There are things you learn the pleasant way when travelling. And then there are things you learn with a bill of almost 300 euros. Our great eSIM love clearly belongs to the second category.
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Which eSIM for Istanbul is worth it? My personal experience after an almost 300-euro phone bill, tourist SIM vs. eSIM, data volume and practical tips.
We were in Istanbul for about two weeks and used our phones exactly the way we constantly need them when travelling: Google Maps, searching routes, looking up restaurants, checking opening times, sending messages, uploading photos. In the end the bill arrived – and I briefly wondered whether we had secretly streamed Netflix for the whole of Istanbul.
Since then there has been one question before an Istanbul trip that comes even before “What do I take with me?”: how do I get internet? My answer is by now almost always: eSIM.
- My preferred solution for Istanbul: set up a travel eSIM at home already.
- For normal city trips 3–5 GB is usually enough, for social media and longer trips rather 10 GB or more.
- eSIM providers: Saily and Airalo are two options you can set up in advance.
- View current Saily Turkey plans
- View Airalo Turkey plans
How Google Maps Got Us an Almost 300-Euro Bill
Maybe I first have to explain our way of travelling. We don't go to Istanbul, plant ourselves in Sultanahmet for five days and walk the same three streets up and down. We are constantly on the move: European side, Asian side, ferry, tram, metro, on foot, taxi. One place leads to the next – and especially on foot Google Maps is a permanent guest with us.
Google likes to say in Istanbul: “Only 400 metres.” In Graz that means: a few minutes' walk. In Istanbul 400 metres can mean: uphill, cobblestones, stairs, 32 degrees and a child who suddenly explains that its legs have stopped working. That's exactly why we navigate very intensively.
On one of our trips mobile data was practically running all the time. Our plan at the time wasn't suited for that – and in the end it was almost 300 euros. Not because Google Maps alone would cost that much, but because we hadn't secured roaming and data costs properly.
- Turkey is not automatically part of normal EU roaming. Before the trip always check data costs, roaming package, data limit, automatic data use and background data. I now do that before every trip.
Afterwards We Wanted a Tourist SIM – and Were Sceptical Again Immediately
After that bill we wanted to solve it the classic way next time: buy a tourist SIM, put the card in, done. A seller back then wanted about 40 euros for a SIM with only a few gigabytes. Maybe that was his regular offer, maybe a tourist price – to us it was too expensive for what we were supposed to get.
We didn't buy. And that is exactly how I got seriously interested in eSIMs for the first time. Apparently it takes 300 euros of roaming, a questionable SIM offer and a bit of stubbornness until you find the more convenient solution.
Why I Love eSIM So Much Today
What counts for me today: after landing I don't have to look for a shop, put my passport on a counter somewhere, fiddle a tiny SIM card out of the phone and think about where my Austrian SIM is actually lying now. I do it beforehand if possible.
- For Istanbul I now prefer a travel eSIM that I can install before departure. That way after landing I neither have to look for a mobile shop nor first compare plans.
- One option for that is Saily: you can set up the eSIM at home and then choose a suitable Turkey data plan. Current Turkey packages start at just a few euros, depending on how many GB and how many days you need.
- View Saily eSIM for Turkey
Meanwhile even my parents use eSIM when they are in Bosnia. And when something works for my parents on the first attempt and doesn't end with “What is this now again?”, then I know: it's suitable for everyday use.
What Is an eSIM Anyway?
An eSIM is, put simply, a digital SIM. Instead of inserting a physical card, a mobile profile is stored on a compatible device. You buy a data plan, install it and – depending on the device – can keep your normal SIM in the phone in parallel.
Not Every Smartphone Supports eSIM
Please check before buying whether your smartphone supports eSIM and whether it is unlocked for other networks. That is something you sort out at home with Wi-Fi, time and battery – not at night at the airport with 11 percent, three suitcases and two children.
I Set Up My eSIM before the Trip
I prefer to install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. That way I have access to email, support and instructions. Depending on the provider the validity period starts only on activation in the destination country or after another trigger – so read the specific instructions.
- Save the QR code, installation steps and APN/roaming notes as a screenshot or PDF. An online guide helps surprisingly little when exactly the internet isn't working.
How Much Data Do You Need for Istanbul?
3 to 4 Days
For a short trip with maps, WhatsApp, restaurant search and a bit of social media a manageable package is often enough. I still wouldn't buy right at the limit.
7 Days
For a week I would plan more generously. Because “I'll just have a quick look” quickly turns into maps, Instagram, video to the family, restaurant search, hotel, tickets – and already the phone asks whether it should save data.
10 to 14 Days
For longer trips I prefer to take more volume. We navigate a lot, upload content and partly work on the go. Hotel Wi-Fi can be great – or spontaneously go on holiday at 10:17 pm.
Settings I Check after Landing
- Select the travel eSIM as the line for mobile data.
- Set the roaming setting of the travel eSIM according to the provider's note.
- Configure the home SIM so that it doesn't unnoticed take over mobile data.
- Check the automatic data/line switching.
- Deliberately control cloud backups and large app updates on the road.
After our 300-euro experience I trust roughly nobody with roaming any more – not even my own phone.
Tourist SIM or eSIM? My Decision Is Clear
A local physical SIM can make sense, for example if your device doesn't support eSIM or you need a local number. For my way of travelling, though, the eSIM wins: compare beforehand, set up beforehand, land, have internet, go.
Turkey and EU Roaming: Not Automatically the Same as an EU Country
Turkey is not part of the EU/EEA roaming area. That means: your Austrian, German or Swiss mobile plan does not automatically have to cover Turkey on the same terms as EU countries. Some providers sell their own Turkey packages, others bill by usage. So before the trip check in the customer portal or directly with the provider what your plan specifically provides.
What a Travel eSIM Actually Does
A travel eSIM is a digital mobile profile. With many travel eSIMs you get above all mobile data, but no classic Turkish phone number. Your Austrian/German SIM can stay in the device in parallel if your smartphone supports dual SIM. That way you can keep using WhatsApp and your usual number while the data runs via the travel eSIM.
Many newer iPhone models support eSIM; before a trip Apple also recommends checking whether the device is unlocked and which plan is actually selected for mobile data.
Travel eSIM, Local Turkish SIM or Roaming Package?
- Solution: travel eSIM; Good for: short trips and city breaks; Advantage: can be bought in advance, no shop needed; Drawback: device must be eSIM-capable
- Solution: local physical SIM; Good for: longer stays, local number; Advantage: local plan/number possible; Drawback: purchase/registration on site
- Solution: roaming package from your home provider; Good for: the least possible change; Advantage: your own SIM remains the only one active; Drawback: can be expensive depending on the plan
For me the eSIM wins above all on convenience. But if you stay several weeks or need a local phone number, you should also compare local offers.
How Much Data Typical Travel Activities Use
Nobody can guarantee a reliable gigabyte figure across the board. Still, the usage mix helps: text messages and pure map navigation are usually much more economical than videos, social media uploads, video calls and cloud backups. Especially automatic photo uploads can use data in the background without you noticing consciously.
If you only navigate, write and check opening times, you get by with considerably less than someone who uploads reels daily, streams videos or connects their laptop via hotspot.
How I Choose between Different eSIM Providers
I wouldn't build the comparison on which provider has the biggest discount banner. What counts for me first: how much data volume do I actually get? How long is the plan valid? From when does the time run? Can I use a hotspot? Which network is used in Turkey? What happens if the installation doesn't work? And above all: does the plan fit my trip?
- Compare price per usefully usable data volume rather than only the teaser price.
- The validity period must fit the whole trip.
- Read the activation rule before buying.
- Check hotspot/tethering if several devices are to be supplied.
- Look at the support channel and availability.
- Read the refund/cancellation conditions.
- Check beforehand that your specific smartphone is eSIM-capable and unlocked.
- If a provider is a partner of Istanbul-ID, I mark that. The order in the comparison should nevertheless arise from who a plan makes sense for – not from who pays me the highest commission.
Saily for Istanbul: What Do You Get?
If you don't want to compare ten different eSIM providers first, Saily is one of the options you can look at for Istanbul.
For Turkey there are various data packages – from a small plan for a weekend trip to larger packages for longer trips or intensive use.
Which Package Makes Sense for Whom
- 1–3 GB: Good if you mainly use Google Maps, WhatsApp, opening times and tickets.
- 5 GB: For me a comfortable size for roughly a week in Istanbul if social media is added.
- 10–20 GB: Sensible if you upload lots of photos and videos, use a lot of Instagram, work or use your phone as a hotspot.
- Unlimited: Interesting for very data-intensive use. Here I would still always check the exact conditions and possible fair-use rules.
Why I Find Saily Practical for Istanbul
The biggest advantage for me is not some advertising promise but simply the process: prepare the eSIM at home → land in Istanbul → switch on mobile data → done.
Especially after a flight I don't want to search for the right SIM shop with suitcases through Sultanahmet or at the airport.
In addition, with a dual-SIM-capable smartphone you normally keep your previous SIM in the device. That way you can keep using your usual phone number and WhatsApp while mobile data runs via the travel eSIM.
My Tip: Don't Wait until You're in Istanbul
I would in principle buy and install a travel eSIM before departure. Then you still have:
- stable Wi-Fi
- access to your emails
- your order details
- the installation instructions
- enough battery
- and above all peace and quiet
Because “I'll set that up quickly at the airport” always sounds excellent – until you're standing there with three suitcases, 12% battery and a tired child.
My Checklist before Buying
- Does my smartphone support eSIM?
- Is the device unlocked?
- Does the plan really apply in Turkey?
- How many days does the package run?
- When does the validity period begin – at purchase, at installation or at the first network connection?
- Is hotspot/tethering allowed?
- What data volume is included?
- Is there throttling after usage?
- What support options are there if there are problems?
- Can the eSIM be installed again if I delete it accidentally?
Safety and Cost Control with Dual SIM
The most important point is that your phone doesn't unnoticed jump back to the home SIM. So after landing check which line is selected for mobile data. If you want to be on the safe side, you can deactivate data roaming on the home SIM and switch off automatic data switching.
When I Would Still Consider a Local SIM
If I were to stay in Turkey for several weeks or months, needed a Turkish phone number or had a device without eSIM, I would compare local prepaid offers. For our typical Istanbul trips, though, the extra effort isn't attractive enough for me.
Airalo as a Further Option
Besides Saily there is Airalo as a further eSIM provider with its own Turkey plans. Here we describe publicly visible plan features.
- Top-ups: Only available for suitable packages (“Top up” under “My eSIMs”). Not all packages can be topped up; those that can are marked before purchase. If “Top up” is missing, a new plan is needed.
- Turkey: Purchase, app access, activation and top-ups within Turkey can be restricted. We therefore do not claim that Airalo can be topped up without problems on site at any time – best to buy and set up in advance here too.
- View Airalo Turkey plans
Turkey eSIM from Airalo
- Turkey plans for short trips and as an unlimited variant
- Top-ups only for rechargeable, marked packages
- Buy and set up before entering the country
Turkey eSIM from Saily
- Turkey plans from 1 GB to 20 GB as well as unlimited
- Buy before entering the country, install and activate the app
- Top-ups restricted in Turkey, choose data volume generously
eSIM with Children or Several Phones
As a family I wouldn't automatically buy the same big plan for every device. With us, one well-equipped main device plus individual smaller solutions is often enough, depending on who really needs data on the road. If hotspot is allowed, that can also be practical. But I check beforehand whether the provider permits tethering and whether the battery can handle it.
My children don't need a data package on holiday with which they could run a small data centre. A bit of reachability and the bare essentials are completely enough. For the rest of the time they may look at Istanbul. Revolutionary idea, I know.
If the eSIM Doesn't Work after Landing: My Sequence
- 1. Switch airplane mode briefly on and off.
- 2. Check whether the eSIM is activated and selected for mobile data.
- 3. Check the roaming setting according to the provider's instructions.
- 4. Only change APN settings according to official instructions.
- 5. Restart the device.
- 6. Contact the provider's support with the saved order number.
- Don't delete an installed eSIM hastily. Some profiles can only be reinstalled to a limited extent. First check the instructions or support.
My Conclusion: After a 300-Euro Bill I'm Cured
Today I wouldn't start an Istanbul trip without first knowing how my mobile data is arranged. Our first solution was expensive, the tourist SIM on site didn't convince us, and so we ended up with eSIM. Today that is as natural to me as passport, power bank and hotel.
And Google Maps may run for hours again. Just please never again for 300 euros.
- Then you can look here at the current Saily plans for Turkey and choose the right data package for your trip.
- View Saily for Istanbul / Turkey
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep using WhatsApp with my normal number?
In many setups yes. But check beforehand how your specific device handles dual SIM/eSIM.
Is eSIM always cheaper?
No. Compare prices. Besides the price, convenience and cost control count for me above all.
Should I download offline maps?
Yes, as a backup. The internet can fail or be weaker; an offline map is then very pleasant.
– Amra
