Here at Istanbul Insider I provide information, tips, and tricks for people that want to plan their Istanbul trip on their own. Typically, they will book their plane tickets and hotel online, arrange for transportation from the airport, read through most sections of Istanbul Insider as well as one of the great guide books, put together an itinerary based on their interests, and make dinner reservations for their favorite restaurants as soon as they have checked in at their hotel. And that is perfectly fine!
But what if you don’t want to go through the hassle of making all these reservations and arrangements? What if you’re not the adventurous type and instead want a safety net in case something doesn’t go according to plan?
That’s when you need to team up with a travel agent. There are of course many travel agencies to choose from, within Turkey as well as abroad.
Hi Erlend,
We will be landing at Istanbul Airport, is it possible to buy sim cards from the airport. Any idea how much does it cost.
Thanks
Hi,
Yes it is possible, but if you can wait a few more hours, you can buy them in the city center 35% to 50 % cheaper. Trustworthy brands are Turkcell and Vodafone.
any recommendation for travel agencies ?
Hi,
I’m sorry, I can’t help you with that.
Hello. I was wondering if you could assist us in setting up travel outside of Istanbul to other cities. WE were looking at fast speed trains and buses to supplement. We have the desired itinerary but need transportation. Would appreciate any advice. Thanks
Hi Quattraport,
I’m afraid I can’t be of much assistance as I have very limited experience in the matter. I used to fly (you can find really cheap tickets) or drive my own car, although driving may be daunting if you’re not used to driving in Turkey. Taking buses is very common too, but stick to companies that have been in the business for a long time, such as Ulusoy or Kamil Koç. Keep in mind though that Turkey doesn’t have the best traffic safety report.
I hope this helps