Are you planning your trip and excited to travel to Turkey soon? Don't waste money on high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. Buying a local prepaid sim card in Turkey or ordering an eSIM for Turkey is easy. This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to Turkey in 2025.
Find out where to buy a local prepaid sim card, a comparison of the Turkey prepaid sim cards, the best 4G/5G network, up to date prices as per April 2025, the best eSIMs for Turkey, info about international sim cards, my recommendation and even a vlog about my experiences buying a prepaid sim card in Turkey.
Since I am on a journey to travel to every country in the world I get to a lot of different countries. On average per year I use about 40 to 50 prepaid sim cards and eSIMs to stay connected and that is how Traveltomtom became the ultimate specialist in sim cards for tourists.
In general local prepaid sim cards are ideal for those who use a lot of data, but eSIMs are the easiest way to get connected and when it comes to Turkey then eSIMs are also MUCH CHEAPER than local prepaid sim cards.
Table of Contents
- My recommendation
- Why buying a sim card for Turkey
- Where to buy a tourist sim card for Turkey
- Mobile internet providers in Turkey
- Registration process
- Prices Turkey sim cards in 2025
- Best 4G/5G network in Turkey in 2025
- Best prepaid sim card for Turkey in 2025
- Best eSIMs for Turkey
- Order a prepaid sim card for Turkey online
- Vlog about buying a prepaid sim card in Turkey
Providing travelers with valuable travel tips is a passion and that resulted in writing already more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world. On my travel blog you can find sim card guides from: USA, Europe, Germany, United Kingdom, Asia, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, South Africa, Dubai, Qatar, Thailand, Bangkok, Indonesia, Bali, Malaysia, Kenya, Egypt, Hong Kong, China and many more.
Are you flying to Istanbul and want to buy a Turkey sim card straight away at the airport then I have the perfect sim card guides for you from both airports: SAW and IST. Traveltomtom also wrote a guide for buying a sim card at Izmir Airport.
Or even better check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Turkey in 2025.
Some links in this article about the best prepaid 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!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a tourist sim card in Turkey! Absolutely not.. why? Stupidly overpriced.
Turkcell has the best 4G/5G network but their tourist sim cards start from 1,300 TL - $37 USD!
So what is best to do? Get an eSIM and be online as soon as the plane lands, they already start from just $4.5 USD. eSIMs are more convenient and 20 GB data also only costs $26 USD. eSIMs are cheaper than buying a tourist sim card in Turkey.
More about the best eSIMs for Turkey below or check out my complete guide with a comparison of the best eSIMs for Turkey, including everything you need to know before using eSIMs for traveling to Turkey in 2025.
Traveltomtom also recommends global travel sim cards. Check out my comparison of the best international sim cards in 2025, we compared and reviewed them one by one and came to the conclusion that some of them are actually great sim card deals for traveling to Turkey.
Make sure your phone is unlocked before buying a prepaid sim card in Turkey, getting an international sim card or an eSIM. If your phone is locked none of these options to stay connected will work. If you are unsure if your phone is locked or unlocked then contact your mobile provider in your home country before your trip to Turkey.
Why buying a sim card for Turkey
All hotels and most restaurants and bars in Turkey have pretty good and reliable WiFi, so why getting a sim card for Turkey? A very easy question to answer! It simply makes traveling in Turkey so much easier. Like in general, having a data connection on your phone makes life much more convenient. Think about ordering a taxi from an app, or getting directions from Google Maps, finding nearby restaurants with good reviews or what about emergencies?
Getting a local sim card in Turkey is easy, fast and relatively cheap compared to Western countries. A Turkey sim card guarantees you a much more relaxing trip to Turkey.
Also don't rely on WiFi, because there is no guarantee! If be the signal in your hotel room is weak or the WiFi is so slow it hardly works. On top of that be aware that public WiFi's are UNSECURED networks, using a VPN is therefore recommended.
Not a fan of swapping sim cards and changing phone numbers? Then you should look into getting a portable WiFi device. How they work? Personally I am not a fan, but I will give you my HONEST opinion and tell you everything about it in my article: how to get WiFi on the road!
RELATED: Ultimate Turkey Itinerary for 14 days! Rent a car and explore this beautiful country.
Traveling to Turkey and in need of inspiration? Find here a list of the best places to visit in Turkey. What about the Switzerland of Turkey or Maldives-like beaches? Hidden Monasteries and well preserved UNESCO heritage sites? Click on the link to find them all around the country.
Where to buy a tourist sim card for Turkey
There are 3 mobile internet providers in Turkey and when you look at the prices for data plans they are not as cheap as you may expect. In a country where you can have a sandwich, a tea and a bottle of water for less than $3 USD, you would expect competitive prices for prepaid sim cards.
Unfortunately buying a Turkey sim card for tourists is relatively expensive compared it to its neighboring countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia. This is because foreigners can only buy a tourist sim card. If you want a prepaid sim card in Turkey with a foreign passport as a non-resident you can only buy a tourist sim card.
Tourist sim cards have different prices and packages as prepaid sim cards for locals.
International Airports in Turkey
The most convenient place to buy a Turkey prepaid sim card is of course on arrival at any of the international airports. Most people will start their trip to Turkey in either IST Airport or SAW Airport in Istanbul. For both airports I wrote a specific guide for buying a Turkey prepaid sim card on arrival:
- Buying a sim card at Istanbul Airport IST in 2025
- Buying a sim card at Istanbul Airport SAW in 2025
- Buying a sim card at Izmir Airport in 2025
Luckily all the other international airports like Antalya, Ankara, Bodrum, Trabzon and Kayseri all have sim card stores from the main mobile internet providers in the arrival hall. So buying a tourist sim card in Turkey is easy, it is just really expensive.
Expect tourist prices for tourist sim cards on arrival at the international airports in Turkey. The cheaper sim card deals for Turkey you find in the city center in official phone stores of the mobile internet providers. Or even better... on the internet.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM for Turkey check out the complete guide in the link.
Phone stores in city center
If you want the best prepaid sim card deals and data plans then you have to buy your tourist sim card in the city and not at the airport. There are plenty official retail stores around the city from one of the mobile internet operators. Locate them simply though Google Maps. Walk in with your passport and you can buy a sim card for tourists without a problem.
Traveltomtom recommends an official retail store of one of the mobile internet providers over a random phone store. At these stores they also sell prepaid sim cards for Turkey but at different prices. Always put your new registered sim card in your phone and wait till everything is working before you walk out of the store.
Online
As I already showed you above there are multiple ways to stay connected when traveling to Turkey and one of them is ordering a sim card for Turkey on the internet.
If you buy an international sim card for Turkey a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip and if you order an eSIM for Turkey you arrange everything online within just a couple minutes.
Mobile internet providers in Turkey
There are three different mobile internet providers in Turkey: Vodafone, Turkcell and Turk Telekom. They have stores all over Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bodrum, Bursa, Antalya, Trabzon, Kayseri and all the other popular tourist destinations in Turkey. You can also find them on most international and domestic airports.
For tourists it is best to go to an official internet provider stores of either Vodafone, Turk Telekom or Turkcell. Here they have the best deals and they activate your new Turkey sim card on the spot for you. Others phone shops are just resellers, if something goes wrong they send you to the official stores.
Registration process
As a tourist or a non-resident you can only buy a visitor line sim card for tourists in Turkey. Meaning your sim card will be registered on your passport number and name. So always bring your passport when buying a sim card in Turkey. In the store they will take a copy of your passport.
As per Turkey regulations a tourist can use a prepaid sim card on their own mobile phone for a maximum of 3 months before it will be blocked. After 90 days you will have to pay an import tax based on the value of your phone.
If this is somehow inconvenient to you or you are looking for a way around it then buy an international sim card for Turkey or even easier: order an eSIM for Turkey.
Prices Turkey sim cards in 2025
All the below information and prices are updated as per April 2025 and prices are in Turkish Lira: $1 USD = 38 TL and 100 TL = $2.63 USD.
Vodafone Turkey prepaid sim card for tourists
On my last visit to Turkey I checked out several Vodafone stores in Istanbul and in Izmir and all of them sell the exact same prepaid sim card for tourists:
- 20 GB data + 750 minutes + 250 sms = 1,500 TL - $42.5 USD
- 50 GB data + 750 minutes + 250 sms = 1,850 TL - $52.5 USD
These Vodafone prepaid sim cards for tourists are valid for 28 days and only for use in Turkey, not in the EU!
This Vodafone Turkey tourist sim card is also advertised on the Vodafone Turkey and it literally says: prices may vary from store to store.
NEW! Vodafone Turkey sells the above sim cards now in some stores as an eSIM as well. You pay about $10 USD extra for the registration. But please do NOT buy a Vodafone tourist sim card in Turkey. What a rip-off!
Order an eSIM for Turkey on the internet from just $4.5 USD! Check out my complete Turkey eSIM guide and comparison.
Turk Telekom prepaid sim card
They claim to be cheapest prepaid sim card in Turkey and well according to the above prices that would be true. On the Turk Telekom website you can find complete different prices, but the above price is the real one. Taken in a Turk Telekom store and double checked in many other stores in Istanbul, as well as in Izmir on my recent trip to Turkey.
- 25 GB data + 750 minutes + 750 sms for 28 days = 1,000 TL - $28 USD
A Turk Telekom prepaid sim card for tourists is only valid in Turkey. Turk Telekom does NOT offer eSIMs for tourists. For more info check the Turk Telekom website.
Turkcell prepaid sim card
Turkcell keep it simple and offers 1 prepaid sim card for tourists:
- 20 GB data + 200 minutes + Free WhatsApp valid for 1 month = 1,300 TL - $37 USD
Turkcell does NOT offer eSIMs for tourists in their stores in Turkey. For more info about this Turkey prepaid sim card check out the Turkcell website.
Check how much Turkcell credit you have left? Dial *123#
Best 4G/5G network in Turkey in 2025
Apart from the prices for tourist sim cards let's also dive into the network coverage. Traveltomtom compared the 4G/5G mobile data network coverage maps for Turkey of Vodafone, Turkcell and Turk Telekom to find out which provider has the best mobile data network in Turkey in 2025.
Is there 5G in Turkey?
No, there is still no proper 5G in Turkey as of 2025. Despite millions of mobile internet users there is only 5G in central areas in Istanbul. The first 5G towers are recently constructed in Istanbul city center and at the IST Airport, but that is about it.
If you go off the beaten path in Turkey, 4G/LTE coverage can become rare as well. Turkey is a huge country. However, as you can see from the below Turkey 4G/5G mobile internet coverage maps most of the best places to visit in Turkey are covered with a 4G/LTE signal.
Turk Telekom 4G/5G network coverage map
Vodafone 4G/5G network coverage map
Turkcell 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2025 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Turkey in 2025.
Based on the 4G/5G network coverage maps for 2025 Turkcell has the best 4G/5G mobile data network in Turkey in 2025. If you travel to the more remote areas in Turkey then Turkcell is the best Turkey sim card for you. You can also expect the fastest data speed in Turkey from Turkcell.
Turk Telecom and Vodafone have a slightly weaker network, but if you only stay in one of the famous Turkey tourist destinations then Turk Telecom and Vodafone will be just as good.
Looking for amazing hotels in Istanbul? Check out my best hotels in Besiktas on the Bosporus blog.
Mobile internet data speed in Turkey
With a respective 63th place on the world data speed ranking in 2023, on average one can expect a download speed of 69 Mbps according to Speed Test Pro, published on Wikipedia.
If you travel to Turkey on a budget then sightseeing in Istanbul can be a lot cheaper than buying a sim cards for tourists. Check here for a free walking tour of Fener Balat and marvel at this hip up and coming neighborhood with its colorful houses.
Done with the standard things to do in Istanbul? Check this list of hidden gems in Istanbul and go off the beaten path. Other great recommendations and day trip in and around Istanbul are: Turkey's biggest mosque, Uskudar, Kadikoy, all in the Asian part of the city.
Best prepaid sim card for Turkey in 2025
Prices for tourist sim cards in Turkey are expensive and they have gone up in recent years, where prices for eSIMs have gone down.
Based on the Turkey tourist sim card plans from all operators and the 4G/5G network coverage Traveltomtom concludes that Turkcell is the best prepaid sim card in Turkey in 2025.
You can get 20 GB data + 200 minutes for 1,300 TL which is around $37 USD. Turk Telekom is cheaper but also has a weaker 4G/5G network. Yet, still good and recommend.
If you only need a little bit of internet to navigate, check your email and use WhatApp then Traveltomtom definitely recommends an eSIM over a local prepaid sim card.
For just $4.5 USD you already get 1 GB data for traveling in Turkey. Turkey tourist prepaid sim cards start from $29 USD!
Even if you are a heavy data user then an eSIM for Turkey is cheaper than a local prepaid tourist sim card. An eSIM for Turkey with 20 GB data costs $26 USD. Keep in mind that eSIMs for Turkey are data-only and phone calls are NOT supported.
Find out everything you need to know about Turkey eSIMs in 2025, including a comparison of the best eSIMs for Turkey, all specifications, all FAQ's and more.
Best eSIMs for Turkey
The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Turkey in 2025 is an eSIM. No need to visit a sim card store anymore in Turkey. With an eSIM you are online as soon as the plane lands.
You order an eSIM for Turkey on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Turkey eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Turkey it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
For all your answers on FAQ's about Turkey eSIMs check out Traveltomtom's complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for traveling to Turkey in 2025.
Airalo
Airalo is a reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo in more than 50 countries around the world without ever facing an issue.
Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Turkey in 2025:
- 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
- Unlimited data* for 10 days = $35 USD
* Unlimited data is in reality only 3 GB data per day on max speed! Don't be fooled.
Click here for more info or to order a Turkey eSIM directly via Airalo.
The above Merhaba eSIMs are data-only and are only valid in Turkey. They operate on the 4G/LTE/5G network of Turk Telekom. Incoming and outgoing phone calls and sms are not supported.
SimOptions
Traveltomtom also uses SimOptions regularly for my travels abroad and for Turkey they have amazing eSIM deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $5.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $6.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $12.90 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 30 GB data for 30 days = $31.90 USD
- 50 GB data for 30 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order a SimOptions eSIM for traveling to Turkey.
Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Turkey.
This is just a very quick summary of Turkey eSIMs. Curious to know more, find a complete comparison of the best eSIMs for traveling to Turkey in 2025 in my guide, including everything you need to know about using an eSIM in Turkey. Including eSIMs for Turkey from Jetpac, Sim Local, Roamless, Nomad, Holafly and many more.
Order a prepaid sim card for Turkey online
If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Turkey online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Turkey with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Turkey, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Turkey:
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to directly order an international sim card for Turkey via SimOptions.
Here also a last reminder that if your phone is eSIM compatible you can also order an eSIM for Turkey and get connected within just a couple minutes and keep your own number from home.
You arrange everything online and there is no need for swapping a physical sim card anymore.
For a complete guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Turkey on the internet check out Traveltomtom's comparison of the best eSIMs for Turkey in 2025.
Vlog about buying a prepaid sim card in Turkey
Interested in watching a vlog what it is like to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists in Turkey then check out Traveltomtom's YouTube video above.
RELATED: Ultimate Turkey Itinerary for 14 days, including all the best places to visit! Check it out and don't miss any of these Turkey top sights.
What to do in Istanbul? There is so much more than visiting the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Taksim. Click on the photos below to read see where to find the best viewpoint in Istanbul: Buyuk Valide Han will blow your mind! Or read about the best day trips from Istanbul and see what it looks like to climb the minaret of the amazing Edirne Mosque and don't forget to explore the colored houses in Istanbul.
If you have any further question please do not hesitate to leave me a comment below or check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom if you are in need of some serious travel inspiration or follow up on my road to visit every country in the world.
As of April 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so many more to go still.
Enjoy your trip to Turkey!