Does it work on the Bosphorus ferries and on the Asian side?

It does. The same national plan covers both the European and Asian shores, so you stay online crossing to Kadıköy or Üsküdar. Signal can dip briefly mid-strait but returns as you near each terminal.

How much data do I need for a few days in Istanbul?

For maps, ride-hailing and social over a long weekend, most travellers find 3-5GB comfortable. Size up if you plan to stream or tether a laptop from your hotel in the evenings.

Istanbul eSIM.

Name: Istanbul travel eSIM
Brand: My Holiday SIM

Istanbul across two continents — from Sultanahmet's grand mosques to Kadıköy's buzzing backstreets.

from $1.69/day · unlimited dataAll of Turkey →

Unlimited data5G where availableInstant QR by emailKeep your number

1 · How many days?

10 daysOther:days

2 · How much data?

3GBBest pricevalid 15 days$5.56$0.56/day

Cheapest plan covering your trip: 3GB, valid 15 days.

Travellers (one eSIM each)

1 × 3GB (valid 15 days) · 10-day trip$5.56

Good to know in Istanbul

The M11 metro from Istanbul Airport and the Bosphorus ferries both have patchy tunnel and mid-strait signal, but your eSIM reconnects the moment you surface — download offline maps of the old city before you set off, just in case.

Two simple ways to buy

Istanbul eSIM plans: unlimited, or by the GB.

Every Istanbul eSIM from My Holiday SIM is one of two straightforward types. Pick whichever fits how you travel in Istanbul — you can always top up or switch on your next trip.

Traveller streaming and browsing freely on an unlimited-data travel eSIM

Unlimited plans

High-speed data, nothing to count

Priced per day — the longer you stay, the better the daily rate. Ideal for streaming, hotspot and longer trips where you'd rather not watch a data meter. A fair-use policy keeps speeds fast for everyone; see each plan for the detail.

Best for streaming, video calls & hotspot
Great for longer or open-ended trips
One price per day — no GB anxiety

By-the-GB plans

3GB10GB20GB

A set bundle, brilliant value

A fixed data allowance (say 3 GB or 10 GB) valid for your travel days. The best-value pick for lighter trips built around maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. Running low? Top up in a couple of taps — nothing to reinstall.

Best value for lighter, shorter trips
Clear allowance — pay only for what you need
Top up any time from your phone

Compare plans →Not every destination has both types — the picker shows what's available where you're headed.

Plan your data

How much data do you need in Istanbul?

A rough, honest guide to sizing your Istanbul eSIM so you're not guessing. Most travellers in Istanbul are comfortable on 3–5 GB a week — heavy streamers just go Unlimited.

Traveller checking maps and messages on her phone using a My Holiday SIM eSIM

Not sure? Start with a 5 GB plan — you can top up in seconds if you run low.

Light

~1 GB / week

Maps, messaging & email

Google Maps, WhatsApp, email and the odd search. Plenty for a city break where you mostly need directions.

Suits 1–3 GB plans

Balanced

3–5 GB / week

Everyday holiday use

Everything above plus social scrolling, music, cloud photo backups and a little video. Where most travellers land.

Suits 5–10 GB plans

Istanbul eSIM: your local data guide.

Istanbul sprawls across two continents, and you'll want data for every leg of it — decoding tram routes to Sultanahmet, translating menus in a Karaköy meyhane, or booking a Bosphorus ferry to the Asian side. An Istanbul eSIM keeps Google Maps live as you weave through the Grand Bazaar's labyrinth of shops and find Galata Tower at sunset.

One eSIM for Istanbul and all of Turkey. It's the national Turkey eSIM — from $1.69/day with unlimited data, working the same in Istanbul as it does the moment you leave it.

Landing at Istanbul Airport (IST)?

Install the QR at home, then switch the eSIM on as you taxi in — you're online before you reach the arrivals hall.

Istanbul eSIM pricingbest-value plan · per day

Days

Per day

Total

Saving

3 days1GB

$1.28

$3.83

—

5 days1GB

$0.77

$3.83

−40%

7 days1GB

$0.55

$3.83

−57%

10 days3GBPopular

$0.56

$5.56

−56%

15 days3GB

$0.37

$5.56

−71%

30 days5GB

$0.22

$6.57

−83%

Each trip length shows the best-value plan that covers it. Total always shown before you pay.

eSIM vs the old ways in Istanbul

eSIM

ROAMING

AIRPORT SIM

Data allowance

Unlimited

Usually capped

Rarely unlimited

Price known upfront

Prepaid

Billed after

Varies at the desk

Ready when you land

Instantly

After the queue

Keep WhatsApp number

SIM swapped

Istanbul eSIM from $1.69/day — the whole bill, agreed before you fly.

On the ground

Where you'll lean on data in Istanbul.

Sultanahmet

Hop between Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace with live maps, and pull up your museum-pass QR codes without hunting for café Wi-Fi.

Beyoğlu

Navigate the crowds on İstiklal Caddesi, call a taxi from Taksim after dark, and share Galata Tower sunset shots straight to your feed.

Kadıköy

Cross to the Asian side by ferry, then lean on translation apps to order in the fish market and follow foodie maps through Moda's cafés.

Bosphorus

Book ferry tickets, check timetables to Ortaköy and the Princes' Islands, and keep a video call running as the strait slides past.

The practical bit

Getting around Istanbul on your eSIM.

Apps you'll want online in Istanbul

BiTaksi— Turkey's main taxi app; hail licensed yellow cabs and track the meter live.
Istanbulkart— Top up your transit card by NFC for metro, tram, ferry and bus.
Metro Istanbul— Official metro app for live line status, closures and station maps.
Moovit— Plan cross-continent journeys that combine ferry, metro, tram and bus in one route.

How long to stay in Istanbul

Most visitors spend three to five days in Istanbul, enough for Sultanahmet's monuments, a Bosphorus cruise, the bazaars and an afternoon across on the Asian side in Kadıköy.

How much data for Istanbul

With constant map-checking, ride-hailing and ferry bookings across a huge city, a balanced 3-5GB suits most long weekends here; choose Unlimited if you'll stream, video-call home or tether a laptop each evening.

Coverage in Istanbul

4G and 5G are strong across the historic peninsula, Beyoğlu, both airports and the main metro and tram lines, but expect brief drops in deep metro tunnels, the Marmaray tube under the Bosphorus and mid-strait on ferries.

Where you're headed

Discover Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey — skyline and landmarks · stay connected with a Istanbul eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Istanbul, Turkey — streets and everyday scenes · stay connected with a Istanbul eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Istanbul, Turkey — sights worth exploring · stay connected with a Istanbul eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Istanbul, Turkey — a travel moment · stay connected with a Istanbul eSIM from My Holiday SIM

How to activate your Istanbul eSIM.

Full installation guide →

A traveller happily planning her next trip with a map and phone

Buy your plan

Choose your days — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.

A traveller installing her eSIM from the sofa in two minutes

Install at home

Scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly. About two minutes, no app needed.

Friends laughing together while packing for a holiday

Fly relaxed

Nothing counts down yet — your days start only at first connection.

A joyful family reunion at the airport arrivals hall

Switch on in Istanbul

Turn the line on when you land. Connected before baggage claim.

New to eSIM in Istanbul?

What is a Istanbul eSIM?

A Istanbul eSIM is a digital SIM that's already built into your phone. Scan one QR code and a local Istanbul data plan installs alongside your home SIM — no plastic, no tray tool, no swap. Your number and WhatsApp stay exactly where they are.

✓ 2-minute install✓ Keep your number✓ Works on phones from 2018+

How eSIM works →Check my phone

A traveller with a backpack smiling at her phone — online abroad with My Holiday SIM

Connected · 5G

Home SIM · calls & WhatsAppHoliday eSIM · unlimited data

30-day refund promiseUnused, uninstalled eSIM? Full refund, no questions.

The price is the billPrepaid and final — roaming charges can't happen.

Days start when you landInstall early with zero pressure; counting begins at first connection.

Humans, 24/7Real people answer, before, during and after the trip.

Peace of mind

Your Istanbul eSIM: data-only, zero bill shock.

Your Istanbul eSIM handles the internet while you travel. Your home number stays exactly where it is — no surprise roaming charges in Istanbul, no swapping your real SIM out.

Keep your number & WhatsApp

The eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your home SIM. Your number, iMessage and WhatsApp keep working exactly as they do at home.

No roaming bills, ever

Turn data roaming OFF on your home SIM and ON for the eSIM. You pay once, up front — no overage, no metered surprises, no bill waiting when you land home.

One thing worth knowing

Because it's data-only, the eSIM can't receive bank verification (OTP) text codes — those still go to your home number. Keep it reachable on Wi-Fi calling, or use app-based codes.

Traveller relaxed and connected on her phone, no roaming bill to worry about

Why travellers choose My Holiday SIM for Istanbul.

Instant eSIM deliveryQR code in your inbox seconds after checkout — even at the departure gate.

No physical SIMNothing to collect, lose or poke out with a paperclip. Your home SIM stays put.

Keep your WhatsApp numberData flows through us; WhatsApp stays on your home number. Family always reaches you.

A traveller at the departure gate, eSIM ready on her phone

eSIM ready in ~2 minutes

No bill shock, everOne clear price before you fly. Roaming charges simply can't happen.

Secure paymentsCards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Klarna — encrypted end to end.

Real human supportReal people — before, during and after your trip. Live chat and email, no bots. Easy top-ups too.

Coverage in Turkey.

5G where available, fast 4G everywhere else

Connected · 5G

Your eSIM joins Turkey's partner networks automatically — no settings to choose, no manual network hunting. If signal drops in a remote spot, toggling Airplane Mode for a few seconds forces a fresh connection.

Turkcell
Vodafone Türkiye
Türk Telekom

Popular places covered

IstanbulAntalyaCappadociaIzmirBodrumAnkara

Keep data roaming ON for the eSIM line only — that's the switch travel eSIMs use, and it never adds charges on our plans.

Trusted networks, honest numbers.

No invented star ratings behind your Istanbul eSIM — just the numbers we actually stand behind.

Friendly globe with location pins — coverage on every continent

My Holiday SIMSTAY CONNECTED. ANYWHERE.

200+

destinations — every continent covered

regions covered by a single regional eSIM

~2 min

typical install — QR to connected

Live

chat & email support

Before you fly

Istanbul eSIM questions, answered.

Yes — coverage reaches the arrivals hall, so you can activate before passport control and order a taxi or the M11 metro into the city. It roams onto Turkcell, Vodafone Türkiye or Türk Telekom automatically.

Your Istanbul eSIM glossary.

eSIMA SIM built into your phone's hardware. Plans install onto it digitally — no plastic card involved.

QR profileThe code we email you. Scanning it downloads your holiday plan onto the eSIM. One scan per device.

Data roaming (the switch)The toggle travel eSIMs use to join partner networks abroad. On our plans it never adds charges — keep it ON for the eSIM, OFF for your home SIM.

Hotspot / tetheringSharing your phone's data with laptops and tablets. Included on our plans wherever networks allow.

Top-upExtra days added to a live plan from your account. They append to the end — nothing overlaps.

First connectionThe moment your eSIM first joins a network at the destination — that's when your days start counting, not before.

Travelling wider in Turkey?