I just arrived
Get a working phone, a transport card and a way to pay — the first-week essentials.
Member-written, not professional advice. These guides explain how things work in practice; they are not legal, immigration, tax or medical advice. Where a guide links official sources, those set the current requirements.
Getting Around
Başkentkart (Ankarakart): One Card for the Metro, Ankaray, Başkentray and the Buses
One contactless card covers Ankara's four metro lines, the Ankaray, the EGO and private buses and — unusually for Turkey — the TCDD suburban train, with a 75-minute window for two discounted transfers. The card was renamed from Ankarakart to Başkentkart in late 2024, an online top-up only lands when you tap, the Şentepe teleferik is closed for good, and nothing on rails reaches the airport yet.
Member-written guideLinks official sources
Mobile & Digital
Getting a SIM Card and Home Internet in Türkiye
Getting connected in Türkiye is relatively easy — but there are a couple of Turkish-specific rules that can catch newcomers by surprise. The big one is the 120-day limit on foreign phones. You also need to understand how Turkish mobile lines are registered, what documents you need, and why checking the internet infrastructure in your actual apartment matters more than the provider's headline speed.
Member-written guideLinks official sources
Money & Banking
Opening a Turkish bank account as a foreigner
You can open a Turkish bank account as a foreigner, but the required documents depend on whether you’re a resident or a visitor. Some banks still accept non-residents with a passport, a Turkish tax number, and proof of address, while most private banks now require a residence permit and Foreigner Identification Number (YKN). Branch policies vary, so if one branch says no, another may say yes.
Member-written guideLinks official sources