Stay online in Turkey from the moment you land in Istanbul, Antalya or Izmir. Install a data eSIM before you fly, keep your usual number for calls and texts, and use maps, taxi apps and messaging from the arrivals hall onwards, with no SIM counter to find.
Turkey eSIM
Turkey eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$0.86 per GB
$8.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.62 per GB
$13.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
15 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Full speed for the first 5 GB each day
$25.99
Buy this plan
Fixed data
One allowance for the whole trip, used at your own pace.
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Unlimited data
No cap on data, with a fair-use speed limit after heavy daily use.
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in Turkey
Arriving in Turkey
Wi-Fi, SIM counters and getting online at the main airports.
Which Turkey plan fits your trip
Turkey has its own plans, and the global plans cover it too. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data, 1.5 GB a day for 3 to 30 days. Suits city breaks and touring with steady use every day.
- Unlimited, 3 to 15 days. For heavy users and remote work. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
- A one-day plan covers a layover in Istanbul between flights.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Coverage across Turkey
Coverage is strong in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya, along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and in the main tourist towns such as Göreme in Cappadocia. It thins out in the mountains of the east, on remote stretches of the Lycian Way and in parts of the interior. Download offline maps before a road trip or a hike, and save hotel and balloon flight bookings to your phone.
Turkey is not on the Europe plan
The Europe plan does not cover Turkey. If your trip continues to Greece or Bulgaria, use a Turkey plan for this leg and a Europe plan for the next, or pick a global plan that covers both. See eSIM for Europe for the Europe plan's country list.
Arriving at the airport
Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. When you land at Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen, Antalya or Izmir, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only and keep it off on your usual SIM. You can then book a taxi, check the metro or Havaist bus, or message your hotel from the arrivals hall.
Phone registration
Turkey asks for phones used on a Turkish SIM to be registered after a short period. A travel eSIM roams on a partner network instead, so a normal visit is not affected.
How much data do you need?
Most visitors use about 1 GB a day for maps, messaging, photos and taxi apps. Video calls, streaming and sharing your connection with a laptop push that up quickly. Compare the cost with your own carrier in travel eSIM vs international roaming.
Networks in Turkey
Turkey has three mobile networks: Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Turkey eSIM questions
Do travel eSIMs work in Turkey?
Yes, as long as you install it before you fly. Since July 2025, Turkey has blocked the websites and apps of several foreign eSIM sellers on its mobile networks, so buying or downloading an eSIM after you land can fail. Reports since then say eSIMs installed before arrival keep working. Ours comes by email with a QR code, so install it at home on Wi-Fi and there is nothing to download in Turkey.
Does the Europe eSIM work in Turkey?
No. Turkey is not on the Europe plan's country list. Use a Turkey plan, or a global plan that also covers the rest of your trip.
Is there a plan for a layover in Istanbul?
Yes. The one-day plan suits a layover or a single day in Istanbul. Check the plan cards above for what is on sale.
Does the eSIM work in Cappadocia?
Yes, in Göreme, Ürgüp and the other towns. Coverage can be weaker in the valleys and on remote hiking trails, so download offline maps before you set off.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Turkey, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.
Turkey travel guides
Our guides for getting online there.
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