The Best eSIM for Turkey

Are you planning a trip to Turkey soon? Want to stay connected but avoid expensive roaming charges? Then using an eSIM is the perfect solution.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to find the best eSIM for Turkey for your upcoming trip.

Why You Need an eSIM for Turkey

Let’s start with the basics – what even is an eSIM and why should you use one in Turkey?

An eSIM or electronic SIM is basically the same as a physical nano-SIM card, except it’s digital. So instead of inserting a small chip into your phone, you simply download a SIM profile.

eSIMs come with a set amount of data, minutes, and texts. And just like a regular SIM card, an eSIM connects you directly to local networks.

This makes using an eSIM much cheaper than relying on roaming when traveling internationally.

In fact, roaming charges in Turkey can easily add up to $10 per 100 MB used. Ouch! 😖

Meanwhile, you can get a 10 GB Turkey eSIM for less than $20.

Clearly, an eSIM is the most affordable way to stay connected abroad.

But cost savings isn’t the only reason I recommend getting an eSIM for Turkey specifically. Here are some of the other benefits:

Stay connected immediately – eSIMs activate as soon as you land
No need to visit stores and negotiate prices
Simple online purchase and setup process
Allows you to keep your phone number (dual SIM setup)

And as you’ll see, using an eSIM in Turkey couldn’t be easier either.

So if the idea of paying $200+ in surprise roaming fees doesn’t appeal to you (it shouldn’t!), then read on for my full guide to finding the best eSIM for travel in Turkey.

Step 1: Confirm Your Phone is eSIM Compatible

I know, this is an obvious one.

But before you get all excited about easy internet abroad, you first need to double check that your phone actually supports eSIM.

Because although most newer smartphone models are compatible, older devices likely are not.

As a rule of thumb, most iPhones from iPhone XS and newer support eSIM. For Android, most devices released after 2019 should as well.

But instead of just guessing whether or not your phone will work, you can use this free eSIM compatibility checker.

Just select your phone’s brand, model, and OS. The tool will confirm instantly if your device supports eSIM.

Can’t find your phone on their list? No problem! Just Google “[your phone model] eSIM” and look for confirmation from the manufacturer.

For example:

So once you’ve confirmed your phone will work, move on to step #2…

Step 2: Decide How Much Data You Need

To find the best eSIM for Turkey for your needs and budget, the next thing to figure out is your data requirement.

Because eSIMs come with different amounts of full-speed data, you want to make sure to purchase enough to last your whole trip.

But before you think “I need unlimited!”, remember that you likely won’t use as much data while traveling as at home.

Without Netflix and Spotify streaming all day, 10 GB is plenty for most travelers enjoying a 1-2 week Turkey vacation.

Here’s an estimate of how much data you might need in Turkey per day:

Light use (emails, messages, maps): 0.5 GB
Moderate use (social media, web browsing): 1 – 2 GB
Heavy use (music/video streaming): 3+ GB

To play it safe, you may want to get extra data. But I don’t recommend unlimited eSIM plans in Turkey.

Why? Two reasons:

You probably won’t use that much anyway. Even 20 GB is a lot of data for travel.
Unlimited plans often have major speed throttling. So while technically “unlimited”, data speeds get very slow after the first 5-10 GB or so.

Stick to 10 – 20 GB of full-speed data and you should be all set for even a couple weeks of travel in Turkey!

Step 3: Compare eSIM Prices for Turkey

Once you know how much data you need, it’s time for the fun part – finding the best deal!

There are a handful of reputable eSIM providers offering great rates for Turkey travel. I recommend starting your search with:

Airalo – My #1 pick overall! Excellent prices and reliable connections using Turk Telekom network.
Nomad – Great alternative with competitive Turkey eSIM pricing.
esimdb – Helpful all-in-one search site to compare dozens of companies.

Visit those sites and compare the latest 2024 eSIM rates for your desired data amount and trip length.

Prices can vary slightly week to week, so double check you’re getting the best deal.

To give you a ballpark estimate, most travelers can expect to pay somewhere around:

7-day Turkey eSIM with 5 GB data: $12
14-day Turkey eSIM with 10 GB data: $16
30-day Turkey eSIM with 20 GB data: $26

Tip 💡: Occasionally you can find promo codes and discounts on top eSIM sites. So before purchasing, Google “site name + coupon” to try your luck at saving a couple extra bucks.

Bottom line – anywhere from $1 to $3 per 1 GB is typical pricing for prepaid eSIMs in Turkey right now.

Step 4 – Purchase Your eSIM

Bam – you did the legwork and now just have to make your purchase.

The process of buying an eSIM should only take a couple minutes:

1. Select your plan

Browse the available eSIM card plans for Turkey and choose the amount of data and number of days that match your trip length.

Double check that calls & texts aren’t necessary. Most tourist eSIMs in Turkey don’t include those services.

2. Confirm checkout details

Purchase using a debit/credit card for fast and easy online checkout.

3. Activate your Turkey eSIM

After payment processes, you’ll get an email and/or text containing your eSIM details and activation link. Time to get connected!

For most tourist eSIMs, activation is completely app-based. Just click the link or scan the QR code to download your SIM profile onto your phone.

Prefer video instructions? Here’s a 1-minute tutorial of setting up Airalo eSIM on iPhone:

And that’s it! Your Turkey eSIM should now be ready for your trip.

Important 📢 – Make sure to have WiFi on during activation. Also don’t delete the email/SMS with eSIM details, as you may need to reinstall if you restart your phone.

5 Turkey eSIM Tips to Know Before You Go

Want your Turkey trip to go as smoothly as possible? Then read these pro tips:

Turn off Cellular Data Roaming

You likely already know international roaming charges are insane. But just in case, make sure cellular data roaming is disabled before travel.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Roaming.

You won’t have coverage abroad anyway with roaming off. But now your phone CAN’T accidentally connect and rack up a huge bill.

Test Signal Strength

After your eSIM activates in Turkey, do a quick test of signal strength and data speeds around your hotel.

Open Google Maps to walk down the street and make sure coverage doesn’t cut out. This way you know if you’ll need WiFi backups anywhere around your stay.

Download Offline Maps

To minimize data usage, I always recommend downloading offline Google Maps of the area you’re visiting:

Open Google Maps > Tap top-right menu > Go offline > Select your area > Download

This way if you’re ever without signal, you can still navigate and find your way easily without getting lost!

Extend Plans When Needed

Most tourist eSIMs have an expiry date based on initial purchase duration.

But returning home to realize your still have 3 days left in Turkey? No problem!

In the eSIM provider app, you can quickly renew your plan and data allowance. Length and pricing will be the same as your original purchase.

Switch to Airplane Mode While Asleep

To avoid any background app data usage, make sure to enable Airplane Mode each night as you sleep.

Then switch back off when you start your day. This trick saves loads of megabes you aren’t even using!

Start Your Turkish Adventure Off Right

Phew, I know that was a lot of information about using eSIM cards in Turkey! But I wanted to make sure you have ALL the important details at your fingertips.

The bottom line is that purchasing an electronic SIM card for your trip is guaranteed to save you money compared to roaming. It’s also an incredibly convenient way to access data immediately after landing.

To recap, all you need to do is:

Confirm your phone works
Decide how much data you need
Compare prices from top providers
Purchase eSIM and activate app
Follow my Turkey eSIM tips

Then sit back and start enjoying your Turkish getaway, seamlessly connected to Google Maps, social apps, and whatever else you may need! Güle güle!

Do you have any other questions about finding the best Turkey eSIM card this year? Let me know in the comments!