What is roaming?
Thanks to international roaming, you can use your regular national SIM card even when you’re abroad.
You can make calls, send messages, and use the internet in Turkey just like you would at home… BUT with often very high costs!
Roaming is convenient because it works automatically, but it’s important to check the rates and terms set by your operator before you leave, so you don’t face unexpected charges… or find yourself without service during your trip.
Benefits of international roaming in Turkey
If your trip is short, using roaming in Turkey might have some advantages:
- You don’t have to change SIMs: you can keep using your regular phone number and avoid the risk of losing or damaging your SIM card
- Easy to use: you literally don’t have to do anything. It works automatically when you arrive abroad, and most providers send a welcome SMS when you switch to international roaming
- Security: by keeping your own SIM and provider, all services remain active, including banking notifications and 2FA logins
Drawbacks of roaming in Turkey
Roaming is convenient… but it can quickly become expensive and comes with several limitations. Here are the main downsides of using roaming in Turkey:
- High rates: even for EU citizens, since Turkey is not part of the European Union and is therefore not included in the “Roam Like at Home” agreement
- Unclear data plans: many operators send SMS with info on arrival, but the actual rates and limits are often unclear or misleading
- Unexpected charges: it’s very easy to run out of data or minutes—sometimes even a background update is enough to leave you disconnected. We recommend checking out our data saving guide before you leave
- Reduced speed: many operators throttle internet speeds when using roaming
Average roaming costs in Turkey
Prices vary depending on the operator, but here’s an estimate of average roaming costs:
- Outgoing calls: €1–€3 per minute
- Incoming calls: €0.50–€1.50 per minute
- SMS: €0.30–€0.70 per message
- Data: extremely expensive! €5–€10 per MB, meaning you could easily spend over €50 just to stream one video
Some providers offer Turkey roaming packages for a fixed price, but they must be activated before the trip and are usually more expensive than local or digital connectivity options.
Local mobile operators in Turkey
There are three main mobile providers in Turkey:
- Turkcell
The largest operator, with the best national coverage. Turkcell offers tourist SIMs with unlimited data, though speeds may be throttled after a certain data threshold. - Vodafone Turkey
This provider also offers tourist SIMs with voice and data, costing around €20–€30 for 20GB. - Turk Telekom
The cheapest provider, with 10GB plans for around €15, but coverage is poor or non-existent in rural areas
To buy a local SIM, you usually need to present your passport and go to a store in person. Activation fees are often added, and the language barrier can make it difficult to choose the best plan.
How to avoid high roaming charges
Luckily, international roaming isn’t your only option. Here’s how to stay connected while traveling in Turkey:
- Public Wi-Fi: available in hotels, airports, and cafés, but usually slow and unsecured. Avoid online shopping or accessing your bank account over public networks
- Local prepaid SIMs: relatively cheap, but inconvenient to find and activate
- Pocket Wi-Fi routers: can be rented for your trip, but they’re impractical and expensive—especially if you’re traveling solo
- eSIMs: digital SIMs, the future of travel connectivity!
Discover the Turkey eSIM from eSIM.sm
If you want a reliable, fast, and affordable connection during your trip, the eSIM Turkey from eSIM.sm is the solution you’ve been looking for.
An eSIM is a virtual SIM already built into all modern smartphones (check compatibility here), so there’s no need to insert a physical SIM. Just scan the QR code you receive by email to install it on your phone.
On www.esim.sm, you can choose, buy, and install your eSIM in just a few clicks. Then simply activate it when you arrive in Turkey and start surfing right away!
Advantages of the Turkey eSIM
- Instant internet: activate it as soon as you arrive and connect immediately to the local data network
- Keep your SIM card
- Flexible plans: from a few gigabytes for short trips to unlimited data for long stays
- Up to 5G speeds
- Convenience: you can keep receiving texts on your Italian number since the eSIM only handles data, you don’t need to disable your original SIM
Why choose eSIM.sm over other providers
There are many eSIM providers out there, so why pick us for your Turkey eSIM?
- Data plans from 1GB to 100GB
- Rechargeable eSIM, top up any time from your personal area
- Unlimited hotspot usage to connect other devices
- Unlimited data plan available
- Regional Balkans plan available, covering 13 countries if you want to explore more destinations
- 24/7 multilingual support
With eSIM.sm, your connection will be instant, stress-free, and with no hidden fees!
In short? If you want to avoid high roaming charges in Turkey, choose the smarter, more modern option: eSIM Turkey
