Wife and I are flying into Istanbul for the first time, and staying at Conrad for five days.

(1) I would like to get SIM cards for our cell phones. Can anyone recommend (A) a carrier, (B) a location to purchase the SIMs?

(2) I would like to retain the services of a reputable guide. Can anyone recommend one?

Many thanks!

I would suggest you to get SIM cards in USA because electronics are expensive in Turkey.

If you intend to use the handsets that you currently have, you will need to register them with the Turkish carrier; after about 2 weeks your handsets will be "locked out."

That having been said, I would recommend Turkcell as the preferred Turkish carrier. Turkcell SIM cards are sold in designated kiosks in the arrival hall of Ataturk Airport, immediately after exiting passport control and luggage retrieval/customs.

About a guide, I can not help you. Istanbul is a tourist-friendly city, and I would reckon that you can get around easily without a guide. Specific guides are available outside of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Museum; use licensed guides if you decide that you need their services. Also, entrance to Dolmabace Palace is restricted to groups with guides; you will automatically be escorted with a guide there.

Good luck!

Just ride a cab into Sultanahmet--my cousin and brother will both be happy to help you.

What does buying a SIM card have to do with expensive electronics? Do you know even know what a SIM card is?


OP - look at prepaidgsm.net you'll get the name of all mobile providers that are in Turkey. Go to their websites and see what the best plans are (use google translate if you need). Another poster recommended turkcell above.

Many thanks for the thoughtful responses! Very helpful.

Apologies, hoping to tag along on this thread.
We're going on a cruise and will be stopping in Istanbul and Kusadasi over about a 3.5 day period and hoping to throw a prepaid sim into my unlocked android phone primarily to get data for my apps.

Any recommended places to buy a pre-paid sim near the Galata Bridge or Sultanahmet?

Because I'm only going to be there less than 5 days, will I be able to get away with buying a prepaid sim without registering it?
The prepaid sims generally seem to come with a bit of calling value loaded on it. To activate a data plan, it looks like you just have to send the appropriate SMS message for the plan you want and it will just subtract from the initial value balance?

I'm not sure if I'm reading this correctly but I was hoping I could add this one month trial data addon for 3TL.
http://www.turkcell.com.tr/bireysel/...me-Paketi.aspx

From what I've found, it looks like these are the APN settings(?) for Turkcell and Vodafone.
Turkcell
username: (blank) (or) gprs
password: (blank) (or) gprs
APN name: internet

Vodafone
username: vodafone
password: vodafone
APN name: internet

TIA.

The area adjacent to Sirkeci Train Station (Tahtakale) is full of handset and SIM dealers. About 100 meters from the far side (from the Cruise ship terminal) of the Galata Bridge. Very, very easy to find. Good luck!

Would you happen to know where I might find dealers nearby the Conrad? Thanks!

Dealers who are authorized to sell Turkish SIM cards are found EVERYWHERE. No specific knowledge about a specific dealer near the Conrad, but I would ask the receptionist for a dealer within walking distance.

Thanks!

Or, in the arrival hall of Ataturk Airport (IST) are kiosks of Turkcell as well as other Turkish mobile carriers. (After passport/immigration and luggage retrieval/customs exit.)

Don't buy anything out of the EU and enter Germany, read the reason here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/germa...ially-now.html