Quick reference

M2 runs Yenikapı–Taksim–Hacıosman; change at Gayrettepe for the M11 metro to Istanbul Airport. T1 tram runs Kabataş–Eminönü–Bağcılar. M4 links Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen airport.

💡 During rush hour (08–10, 17–19) expect full carriages on M2.

The must-have reloadable transit card. Works on metro, tram, bus, ferry and funicular. Tap-to-pay everywhere.

💡 Buy one from the machines at metro stations, and top it up at the machines or in the app.

Scenic and cheap Bosphorus crossings. Key routes: Eminönü ↔ Kadıköy, Beşiktaş ↔ Kadıköy, Üsküdar ↔ Eminönü.

💡 Main routes run frequently through the day; check the timetable in the evening. The upper deck is worth it for the views. Istanbulkart accepted.

Yellow taxis (taksi) are everywhere. BiTaksi and Uber both book licensed Istanbul taxis — Uber here is the same taxis at the meter price plus a booking fee, not a separate cheaper service.

💡 Make sure the meter is running. Under the tariff in force since 20 July 2026, a yellow taxi's minimum fare is ₺230 (₺300 for the black taxis).

Shared minibuses running fixed routes. Mostly cash, extremely cheap. Pay after you get on — pass the fare forward to the driver if you are sitting in the back — and tell the driver where you want to get off.

💡 No apps for dolmuş — learn the route from locals. Great for short trips where metro doesn't reach.

F1 funicular (Kabataş ↔ Taksim), F2 Tünel (Karaköy ↔ Beyoğlu) — 90 seconds up the Galata hill. The T2 nostalgic tram runs along İstiklal (Taksim ↔ Tünel). Teleferik cable cars in Eyüp and Maçka park.

💡 Istanbulkart works on all of them. The slow, red nostalgic tram along İstiklal Caddesi is the T2, not the F2.

Reliable navigation that routes metro, tram, ferry and bus.

💡 Download the Istanbul offline map before you arrive. Works great in tunnels once cached.

Transit-focused directions with live departures and step-by-step guidance for Istanbul's full public transport network.

Taxi-hailing app for licensed Istanbul taxis, with a fare estimate and driver tracking.

Getir (now owned by Uber) for fast grocery and convenience delivery, Yemeksepeti for restaurant food.

Check your Istanbulkart balance, view trip history, and reload your card without finding a kiosk.

Türkiye's largest online marketplace, with fast delivery for many items in Istanbul.

Turkey's main real estate platform. Listings for both long-term rentals and sales across all neighbourhoods. The default starting point.

💡 Filter by 'Kiralık' (for rent) and your neighbourhood. If an agent (emlakçı) is involved, their fee for a rental is capped at one month's rent plus VAT, and is split between landlord and tenant unless you agree otherwise in writing.

Rents vary enormously between neighbourhoods, buildings and even streets, and they change fast — any city-wide figure is out of date within months. Compare several current listings for the kind of flat you want in the area you want, and ask people who live there what they pay.

💡 Ask for the monthly aidat (building fee) before you sign — a cheap flat with a high aidat can cost more than a pricier one.

A common source of direct-from-landlord listings and expat sublets: start with 'Istanbul Expat Community', and search 'Istanbul Apartments for Rent' and 'Expats in Istanbul'.

💡 Post your requirements in the group — many members rent rooms or sublet short-term. Faster than agent listings.

Leases are commonly 12 months. A deposit of one or two months' rent is common; the legal maximum is three. Utilities (elektrik, su, doğalgaz) are billed separately, and many buildings charge a monthly aidat (maintenance fee).

💡 Ask for the contract in English or get a translation. Always confirm if bills are included (eşyalı = furnished, faturalar dahil = bills included).

Fake listings reusing photos from other properties. Agents asking for fees upfront before showing. Landlords who won't provide a formal contract (kira sözleşmesi).

💡 Always verify the landlord owns the property (ask for tapu — title deed). Meet in person before paying anything. Use bank transfer, not cash, for the deposit.

For your first weeks, Airbnb and Booking.com have plenty of Istanbul supply. Many hosts discount stays of a month or more — check the monthly price, and ask.

💡 Neighbourhoods with high Airbnb supply: Taksim, Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Kadıköy. Avoid tourist-trap rates in Sultanahmet for long stays.

Coworking network with locations in Levent, Maslak, Şişhane and Ataşehir. Fast internet, meeting rooms and community events.

💡 Day passes and monthly memberships are available — check current prices on their site.

Good value co-working with many Istanbul locations. More casual atmosphere than Kolektif. Strong on amenities (printing, lockers, phone booths).

💡 Offers short-term packages that suit visitors staying a few weeks — check current prices on their site.

Istanbul cafés are generally very laptop-friendly. No pressure to leave, outlets at most tables, decent Wi-Fi. Kadıköy, Cihangir, Karaköy, and Nişantaşı have the densest options.

💡 Order every 1.5–2 hours and you're welcome to stay all day. Specialty coffee spots often have faster Wi-Fi than chains.

Fixed-line and fibre coverage is good in central Istanbul, but speed depends on the exact building. Get a local SIM for mobile-data backup.

💡 Discord has been blocked in Türkiye since October 2024 and other services are restricted from time to time. Set up a VPN before you arrive.

Visa-free entry or an e-Visa is not permission to work. Türkiye's Digital Nomad route (launched April 2024) is for people working for employers or clients outside Türkiye; work for Turkish employers or clients needs a work permit or exemption. Stays beyond your 90 days need a residence permit.

💡 Leaving and coming back does not reset the 90/180-day count — 'visa runs' don't work. Our Handbook guide on working remotely from Türkiye covers the details.

Istanbul is UTC+3 all year, with no daylight saving: 1 hour ahead of Central Europe in summer and 2 in winter; 7 hours ahead of US Eastern time in summer and 8 in winter.

💡 Turkish public holidays differ from European ones, and the religious holidays move each year. Check the calendar at the start of each month.

Buy a SIM from an official Turkcell, Vodafone or Türk Telekom shop with your passport. Prices and packages change often — compare in store.

💡 A phone brought from abroad works on Turkish networks for up to 120 days, then can be blocked unless its IMEI is registered through e-Devlet or at an operator’s store, within 365 days of entry — the fee for 2026 is ₺54,258, and tourists without a residence permit generally can't register. See our SIM and internet guide.

Turkish Lira (TRY). Use ATMs from major banks: Garanti, İş Bankası, Yapı Kredi. Avoid airport exchange booths.

💡 Many restaurants and shops prefer cash. Always carry some TRY. Revolut and Wise work great here for card payments with interbank rates.

Private hospitals are excellent and used by expats: Acıbadem, Memorial, American Hospital. English-speaking doctors available.

💡 Emergency: 112. Private consultation prices vary by hospital and specialty — ask when you book. Keep your receipts for insurance reimbursement.

112 — the single emergency number across Türkiye for ambulance, fire and police. Legacy numbers (155 police, 156 gendarmerie, 158 coast guard) still connect, but 112 covers everything.

Some platforms are blocked or restricted in Türkiye — Discord since October 2024 — and others are throttled from time to time. A reliable paid VPN is recommended.

💡 Set it up before you arrive. VPN services themselves are sometimes blocked, so have a second option.

Turkish is phonetic — pronunciation is consistent once you learn it. Most younger locals in expat areas speak English.

💡 'Teşekkürler' (teh-shek-kür-ler) = Thank you. 'Merhaba' = Hello. Learning a few words goes a long way with locals.

Ordinary passport holders from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, most EU countries and many others enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 (US and Canadian citizens since December 2023, Australians since April 2026). Cypriot passport holders need a visa, some nationalities need an e-Visa, applied for online before arrival, and others a consular visa. Check your own passport on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list.

💡 Always check the official .gov.tr site — many lookalike sites charge extra fees for the same form.

Needed if you stay beyond your visa or visa-free period. The short-term permit is the common track. Apply through e-İkamet before your permitted stay runs out.

💡 Start early — appointment availability varies by season, and the process can take weeks. Bring originals and photocopies of everything. Appointments are free — ignore anyone selling them.

Typically: a passport valid at least 60 days beyond the permit you ask for, two recent biometric photos, proof of address (a notarised lease, a title deed or a notarised taahhütname from your host), health insurance valid in Türkiye covering the permit period, and proof of means. e-İkamet generates your personal checklist.

💡 For the tourism-purpose permit most expats use, a signed declaration is no longer enough: expect to show regular income of at least 1.5× the net minimum wage (plus one minimum wage per family member), backed by the last three months of statements. A tax number is not on the official list, but you will need one for insurance and most contracts.

Most first-time applicants need a policy from a licensed Turkish insurer covering the whole permit period. Travel insurance from home is generally not accepted.

💡 Buying through a broker (acente) is common — they sell policies written for residence-permit applications.

Apply to renew within the 60 days before your permit expires, and always before it expires. After 8 years of uninterrupted residence you can apply for a long-term residence permit.

💡 Time outside Türkiye counts: on a short-term permit, more than 120 days abroad in total over the last year can cost you the permit.

Usually applied for by the employer through the Ministry of Labour. Independent work permits exist for qualified professionals and company partners, assessed on education, experience and income. Remote work for a foreign employer is covered in our Handbook guide on working remotely from Türkiye.

💡 If you work remotely for a foreign employer while living here, get tax advice early.

Acıbadem, Memorial, American Hospital, Florence Nightingale, Liv Hospital. International standards, English-speaking staff, modern facilities. Walk-ins accepted at most.

💡 Acıbadem and American Hospital have long experience with expat patients. Ask for the price when you book — consultation fees vary by hospital and specialty.

A foreign resident can generally join SGK's general health insurance after one continuous year of residence, with further conditions — such as not already being covered by another country's social security. Check your own case with SGK.

💡 Public hospitals are heavily subsidised but busy, and staff may not speak English. Many expats keep private insurance too.

Marked with a red E and on nearly every street. Pharmacists can advise on minor problems and sell many medicines over the counter — but antibiotics need a doctor's prescription.

💡 Look for the green/red “Nöbetçi” sign for the 24-hour pharmacy in your district. Each neighbourhood rotates duty nightly.

Widely available and usually much cheaper than in Western Europe or the US. Many clinics cater to international patients.

💡 Quality varies — ask members for clinics they have used, and get a written treatment plan and price before you start.

English-speaking therapists practise mostly in Beşiktaş, Şişli and Kadıköy. Online platforms such as Hiwell connect you to Turkish-licensed therapists.

💡 Foreign online platforms work too if you prefer a therapist from home.

Single number for ambulance, fire and police. Operators may not speak English. The big private hospitals run their own ambulance lines — save one in your phone now.

💡 In a real emergency, call 112 — public ambulances are free. For something urgent but not life-threatening, a taxi to the nearest emergency department (acil) is often quicker.

You'll need your passport, a tax number (vergi numarası), a Turkish mobile number and proof of address. Many private banks now ask foreigners for a residence permit, though no law requires one. Policies differ between banks — and between branches.

💡 If one branch says no, try another. Get your Turkish SIM first: banking runs on SMS confirmation.

Free. Get it at any tax office (vergi dairesi) with your passport, usually in about 15 minutes, or online through the tax administration’s digital tax office (a Turkish phone number helps). You need it for a bank account, health insurance and most contracts, and it smooths the residence-permit process.

💡 Get this before your bank or residence-permit appointment.

Visa/Mastercard work everywhere. Withdraw from major bank ATMs (Garanti, İş, Yapı Kredi) to avoid sketchy fees. Watch for “dynamic currency conversion” — always choose Lira.

💡 Wise and Revolut both have good Lira rates and no hidden FX margin — easier than transferring to a Turkish account for small amounts.

Lira (TRY) is volatile — check the rate the day you exchange. Exchange booths (döviz büfeleri) in Sirkeci, Kapalıçarşı and Aksaray are known for competitive rates. Avoid airport and hotel desks.

💡 Compare a few booths before exchanging a large amount — the posted rates differ.

Some small Turkish sites only accept Turkish-issued cards. Wallets such as Papara fill the gap, though Papara itself had its licence cancelled in October 2025 and restored in January 2026 — a debit card from a Turkish bank is the most reliable option.

You may become a Turkish tax resident if you live here or stay more than six months continuously in a calendar year, with exceptions. Tax residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, but since June 2026 (Law 7582) people who become tax resident from 2026 on — after three years with no Turkish residence or tax liability — can apply for a 20-year exemption on all their foreign-source income.

💡 Get advice from a tax accountant (mali müşavir) who works with expats — ask members for recommendations.

Foreigners can get a prepaid line at an official shop with a passport. Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom are the big three. Packages and prices change often — compare in store.

💡 A phone from abroad can be blocked after 120 days unless its IMEI is registered through e-Devlet or at an operator’s store, within 365 days of entry — ₺54,258 for 2026, and generally not open to tourists without a residence permit. Compare that with buying a phone here.

All three big operators cover Istanbul. What matters most is coverage in your building and on your commute — ask neighbours which one works for them.

💡 Number portability lets you switch operators and keep your number.

Türk Telekom, TurkNet, Superonline and Vodafone Net sell fibre, but available speed depends on the exact building. Many deals come with a 12- or 18-month commitment.

💡 Ask the provider to check your exact address, and ask what the price becomes after the promotion and what early cancellation costs.

iPhones (XS+) and most modern Androids support eSIM. Airalo, Holafly, and Turkcell’s own eSIM cover Turkey without changing your physical SIM — useful while you sort out residency.

💡 Travel eSIMs suit short stays. If you're staying a month or more, compare with a local prepaid line.

Some sites and apps are blocked or throttled — Discord has been blocked since October 2024. Most expats run a paid VPN.

💡 Pick a paid VPN — free ones are unreliable here — and have a backup, since VPN services themselves are sometimes blocked.

Squares, parks, buses and Metrobüs have free İBB Wi-Fi — connect in one tap through İBB’s “İstanbul Senin” app. Many cafes share their password if you ask.

💡 Avoid banking on public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Tethering from your phone's data is often simpler.