How to Get Mobile Internet in Turkey for Travelers: What Option to Choose?

Mobile internet is essential for visitors and travelers who need to remain connected while traveling. Mobile internet in Turkey is cheap and ubiquitous, yet it has drawbacks. This article discusses how mobile Internet helps travelers and tourists in Turkey and how to buy a SIM card.

I. Mobile Internet Coverage and Speed in Turkey

Turkey is large and diverse, giving mobile internet in Turkey users several options. Turkey’s leading mobile operators are Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom. We’ll evaluate and suggest depending on speed and coverage.

1. Turkey Mobile Internet Coverage

According to nPerf, Turkcell has the best 3G/4G/5G coverage in Turkey, covering 97.8% of the population and 81.7% of the land. Turkcell has more coverage than Telekom and Vodafone. Turkcell has the most incredible 5G network in 81 cities.

Even in remote areas, Turkcell provides reliable and fast internet. High expenses and congestion are its downsides. Türk Telekom and Vodafone offer lesser traffic and cheaper charges. However, particular areas have worse signals and slower speeds.

► Recommendation: Turkcell provides the best coverage of mobile internet in Turkey, especially for speed and reliability. Budget buyers who don’t mind quality concessions might choose Türk Telekom and Vodafone.

2. Turkey Mobile Internet Speed

In July 2023, the Speedtest Global Index ranked Turkey 69th for mobile and 111th for fixed broadband. The median mobile internet in Turkey download and upload speeds were 33.10 and 13.37 Mbps.

Turkcell provides the best streaming, gaming, downloading, and uploading speeds for large files. High expenses and congestion are its downsides. Türk Telekom and Vodafone are cheaper and have less traffic. However, latency and consistency vary.

► Our Recommendation: Turkcell has the fastest mobile internet in Turkey for various purposes. Türk Telekom and Vodafone are good options for budget-conscious customers who can handle delays.

II. What are Connectivity Options for Tourists to Turkey?

Turkey attracts tourists with its rich culture, history, and landscape. If you don’t know your alternatives, remaining online may be difficult and costly. Some methods to access the internet in Turkey, with benefits and cons:

Method	How it works	Cost	Where to buy	Convenience	Pros	Cons
SIM card	It is very convenient, no physical card needed	€6.90 to €35.15	Mobile phone shops, airports, kiosks	Easy to use, but requires registration and ID check	Cheaper than roaming, offers local rates and services	Only works with unlocked phones, may have limited coverage and speed, need to change your number
eSIM	A digital SIM that you download to your phone	$4 to $26	Online, before or during your trip	No need to buy anything; just turn on roaming on your phone	No registration or ID check, no need to change your number, instant activation, works with multiple profiles	Only works with eSIM compatible devices, may have limited coverage and speed, more expensive than SIM card
Roaming	Using your home provider’s network abroad	free to very expensive	It is very convenient, no need to change anything	Keep your number and services; no hassle	There is no need to buy anything, just find a hotspot and connect	Very expensive, especially outside the EU, may have limited coverage and speed, may incur unexpected charges
Public WiFi	Using free WiFi hotspots in public places	Free	Unlimited data, high speed, works with multiple devices, no registration or ID check.	Convenient, but may require passwords or registration	Free, widely available in urban areas, especially in cafes, hotels, and malls	Unreliable, slow, insecure, not available in rural areas, may have usage limits
Pocket WiFi	A portable device that creates a WiFi hotspot	€5.90 to €12 per day	Online, before or during your trip	Convenient, easy to use, but requires charging	Expensive, bulky, may have limited coverage and battery life, need to return the device.	Expensive, bulky, may have limited coverage and battery life, need to return the device

From the table above, we can see that a data SIM card for Turkey is better than other connectivity options both in terms of coverage, speed, and price. In case your phone is compatible with eSIM technology, eSIM is a better choice than SIM Cards because it is 100% online and does not require to swap any SIM card.

Gigago’s low-cost Turkey eSIM offers unlimited data for 30 days for $13. Online, seconds before flying. Free usage in 200+ countries.

III. Internet Rates in Turkey

Good to know: The Turkish lira exchange rate is 1 TRY = 0.033 USD as of January 2024.

The internet rates in Turkey is more affordable than that in many Western countries. It is crucial to consider your individual needs and budget. Below we gather rates of different connectivity options for mobile internet in Turkey:

Option	Rate (USD)	Provider
SIM card	$4.5 – $10.5 per month	Turkcell, Vodafone, Türk Telekom
eSIM	$4 – $26 per month	Holafly, Gigago
Roaming	Varies by provider and plan, from free to very expensive	Your home provider
Public WiFi	Free	Various hotspots
Pocket WiFi	$5.9 – $12 per day	Rent ‘n Connect, Alldaywifi

► Our recommendation: From the table above, it can be seen that SIM card and eSIM are two best options, depending the preference of users and the compatibility of the device.

• Choose SIM cards if your phone is carrier-unlocked and you want to get mobile internet actively.
• Choose eSIM if your phone is both carrier-unlocked and eSIM-supported and you want to get Internet access without effort because things are 100% online.

IV. Data SIM Card for Mobile Internet in Turkey

A Turkcell, Vodafone, or Türk Telekom data SIM card is one of the best methods to access the mobile Internet in Turkey. This lets you utilize applications to contact friends and relatives back home. Choose from these data SIM card packages:

Operator	Package	Data	Price (TRY)	Price (USD)
Turkcell	Hazır Kart	10 GB	75	2.48
Vodafone	Vodafone FreeZone	8 GB	50	1.65
Türk Telekom	Jeton Kart	6 GB	40	1.32

V. Data eSIM for Turkey – Best Option to Get Mobile Internet for Tourists

eSIM has some advantages over SIM cards, such as:

• There is no need to change your number or deal with physical cards
• No registration or ID check required
• Instant activation and easy switching between profiles
• Works with multiple providers and plans

Turkcell and Gigago sell eSIM for Turkey. These companies offer Turkey data plans from $4 to $26 per month.

1. Buy eSIM from Turkey Operators

Local carriers Turkcell, Türk Telekom, and Vodafone sell eSIM for Turkey. Postpaid consumers must provide a passport or ID card to register for eSIM services from these carriers. They offer these eSIM plans:

Operator	Plan	Data	Price (TRY)	Price (USD)
Turkcell	Platinum	Unlimited	299	9.87
Türk Telekom	Jeton	6 GB	40	1.32
Vodafone	Red	10 GB	75	2.48

Pros:

• You can use the same number and services as your SIM card
• You can enjoy the best coverage and speed in the country
• You can access 5G network if available

Cons:

• You need to visit a store and provide your documents
• You need to sign a contract and pay a monthly fee
• You may have limited phone compatibility

2. Buy eSIM from Gigago

Buy Turkey eSIM quickly and conveniently with Gigago, a reliable service with numerous benefits. Gigago doesn’t require ID, SIM, or number modifications. Online eSIM purchases and activations allow rapid access to mobile internet in Turkey. Buying Gigago eSIM:

• Go to the Gigago website and search for Turkey
• Choose a plan that fits your requirements, budget, and trip length.
• Pay and await confirmation email.
• Scanning the QR code or entering the activation code on your phone
• Allow data roaming on your phone and join the Turkish network.

For Turkey, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 3 days with $6.00 . What is great about Gigago’s Turkey eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $6.00 – $136.90 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Turkey, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

Pros:

• Top Turkish carriers and signals provide the best coverage and speed.
• You save time and money without registration, ID verification, or SIM delivery.
• Switch profiles easily to keep your number and services.
• 24/7 fast, multilingual customer assistance.

Cons:

• eSIM devices may not function with all phones.
• You may not be compatible with all phones.
• You may charge more than local operators, depending on the package.

If you are looking for an easy and affordable way to get eSIM for Turkey, you should check out Gigago’s eSIM today. Visit the Gigago website for more information and to order your eSIM now.

VI. FAQs

VI. Conclusion

No matter your choice, embrace the power of mobile internet in Turkey. Share your adventures, navigate easily, and unlock this captivating country’s magic. So, choose your path, connect confidently, and discover the endless possibilities that await you!