How to Browse and Make Calls from Turkey

Planning a trip to Turkey and want to stay connected with friends, family or manage your bookings? Knowing the correct international dialling code and connectivity options will allow you to travel without worry.

To contact any Turkish number from abroad, you’ll need to dial the international dialling code +90 (or 0090). The sequence to enter is: first 00 (or the + symbol), then 90 (Turkey’s country code), followed by the recipient’s complete phone number.

What about mobile internet connection during your stay? Unlike European Union countries, Turkey is not covered by European free roaming. This means using your European mobile data in Turkey will incur significant additional costs. For this reason, we strongly recommend considering alternative solutions such as eSIMs or local prepaid SIM cards, which will allow you to save considerably.

Call charges

Travellers in Turkey with a European mobile contract should know that Turkey is not part of the European Union and therefore does not benefit from free roaming rules. Every call made or received, as well as every megabyte of data used, will incur an extra cost on top of your home tariff.

Rates vary considerably depending on your mobile operator, but are generally quite high: calls can cost between €1 and €3 per minute, whilst mobile data can reach €5–10 per megabyte. Receiving calls also comes with a charge, so your phone could consume credit even when you’re not actively using it.

To keep costs down, you have basically three alternatives: purchase a Turkish prepaid SIM (economical if you’re staying for a long time), activate an eSIM before departure (convenient and quick), or contact your operator to activate a specific data package for Turkey. Before you leave, always check with your provider which option is most cost-effective for your needs.

eSIM for Turkey

The most practical and economical way to stay connected in Turkey is undoubtedly an eSIM. It’s a digital SIM that allows you to have a Turkish data line without inserting a physical card into your phone, ideal for travellers who want to avoid roaming costs. Here’s how it works:

How to activate an eSIM for your Turkey trip

1. Check your phone’s compatibility
   The first step is to verify that your smartphone supports eSIM technology. Most recent iPhones (iPhone XS onwards), many Samsung Galaxy models, Google Pixel and other latest generation devices are compatible. You can check this in your phone’s settings or by contacting your operator.
2. Choose and purchase an eSIM from a provider
   There are several reliable platforms for buying eSIMs specifically for Turkey. The most popular are:
   Holafly: specialises in eSIMs for travellers and offers unlimited data plans for Turkey from around €19 for 5 days. Speed is good and activation is immediate.
   Airalo: offers more flexible packages with various GB amounts (from 1 GB to 20 GB) valid for 7 to 30 days, with prices starting from €4.50.
   Turkish operators: Turkcell, Vodafone Türkiye and Türk Telekom offer eSIMs that can be purchased online or in their stores. This option is ideal for longer stays and offers the best rates for those staying several weeks.
3. Install the eSIM profile on your device
   After purchase, you’ll receive a QR code via email. Simply scan it with your phone’s camera (from Settings > Mobile/Cellular) to install the eSIM profile and activate your data plan. The process takes just a few minutes and requires an internet connection.
4. Set up the eSIM as a data line
   You can set the eSIM for internet data only, keeping your home SIM for calls and texts. This configuration lets you stay reachable on your usual number whilst browsing with an affordable Turkish connection.

Benefits of eSIM

• Convenience: no need to search for shops on arrival or remove your home SIM.
• Savings: eSIMs cost a fraction of traditional international roaming.
• Immediate activation: you can activate it comfortably before departure or right after landing.
• Flexibility: perfect solution for short trips or if you want to keep two lines active simultaneously.

Turkish prepaid SIM

If you prefer a physical SIM or need to stay in Turkey for an extended period, purchasing a local prepaid SIM may be your best choice. The three main Turkish operators are Turkcell (the most widespread, with the best coverage), Vodafone Türkiye and Türk Telekom.

Prepaid SIMs are available at Istanbul Airport, at bus stations, in operator shops scattered throughout all cities and at authorised newsagents. Prices are very reasonable: with around 100–200 Turkish lire (€5–10) you’ll get several GB of data, unlimited calls and SMS.

Note: if you use a Turkish SIM for more than 120 days, you must legally register it with your passport, paying a fee of around €20. For short tourist stays this is not necessary.

How to call your home country from Turkey

During your stay in Turkey, to call a number in your home country you should follow this procedure:

• Dial 00 (or press the + symbol), the international exit code from Turkey.
• Add the international dialling code of your country (for example: 39 for Italy, 33 for France, 49 for Germany, 34 for Spain, 44 for the UK, 41 for Switzerland, 43 for Austria, etc.).
• Enter the recipient’s complete number. For some European countries you will need to include the leading zero of the area code (such as Italy, Spain, Switzerland), while for others you should omit it (such as France, Germany, the UK).

Practical example: to call a landline whilst in Istanbul, the sequence will be: 00 + country code + complete number.

For mobile phones, the sequence is the same: 00 + country code + complete mobile number.

How to call Turkey from abroad

If you need to contact a Turkish number from your home country, here’s the correct procedure:

• Dial 00 (or hold down 0 on the keypad to get the + symbol), the code for international calls.
• Enter Turkey’s country code: 90.
• Add the Turkish recipient’s number, which for landlines starts with the area code (for example 212 for European Istanbul, 216 for Asian Istanbul, 242 for Antalya, 232 for Izmir), whilst for mobiles it typically starts with 5XX.

Practical example: to call an Istanbul landline such as 212 123 4567, you would dial: +90 212 123 4567 (or 00 90 212 123 4567).

For a Turkish mobile: +90 5XX XXX XXXX.

Useful tips to stay connected

Here are some practical recommendations to manage communications and connectivity during your trip to Turkey:

The first thing to do is turn off data roaming in your phone’s settings before landing in Turkey. This will prevent unexpected automatic charges. Only turn it on if you’ve purchased a specific package from your home operator.

Apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and FaceTime let you call and video call free of charge using just your data connection. Once you’ve bought an eSIM or local SIM, you can communicate without limits with home.

Turkey has excellent Wi-Fi coverage. Practically all hotels, restaurants, cafés, shopping centres and many attractions offer free Wi-Fi. In Istanbul, even the metro and many public buses have Wi-Fi. Take advantage of this to call over the internet and download offline maps.

Emergency calls

In Turkey, emergency numbers are free and can be reached from any phone, even without credit:

• 112: medical emergency (ambulance)
• 110: fire service
• 155: police
• 156: gendarmerie

If you rent a car

If you intend to rent a car to explore Cappadocia or the Turkish coast, make sure you have sufficient mobile data for GPS navigation. Turkish roads are not always well signposted and a reliable satnav is essential.

Staying connected in Turkey isn’t complicated or costly if you organise yourself with a little advance planning. Whether you choose an eSIM, a Turkish prepaid SIM or a package from your operator, you’ll have several solutions available to browse, call and share the wonders of your trip without worry. İyi yolculuklar – safe travels!