SIM Card Guides

Turkey SIM card for tourists: Complete buyer’s guide

Stay connected in Turkey with a Turkey SIM card. This guide covers the best Turkish SIM card options, prices, packages, and digital alternatives.

Planning a trip to Turkey soon? You can use a Turkey SIM card to access mobile data, texts, and calls as soon as you land. This can also mean avoiding high roaming charges in Turkey, especially if it isn’t included in your current home plan.

We’ve compiled a guide with everything you need to know about the best SIM cards in Turkey for tourists, from various packages to costs. We also include a digital alternative, an unlimited data travel eSIM, if you’re looking to skip the sign-ups.

In this article

Where can I buy a Turkey SIM card?

There are two options: buy a prepaid Turkish SIM card before you travel or when you arrive (at the airport or stores/local shops).

Buy a Turkey SIM card online

Ordering an international SIM card in advance means your phone will work in Turkey as soon as you arrive. Here’s a list of online third-party retailers that ship physical SIM cards for Turkey globally, including to the UK and the US:

SimOptions: Prepaid Turkey SIM cards for tourists, including data-only and data, call, and text options (Orange Holafly Europe, Bouygues My European SIM, AIS SIM2Fly)
Amazon: Turkey SIM cards with preloaded data (AIS Global SIMs)
TravelSIM: Pay-as-you-go Turkey SIM cards with flexible data packages
BNESIM: International SIM card with coverage in Turkey
GoSIM: Turkey SIM cards with data packages

Important: Take some extra time to fully ensure that the SIM you purchase online offers coverage in Turkey, especially if it’s a regional SIM card.

Buy a SIM card in Turkey

If you’d like to purchase a Turkey SIM card in person, you can do so at the airport or official provider stores. Due to reports of SIM card scams in Turkey, it’s crucial that you buy your SIM from an official provider or kiosk at the airport or locally. Here’s a list of airports where you can find official SIM card providers in Turkey:

Istanbul Airport: Official phone stores for Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom right after passport control and in the arrivals hall
Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Offers Turkcell and Vodafone counters
Antalya Airport: Vodafone and Turkcell kiosks available in Terminal 1 and 2
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport: Vodafone and Turkcell branches at the arrivals area
Ankara Esenboğa Airport: Official stores for Turkcell and Vodafone

Best prepaid Turkey SIM cards for tourists

Three top mobile operators in Turkey offer top-rated local SIM cards: Turkcell, Vodafone Turkey, and Turk Telekom. Keep reading to explore each provider’s best prepaid SIM cards and prices.

Turkcell SIM card

Turkcell is the leading cellular operator in Turkey, offering mobile data, solid coverage, and access to top mobile networks in the country. However, the company currently provides only one data plan for travelers.

Turkcell allows travelers to buy a SIM card with their foreign passport. Their Tourist Welcome Pack includes:

20 GB mobile data
200 minutes to make phone calls
Unlimited messaging on WhatsApp and BiP
Valid for 30 days
Price: 349 TRY (~£6 GBP and ~$8 USD)

Turk Telekom

This mobile operator in Turkey offers a prepaid SIM card for tourists with different data packages. These data plans vary from 25 GB to 75 GB packages.

Tourist Welcome Package 1: 25 GB, 750 minutes, 750 SMS, and unlimited social media for 410 TL (~£7 and ~$10) for 28 days
Tourist Welcome Package 2: 50 GB, 1500 minutes, 1000 SMS, and unlimited social media for 550 TL (~£10 and ~$13) for 28 days
Tourist Welcome Package 3: 75 GB, 750 minutes, 750 SMS, and unlimited social media for 550 TL (~£10 and ~$13) for 15 days

You’ll be charged over Turk Telekom’s current tariff if your package’s allowance or validity is exceeded.

Vodafone Turkey

Vodafone Turkey is another option for getting a SIM card in Turkey. However, the process is slightly complicated. To apply for a Vodafone tourist SIM card, you must complete a form with your personal information and the city you’ll visit in Turkey.

Once your application is considered, you can pick up your prepaid SIM card for tourists at a local Vodafone store. You can also get an eSIM/digital SIM instead of a physical card.

At this point, you have two Vodafone prepaid SIM cards to choose from:

20 GB package
50 GB package

Both SIM cards include:

750 minutes of domestic use
250 SMS
Unlimited WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger
One week of unlimited Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Now, the Vodafone website does not mention the prices of each card, and you’ll only know the exact price once you pick up your SIM card in person from the nearest Vodafone store in Turkey, including airport kiosks.

How much does a Turkey SIM card cost?

A prepaid SIM card for Turkey should cost between £6 and £10 ($7 and $15). This will include enough data for a short tourist visit.

However, since the Turkish Lira can be volatile and the exchange rate unstable, rates for local SIM cards will vary. The final fee is also impacted by the chosen data allowance and duration, as well as other costs like the SIM card and activation fee.

How to buy a SIM card in Turkey: Steps and requirements

Here are some essential things to know to make your SIM registration process as smooth as possible, plus avoid SIM card scams.

You must have:

Valid passport and/or visa
Proof of accommodation/address (hotel confirmation, rental agreement, or local address)
Registration form (filled at the time of SIM registration)
Copy of your passport (may be retained by the provider you choose)
Unlocked phone (ensure your phone isn’t carrier-locked)
Phone compatibility (both dual SIM and single SIM phones are compatible)
Valid payment method (carry your credit/debit card and cash just in case)

How to avoid Turkey SIM card scams:

Always buy your tourist SIM card from an official vendor.
When in the store, ask the staff if they are resellers or the official mobile vendor for the SIM cards.
Try to buy your local SIM card from Turkcell, Vodafone, or Turk Telekom.
When buying your prepaid SIM card, ask about additional fees, such as the SIM card fee and the SIM card activation fee.

Overall, buying a Turkey SIM card can be overwhelming. You might want to consider an eSIM over a physical SIM card for tourists. Here’s why:

Internet the moment you land: Get access to the internet in Turkey on your mobile phone as soon as you land. You’ll be able to book a cab from the airport and let friends know you’ve arrived safely. Forget about lines at airport stores, long installations, and contracts.
An easy installation process: There are no complicated contracts to sign or long technical instructions to wade through. You can install and activate your eSIM by scanning a QR code, or through your mobile app.
A more secure option: You’ll receive your product before you have to use it, and with eSIM providers like Holafly, you can always claim a full refund if anything goes wrong.

Holafly’s eSIM for Turkey: Easy set-up, unlimited data

Grab a Holafly eSIM for Turkey and enjoy an easy set-up and unlimited data. Unlike other SIM cards on the market, Holafly allows users to forget about the complicated purchase process and travel without mobile data.

Plus, you can match your plan to your holiday, ensuring you never pay for more than you need and simultaneously eliminating the need to visit stores to pick up a physical SIM card.

Here are some potential plans and prices for Holafly’s eSIM for Turkey:

5-day trip to Turkey: $20.90 ($4.18/day)
10-day trip to Turkey: $36.90 ($3.69/day)
15-day trip to Turkey: $50.90 ($3.39/day)

Enjoy 500 MB of hotspot per day, 24/7 customer support, and an online registration process that only takes a few minutes. And if you’re going on a Euro tour, Holafly offers a regional eSIM for Europe, which includes Turkey and 40 other European destinations.

For more long-term vacations, consider Holafly Plans: A monthly eSIM in 170+ destinations (including Turkey) for remote workers, digital nomads, students, and long-term travelers.

Check out our other guides on how to buy and what the best options are for:

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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