Istanbul eSIM

Online the moment you land in Istanbul

Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, north of the city, and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Both are a long ride from the centre, so the first thing you need after touchdown is data: to call a BiTaksi or Uber, check the Havaist or metro route, and message your hotel. With an airova eSIM there is no SIM counter and no queue at arrivals — the eSIM is already on your phone.

1. At home, before the flight: buy a Turkey plan below and scan the QR code on Wi-Fi. The plan does not start until it first connects in Turkey.
2. After landing: switch the airova line on, set it as your mobile-data line and turn on data roaming for it. Leave data roaming off on your home SIM so it cannot run up charges.
3. At the gate: the eSIM attaches to a local network, usually within a minute — you are online before passport control.

Which network, and how does it work in the city?

The airova Turkey eSIM connects to Vodafone and Türk Telekom, two of the country’s national operators, and uses 5G where it is available and 4G elsewhere. Coverage is solid in the historic peninsula around Sultanahmet, in Beyoğlu and along İstiklal Avenue, in Kadıköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side, and along the main roads. Signal can weaken deep inside old stone buildings, in the covered bazaars and in some underground passages.

Getting around: Istanbulkart, metro, trams and ferries

Buy an Istanbulkart at a station machine and use it on the metro, trams, Marmaray, funiculars, buses and city ferries. Data matters here: transit and map apps show live routes, and BiTaksi or Uber let you see the fare estimate before you ride. Crossing the Bosphorus by ferry between Eminönü, Karaköy, Kadıköy and Üsküdar is one of the best rides in the city, and the eSIM keeps working on board — handy for photos and for checking the next connection.

Day trips: Princes’ Islands and the Bosphorus

Ferries from Kabataş and Bostancı take you to the Princes’ Islands, and Bosphorus cruises run up towards the Black Sea. Both stay close to the shore, but expect short dips in signal mid-water and on wooded parts of the islands. Save your tickets and offline maps before you board.

How much data for Istanbul?

A city break of four to five days with maps, taxis, messaging and photo sharing usually fits in 3–5 GB. A week or more, video calls home or lots of Reels and stories call for 10 GB or more. Run out mid-trip? Top up the same eSIM from your account — no new QR code. Read our Turkey eSIM guide and how much data you need, and see the Turkey eSIM page for the rest of the country.