Field file / ISTANBUL

Europe / Türkiye

Istanbul

Tools41

Channels12

Local currencyTRY

Verified21 Jul 2026

Emergency firstEmergency (unified) — 112

01 / Full local toolkit

Every useful channel.

Traveler-compatibility checks for this destination are still pending. Local notes are useful, but phone, payment and signup eligibility are not yet sourced per service.

Ride-hailing

3 tools

No private-car ride-hailing here — by law all apps dispatch licensed metered taxis. Uber = the same yellow cabs.

BiTaksiLocal default

The local default. Hails licensed yellow/turquoise cabs, shows plate + driver, upfront fare, pay cash or card in-app.

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Uber

In Istanbul it dispatches licensed taxis only (not private cars) — really the same cabs as BiTaksi. Convenient if you already have the account.

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iTaksi

Official İBB municipal taxi app; another way to hail the same licensed fleet, useful when others show no cars.

Food delivery

3 tools

Uber Eats and Glovo do NOT operate in Turkey — don't bother installing them.

YemeksepetiLocal default

The original and biggest; widest restaurant coverage in every neighborhood. What most locals open first.

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Getir Yemek

Strong #2, fast delivery, part of the Getir super-app (food + groceries in one).

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Trendyol Yemek

Growing fast on aggressive discounts; uses your existing Trendyol account.

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Groceries

4 tools

GetirLocal default

Invented 10-minute grocery delivery here — the local default for quick essentials from its own dark stores.

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Migros Sanal Market

Turkey's main supermarket chain online; for a full weekly shop (Migros Hemen for fast delivery).

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Trendyol Go

Quick market + local-shop delivery inside the Trendyol app (formerly Banabi).

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A101 Kapıda

Budget discount-chain delivery; cheapest basics.

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Public transport

4 tools

Pay with İstanbulkart — one contactless card for metro, tram, bus, ferry, funicular and Marmaray. Some metro gates now take contactless bank cards too, but the card is standard.

İstanbulkartLocal default

Get one on day one from any kiosk/machine. Tap to ride everything; app manages balance, auto top-up and finding top-up points.

Metro İstanbul

Official rail app: live metro/tram/funicular times, station maps and service alerts.

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Moovit

The all-in-one journey planner locals use — best for buses + rail routing across the city.

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Mobiett

Official İETT bus app: live bus arrival times and routes.

Payments

2 tools

Contactless bank/debit cards are accepted almost everywhere and are the real default — foreign Visa/Mastercard tap works widely. Still carry cash (lira) for markets, small cafés and some taxis.

ToslaLocal default

Popular, legit digital wallet by Akbank; QR payments, instant transfers, prepaid card — a solid app-based option alongside your bank's own app.

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İninal

Prepaid reloadable card/wallet, easy to top up without a full bank account.

eSIM & connectivity

5 tools

Since July 2025 Turkey's regulator (BTK) has blocked access to some international eSIM providers — buy and activate your eSIM BEFORE you land. A local Turkcell SIM is the reliable fallback (passport required; SIM registration is law, and unregistered foreign phones get blocked after ~120 days).

TurkcellLocal default

Best coverage in Turkey including rural areas. Tourist Welcome Pack or local prepaid; buy in-city (Taksim), not at the airport, for far better prices.

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Airalo

Most popular global eSIM for Turkey data plans — activate before arrival due to BTK restrictions.

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Nomad

Global eSIM alternative with competitive Turkey data rates — activate before arrival.

Saily

Global eSIM from the NordVPN maker; simple Turkey plans — activate before arrival.

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Vodafone

Second main carrier; good city coverage, own tourist packs.

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Messaging

4 tools

WhatsApp is the universal default — voice and video calls both work fine (not blocked).

WhatsAppLocal default

How everyone communicates — ~89% of people in Turkey use it. Businesses take orders and bookings on it too.

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Telegram

Common secondary app, popular for groups, channels and marketplace/deal groups.

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Instagram

DMs are how many locals and small businesses actually reply — often faster than a phone call.

BiP

Turkcell's homegrown messenger; a minority use it, heavily promoted by the carrier.

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Shopping

4 tools

TrendyolLocal default

Turkey's #1 e-commerce app — fashion to electronics to groceries, fast next-day delivery.

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Hepsiburada

Major local marketplace, especially strong for electronics and appliances.

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Amazon Türkiye

Operates locally as amazon.com.tr; smaller catalog than Trendyol but familiar.

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n11

Established local marketplace, good for deals and electronics.

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Government & ID

2 tools

If you're staying long-term or hold a residence permit, these are essential.

e-Devlet (Dijital Türkiye)Local default

The gateway to every state service. With a foreigner ID (yabancı kimlik) you use it for documents, taxes, appointments, address registration and more.

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e-İkamet

Official portal for residence-permit applications and appointments for foreigners.

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Bikes & scooters

3 tools

MartıLocal default

Biggest e-scooter and e-moped share in Istanbul; scan the QR and go.

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BinBin

Widespread e-scooter share; scan-and-go, also offers taxi booking.

İSBİKE

İBB municipal docked bike-share; cheap short hops along the waterfront and parks.

Emergency numbers

4 tools

Turkey merged its emergency lines into 112 (since 2023) — one number reaches police, ambulance and fire. The old direct numbers below still work.

Emergency (unified) — 112Local default

Single nationwide line for police, ambulance and fire; English-speaking support available.

Police — 155

Direct police line, still active within cities.

Fire — 110

Fire brigade (itfaiye), still active.

Gendarmerie — 156

For rural areas and highways outside city police jurisdiction.

13 / First 60 minutes

Leave the airport ready.

Six concrete setup decisions for Istanbul. No fake personalization—just the local default, the local caveat, and what to do before day one gets expensive.

Arrival sequenceConnectivity → airport exit → transit → map → money → contact

Mark only what you have actually set up. Progress stays in this browser.

Ready for arrival0 / 6 complete

Step 1 · Get onlineTurkcellTraveler check pending

Set up data before you need a ride, ticket, map, or verification code.

Best coverage in Turkey including rural areas. Tourist Welcome Pack or local prepaid; buy in-city (Taksim), not at the airport, for far better prices. Since July 2025 Turkey's regulator (BTK) has blocked access to some international eSIM providers — buy and activate your eSIM BEFORE you land. A local Turkcell SIM is the reliable fallback (passport required; SIM registration is law, and unregistered foreign phones get blocked after ~120 days).

Open Turkcell

Step 2 · Price the airport rideBiTaksiTraveler check pending

Know the local default before accepting a taxi quote or opening a global app.

The local default. Hails licensed yellow/turquoise cabs, shows plate + driver, upfront fare, pay cash or card in-app. No private-car ride-hailing here — by law all apps dispatch licensed metered taxis. Uber = the same yellow cabs.

Open BiTaksi

Step 3 · Check the public routeİstanbulkartTraveler check pending

Compare the official airport-to-city option before paying for a car.

Get one on day one from any kiosk/machine. Tap to ride everything; app manages balance, auto top-up and finding top-up points. Pay with İstanbulkart — one contactless card for metro, tram, bus, ferry, funicular and Marmaray. Some metro gates now take contactless bank cards too, but the card is standard.

Read local details

Step 4 · Load the right mapGoogle MapsTraveler check pending

Open the map that works best locally and save your hotel or first stop.

Reliable for walking, transit and driving across Istanbul; best all-round default.

Open Google Maps

Step 5 · Know how to payToslaTraveler check pending

Check the local card, cash, and wallet reality before your first purchase.

Popular, legit digital wallet by Akbank; QR payments, instant transfers, prepaid card — a solid app-based option alongside your bank's own app. Contactless bank/debit cards are accepted almost everywhere and are the real default — foreign Visa/Mastercard tap works widely. Still carry cash (lira) for markets, small cafés and some taxis.

Open Tosla

Step 6 · Reach people locallyWhatsAppTraveler check pending

Use the service locals answer—and note any calling or registration restriction.

How everyone communicates — ~89% of people in Turkey use it. Businesses take orders and bookings on it too. WhatsApp is the universal default — voice and video calls both work fine (not blocked).

Open WhatsApp

This is an arrival checklist, not an app ranking. Open the full local toolkit below for alternatives, coverage limits, and services you may need later.

14 / Money on arrival

Know what you're paying.

Local tender, realistic foreign-currency acceptance, and a daily USD reference before a terminal or exchange desk chooses the rate for you.

Local currencyTRY

Turkish lira

₺

USD reference rateLoading daily rate

Check rate before paying

Unavailable

Reference only. Your bank, card network, ATM, or exchange counter may add fees or use a different rate.

What can I pay with?

PrimaryTRY

The normal currency for prices and payment.

LimitedEUR

Some tourism businesses quote it, usually with their own exchange rate.

LimitedUSD

Sometimes quoted for hotels or tours; lira is the everyday default.

Cards are common in Istanbul, but keep lira for markets, small shops, and transport edge cases. Decline dynamic currency conversion.

Country payment guidance reviewed Jul 21, 2026

Istanbul

Istanbul

Leave the airport.

Your first six downloads.

Every local channel.

Istanbul

Every useful channel.

Ride-hailing

Food delivery

Groceries

Public transport

Payments

eSIM & connectivity

Messaging

Navigation

Shopping

Government & ID

Bikes & scooters

Emergency numbers

Leave the airport ready.

Know what you're paying.

Turkish lira