A first-time visitor's airport guide to Turkey: visa, money, SIM and transfer

For tourists arriving from abroad, the first hour is often the most stressful part of the journey. Good preparation saves time and protects you from unnecessary costs.

1. Visa and passport

Visa requirements depend on nationality. Before you come, check the official e-Visa system of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and be careful not to overpay on third-party sites. It is recommended that your passport be valid for at least 150 days from your date of entry.

2. Passport control and baggage

At busy times passport control can take 20-60 minutes, which is why free waiting time in your transfer matters. After collecting your baggage you leave through the green channel to reach arrivals.

3. Money and payment

For Turkish lira the exchange margin can be high at the airport; city-centre exchange offices or bank ATMs are usually better value. Contactless card payment is accepted in most places. You can pay your transfer fee in advance in a foreign currency.

4. SIM card and communication

Tourist SIM cards and eSIM options are sold at airports. However, foreign phones may need IMEI registration for use in Turkey; because the rules change often, confirm the current information with the operator. Transfer communication can also run over WhatsApp.

5. How to choose a safe transfer

• Ask for the licence (D2) and TÜRSAB information.
• Have the fixed price confirmed in writing; do not rely on verbal prices.
• If a vehicle has no meter, the price must be clear from the start.
• Do not accept "taxi" offers that approach you at the airport; use the official taxi rank or your booked chauffeur.
• Confirm the chauffeur's name and plate by message with your booking code.

Tip

Save your hotel's address in Turkish and English on your phone. Showing the address to the chauffeur is far more reliable than communication that depends on a map app.

A short plan for the first 24 hours

• Hour 0-1: passport control, baggage, SIM/eSIM and meeting your chauffeur.
• Hour 1-2: hotel check-in, settling into the room and a short walk nearby.
• First evening: a light dinner, and planning the next day's sightseeing transfer and tickets.

Common mistakes

Putting the passport in checked luggage, not notifying the card issuer, taking a haggled taxi late at night and not saving the hotel address in Latin letters are the most common mistakes. A short preparation lets you spend the first day far more comfortably.

Health and emergencies

The emergency number in Turkey is 112. Keep your travel health insurance document on your phone; in an emergency your chauffeur can direct you to the nearest hospital and call our operations centre for language support. We also recommend saving your travel insurer's emergency line on your phone in advance.