The best eSIM for Turkey is a prepaid data plan that matches how long you stay and where else you go. Only visiting Turkey? A Turkey eSIM gives you the most data for your money, from 1 GB for 3 days up to 100 GB for 180 days. Adding Greece, Bulgaria or the Caucasus? A regional plan that includes Turkey keeps you on one eSIM. All our plans for Turkey are data only, with no Turkish number. You install the eSIM at home, and it connects when you land in Istanbul, Antalya or Izmir. Plan details in this guide come from our Turkey eSIM page.
Short on time? Here are three Turkey plans: one week, two weeks or a month.
Turkey 10GB (7 days) · Turkey 20GB (15 days) · Turkey 50GB (30 days) · all data only · See all Turkey eSIMs or browse every destination
What makes an eSIM the best one for Turkey?
There is no single best eSIM for everyone. The right one fits your trip. Check these points before you buy:
- Data and days: enough data for your whole stay, so you don't run out halfway through your holiday.
- Countries covered: Turkey only, or Turkey plus Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia or other countries if you cross a border or fly on.
- Phone number: most travel eSIMs are data only. Decide if you really need a Turkish number.
- Top-ups: so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- When the days start: ideally when you arrive, not when you buy or install it.
- Your phone: it must support eSIM and be unlocked.
Our prepaid eSIMs for Turkey: the details
SimOptions sells eight Turkey plans. Turkey is also on our Europe and Asia plans. Here is what the plan details on our pages say:
- Turkey plans: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, 20 GB for 15 days, 50 GB for 30 days, 60 GB for 90 days and 100 GB for 180 days, at 4G/5G speed.
- Europe plans: 34 countries, including Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and the UK, at 4G/LTE speed.
- Asia plans: 26 countries, including Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates, at 4G/LTE speed.
- Phone number: no. All these plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in a covered country. Your days start then.
- Top-ups: available.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year of buying it, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract, and your QR code comes by email.
Which eSIM is best for your Turkey trip?
Start with how long you stay. Then check if you visit other countries.
A city break or a 7-day holiday: Turkey 5GB or 10GB
A long weekend in Istanbul or a week on the coast? The 5 GB and 10 GB plans last 7 days. That covers maps, ride and food apps, messages, social media and a few video calls. For a stopover of a day or two, 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days is enough.
Two weeks: Turkey 20GB
Doing Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast in one trip? Turkey 20GB lasts 15 days. That's enough for daily maps, photos and regular video calls home.
A month or longer: Turkey 50GB, 60GB or 100GB
Staying a month, working remotely or visiting family? Turkey 50GB lasts 30 days, 60GB lasts 90 days and 100GB lasts 180 days. You can also top up instead of buying a new eSIM.
Turkey plus Greece, Bulgaria or the Caucasus: a regional plan
A Turkey plan only works in Turkey. If you also take the ferry to the Greek islands, go on to Bulgaria, or fly to Georgia or Azerbaijan, one regional plan saves you from swapping eSIMs at the border. When we checked our pages, a Turkey plan never cost more than the Europe or Asia plan of the same size, and from 10 GB up it cost less, so for a Turkey-only trip the Turkey plan is the better buy.
Heading on to Greece or Bulgaria? Europe 20GB lasts 15 days in 34 countries. Going on to Georgia or the Gulf? Asia 10GB lasts 30 days in 26 countries.
Europe 20GB (15 days, 34 countries incl. Turkey and Greece) · Asia 10GB (30 days, 26 countries incl. Turkey and Georgia) · data only · Europe eSIMs · Asia eSIMs
Planning a bigger European trip? See our guide to the best eSIM for Europe.
Can you get a Turkey eSIM with a phone number?
Not with our plans. Our Turkey, Europe and Asia plans that cover Turkey are data only: no Turkish number, no calls and no SMS. Here is how you stay reachable anyway:
- Call and text over data. WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps work on a data eSIM. See how to make calls with a data-only eSIM.
- Keep your home number. Your home SIM stays on your phone next to the travel eSIM, so you still get texts and bank codes. Turn off data roaming on it, so it can't use data abroad.
- Need a Turkish +90 number? Get a tourist line from a Turkish provider. Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom all register these lines with your passport. Our guide to eSIM providers in Turkey covers each one.
Does your EU plan work in Turkey?
Not at home prices. The EU's "Roam like at home" rules cover the 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine and Moldova. Turkey isn't on that list (European Commission: Roaming). With an EU, UK or US plan, you pay whatever your carrier charges in Turkey. Check that before you go. If it's expensive, a Turkey eSIM next to your home line gives you local data at a fixed price. More tips in our guide on how to avoid roaming charges.
Will your phone be blocked in Turkey?
Turkey keeps a register of phone IMEI numbers. According to the regulator BTK, a phone you bring from abroad has to be registered within 120 days of your arrival in Turkey, and unregistered phones are then cut off from Turkish networks (BTK press release on phones brought from abroad, in Turkish). A normal holiday is shorter than that. If you plan to stay longer, or want the details for Turkish tourist lines, see the IMEI section of our eSIM providers in Turkey guide. You can check a phone's status on e-Devlet's IMEI check.
Before you travel: safety advice
Check your own government's travel advice before you book, and again before you fly. As of November 2026, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to within 10 km of the border with Syria. It also says the situation in the Middle East is unpredictable, so be ready for flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruption (FCDO: Turkey warnings and insurance).
A few more points from the FCDO that matter on the ground:
- Carry ID. It's illegal not to carry photo ID in Turkey, so keep your passport with you.
- Earthquakes and wildfires. Turkey has regular earthquakes, and wildfires are frequent in summer. Follow local authorities, and call 112 in an emergency.
- Photos. Don't take photos of or near military or official sites.
Source: FCDO: Turkey safety and security. Mobile data helps here: you can check flight updates, follow local news and share your location with family.
Staying connected around Turkey
You will use your data most for maps, ride apps, translation and bookings. Here is what to expect in the places most visitors go.
Istanbul
Turkey's largest city spans two continents, Europe and Asia, on either side of the Bosphorus. The capital, though, is Ankara. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar are all in the old town. Ferries cross between the European and Asian sides all day, and live maps help you find the right pier. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable months to walk around.
Cappadocia
In Central Anatolia, Cappadocia is known for its rock formations, cave hotels and hot air balloon flights at sunrise. Flights depend on the weather, so check your booking on the morning itself. If you'd rather stay on the ground, you can watch the balloons from a viewpoint or your hotel roof. Download offline maps for the valley walks, where the signal can drop.
Ephesus
Near Selçuk on the Aegean coast, Ephesus was one of the great cities of the Roman world. The Library of Celsus is the most photographed building. Only ruins are left of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Spring and autumn are cooler for walking around the site.
Bodrum and the Aegean coast
Bodrum has hot, dry summers and mild winters. Visit Bodrum Castle, the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, another of the Seven Wonders, and the ancient theatre above the town. From the coast, ferries run to Greek islands such as Kos. A Europe plan keeps you online on both sides.
Side and the Mediterranean coast
Side mixes a small old town with beach resorts. The ruins of the Temple of Apollo stand right by the sea, and the ancient theatre is close by. June to September is beach season. Don't count on resort Wi-Fi by the pool or on a boat trip: that's where a data plan helps.
Planning the rest of your trip? See our Turkey holiday guide.
How much data do you need in Turkey?
It depends on how you use your phone. Hotel Wi-Fi helps, but you may need a code to log in, and it's often slow for video calls. As a rough guide:
- 1 to 3 days: 1 GB to 3 GB, for maps, messages and ride apps.
- Up to a week: 5 GB to 10 GB, enough for social media, photos and some video calls.
- Two weeks: 20 GB.
- A month or more: 50 GB for 30 days, or 60 GB for 90 days.
Running low? Top up the same eSIM. Our Turkey page also says you can share your data with a hotspot. Tips to stretch your data: how to reduce data usage abroad.
How to set up your Turkey eSIM
- Check eSIM support. Dial *#06#. If your phone shows an EID number, it supports eSIM. On iPhone, eSIM works on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and later (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM). More ways to check eSIM compatibility.
- Check that your phone is unlocked. A phone locked to a carrier only accepts that carrier's eSIMs.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. On iPhone, scan the QR code with the Camera app, or on iOS 17.4 and later press and hold the code in the email and choose Add eSIM (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
- When you land, choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > Cellular Data and pick the travel eSIM.
- Turn off data roaming on your home line, so it can't use data abroad.
Using two lines at once is easy once you know where the settings are: see how to set up and manage a dual eSIM. No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating walks you through the usual causes.
FAQs
What is the best eSIM for Turkey?
The one that fits your trip. For Turkey only, a Turkey eSIM gives you the most data for your money: 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB for a month. For Turkey plus Greece or other European countries, a Europe plan covers 34 countries. For Turkey plus Georgia or the Gulf, an Asia plan covers 26.
Which eSIM is best for 7 days in Turkey?
Turkey 5GB or Turkey 10GB. Both last 7 days. Pick 10 GB if you post a lot of photos or make video calls.
Can I get a Turkey eSIM with a phone number?
Not with our plans, which are data only. For a Turkish number, get a tourist line from Turkcell, Vodafone or Türk Telekom with your passport. You can call over data with WhatsApp or FaceTime instead, and keep your home number for texts.
Does a Turkey eSIM include calls and SMS?
Our Turkey plans don't. They are data only, with no calls or SMS. Turkish tourist lines include minutes and SMS.
Is there a regional eSIM that covers Turkey?
Yes. Our Europe plans cover Turkey and 33 other countries, and our Asia plans cover Turkey and 25 others. Our Middle East plans don't include Turkey.
Does EU roaming work in Turkey?
No. Turkey isn't in the EU's "Roam like at home" area, so your carrier's own roaming prices apply.
Do I need to register my phone in Turkey?
BTK says a phone you bring from abroad has to be registered within 120 days of your arrival. A normal holiday is shorter than that. Details in our guide to eSIM providers in Turkey.
When does my Turkey eSIM start counting days?
The plan activates automatically when you arrive in Turkey, so your days start on arrival, not when you buy or install it.