what we found online and they were three times more expensive at the airport.

We’re not sure why, but we can only put it down to “airport prices.” Either the sales assistant thought we don’t know any better, or they just charge more for being in the airport.

Unless the airport is missing free WiFi or you absolutely need a sim card before you leave the airport, we don’t recommend this option.

📖 Read more: Is Turkey Expensive?

There are many stores across Turkey where you can get tourist sim cards in Turkey. The main providers are:

Turk Telekom

You will find several shops for each of these providers in all major cities, as well as travel company shops offering sim cards as well.

We recommend you visit the official stores for each provider, such as the Vodafone store, Telecom store, or Turk Telekom stores, as they will have the best deal. You won’t have any issues finding a store no matter which area of Turkey you’re visiting, even in small towns like Fethiye.

However, you should scout around different stores . Turkcell does not share its prices online, and we found we were quoted different prices at different stores. You should be sure to visit a few different stores to scout out prices and get the best deal.

If you’re planning ahead and you have the time to wait for delivery, you can always get an e-sim card online before you visit.

Sometimes you can arrange for the sim to be delivered to your home address, or you can arrange to pick it up when you arrive at the airport. At present, there is no option to do this with the local sim cards in Turkey.

Best Turkish Sim Card Providers for Tourists

Now you know what to look for in a Turkish sim card, here is an overview of each plan available for tourists in Turkey. You can purchase these plans online before you visit, or you can pick them up from any of the network provider stores in Turkey.

Note : due to the fluctuation of the Turkish Lira, Turkcell, and Vodafone have removed their prices from their website and prices vary from store to store. As of August 8th, 2023, we have seen prices anywhere from $25 USD to $28 USD, and you should scout around for the best deal. In the below table, I have included the price in USD so you can check the exchange rate on the day of purchase. We try to update these prices regularly, but cannot always keep up with the moving exchange rates. These prices were given to us by members of staff in the network’s official stores in Turkey in August 2023.

Prepaid Tourist Sim Cards for Turkey

*Scroll left-right to view more

Data Coverage Map

Perhaps the biggest decider on which sim card is best for you is determined by the data coverage. While many Turkish sim cards connect you across the country, there are some patches that coverage cannot reach.

Here is a map of each provider’s data coverage.

Turkcell Data Coverage

As you can see from this data coverage map for Turkcell, the map is washed in red. This means that most of the country is connected to 4G+, even in rural areas. You’ll find no problems finding data coverage wherever you visit, as even Cappadocia has 4G and 4G+.

If you are planning a road trip and will pass through some of these rural areas, this is the best network provider for you in terms of data coverage. There are not many areas that have 5G with Turkcell.

Telekom Data Coverage

As you can see from the map above, Telekom has pretty good data coverage in the cities with most areas seeing 4G+ network service. In the region of Cappadocia, you can see there are 3G, 4G and some spots with 4G+ in most towns. In Istanbul, it is possible to connect to 5G.

There are a lot of rural areas in Turkey that don’t have connectivity according to this data coverage map, but these areas don’t tend to be on the main tourist trail. For tourists, Telekom provides decent data coverage, but if you are visiting Cappadocia you might find some areas a bit spotty.

Vodafone Data Coverage

Vodafone has similar connectivity as Telekom, but with few areas connecting to 5G. If you are sticking to the main tourist areas and not planning a road trip, the data coverage provided by Vodafone in Turkey will suffice.

e-Sim Cards for Turkey

Another option is to get an eSIM card. These are great for people who don’t have the time to find a sim card shop or you’re not visiting for long enough to make the purchase worth it.

eSIMS work by allowing you to buy flexible data packages without the need to buy a sim card. eSIM companies usually connect you to the local network, as they have deals with the providers who operate there.

They are quick and convenient, especially if you are planning to visit multiple countries on your trip.

Here are some eSIM providers we would recommend:

eSim Cards for Turkey

No calls or SMS

1 GB / 7 Days – $4.50

2 GB / 30 Days – $6.50

3 GB / 30 Days – $8.00

5 GB / 30 Days – $12.00

10 GB / 30 Days – $18.00

20 GB / 30 Days – $26.00

OneSimCard (eSIM World)

$0.25 USD per MB

Free to receive texts and calls

$0.45 per minute to call anywhere in the world

$0.59 per text anywhere in the world

Free Whatsapp

Holafly Turkey

Unlimited data / 5 days – $19.00

Unlimited data / 7 days – $27.00

Unlimited data / 10 days – $34.00

Unlimited data / 15 days – $47.00

Unlimited data / 20 days – $54.00

Unlimited data / 30 days – $64.00

Unlimited data / 60 days – $84.00

Unlimited data / 90 days – $99.00

300MB / 3 Days – $2.50

1GB / 15 Days – $6.00

2GB / 10 Days – $11.00

5GB / 30 Days – $29.90

10GB / 30 Days – $55.00

1GB / 3 Days – $4.50

1GB / 8 Days – $5.00

1GB / 15 Days – $5.50

3GB / 8 Days – $12.50

3GB / 15 Days – $13.50

5GB / 15 Days – $20.00

5GB / 24 Days – $21.50

7GB / 15 Days – $24.50

7GB / 24 Days – $25.00

10GB / 24 Days – $31.00

50GB / 90 Days – $100.00

The TRASST e-SIM Card for Turkey

Unlimited / 3 Days – €16.95

Unlimited / 5 Days – €17.95

Unlimited / 7 Days – €19.95

Unlimited / 14 Days – €26.95

Unlimited / 30 Days – €44.95

Unlimited / 90 Days – €89.95

Prepaid Sim Cards vs Pocket WiFi

If you’re just after a sim card for the data, then you might consider getting a pocket WiFi instead. These are small gadgets that allow you to connect to a mobile hotspot from wherever you are.

If you’re on the beach, simply connect to your pocket WiFi and you can share photos, chat with friends, and browse the internet just as you would with data. They also connect you to the whole of Turkey, and not just limit you to a region or city.

You can also connect to more than one device, so if you’re traveling as a family and everyone needs mobile internet, this could be better valued than getting everyone a sim card.

Pocket WiFi’s are usually expensive to buy, but fortunately, you can rent one for your trip and pick them up and drop them off at the airport. The fee is determined by how long you need it for.

Here’s where you can pick up pocket WiFis in Turkey…

Tips for Buying a Turkish Sim Card

Before you run off to buy your sim card, I have a few more words of advice for you.

Don’t buy the sim card from the airport. The deals we were offered were a lot more expensive than in the city. We’re not sure why, but they were working out to be around 3x the price.
Scout around for the best deals. Unfortunately, some companies do not advertise their prices and we found that the price varied depending on which shop we visited. Go to a few and compare prices.
Remember the exchange rate for the Lira changes dramatically. You may find that the price of a sim card changes from week to week, this is because the exchange rate for the Lira is always changing. You should have an idea of prices in USD and then convert it to Lira on the day. In fact, many stores in Turkey are now accepting Euros or British Sterling instead, so if you’re visiting from Europe, be sure to carry some of Euros as well.
Keep your receipt and the packaging. The little card that the sim card comes in usually has details on how to top up and emergency numbers, as well as your sim card’s pin code, so don’t throw this away.
Don’t leave the store until you’re up and running. If there’s a problem and you’ve left, you need to go back and get it fixed. This adds more time and effort. It should connect you within minutes, but sometimes it can take up to 15 minutes to an hour. So just wait around until you’re good to go.
Don’t remove your sim card unless you’re finished with it. The sim card is locked with a pin number (found on the card that the sim card comes in), which you need to enter to be able to open your mobile phone. If you forget your pin, you’ll be unable to use your phone if you take the sim card out and put it back in again.

FAQs About Turkey Sim Cards for Tourists

Here’s what people usually ask us about sim cards for tourists in Turkey…

Can tourists get a SIM card in Turkey?

Yes, tourists only need to show their passports to get a sim card anywhere in Turkey.

What is the best SIM card to use in Turkey?

In our opinion, the Telekom 40 GB data plan is the best value deal for tourists. If you want good connectivity, the Turkcell 20 GB plan has the best data across the country.

How much is the SIM card in Turkey?

This is dependent on the provider and the plan. You can find plans for as little as $2.50 USD, to as much as $40 USD. The most popular options are around $25 USD.

Can I use WhatsApp in Turkey?

Yes, you can use Whatsapp in Turkey.

The Verdict: Best Sim Card in Turkey for Tourists

As you can see there are a lot of choices to choose from when picking the best Turkish sim card for tourists. When we visited, we chose a Turkcell sim card for tourists because we planned to stay longer than a month and were traveling to more rural areas.

We were quite happy with Turkcell and found we always had connectivity, even when hiking in Cappadocia. We also found it easy to top up by visiting the store and asking for assistance. Their staff spoke English and were very helpful.

At the time, we believed Turkcell to be the best value for money. You get decent network coverage and 40GB lasts a long time, plus the price makes it a pretty good deal for those who need a lot of data. You can stream movies on long-distance buses for that amount.

However, we have started using the Airalo E-Sim Card because they are more transparent with their prices, and they also connect to the Vodafone Turkey AND Turk Telekom networks. If you only need data and no calls, this is the cheapest and most convenient option.

However, if your phone doesn’t support E-Sim Cards, then Telekom is the cheapest option, just be sure to shop around for the best price.

So in short, for the best data coverage, go for Turkcell, for the best-priced data plan, go for Telekom.

Co-Founder of The Turkey Traveler

Louisa Smith

Louisa is a professional travel blogger with an insatiable wanderlust for exploring the captivating country of Turkey. With a deep appreciation for the country’s diverse history and natural beauty, Louisa has made it her mission to share the wonders of Turkey with the world. Born in the UK and raised by two Travel Agent parents, she was born with a perpetual case of the travel bug and now travels full time as a travel writer. Louisa has embarked on numerous adventures across Turkey, and shares her first-hand expertise and experience about her favorite destinations in Turkey, such as Antalya, Alanya, Fethiye and Bodrum.

32 thoughts on “Best Turkey Sim Card For Tourists in 2024”

Hiya Sean & Louisa,

This is an awesome explanation. ‘Short’, straightforward and easy to understand. My family and I will be visiting Antalya and Istanbul in the summer (I know, 🥵 😅). And this has given us enough infos in term of connectivity (our flight lands 10:00pm). Keep on writing, I enjoy your writing. Best, Yuni

Hi, thank you for the in-depth guide on data/sim in Turkey. For the E-sim, I can’t seem to find the same deal of 20gb+200mins at 13USD on the onesimcard website? Can you advise how to get this done? Thank you

Hi Sel, I think you are referring to the OneSim, eSim card which sadly doesn’t have that deal anymore. The best deal for eSIMs (I think) is the Airlo eSim, which gives you 10gb of data for 30 days, for $18.00 USD. You can see the Airlo deals here .

hello, the prepaid sim card prices you posted, are they the prices at the airport or the normal price? thank you

From our experience, no the prepaid sim prices at the airport were a lot higher. I can’t remember exactly the price now because it was a few months since I last visited Turkey, but it was definitely cheaper to buy a sim card in the city.

Arrived at Antalya Airport yesterday (04/03/2023) sims cards were on sale for over 1100tl (€55), total rip off! The hotel I’m staying at was offering them for €35, as we arrived after 9pm local time most of the shops were closed so will head into town and see what the prices are, surely will be cheaper. I will update this side with my findings.

Hi Habs, thanks for letting us know about the prices you saw! It’s a shame that it’s so much more expensive at Antalya airport as well. I hope you are able to find a better deal by going into the shops today. We found the shops were the cheapest option in Istanbul.

Hello. We are planning to arrive at the Istanbul airport on May 1 and will need GPS from there as we will be driving around Turkey for 18 days as far East as Cappadocia. How do we avoid buying the Turkcell or Telekom SIM at the airport? We live in the US. Thank you.

It will probably be better for you to get an e-Sim card if that’s the case. You can find great deals on Airlo.

If you go to app store and get Maps.me (Green square with suit case in it) you can then through WIFI search the world or in your case Turkey and as you home in it will prompt to download the map. Once you have done this you dont need a phone signal just use like Google maps. Just second check the route because sometimes it tries to be too clever and take short cuts that no longer there. Also make sure you download all the maps there may be more than 1for Turkey. Load now and practice locally to experience it; you can drop pins find walking trails etc, etc at no cost.

Hi Mark, thank you for the advice you shared. MapsMe is a great app and is really helpful for navigating around Turkey, especially if you want to do some hiking.

I went to Turkcell in the Mall of Istanbul today and asked for the Tourist Welcome Pack. The guy who helped me said the pack would cost me 800 TRL in stead of the advertised 165 TRL. Total rip off!!! Do they really think tourists are stupid?????

Hi Adriaan, I’m sorry to hear this happened to you. There are unfortunately some shops that try to take advantage of tourists, though we have not been to the shop you mentioned. I hope you were able to find a better deal at another store.

Today at Izmir city centre I went to some Turkcell and Vodafone shops and they only had one option for tourists with 20GB and it cost around 600 TRL. I went to a few different shops, all similar prices. And they didn’t have any official flyer or poster with the values, you just need to trust what the guy tells you. A bit sketchy, I find! No official info at the store. I was wondering where can I find these deals of 169 TRL?

Hi Marina, unfortunately, Turkcell and Vodafone have stopped advertising their prices online and we are always hearing of people being quoted different amounts from different shops. If you are sure you want to use their sim package, the only way to find the best deal is to go to different stores and compare prices. It’s not convenient and can be very frustrating for the consumer. At present, only Telekom are advertising their prices online and it’s much cheaper than 600 TL. Their coverage is not as good but it should be good enough if you just visit the tourist places: https://www.turktelekom.com.tr/tt-en/Pages/prepaid-tourist-sim-turkey.aspx

Thank you for your reply. I see the advertised price on the Turk Telekom website as 85 TL for the 25GB package. But today I went to the Turk Telekom shop in Izmir centre and they told me the price is 558 TL. I still can’t understand what’s happening… are all the shops trying to rip me off, or have the sim card prices gone up insanely in the last few months? Are the shops even allowed to sell at a different price than the one advertised online?

Hi Marina, I don’t see the package you mentioned on the Turkcell website, perhaps you were looking at the prepaid sim rather than the Tourist Sim Card. A prepaid sim is for locals and cannot be bought by tourists. Sometime in early 2023, Turkcell and Vodafone removed their prices from their website for this because the Lira is always fluctuating. The exchange rate in March 2023 is at an all-time low which is suspected to be due to the earthquakes . I believe the prices you are seeing are a result of the exchange rate dropping. As of this time, it seems the most affordable way to get data in Turkey as a tourist is to choose an eSim.

What about BIM sim card. Prepaid

We didn’t include BIM as we have not used BIMcell or have any experience with them. I see that you can get them from the BIM supermarkets, which is handy.

Hello, if I take off the sim cart and leave turkey when I come back to Turkey could I use it again?

Usually with these tourist sim cards, they are registered for a period of time only. Once that period is over, you need to purchase another one. If you had a 30 day sim card, left Turkey, and came back within the 30 days, then it should work fine. If you leave for a longer period of time, then you would need to get another tourist sim when you return back to Turkey.

Thanks very much guys! Extremely helpful Nick

Thanks for this, very clear and just what I needed.

I see Turk Telekom prices have gone up on their website (hardly surprising, given Turkish inflation and the exchange rate) but at least they are still quoting them and they look good value.

Is there any additional cost on top of this to get the physical prepaid SIM that you then activate the Prepaid Tourist Plan on?

Hi Peter, thanks for reaching out. There are no additional costs on top of the prepaid tourist plan. The fee includes the data package and the sim card combined.

Hi guys, great article and very helpful indeed. I had normally used roaming on my phone on previous visits. Since the UK left the EU mobile providers have cheekily removed the roaming to Turkey and charging a lot now which won’t be feasible for longer visits. With a view of getting a tourist sim I just sent a message to Vodafone Turkey as the price was not listed on their website. It is just wrong to advertise a package without the price clearly. They came back with a quote of 562 TL for a 20GB plan for 28 days. Whereas the T&Cs link states a different price. Very misleading and deceptive. Anyways looking at more options. Will share if I find something better. At this point Turk Telekom and Bimcell are looking better if only they honour the advertised prices.

Update – Turk Telekom customer services quoted 473 TL for a blank SIM card and 190 for 50GB data for 28 days. 663 TL Total. This again is extremely misleading as no mention of the extortionate charge for a blank SIM card on Turk Telekom website. They only advertise 110 TL for 20GB and 190 TL for 50GB plans.

Hi Rick, thanks for the update. This is surprising to hear as we used Telekom sim cards and were not charged a Sim Card price. It seems that times have changed.

Looks that way. I’m off to Kusadasi in a couple of weeks. Will update you with latest my findings 🙂

Thank you for your clear and informative article. Regarding esim card Airalo, I’m traveling with a family of 5. Some are not very good in technology or don’t have credit card. How can I help them to buy the e-card? A bit silly question but I wonder can I buy multiple ones and then transfer to their phone or they need to buy it with their phone?

Hi Mer, Airalo have some great tutorials on their Youtube Channel that show you how to activate the plans and set it up. You can view the Youtube Channel here.

Hi guys, check out esim-turkey.com, they have unlimited data volume for any budget, like 16,95€ for three days to 89,95€ for 90 days. I happened to come across the link for them.

Hi Star, thank you for passing this on. The deals on this site look to be the same as the TRASST e-sim deals, however I don’t know that this site you suggest is reputable as it doesn’t specify the company. We would recommend booking through Trasst instead, as this is a reputable company and has the same prices on their official website.

Istanbul Public Transportation Card

Acquire knowledge about IstanbulKart and Istanbul’s public transportation system.

Public transportation ranks first among the cheapest ways to visit Istanbul. An Istanbul Transportation Card is required to use public transport at all times. You can access all public transportation lines and types of vehicles in Istanbul with an Istanbul Transportation Card as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is in charge of the operation of all public transportation in the city.

Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card for Tourists

Unlimited Istanbul Public Transportation Card is a specially designed public transportation card for the needs of tourists. It is valid in every public transportation vehicle including metro, trams, buses, metrobuses and ferries. There is only one exception, minibuses in Istanbul are still using cash, but don’t worry there is no place you can get by minibus instead of a bus!

If you are in Istanbul as a tourist, then this card is perfect for you! Since public transportation is the cheapest and most of the time the fasted way to transport, you can use this card to get wherever you want to visit in Istanbul. It is a beautifully designed physical card delivered at your hotel by Istanbul Tourist Pass and after using it, you can keep it as a souvenir.

The new Istanbul Public Transportation Card has 6 different designs each of them having a symbol of Istanbul. One symbolizes the famous cats of Istanbu l, others have drawings of the Maiden Tower , the Galata Tower , a cup of Turkish tea , a ferry and the famous red tram of Istiklal Street on them. Cards are delivered randomly so you may have only one of them for your visit; so another reason to come again to collect them all.

You will have a physical card and you don’t need to return it, you can keep it to remember the amazing days you were in Istanbul .

What are the Advantages of the Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card?

1- Istanbul Transportation Card gives you UNLIMITED access to all public transportation lines and vehicles.

2- You don’t need to give any information like your name and passport number to get it, it is totally anonymous .

3- It comes with 1-3- 5-7-15 day options for you to choose from, so you can decide according to your stay.

4- Istanbul City Card is a physical card with a special design on it. There are 6 different designs with Istanbul’s symbols on them, and they are delivered randomly.

5- If you purchase your card on the Istanbul Tourist Pass website , the card will be delivered to your hotel in an envelope on your check-in time.

6- After the period of your choice, the Istanbul Transportation Card becomes blocked and can’t be used again so it is only for your use , you don’t need to return it. You can keep it as a souvenir .

7- The card is activated on the first day you use and you can use it unlimitedly for the time you choose.

8- It is Pre-Paid so after you purchase you don’t need to put money into it.

How to Get an UNLIMITED Istanbul Transportation Card?

Istanbul Tourist Pass is one of the small number of official service providers of the Istanbul City Card. You can buy this card on our website. You can add this card to your Istanbul Tourist Pass at the checkout or you can buy it separately. We recommend you buy it with the Istanbul Tourist Pass, so you don’t need to worry about extra fees and long lines of tickets while you are enjoying the city.

When you purchased your Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card , our couriers deliver your card in a beautifully designed envelope to your hotel just before you check in. So you don’t need to think about where to get there, you will take your Istanbul Transportation Card right away when you get to your hotel, and you can start using it immediately.

Check out our handpicked 100+ attractions coming for FREE with Istanbul Tourist Pass here and plan your trip without worrying about transportation or entrance fees. Istanbul Tourist Pass also has 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or 10-Day-Pass options and once you pay, you can participate in as many tourist attractions as you want within the allocated time period.

How Much is an Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card?

Istanbul City Card is a prepaid public transportation card that gives you unlimited access to public transportation for the number of days you choose. It is valid in every public transportation vehicle including metro, trams, buses, metrobuses and ferries. It is a beautifully designed physical card delivered at your hotel by Istanbul Tourist Pass and after using it, you can keep it as a souvenir. Up to 10% advantage in buying with Istanbul Tourist Pass®

Buy your unlimited Istanbul Public Transportation Card now. We deliver it your hotel before you arrive.

Budget-Friendly Travel in Istanbul

Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card provides budget-friendly travel in Istanbul. Istanbul Transportation Card for locals takes more than 7 Turkish Liras for the first use each time you take public transport of any kind and discounted transfer fees apply from the second use onwards. However, keep in mind that the time between the first use of public transportation and the transfer should not exceed two hours. Up to five transfers are discounted after using your card. However, the price does not change in the fourth and fifth transfers and remains the same as the 1.38 TL fee in the third transfer. But the UNLIMITED Public Transportation Card is an all-you-can-use card with one payment In other words, with Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card , in a very big city like Istanbul, the price difference provided is too important to ignore. A few bucks here and there can make or break your budget.

Easy to Use

Using the Istanbul Transportation Card is extremely simple. You do not have to touch or contact the card reader, either. When using the card, holding it to the card reader from a distance of 5-10 centimeters is enough for the machine to detect it. If the payment has been accepted, you will hear a specific sound notifying you to proceed and you will also be able to see the remaining amount of money on the screen of the card reader. If there is not enough money in the card, the text "Yetersiz Bakiye" will appear on the screen. You will also hear a different sound alerting you to top up. You will be able to quickly and easily recharge your Istanbul Transportation Card from the nearest top up point.

Using the Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card is even easier. Since it is unlimited, you don't need to think about the balance of your card! Just enjoy riding around all the public transportation vehicles.

How Much is an Istanbul Transportation Card?

For locals, Istanbul Transportation Card offers several advantages, some of which can be listed as saving time and being a budget-friendly option for urban transportation. That's why the locals of Istanbul always carry an Istanbul Transportation Card. The card is versatile and useful as it is valid for all types of public transportation in Istanbul. You have to personalize your Istanbul Card so if you are here only a couple of days, then it can be too much work to do. So there is another card only for tourists.

The card itself costs only 10 Turkish Liras. You can buy it from the yellow machines located in all public transport stations except for bus stations. The price of travel in Istanbul is shown below based on modes of transportation

● Istanbul Transportation Card Full Fare (one way) 17.70 TL ● Blue Card (monthly subscription/for residents only) : 1500 TL

Istanbul Transportation Card is a pre-paid, rechargeable card. This means that you can have two options to choose from. Upon purchasing your Istanbul Transportation Card, you can either top up with an estimate sum that you deem enough for the whole duration of your trip. Or, you can pay as you go, which means you can top up your card with small amounts of money as you spend. If you are staying over 3-4 days, it is a better idea to top up the card from the get go, so you don’t have to worry about running out of money and missing the bus/metro/ferry. No matter which option you choose, you are always able to recharge your card anytime you desire.

If you are a traveler coming from another city or country, you can use Istanbul Tourist Pass® to visit the best places in Istanbul and participate in cultural activities, just like the locals who prefer IstanbulCard for transportation to every point of Istanbul. The working principle of IstanbulTouristPass® is similar in that it is pre-paid and affordable: You choose from 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 or 10-Day-Pass options and once you pay, you can participate in as many tourist attractions as you want within the allocated time period. While the IstanbulCard is a physical card that allows you entry to all public transport in Istanbul, Istanbul Tourist Pass® is an all digital pass that you can use to access 100+ top attractions in the city for a pleasant journey!

Istanbul Public Transportation Card for Locals: IstanbulKart

What are the Advantages of the Istanbul Transportation Card?

Istanbul Transportation Card is preferred by people who want to go from one spot to another via public transportation in the city. As Istanbul is a metropolitan that stretches over two continents, transportation can get quite costly. Istanbul Transportation Card offers a few advantages to prevent that. First of all, there is no need for different cards, tickets, or tokens to carry around. One card allows you to access all sorts of public transport modes easily, quickly, and on an affordable price. Since it is a prepaid card, you can load as much as you want and pay as you go. In the meantime, there are no problems such as cash or waiting in line to top up. There are booths all over the city, inside metro stations, as well as corner shops and kiosks that help you top up your IstanbulCard in under 30 seconds. It is truly fast and time efficient! This is the best decision for you if you are staying for a long time.

How to Get an Istanbul Transportation Card?

You can purchase your Istanbul Transportation Card from Biletmatik on the bus/service floor of Istanbul Airport. In Sabiha Gökçen Airport, you can buy an Istanbul Transportation Card from the kiosk on the Street level.

In the city, you can get the Istanbul Transportation Card at every metro, tram, Metrobus, and ferry station. You can also buy your Istanbul Transportation Card, from kiosks and stores near the stations and start enjoying your trip in Istanbul instantly.

Alternative to Istanbul Transportation Card: Tickets

If you find the investment into an Istanbul Transportation Card redundant as you will only need to use public transportation a few times, you may want to check its best alternative: tickets.

Sold at the yellow machine booths by the metro entrances, where you top up your IstanbulCard, you can find tickets that allow you access to public transportation in seconds.

The advantage of this option is that you do not have to worry about HES code matching or whether you have enough credits in your Istanbul Transportation Card. The downside of this option is that, on the other hand, its cost. There are up to ten pass tickets that allow you to use ten seperate times. If you will be using several transfers, however, keep in mind that the UNLIMITED Istanbul Transportation Card is a more budget-friendly option.

Istanbul Transportation Card for Children

Children under the age of 6 do not need to hold an Istanbul Transportation Card. This is only applicable when they are accompanied by their parents while using public transportation in Istanbul.

Where You Can Use The Istanbul Transportation Card?

You can use Biletmatiks located on the floor of -2 at Istanbul Airport, which is also called the public transport arrival floor.

You can also buy it from Havaist Airport Shuttle Bus Station tolls located on the same floor.

You can get an Istanbul Transportation Card from the kiosk on the street level opposite the exit of the arrivals terminal.

You can also buy it from IETT's (Istanbul electric tramway and tunnel establishment) supervision booth at the public bus station after you go out of the terminal if you will choose the public bus option to reach your destination.

You can use kiosk machines to check your remaining balance during your Istanbul trip. If you want to check your balance online, you can do that instantly by downloading and using the Istanbul Transportation Card mobile application.

Can You Top Up the Istanbul Transportation Card Online?

IstanbulCard offers the opportunity to top up online as well as at top up points. You can quickly do the recharging process online via this website and right after topping up your card you can start using your pass to travel freely in Istanbul.

The card is valid for all public transport options in Istanbul. These include nostalgic trams in Taksim and Kadıköy, buses, Metrobus, tunnels, funicular ride at Kabataş, cable car, city lines, TCDD railways, at Istanbul Airport.

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Best E-Sim Cards for Traveling to Turkey in 2024

Are you planning to travel to Turkey and about to order an e-sim card? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an e-sim card for traveling to Turkey including a comparison of the best Turkey e-sim cards for 2024.

Don’t waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendation and order an e-sim card for Turkey on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per April 2024, including all specifications per e-sim card.

Also find out where and when to order an e-sim card, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for Turkey and of course links to directly order your e-sim card for traveling to Turkey online.

Already since 2012 I am traveling the world and eventually turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger . That is why I constantly get to a different country and pretty much every week I need to look for a new sim card to stay connected. In 2023 I visited for example 34 different countries in 1 year so imagine how many different prepaid and e-sim cards I used.

In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use e-sim cards to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Helping other travelers to save money while traveling the world is one of the reasons I started this travel blog. Providing essential travel tips is what made me start writing sim card guides from every country I visited and now on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world.

Of course I also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Turkey in 2024 .

My recommendation

Traveltomtom recommends the following two e-sim cards for traveling to Turkey in 2024:

1. Merhaba data-only e-sim card for Turkey with 20 GB for $26 USD

best esim card for traveling to turkey 2023

20 GB data-only e-sim
Valid in Turkey only
Valid for 30 days

2. Nomad data-only e-sim card with 10 GB for $15 USD

10 GB data-only e-sim

By far the best value e-sim card for Turkey is Merhaba e-sim card from Airalo . It will cost you $1.3 USD per 1 Gigabyte.

A good second best is the Nomad e-sim card for Turkey that will cost you $1.5 USD per 1 Gigabyte.

Both e-sim cards are data-only e-sim cards and incoming and outgoing calls or sms are not supported. Data is only valid in Turkey, there is no EU data roaming included in these e-sim cards.

Is Turkey one of your stops on a trip to Europe then look into getting an Airalo e-sim card for Europe as this is the only e-sim card that is valid in all of Europe as well as Turkey.

There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an e-sim card for Turkey or in general before using an e-sim card.

Unlocked phones only

Make sure your phone is unlocked. E-sim cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.

In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.

If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or e-sim card to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.

E-sim compatible phones only

Second, and equally important: e-sim cards only work if your smartphone supports e-sim cards, also called e-sim compatible. All newer smartphones support e-sim cards. If you are not sure if your phone is e-sim compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is e-sim compatible. You will get the answer instantly.

If your phone is NOT e-sim compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an e-sim card for traveling to Turkey.

However, you can still order a sim card for Turkey on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom’s complete guide for buying a sim card for Turkey in 2024 or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024 .

Comparison of the best e-sim cards for Turkey

There are multiple website on the internet that sell e-sim cards for Turkey. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Turkey from one of the well-known e-sim card providers that have proven to be reliable operators.

These are the 3 big e-sim card providers and they sell great e-sim card plans for Turkey:

Nowadays, you can buy an e-sim card for pretty much every country around the world. Order directly from one of the above e-sim card providers and instantly receive your e-sim card in your email. But before you buy an e-sim card first read all my tips below.

SimOptions also offers international prepaid sim cards for Turkey . These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Turkey and it is plug and play when you arrive in the Turkey.

Airalo and Nomad only sell e-sim cards for Turkey.

SimOptions is a very reliable e-sim card provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering an e-sim card.

Normally SimOptions is always one of my recommendations but the SimOptions e-sim card plans for Turkey are much more expensive compared to Airalo and Nomad.

Here are the SimOptions data-only e-sim card plans for Turkey for 2024:

1 GB data for 7 days = $7.90 USD
4 GB data for 10 days = $17.90 USD
5 GB data for 10 days = $17.90 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $29.90 USD
20 GB data for 30 days = $49.90 USD

Click here to order a SimOptions e-sim card for Turkey .

These data-only e-sim cards are provided by SimOptions and are only valid in Turkey. Unfortunately they don’t specify which mobile network operator in Turkey they use, neither is there information if these e-sim cards are 5G ready. Trust me, when they would be 5G ready SimOptions would mention it, so the max data speed on these Turkey e-sim cards from SimOptions is 4G/LTE.

The SimOptions e-sim cards for Turkey do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these e-sim cards is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly after installing the e-sim card, even if you are not in Turkey. For more info check the SimOptions website .

Airalo is another very reputable e-sim card provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Ordering your e-sim card for Turkey through Airalo is done fast and easy. Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest e-sim card deals.

Why using Airalo? When it comes to Turkey e-sim cards Airalo has much better e-sim card plans than SimOptions and is therefore also recommended as the best e-sim card for Turkey.

Also, if you only use a little bit of data while traveling and need just 1 or 2 GB to stay in touch through WhatsApp, check your email and get directions from Google Maps, Airalo is a great e-sim card for traveling to Turkey.

Here are Turkey e-sim card plans for 2024 from Airalo:

1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD
3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD

Click here to order an e-sim card for Turkey from Airalo .

The Airalo e-sim cards for Turkey are from Merhaba and operate on the Turk Telekom 4G/LTE network in Turkey. Unfortunately the Airalo Merhaba e-sim cards for Turkey are not 5G ready.

However, as of 2024 the 5G network in Turkey is very limited. They just started rolling out 5G in Istanbul. That said, in pretty much all the beautiful places to visit in Turkey you will find a 4G/LTE signal and the data speed is pretty decent, even off the beaten path.

For more info about the best 4G/5G network in Turkey check my complete guide for the best prepaid sim card for Turkey in 2024, including network coverage maps of all the mobile internet providers.

E-sim card for traveling to Turkey AND Europe

Are you traveling onwards to Europe after visiting Turkey and wondering if there is one e-sim that covers both Turkey and Europe then check out the Eurolink e-sim card. These e-sim cards from Airalo work in all of Europe and Turkey. So this is the perfect e-sim card for your trip to Europe and Turkey.

eurolink esim card plans for turkey and europe

1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
3 GB data for 30 days = $13 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $37 USD
50 GB data for 90 days = $100 USD
100 GB data for 180 days = $185 USD

Click here to order an e-sim card for traveling to Turkey and Europe .

All the Airalo e-sim cards are data-only sim cards without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo e-sim card has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website .

Traveltomtom only recently discovered Nomad e-sim cards when looking for the best e-sim card deals and comparing e-sim cards for traveling to Turkey. Traveltomtom has only used Nomad a few times now and is keen on experiencing more about Nomad e-sim cards because Nomad has some of the cheapest e-sim card plans.

Here are the Nomad e-sim card plans for Turkey:

1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $11 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD

Click here to order an e-sim card for Turkey from Nomad .

The Nomad e-sim cards for Turkey are either from eSIM Go. The Nomad e-sim cards for Turkey are 5G ready, this in comparison with the SimOptions and Airalo e-sim cards for Turkey, which only support 4G/LTE network.

The Nomad Turkey e-sim cards have to be installed on your phone within 30 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in Turkey. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website .

Why did Traveltomtom already used more than 100s of e-sim cards? I told you before that I travel full time and I am on the road constantly. Per year I use about 40 to 50 different prepaid and e-sim cards and therefore I am the ultimate sim card for tourist specialist.

Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world . As of April 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still more than 40 to go, but no rush.

What is the cheapest e-sim card for Turkey?

The cheapest e-sim card for Turkey is a Nomad e-sim card for just $4 USD , it will give you 1 GB data for 7 days. Airalo has the same plan, but charges $4.5 USD. These e-sims are only valid in Turkey and do not support calling and texting.

Why ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Turkey

E-sim cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Turkey in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.

The most important reason to get an e-sim card is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to Turkey without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.

One of the best things about arriving in Turkey with an activated e-sim card is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your e-sim card later.

There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Turkey, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Turkey so much more convenient and fun!

At the same time we don’t want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.

E-sim cards are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!

International data roaming plans

So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed, but there is 4G/LTE in all the amazing tourist destinations in Turkey and even 5G nowadays in Istanbul.

Uncountable times (mostly American) travel friends asked me: “can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!” Trust me, get yourself an e-sim card or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Turkey. Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.

Where to buy an e-sim card for Turkey?

You can only buy an e-sim card for Turkey on the internet through an e-sim card provider. There are multiple e-sim card providers for Turkey. Traveltomtom compared 6 e-sim card providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones ( SimOptions , Airalo , Nomad ) are the best e-sim card providers for traveling to Turkey in 2024.

None of the mobile internet operators in Turkey sell tourist e-sim cards on their own websites.

When buying an e-sim card for Turkey through one of the above recommended e-sim providers you only need your email address and the e-sim card is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.

On arrival in Turkey

When you arrive in Turkey and you want to buy an e-sim card for tourists then you will have to go to an official retail store of an internet provider. How to locate the nearest one to your hotel? Use Google Maps.

However, as of April 2024, some Vodafone and some Turkcell shops offer e-sim cards in store. However, it is very random! I asked around some of their shops in the most touristy areas in Istanbul and some say yes, e-sim cards are available, but most of the stores say NO.

When buying a sim card in Turkey expect to pay tourist prices of around $40 USD per physical prepaid or e-sim card with 20 GB data. So it is cheaper to order an e-sim card for Turkey on the internet.

Turk Telekom does NOT sell e-sim cards in their stores, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists are available.

For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Turkey in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Turkey, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.

Flying into Turkey and landing in Istanbul then you can also buy a sim card for Turkey on arrival at the airport. However, there are NO e-sim cards sold at airports in Turkey, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and expect to pay tourist prices when buying a sim card at the airport.

The e-sim cards mentioned in this article are much cheaper then buying a sim card at the airport on arrival in Turkey.

Check out my complete guide for buying a sim card at Istanbul Airport IST in 2024 or when flying to Sabiha Gökçen read more in my guide for buying a sim card at SAW Airport in Istanbul . There is also a guide for buying a sim card at Izmir Airport .

How to activate an e-sim card

Installing and activating an e-sim card is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an e-sim card and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.

When you order an e-sim card plan for Turkey you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.

You will see a summary of your e-sim card order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Turkey e-sim card.

But installing an activating an e-sim card is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the e-sim card on. The QR contains all the information about your Turkey e-sim card.

Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your e-sim card is successfully installed.

Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your e-sim card otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.

Tip: if you order an e-sim card with the same phone where you want to instal the e-sim card on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.

When to order/activate an e-sim card for Turkey?

You can order an e-sim card for Turkey pretty much any time you want. Most e-sim cards have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.

More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the e-sim card. The validity of some e-sims start straight after the installation, other e-sim cards only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.

Traveltomtom advices to instal your e-sim card on the day of departure to Turkey. Or if you want to maximise your validity then activate your Turkey e-sim card on arrival after you connect to the free WiFi of the airport on arrival in Turkey. All international airports in Turkey have free public WiFi. However, it is very limited and annoying as you have to login with your passport.

Turkey is really proud of its international airports, but the reality is that they are shit and extremely overpriced! I can’t help it, but an airport that does not offer free WiFi is a very unfriendly welcome to a country.

How do I know? Traveltomtom travels on average about 10 times per year to or through Turkey. You can also find Turkey airport guide on Traveltomtom about Istanbul Airport IST , Istanbul Airport SAW and Izmir Airport .

Things to know before ordering an e-sim card for Turkey

Here are some general tips for using e-sim cards when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Turkey e-sim cards, but are things you have to know before buying an e-sim card in general.

Make sure your phone is unlocked

To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: e-sim cards only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any e-sim card without any problems.

If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to Turkey. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.

If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi for staying connected when traveling to Turkey or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Turkey and use it as a portable WiFi device.

Which smartphones support e-sim cards?

Another very important thing you have to check before buying an e-sim card is if your smartphone supports e-sim cards. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support e-sim cards.

The fastest way to find out if your phone is e-sim compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) e-sim compatible? Simple as that!

Can I trust these e-sim card providers?

All the e-sim card providers for Turkey recommended above ( SimOptions , Airalo , Nomad ) are reputable e-sim card providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Turkey.

Traveltomtom has successfully partnered for several consecutive years with SimOptions and Airalo. Nomad is a fairly new partner of Traveltomtom, but has so far proven to be a reliable e-sim card provider. All e-sim card providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.

Traveltomtom does NOT sell Turkey e-sim cards, only RECOMMENDS you to use e-sim cards for traveling to Turkey.

Can I keep my phone number from home with a Turkey e-sim card?

Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an e-sim card to stay connected when traveling to Turkey. An e-sim card can be used next to your physical or e-sim card from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an e-sim card.

So you can have multiple e-sim cards installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!

For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Turkey e-sim card you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.

Switching between physical and e-sim cards is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings.

Can I make phone calls with a Turkey e-sim card?

No, unfortunately there are no e-sim cards for Turkey available on the internet that include calling and texting. All the e-sim cards from Nomad, Airalo and SimOptions are data-only e-sim cards and any incoming/outgoing calls/sms are not supported.

Does a Turkey e-sim card come with a phone number?

No, none of the Turkey e-sim cards that you can buy on the internet come with a phone number which also means you can not receive any phone calls or sms.

In the above Turkey e-sim card comparison you can find all the specifications per e-sim card.

Can I use 5G on a Turkey e-sim card?

Yes, as of April 2024 the Nomad e-sim cards for Turkey are 5G ready . All the Airalo and SimOptions e-sim cards for Turkey are not 5G ready yet . Which means the max data speed is 4G/LTE.

Don't get too excited there is still barely 5G in Turkey as of 2024.

Are there e-sim cards for Turkey with unlimited data?

None of the by Traveltomtom recommended Turkey e-sim cards for tourists include unlimited data.

Even if you would come across e-sim card providers that offer e-sim cards for Turkey with unlimited data then make sure the unlimited data is on max data speed. Mostly the data speed is capped after you used X amount of Gigabytes.

Holafly is an e-sim card provider that sells e-sim cards for Turkey with unlimited data, but does NOT specify what is the exact so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP).

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Turkey e-sim cards with unlimited data plans. There are always restrictions. And on Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. When I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.

Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media apps were not even loading!

Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend e-sim cards for Turkey with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then this might be your favorite e-sim card.

An e-sim card with 20 GB data is for most tourists more than enough. If your trip to Turkey is about 10 days then you have 2 GB data per day, which is a lot! Check out this Airalo e-sim card for $26 USD with 20 GB data .

There are a lot of different specifications per e-sim card. Another reason why I advice you to take a close at my comparison of the best e-sim cards for traveling to Turkey in 2024 before choosing your favorite.

Are e-sim cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to Turkey?

E-sim cards are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Turkey, but are they also the best way to stay connected when traveling to Turkey?

There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Turkey:

Local prepaid sim cards

International prepaid sim cards, e-sim cards.

Let’s compare e-sim cards, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.

If you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are often a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. Local prepaid sim cards often offer bigger data plans than e-sim cards. However, local prepaid sim cards can only be purchased on arrival in Turkey in a phone store and NOT on the internet.

More info about the best Turkey sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a sim card for Turkey in 2024.

For example in the link above in my comparison of the best prepaid sim cards for tourist in Turkey you will find that the best prepaid tourist sim card in Turkey costs $27 USD and comes with 20 GB data.

If this sounds like something you want then on arrival in Turkey you will need to find a sim card shop nearby your hotel.

The sim cards you can buy at Istanbul or Izmir Airport are much more expensive. At the international airports in Turkey they sell tourist sim cards for tourist prices. It is NOT recommended to buy a sim card at the airport in Turkey.

A reminder there is already an e-sim card for Turkey with 20 GB data for just $26 USD and you can directly order one here via Airalo .

The advantage of local prepaid sim cards is that you buy them directly from the mobile internet provider. You get the cheapest prices, (unlimited) local calls & sms included, the biggest data packages and the fastest data speed.

The local prepaid sim cards for tourists you buy in Turkey are all 5G ready. All of the mobile internet operators in Turkey (Vodafone, Turk Telekom and Turkcell) allow prepaid users to use the 5G network.

international prepaid sim cards for turkey

If your smartphone is not e-sim compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Turkey. Some of them are great for using in Turkey as well as in all other countries in for example Europe, USA, Asia and you can easily order them online.

If after visiting Turkey you are traveling onwards to Europe or Asia then check Traveltomtom’s list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 or the best Asia tourist sim cards in 2024 .

A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Turkey directly online .

There are two different e-sim cards:

E-sim cards that you buy on the internet through a third party
E-sim cards that you buy in Turkey in a mobile internet provider store

The big difference is that e-sim cards provided by the local internet operators in Turkey: Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom can only be purchased at one of their phone stores around Turkey.

However, as of April 2024 e-sim cards are very limited available for prepaid tourist sim cards. Traveltomtom personally shopped around in Istanbul to find out if e-sim cards were available for tourists.

In Turk Telekom stores they gave me a clear NO, some Vodafone and Turkcell stores said: yes, we offer e-sim cards for tourists. However, they charge an extra fee of $10 USD. It was very random, most of the stores of Vodafone and Turkcell still said: no, we don't do e-sim cards for tourists.

On arrival at the international airports in Turkey they only sell physical prepaid sim cards for tourists. Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Istanbul Airport .

E-sim cards vs. local prepaid sim cards

Getting an e-sim card is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Turkey, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple clicks. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Turkey. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop. As soon as the plane lands, you are online.

But what is cheaper? An e-sim card or a local prepaid sim card for tourists? When we compare Turkey e-sim card prices with local prepaid sim cards for Turkey, Traveltomtom comes to the simple conclusion that e-sim cards for Turkey that you buy on the internet are in fact cheaper than local prepaid sim cards for tourists that they sell in mobile phone stores in Turkey.

Turkey has so called visitors sim cards for tourists and they are specially designed for foreigners buying a sim card with a non-Turkish passport. They are also specially designed to make a lot of money on tourists. The cheapest tourist sim cards start from $25 USD and up. You can buy them in the official retail stores of Vodafone, Turkcell and Turk Telekom in the city center of every popular tourist destination in Turkey.

After a long flight you just want to go to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. On top of that there are much better deals online and with these e-sim cards as soon as the plane lands you are connected. Therefore Traveltomtom recommends to order one of the listed best e-sim cards for Turkey in the comparison above.

Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an e-sim card for Turkey. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper.

Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an e-sim card is that e-sim cards are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO’s operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.

This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that e-sim cards through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an e-sim cards is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.

Bottomline: the data speed of e-sim cards can be less compared to a local prepaid sim card.

I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best e-sim card for your trip to Turkey were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your e-sim card for Turkey right away.

If you still have any questions about e-sim cards then please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media and I am more than happy to help you out.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world ? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of April 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Turkey!

Some links in this article about the best e-sim cards for Turkey are affiliate links. If you buy any product after clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!

anantara kihavah

Does Turkey Accept Credit Cards? Credit Cards and Alternatives in Turkey in 2023

Byron Mühlberg

Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.

Links on this page, including products and brands featured on ‘Sponsored’ content, may earn us an affiliate commission. This does not affect the opinions and recommendations of our editors.

Are you planning a trip to Turkey and wondering if your credit card will be accepted there? Indeed, whether or not your credit card will be accepted overseas can be a central concern for many travellers about to embark on an international trip. After all, not all countries have the same level of credit card acceptance, so it's very helpful to understand credit card acceptance policies and trends before you travel.

But what about Turkey? Can you use your credit card there? The short answer is yes , you can use your credit card in Turkey. However, although credit cards are commonly-used in Turkey (especially in more touristy areas), cash is still normally preferred there, so keep in mind that you might not be able to use your credit card everywhere.

Revolut is a great alternative to credit cards when travelling to Turkey, offering competitive exchange rates, low fees, and real-time spending notifications.

Whether you're planning a trip to Turkey or simply curious about credit card acceptance policies in different parts of the world, this article is for you. We'll look at credit card acceptance in Turkey and cover the payment methods that are commonly accepted, as well as any fees that you may incur for each.

Key Facts About Credit Cards in Turkey

Does turkey accept credit cards.

01. Does Turkey accept credit cards? scroll down
02. How to use credit cards in Turkey scroll down
03. Cost to use credit cards in Turkey scroll down
04. Best alternatives to credit cards in Turkey scroll down
05. FAQ about credit cards in Turkey scroll down

Heading to Turkey soon? Don't forget to check the following list before you travel:

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Yes, most shops, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other commercial establishments in Turkey will readily accept credit card payments — making it a great way to spend your money in Turkey.

Although cash is king in Turkey, credit and debit cards issued by major global providers like VISA and Mastercard are commonly accepted in touristy areas (although this is less the case in non-touristy regions). If your card is issued by American Express, Diner's Club, Discovery, or another card company, there's a good chance they'll also be accepted in Turkey, but we recommend checking with your bank or card provider directly to make sure that Turkish lira currency conversion is indeed supported, and that card machines and ATMs in Turkey commonly support cards of this type.

How to Use Credit Cards in Turkey

Using your credit card in Turkey works just like it does in your home country. In general, you'll simply need to do the following to use your card to make a payment:

Confirm your transaction amount,
Tap (or insert or swipe) your credit card,
Enter your PIN if prompted,
Wait for the payment to be authorised and for the receipt to print.

In general, we recommend keeping your receipt for your records and reconciling your credit card statement. It can sometimes be interesting to see how much you paid in a foreign currency versus the amount that was debited in your home currency. As we'll see in the next section, the percentage difference can sometimes be very high!

Cost of Using Credit Cards in Turkey

Every time you pay with your credit card in a foreign currency like the Turkish lira, you'll be charged several fees before the final amount is reflected on your card statement. These fees are charged by the following parties:

Your credit card company (VISA, Mastercard, etc.),
Your bank or credit card provider,
The ATM network (if you're withdrawing cash).

Here are the average ranges of these various fees when making lira credit card payments in Turkey:

Overall, unless your credit card is specially geared towards international spending and doesn't charge foreign currency exchange fees, using credit cards to pay in Turkey is normally rather pricey due to the multiple fees and charges racked up along the way. As always, though, we recommend checking with your individual card provider or bank to see for yourself which fees you'll be charged for spending in Turkey.

Alternatives to Credit Cards in Turkey

A cheaper alternative to using a credit card for travelling to Turkey is a prepaid travel debit card.

Just like credit cards, prepaid debit cards (which are also normally issued by VISA or Mastercard) provide an excellent way to pay while visiting Turkey, the main difference being that you normally pay lower fees and exchange rates . Depending on where you live, you'll probably have options from your bank or a third-party provider to use a commission-free debit card or a multi-currency card which can help you dodge high Turkish lira conversion costs, including DCCs .

According to our analysis of dozens of providers, the top two options for travelling to Turkey, in general, are the following:

Revolut is an excellent option for paying in Turkey. Its mobile banking app and debit card give you competitive exchange rates to the Turkish lira and low fees, all while you can easily manage your money through Revolut's user-friendly app.

Trust & Credibility 8.9
Service & Quality 7.9
Fees & Exchange Rates 8.3
Customer Satisfaction 9.4
Monthly fee: $0
Card type: Mastercard debit
Card payment cost in Turkish lira: 0.5% - 1.5%
Cash withdrawal fee: 0% - 2%
Turkish lira balance: Yes
Turkish lira bank details: No
More info: See our Revolut review or visit the website .

Wise Account

The Wise Account is another great option for paying in Turkish lira. It gives you the lowest possible currency exchange rates with complete transparency and no hidden fees. It also allows you to hold and manage over 50 currencies in one account and provides fast and secure cross-border money transfers at a fraction of the cost of traditional banks.

Trust & Credibility 9.3
Service & Quality 8.9
Fees & Exchange Rates 7.6
Customer Satisfaction 9.6
Card type: VISA debit
Turkish lira bank details: Yes
More info: See our Wise Account review or visit the website .

FAQ About Credit Cards in Turkey

Yes, most shops, restaurants, businesses, and commercial establishments in Turkey do accept credit cards. However, we recommend checking with the vendor beforehand to ensure that they accept your specific type of credit card.

Credit cards from major card companies like VISA, Mastercard, and American Express are generally always accepted in Turkey. However, it's important to remember that acceptance may vary depending on the individual business, so checking in advance is a good idea.

Unless your credit card is designed for international spending, it's likely that you'll incur exchange rate margins and currency conversion fees when using your credit card in Turkey. In general, these fees range from 2.5% to 5% per transaction, so it's not negligible! To save money, we recommend using a travel debit card like Revolut to avoid hidden fees altogether.

Both are commonly-accepted forms of payment in Turkey, so it depends on your preference and the specific circumstances. Credit cards can be a convenient and safe way to make purchases, but having cash on hand is always a good idea, especially if you plan to visit less touristy areas. Moreover, some businesses prefer that customers pay with cash to avoid the processing fees of card transactions.

You must report your lost or stolen credit card to your bank or credit card provider immediately. They can help you cancel the card and issue a replacement. Additionally, having a backup credit card or cash in emergencies is also a good idea for moments like these.

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The best international sim cards for travel | an in-depth data plan buyer’s guide for traveling abroad.

How to find the best international SIM Card and eSIM data plan.

phones and technology

Ensuring your phone has high-speed data when you travel internationally is a confusing and frustrating process for many travelers—in fact, it’s one of the most-asked questions I get from readers. That’s why I wanted to help remove the mystery around international data plans by creating this guide to the best international SIM cards.

Traveling to Europe? Check The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Smartphones, SIM Cards, and Data Plans in Europe , my guide to How To Buy A SIM Card For Europe , and my guide to the best eSIM Data Plans For Europe .

International SIM Cards vs Single-Country/Local SIM Cards vs Global SIM Cards

Choosing the best international SIM card can be confusing because there are a ton of options and each has its own positives and negatives. So let’s start by defining the overall SIM card categories:

International SIM cards can often be purchased before your trip so they can be mailed to you before departure or you can download the eSIM if your phone is compatible.
International SIM Cards will be slightly more expensive than local SIM cards but they’re more convenient—especially if you’re using an eSIM.
Buying a Local SIM is often the most affordable option but you have the added hassle of having to hunt down a SIM Card after you arrive, dealing with language barriers, and you may need to register the SIM before activation (which may require you to submit your passport and provide a local address)
NOTE: By EU law, any SIM card bought in the EU will work in any other EU country with no extra charges.
Global SIM cards are notoriously bad . They’re often run by faceless companies with no customer support and they seem to always have connection issues—just do a search on Amazon and you’ll see a ton of negative feedback. You also typically pay way more and get way less data.
However, I am a fan of the Orange Holiday World SIM card since it’s owned by Orange—which is one of the largest mobile providers in the world but data is limited in some countries.

E-SIM Data Plans vs (Physical) SIM Card Data Plans

Up until a few years ago, you had to physically remove the plastic SIM card from your phone and install a new SIM card if you wanted to connect to a new mobile provider.

However, many modern phones now let you download a digital eSIM to your phone so you no longer have to deal with physically removing any SIM cards. eSIMs are way more convenient because you don’t have to track down a SIM card and you can often install multiple eSIM cards on your phone (in addition to your physical SIM) so you can have multiple plans on a single phone.

Not all data providers currently offer eSIM data plans so you might have limited plan options—but I imagine this will become the standard over the next few years.

What To Look For In An International SIM Card

Are you still confused about international SIM cards? Don’t worry.

Here are some common things to keep in mind when researching and evaluating all the various international data plan options.

Some SIM Card Plans Are Data Only

Every SIM data plan has different terms when it comes to calls and texts. Many are data only—i.e. no calls or texts. Or some come with local calls and texts but don’t let you make international calls or texts. And others let you make worldwide texts and calls.

Data-only plans tend to be the cheapest while plans that offer worldwide calls/texts are the most expensive.

NOTE: Apple iMessage is sent via data so they’ll work with data-only plans (assuming you’re sending an iMessages to other Apple users). You can also use apps like WhatsApp via data so data-only is typically sufficient.

Not All SIM Data Plans Allow Data Tethering

Data-tethering (i.e. using your phone as a hotspot for other devices like your computer, etc.) isn’t allowed on all data plans so keep that in mind when choosing a data plan.

Global SIM Cards Offer Different Data Limits For Different Countries

Global SIM cards often group countries into different “zones” and each zone will have different data allowances.

For example, “zone one” countries might give you 10GB of data, but “zone two” counties could only give you 5GB of data, and then “zone three” countries might only give you 500MB of data. Check the plan details before buying.

Check The International SIM Card Plan’s Validity Period

Most international SIM cards are valid anywhere from seven to 30 days once you activate your card.

This is something you’ll obviously want to pay attention to since you don’t want your plan to expire before your trip ends. Some plans will let you “top-up” your plan so you can add extra time without having to buy another SIM card, but you’re often only allowed one or two “top-ups” before needing to buy another plan.

Your Phone Must Be Unlocked

Some phones are “carrier locked”—i.e. they’re digitally programmed to only work on your mobile provider’s network. This means it won’t work if you install another network’s SIM card until it’s “unlocked.”

Most mobile providers will unlock your phone if you request it so inquire before leaving as it might require a visit to the store or a few emails/phone calls with tech support.

Best International SIM Cards and eSIM Cards by Region

There isn’t a single “best” international SIM card for everywhere in the world but each region has some good options so that’s why I’ve broken this section down by region.

Orange Holiday World (Great SIM Card For Most Countries In The World)

The Orange Holiday World is a very popular choice for world travelers because it covers just about everywhere in the world and it’s backed by Orange—most “world” SIM cards are backed by no-name companies.

The main downside is that the data plan only lasts for 14 days so it’s not ideal for longer trips but you can top up the card one time for €29 to get another 14 days of service with an additional 10GB of data.

PRICE: $50
DATA: 10GB
INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO
USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes
CREDIT VALID FOR: 14 Days

The Orange Holiday World plan includes 10GB of 4G/LTE data in many countries but there are a few “zones” that have a lower data limit.

Zone 1 (10GB data included) Europe: Andorra, Azores, Aland islands, Austria, Balearic islands, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Corfu, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Cyclades islands, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France mainland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Isle of Man, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rhodes, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, San Marino, Sardinia, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, Vatican

Other countries: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (south), Kuwait, Liberia, Macao, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, New Zealand, Uganda, Peru, Qatar, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, USA, Vietnam

Zone 2 (5GB data included) Albania, Argentina, Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iraq, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Dominican Republic, Uruguay

Zone 3 (1GB data included) Afghanistan, Belarus, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Togo, Venezuela

Zone 4 (50MB data included) Rest of the world

HOLAFLY ESIM (Unlimted Data eSIM Plans)

Holafly is a new data-only eSIM provider that I recently used in Italy—the service was great and I got very fast data speeds (read my Holafly eSIM Review to learn more). They sell both country-specific and regional data plans. Unlike other companies, Holafly’s plans give you unlimited data and their plans run from 5 to 90 days (they will throttle your data if you use excessive data).

5 Days: $19
10 Days: $34
15 Days: $47
20 Days: $54
30 Days: $64
60 Days: $84
90 Days: $99
Service Speed: 5G/4G/LTE
Calls: None
Texts/SMS: None
Tethering: No

Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and Physical SIM (Two Great Options For Europe)

The Orange Holiday Europe SIM Card and the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM Card are probably the best all-around options for European data because you get a good amount of data for a reasonable price—and it includes worldwide calls and text.

NOTE: Buy the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM Card if your phone is eSIM compatible since you’ll save on shipping fees and eSIMs are more convenient than physical SIM cards.

Additionally, Orange is one of the largest mobile companies in the world and they have great coverage throughout most of Europe.

Plan Specs:

DATA: 30GB
CALLS: Unlimted in Europe and 1200 minutes worldwide
TEXT: Unlimted in Europe and 1000 worldwide
CAN BE USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes

Orange Holiday Zen eSIM and Physical (Cheaper Option For Europe)

If you need less data and want to save a little money, check out the Orange Holiday Zen SIM and the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM —both are great all-around options for European data because you still get a solid amount of data for a reasonable price. Both plans also include worldwide calls and texts.

Price: $29.90
Data: 15GB
Service Speed: 4G/LTE
Calls: Unlimited within Europe and 30 min outside of Europe.
Texts/SMS: Unlimited within Europe and 200 outside of Europe.
Credit validity: 14 day
Data tethering allowed
Usable on any device (phones, tablets, hotspots…)
Cards come with a French phone number

AIS eSIM2FLY Global (eSIM that covers much of the world)

After the Orange Holiday World SIM, the AIS eSIM2FLY Global is another good option that doesn’t quite have as much data but it has the benefit of being an eSIM (so you don’t have to deal with shipping fees).

PRICE: $49.90 DATA: 6GB INCLUDES TEXTS OR CALLS?: NO CREDIT VALID FOR: 15 Days

Asia & Middle East

Bangladesh, Bahrain 5G , Brunei, Cambodia, China (incl Tibet) 5G , Hong Kong 5G , India, Indonesia 5G , Israel 5G , Japan 5G , Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Currently Blocked), Nepal, Oman 5G , Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines 5G , Qatar 5G , Saudi Arabia, Singapore 5G , South Korea 5G , Sri Lanka, Taiwan 5G , United Arab Emirates (UAE) – Dubai, Abu Dhabi 5G , Uzbekistan, Vietnam 5G
Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic Of), Congo Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar Republic, Malawi, Nigeria, Reunion, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda
Åland Islands, Albania, Armenia, Austria 5G , Azerbaijan, Belgium 5G , Belarus, Bulgaria 5G , Croatia 5G , Cyprus (Northern), Czech Republic 5G , Denmark 5G , England 5G , Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland 5G , France 5G , Georgia, Germany 5G , Greece, Hungary 5G , Iceland 5G , Ireland 5G , Italy 5G , Kazakhstan, Latvia 5G , Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg 5G , Malta 5G , Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands 5G , Norway 5G , Poland 5G , Portugal 5G , Romania, Russia 5G , San Marino 5G , Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia 5G , Spain 5G , Sweden 5G , Switzerland 5G , Turkey 5G , Ukraine, United Kingdom UK 5G , Vatican City 5G

North America

Canada 5G , Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico , Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA (incl Hawaii), United States Virgin Islands

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia , Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay

Oceania and Pacific Islands

Australia 5G , Fiji, Guam, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga

Travel SIM World (Multi-Country Coverage)

Price: $39.90
Data: 6GB
Credit validity: Lasts up to 15 days from the first point of activation.
Calls/Texts: Does not support any calls or SMS. You are not able to receive any calls or SMS.

Countries Covered:

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tibet, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA, Vietnam

AIS SIM2FLY SIM Card (Covers Much of Asia)

Price $19.90
Data: 6GB at maximum 4G/3G speed in Asia (wherever available)
Credit validity: 10 days Credit Validity
Coverage: 24 Asian countries (see below).

Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Tibet), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Vietnam

China Unicom Asia 12 Days Data SIM (Multiple Asian Countries)

Price: $22.90
Credit validity: 12 days Credit Validity
Coverage: 14 Asian countries (see below).

Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

MORE TIPS ON USING YOUR MOBILE PHONE INTERNATIONALLY

BUY A PORTABLE BATTERY CHARGER

Using apps like Google Maps and taking photos kills your phone battery so a portable battery is a must-have. I use Anker PowerCore 10000 because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

USING FREE WIFI WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD

I think people overestimate how easy it is to find free wifi in abroad. Yes, free wifi is becoming more prevalent throughout the world—however, it’s hard to rely exclusively on free wifi since it can be a pain to actually find a free network when you actually need it.

The best places to find free wifi are McDonald’s, Starbucks, cafés, coffee shops, and hostels/hotels — but getting connected is rarely super convenient, reliable, or fast.

Relying on free wifi fails when it comes to day-to-day stuff like using Google Maps, looking up restaurant reviews via Google/Trip Advisor/Yelp, using random apps, using Uber, booking e-tickets, using email, etc. because these are things you typically do spur of the moment. That’s why I prefer to have the option of having mobile data because having to seek out a coffee shop every time I want to use the internet gets tiring very quickly.

HOW TO LOWER YOUR MOBILE DATA USAGE

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

USE AIRPLANE MODE AND BLOCK DATA TO SPECIFIC APPS

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

DOWNLOAD OFFLINE MAPS

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.

MAKE CALLS OVER WhatsApp

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages—I’ve found that most people outside the US exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

MORE TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE SAVVY BACKPACKER

How Much to Budget For Backpacking Through Europe
How Much It Costs To Travel Europe (For Multiple Travel Styles)
Backpacking Europe Packing List
Travel Europe Packing List for Women
Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .
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Turkey SIM Card for Tourists

Traveling to Turkey soon? Read our ultimate Guide to buying a SIM card for Tourists in Turkey below and get the best option at the lowest price!

If you are planning a trip to Istanbul or another city in Turkey, and want to stay connected, then you should consider buying a prepaid SIM card for Turkey.

On this page, we will tell you all you need to know about SIM cards for Tourists in Turkey. You will find helpful information about operators and which SIM card or eSIM card to buy online or on site, as well as their cost .

Let’s start!

istanbul tourist information airport shuttle

Do I really need a Turkey SIM Card for Istanbul?

If your visit to Istanbul is longer than 4–5 days , buying a local SIM card is definitely the best option for you to stay in touch with family and friends while having good phone coverage and access to data.

But even if your stay is shorter , it might be a wise idea to opt for a prepaid SIM card instead of depending on free Wi-Fi or renting a pocket Wi-Fi router.

Internet is charged a lot more in Turkey if you have a foreign SIM card, which does not include Turkey in their internet package.

So we recommend you to get a local SIM card either way. But how to get it easily, without waiting in line, and at the best price?

Book your SIM Card online before your trip to Turkey

What are your options of booking a SIM card or an internet device online to use it in Turkey during your trip?

For travelers who only need mobile internet and no phone calls or SMS for their Istanbul vacation, we have the perfect solution: the e-SIM card for Turkey. It is one of the most economical and practical way of getting internet in Istanbul as a foreigner.

See below our 2 top e-SIM recommendations for Istanbul, as well as another alternative, the Pocket Wi-Fi:

1. The Holafly Prepaid e-SIM Card for Istanbul

Another recommendation is Holafly's easy-to-use prepaid e-SIM card .

Holafly offers a digital e-SIM card with unlimited mobile data service with maximum speed coverage (4GLTE).

This way you don’t have to worry about roaming costs when traveling and enjoy unlimited internet as if you were at home.

Let's see the prices and conditions of these cards:

How does Holafly work?

Choose the desired number of days you want and purchase the Holafly prepaid e-SIM card here . You will immediately receive a QR code containing the e-SIM Card by email.
Scan the QR code one day before your departure.
Turn off your local provider’s cellular data.
Set your phone's options so that your mobile phone uses Holafly's internet.
Activate your QR code after you arrive in Turkey and use your Holafly SIM card during your stay.

Compatibly: Before purchasing the Holafly SIM card, make sure that your mobile phone is compatible with the Holafly service. It is available for the following cell phones: iPhone SE, XS et XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro et 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 12 Mini, 13,13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 13 Mini / Google Pixel 3, 3a, 4, 4a, / Samsung S22, S20, Galaxy Z Flip, Note 20 Ultra, Fold LTE, / Motorola Razr 2019

The easy eSIM for Turkey by Holafly ( recommended ) :

Here are the prices and conditions for the eSIM by Holafly. The ones in red are the most popular ones picked by travelers.

1 Day Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 6€)
2 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 9 €)
3 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 12 € )
4 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 15 € )
5 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 19 € )
6 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 23 € )
7 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 2 7€ )
8 Days Unlimited Data in Turkey (approx. 2 9€ )

There are options to book a higher number of days. For further rates and information on the various offers and 5% discount , click on this link:

2. Rent a Pocket Wifi in Istanbul

You can easily rent a Pocket Wifi Devise for the time you are in Istanbul and access internet through it anytime. It is a device that connects you to internet without limitation and through several device (phone and computer). The access to internet is fast and covered anywhere in Turkey thanks to the support of Turkcell, which is the best phone company in Turkey.

The process to rent a pocket wifi is very easy:

Book your device on through this link
Get your device delivered to you at your hotel or directly at the airport anytime you want
Use the device(s) according to the guideline during your trip
The company will pick up the device when and where you want before you leave the country

And voilà! Now you have internet during your travel to Turkey. For more information, click the button below.

Where to buy Turkey SIM Card in Istanbul

1. at istanbul airport or sabiha gökcen airport.

You can pre-order online and then pick it up at the airport, or have it delivered to your home, Airbnb or any other address.

Or find stores selling prepaid SIM cards in the arrival terminal of Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökcen Airport . One advantage is that the staff speaks English, and since the store is tailored to tourists, it will be easy to find a deal suited to your needs. However, you will usually find more expensive offers in the stores at the airport . Additionally, there are always long queues. For this reason, buying your Turkey SIM card there is not advisable .

An easy and cheap option is to use the SIM card reservation service . Simply make an early reservation and get your Turkey SIM card delivered to your hotel by a local authorised dealer. Local communications specialists are always there to help you with any questions you may have. As prices change almost weekly, you can also get the latest prices from an local specialist via WhatsApp.

2. In the City

Please be aware that the branches of the Turkish GSM operators as well as the resellers may set their own prices for the SIM card. For this reason, prices vary from store to store , and can even be as high as 200 TL.

Cost for Turkey SIM Cards for Tourists

1. Turkcell

Turkcell provides a special package for travelers, the “Tourist Welcome Pack”.

This package will be assigned to customers who buy a prepaid Turkcell SIM card with a foreign passport.

What is included: A SIM card with 20 GB data + 200 minutes of local calls + unlimited messaging via Whatsapp &BiP. As a bonus, you get special discounts at restaurants, hotels, car rental, and more.
Validity: Turkcell’s “Tourist Welcome Pack” is valid for 30 days. After 3 months, the SIM card will be deactivated.
Visit the official Turkcell partner website for online ordering and delivery before you arrive.
These prices can go up to €47 at the stores at the airport.

2. Vodafone Turkey

The mobile provider Vodafone Turkey offers a special tourist package for prepaid SIM card. It is called "Welcome to Turkey Pack".

What is included: Vodafone's Prepaid Tourist SIM Card consists of 20 GB data + unlimited WhatsApp + 750 minutes of local calls + 1000 SMS
Validity: The tariff is valid for 28 days. You can use your Prepaid Tourist SIM Card for a total of 90 days . After that, it will be deactivated.
For more information and the most up-to-date prices, please cross check with the official Vodafone website.
These prices can go up to 8 90 TL at the airport.

3. Turk Telekom

Türk Telekom's special SIM card package for tourists is called "Hos geldin" (Welcome).

What is included: The Hosgeldin 25 GB package includes 25 GB + 750 minutes of local calls + 750 SMS
Validity: The Turk Telekom prepaid SIM Card is valid for 28 days.
Check the official Turk Telekom website for detailed information. (only in Turkish)
These prices can go up to 850 TL at the airport .

With all tariffs, it is possible to recharge it when it is used up.

Need an airport transfer from Istanbul or Sabiha Gökcen Airport? See all your airport transfer options and book your Istanbul airport transfer here .

GSM Operators in Turkey

There are three mobile operators in Turkey: Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom.
Turkcell is the largest mobile provider and the leading GSM operator in Turkey . In terms of good network coverage and internet speed in Turkey, it is the best provider, especially in smaller cities or remote areas
All three operators offer a variety of prepaid SIM Card packages to choose from, some of them even have special SIM cards for tourists.
Remember that prepaid SIM cards in Turkey are valid for a maximum of 120 days.
The country code for Turkey is +90

Bottom Line

Regardless of which SIM card and provider you ultimately choose, where you buy the SIM card plays a key role . There are dozens of providers selling Turkish SIM cards throughout the city, as well as at both Istanbul airports.

Generally, you will find better deals in the city, but since the branches of Turkish GSM operators as well as resellers can set their own prices for the SIM card, the cost of a Turkish prepaid SIM card varies from store to store, leaving you exposed to a confusing jungle of prices.

For this reason, we recommend either to book a very affordable online service through Holafly eSIM service or ask a question through the form present on this page above.

For more amazing pictures and tips about Istanbul, follow our official Instagram account @istanbul.tourist.information

SIM cards in Turkey FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Which SIM card is the best for tourists in Turkey?

The best SIM card for your holiday in Turkey is “Tourist Welcome Pack” from Turkcell. Since Turkcell has the best mobile network coverage in Turkey and a package deal tailored precisely to the needs of tourists, we think it is the best SIM card to use as a tourist in Turkey.

We particularly like the fact that the SIM card is already part of the package. This makes it much easier for tourists, because the fees for prepaid SIM cards vary from store to store in Turkey, which is why tourists often pay much more than locals. Another bonus is unlimited Whatsapp and the special benefits offered.

Of course, there are many more options, and ultimately it depends on your individual needs. Our local communications specialists will be happy to help you choose the right SIM card for your purposes. Just contact them via Whatsapp to get all the information and current prices, or to reserve your SIM card in advance and pick it up when you arrive in Istanbul.

How much is a SIM card in Turkey?

Since the branches of the Turkish GSM operators as well as the resellers can set their own prices for the SIM card, the cost of a prepaid SIM card varies from shop to shop and depending on the GSM operator. You can expect it to cost around 100-200 TL. Remember that you will often need to pay an activation fee and purchase an additional one-month data package.

Feel free to contact our local communication specialists via our contact form to find out the current rates at the airport and in the city.

Where to buy a Turkish SIM card?

You can buy your prepaid SIM card for Turkey either in the city or at the arrival floor at Istanbul or Sabiha Gökcen airport.

There are stores practically everywhere in Istanbul where you can buy a prepaid SIM card. In addition to the official branches of Turkcell, Vodafone and Turk Telekom, there are also electronic shops, phone stores, and kiosks that sell local SIM cards of these GSM operators. Please note that prices vary from store to store, as the branches of the Turkish GSM operators as well as resellers may set their own prices for the SIM card.

To help travelers with the confusing price jungle of Turkey SIM Cards, we offer travelers our SIM card reservation service. If you have any questions or want to know the current prices, you can ask our local communication specialists at our booth at Istanbul Airport or in advance via Whatsapp. Reserving your SIM card online allows you to pick it up as soon as you arrive, without having to wait in line.

Can I buy a SIM card at Istanbul Airport?

Yes, there are branches of all three Turkish GSM operators as well as mobile stores at the arrival floor of Istanbul Airport that sell local SIM cards. Note, however, that the prices for a prepaid SIM card in the stores at the airport are higher than in the city.

Plan your trip to Istanbul with experts

Let us help you design your trip to Istanbul according to your unique situation and desires. With our experience of 25 years and our network, we will get you the best prices for hotels and activities .

Guide of istanbul airport ist [transfers, hotels, flights – layover], 8 best audio guides for istanbul, 15 indoor activities for rainy days in istanbul, complete guide to public transport in istanbul.

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