Quick Answer
What are the essential apps for expat life in Turkey?
Non-negotiable: WhatsApp (everyone uses it), e-Devlet (government services), BiTaksi or iTaksi (safe taxis), Google Translate camera mode (read Turkish text), Getir (instant grocery delivery), Yemeksepeti (restaurant delivery), your Turkish bank app, and Wise (international transfers). Download all of these before you land. Download others gradually during your first month. Yandex Maps is better than Google for driving navigation.
Pro Tips for Using Apps in Turkey
Set Google Translate to "auto-detect to English" with camera mode — point it at anything Turkish and read it instantly
WhatsApp is the primary communication method in Turkey — use it for landlord, building manager, utilities, and official contacts
Sahibinden works better in the browser on a laptop for apartment searching; the app is optimised for mobile selling but desktop is clearer
BiTaksi shows fare estimate before booking — always use it in tourist areas to avoid negotiated (overpriced) taxis
Download offline Google Maps for your city before arriving — useful if you have connection issues on arrival day
Trendyol and Hepsiburada delivery is often same-day or next-day — far faster than equivalent European platforms
Register for e-Devlet as soon as you arrive or before if possible — many government services require it
Keep Wise or Revolut card active during first month — opening a Turkish bank account takes time and you need to spend money
Download WhatsApp before landing — absolutely everyone uses it and many services communicate via WhatsApp only
Yandex Maps has more accurate traffic data than Google Maps for driving in Turkish cities
Join local Facebook expat groups immediately upon arrival — instant access to advice, recommendations, and community
Enable Turkish keyboard on your phone as soon as possible — typing Turkish names and addresses is impossible without it
Transport & Taxis
BiTaksi
Ride-hailing for taxis. Shows fare estimate before booking. Eliminates overcharging. Works in all major cities and is the safest way to take a taxi.
Uber Turkey
Available in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir. Direct competitor to BiTaksi. More expensive but familiar interface for international users.
iTaksi
Alternative to BiTaksi. Istanbul-focused with expanding coverage. Metre-based fare system booked safely from your phone.
BlaBlaCar Turkey
Long-distance ride-sharing between cities. Significantly cheaper than buses and taxis for Ankara-Istanbul or Izmir-Bodrum routes.
IETT (Istanbul Bus App)
Official Istanbul public bus app. Real-time tracking, route planning, and stop information. Essential if you use buses daily.
İzmir ESHOT
Official Izmir public transport app. Similar to IETT. Covers buses and combined travel planning.
TCDD (Turkish Railways)
Book inter-city trains. Reliable and comfortable alternative to buses. Significantly cheaper than flying.
Moovit
Real-time public transport maps for Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir. Shows metro, tram, bus routes and live tracking.
İstanbulkart Mobile
Top up Istanbul transit card from your phone. Check balance and transaction history. Essential for daily public transport use.
Food Delivery & Groceries
Getir
10-minute grocery and convenience delivery. Available in major cities. Extraordinary speed. Amazing for late-night snacks and essentials.
Yemeksepeti
Turkey's largest restaurant delivery app. Every restaurant in every city. The Turkish equivalent of Deliveroo. Most reliable for quality.
Trendyol Yemek
Competitor to Yemeksepeti. Often has better promotions and restaurant variety in some cities. Good for comparing prices.
Migros Sanal Market
Migros supermarket online delivery. Wider selection than Getir for full grocery shops. Good for weekly shopping.
A101 Online
Budget supermarket chain delivery. Cheapest option for staple groceries. Limited to major metropolitan areas.
Carrefoursa
Supermarket delivery with good promotions. Slightly more expensive than A101 but wider selection.
Shopping & E-Commerce
Trendyol
Turkey's biggest e-commerce app. Clothes, electronics, homeware, and everything else. Fast delivery (1-3 days to major cities). Excellent for household items.
Hepsiburada
Second-largest e-commerce platform. Strongest for electronics, appliances, and tech. Good return policy for defective items.
n11
Third-largest marketplace. Competitive pricing on electronics and fashion. Popular with Turkish shoppers. Good for finding specific brands.
Sahibinden
Classified ads platform. Apartments, cars, second-hand goods, furniture. Primary marketplace for person-to-person transactions. Essential for apartment hunting.
Letgo Turkey
Second-hand marketplace. Similar to Sahibinden but focuses on used goods. Good for furniture, electronics, and household items from locals.
Gittigidiyor
Auction and marketplace platform. Often has lower prices for electronics and household goods than fixed-price competitors.
Finance & Banking
Garanti BBVA Mobile
Most foreigner-friendly Turkish bank app. English language support. Bill payments, transfers, card management. Recommended for expats opening accounts.
Akbank Direkt
Second-best option for expats. Good interface, reliable service. English support available. Good for online transactions.
Ziraat Bankası Mobile
Largest state bank in Turkey. Wide ATM network. App is Turkish-heavy but works well once set up.
Papara
Digital wallet and payment app. Load money easily. No bank account required for initial setup. Useful bridge during first weeks.
Wise
Best way to bring money to Turkey. Mid-market exchange rate, low fees. Link to Turkish bank for daily use. Highly recommended for international transfers.
Revolut
Multi-currency card. Spend in TRY at good rates. Useful as spending card before Turkish bank account is fully open. Good for foreign currency purchases.
Google Pay / Apple Pay
Contactless payments at most Turkish shops, restaurants, and transport. Set up with your Turkish bank card once opened.
XE Currency Converter
Real-time currency exchange rates. Mid-market rates with no markup. Essential for understanding your daily expenses in home currency.
Turkey Relocation Blueprint
Avoid the expensive mistakes. Get the checklist used by 500+ expats.
€29
one-time · no subscription
Step-by-step relocation roadmap
Printable document checklist
Budget planning templates
City comparison framework
Banking & tax number setup
First-month priority tasks
Common mistakes to avoid
Updated for 2026
Secure checkout via Stripe. Instant confirmation after payment.
Language & Translation
Google Translate
Camera mode: point at Turkish text for instant translation. Invaluable for menus, bills, product labels, street signs. Offline mode for Turkish available.
Tureng Dictionary
Comprehensive Turkish-English dictionary. Better than Google Translate for technical or specific terms. Includes pronunciation guides.
Google Maps
Generally reliable in Turkey. Download city maps offline before arriving. Better for walking navigation. Search by speaking Turkish names.
Yandex Maps
Better than Google Maps for driving navigation in Turkish cities. More accurate traffic data and road information. Russian influence in data.
Turkish Keyboard Setup
Add Turkish (F) keyboard to your phone. Enables typing with special characters: ş, ğ, ı, ö, ü, ç. Access via settings once installed.
HelloTalk
Language exchange app. Connect with Turkish speakers learning English. Practice conversation with real people. More effective than Duolingo for conversation.
Duolingo (Turkish)
Start Turkish language basics before arriving. Gamified daily practice. Not sufficient alone but excellent starter tool. 15 minutes daily adds up.
Government & Administration
e-Devlet (e-Government)
Turkey's official government portal. Register for ikamet (residence permit), access health records, check tax status, pay bills, renew documents. Essential for all expats. CRITICAL: Download before arriving if possible.
ALO 182
Immigration hotline app. Call or chat for visa, residence permit, and immigration status questions. Not always fast but official source.
Alo 184
SGK (Social Security) health hotline. Questions about health insurance, registration, and social benefits. Available in Turkish only.
e-Nabız
Personal health records system. Access your medical history, vaccine records, prescriptions. Required to show vaccination status. Integration with e-Devlet.
MHRS (Appointment Booking)
Book appointments with state hospital doctors. Free healthcare for registered residents. Reserve specific dates and times online.
PTT (Turkish Postal Service)
Track packages, pay bills online, find nearest branch. PTT is used for bill payment without a bank account — useful during setup period.
MERSIS
Business registry search. Verify company legitimacy, find business details, check registration status. Important before signing contracts.
Healthcare Apps
e-Nabız
Personal health records integrated with national system. Access your vaccine records, medical history, prescriptions. Proof of vaccination required for many services.
MHRS (Appointment Booking)
State hospital appointment booking system. Reserve doctor appointments online. No fees for government hospital consultations if registered.
Doktortakvimi (Private Doctors)
Book appointments with private doctors and clinics. Payment required but faster access. Has reviews and ratings from patients.
Sağlık Bakanlığı (Health Ministry)
Official health ministry app. Find hospitals, health centers. COVID updates and health alerts. Emergency contact information.
EmergencyMaps
Locate nearest hospital, ambulance services, emergency contacts. Works offline in many Turkish cities. Essential for emergencies.
Utilities & Bills
Türkiye Elektrik Dağıtım
Pay electricity bills, check meter readings, view consumption history. Bill payments with bank card. Essential for every household.
ISKI Water & Sewage
Istanbul water utility. Pay water and sewage bills online. Check billing history and usage statistics.
İzmir Su-En
Izmir water utility. Pay online, check meter readings, view billing history. Regional alternative to ISKI.
Doğalgaz (Natural Gas)
Pay natural gas bills online. View consumption patterns. Not all providers have dedicated apps — use bank app for some regions.
Fatura Ödeme (Bill Aggregators)
Pay multiple utilities from one app. Electricity, water, gas, internet all in one place. Convenience over individual apps.
Turkey Relocation Blueprint
Avoid the expensive mistakes. Get the checklist used by 500+ expats.
30+ pages · 12 chapters · 6 checklists · 4 templates · Printable resources · Updated 2026
Social & Community for Expats
PRIMARY communication in Turkey. Everyone uses it. Essential for landlords, building managers, friends, and official contacts. Not optional.
InterNations Turkey
Global community for expats. Turkey chapters in major cities. Events, networking, advice, and social activities. Great for meeting other expats.
Facebook Groups (Expat)
Search: "Expats in Istanbul", "British Expats Turkey", "Americans in Turkey", etc. Thousands of active groups. First place for expat questions and advice.
Meetup Turkey
Find local groups for hobbies, language exchange, professional networking. Active in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir. Great for making friends.
Telegram
Secondary messaging app. Used for larger group coordination. Many expat groups prefer Telegram for announcements and discussions.
Nextdoor Turkey
Neighborhood-specific network. Meet neighbors in your building/district. Share local advice, lost items, recommendations. Emerging in major cities.
e-Devlet: Turkey's Essential Government Portal
The most important app you will download in Turkey.
Register for ikamet (residence permit) — your primary residential status
Access your health records and vaccination history
Check your tax status and file statements
Pay utilities and government bills
Renew passport, driver's license, and documents
Access official government services and records
File complaints or requests with government agencies
Check legal registration and property records
How to get started: Download e-Devlet from App Store or Google Play. Register with your passport number. Verify via SMS to your phone number. Once verified, you can access Turkish government services online. Having this set up before you arrive saves hours of frustration.
Setting Up a Turkish Phone
Step 1: SIM Card Registration
By law, every SIM card must be registered to a person. You will need your passport and a Turkish ID number (KTP) or your residence permit (ikamet). Major carriers: Turkcell, Vodafone TR, Türk Telekom, and budget option Lifecell.
Step 2: IMEI Registration (Within 30 Days)
Turkish customs requires foreign phones to be registered within 30 days. Register your phone IMEI number at customs.gov.tr or ask your telecom provider to help. Failure to register results in phone being blocked after 30 days.
Step 3: Best Carriers
Turkcell: Best coverage, most expensive. Vodafone TR: Good coverage, good prices. Türk Telekom: Reliable but slightly slower. Lifecell: Budget option, adequate coverage. Most expats use Turkcell or Vodafone TR.
Step 4: Data & Calling Plans
All carriers offer monthly plans with calls, SMS, and data. Prices range from 50-150 TRY depending on data allocation. Check coverage in your specific neighborhood before signing up.
Timeline: Buy a SIM card within your first 2 hours in Turkey. Choose a major carrier (Turkcell recommended despite higher cost). Register your phone IMEI within 30 days or your phone stops working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Apps Matter in Turkey
Moving to Turkey as an expat involves learning new systems, new language, and new ways of doing everyday tasks. The apps recommended on this page are not luxuries — they are essential infrastructure for modern Turkish life. Turkish society is far more digitized than many expats expect, and these apps are how you navigate housing, money, food, transport, and government services.
Many of these apps are Turkish-only. Language barriers are real. However, your smartphone becomes your translator, navigator, and connection to daily services. The combination of Google Translate camera mode + Turkish keyboard + WhatsApp groups + local Facebook communities makes daily life surprisingly smooth.
The apps listed here are the ones you will use weekly or daily. Download them in your first week. Explore other apps as you discover them through friends or need. The Turkish app ecosystem is deep — there is an app for almost everything.
Before You Arrive: Preparation Checklist
Download WhatsApp, Google Translate, Google Maps
Download e-Devlet and register (if possible from abroad)
Download Wise or Revolut for international money transfers
Download BiTaksi for safe taxi bookings
Add Turkish keyboard to your phone in Settings
Join local Facebook expat groups and InterNations before arriving
Related Guides for Expats in Turkey
Living in Turkey as an Expat
Complete beginner guide to expat life in Turkey
Turkey Residence Permit (Ikamet)
How to register your residence permit and legal residency
Cost of Living in Turkey
Monthly budget breakdown for expats
Healthcare in Turkey
Medical system, insurance, and how to find doctors
Banking in Turkey for Expats
Opening accounts, transfers, and financial setup
Monthly Budget for Remote Workers
Financial planning for remote workers in Turkey
Living in Istanbul
Neighborhoods, cost, and daily life guide
Living in Antalya
Coastal city guide for expats
Living in Izmir
Guide to Aegean coast living
Moving to Turkey from the UK
Visa, relocation, and setup guide
Official Government Websites for Expats
The verified .gov.tr portals behind e-Devlet, ikamet, tax, and more