Traveling from the USA to Turkey: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about traveling to Turkey as a US citizen (hi! welcome!) 

After all, who wouldn’t want to see the historic beauty of Topkapı Palace, taking a hot air balloon over the captivating fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, or going on a breezy road trip along the legendary turquoise coast?

But before the fun begins, there are a few important logistics to tackle: things like visas, flights, safety tips, and those sneaky little things that can trip up first-timers… and honestly, it can feel a bit overwhelming!

Don’t worry — that’s exactly why we wrote this guide. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Turkey as an American, including how to get here, where to visit, staying safe, and even avoiding common travel problems and scams. 

(You might be wondering: why trust this site? To that, I answer — Hi! I’m Ms. Kedi, the site’s co-founder, and I lived in California for 20 years before moving to Istanbul. I’ve helped countless friends plan their trips from the U.S. to Turkey, and I’m excited to help you do the same.)

Here’s everything you need to know about how to plan a trip from the USA to Turkey, step by step! 

Fun fact: U.S. citizens ranked as the 8th most common visitors to Türkiye! More than 1.3 million American travelers visited Turkey in 2023, a 32% increase from the 2022 visitor numbers.

This blog post was fact-checked and updated in January 2026.

Traveling to Türkiye Basics:
What to Know Before Your Trip 

Do you need a visa to travel to Turkey? 

One of the most popular questions we get asked is, do American citizens need a visa to Turkey?

The answer is no, not anymore! Before 2024, U.S. citizens needed to either get an electronic visa (eVisa) or a visa on arrival. However, Türkiye got rid of its previous visa requirements for US citizens in January 2024. This means if you have a US passport, you can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days without a visa (yay!). 

All you need is a passport that’s valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry, and enough blank space in your passport for an entry and exit stamp. 

For a full step-by-step planning guide, check out our complete Turkey trip planning guide →

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Safety in Turkey

When planning your trip, one of the first questions that may come to mind is, Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

The short answer is yes, Turkey is a safe destination for tourists, and especially in typical tourist destinations like Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Cappadocia, etc.

To put it into perspective, Ms. Kedi (½ of this blog) lived in California for more than 20 years and thinks Turkey is safe (or even safer) than California. Turkey’s safety level is comparable to that of any major metropolis, such as London or Paris. 

Of course, as with any destination, there are some things to keep in mind. We recommend avoiding traveling alone near the southeastern border — if you really want to go, it’s better to hire a guide who knows the area and situation. 

The only things to really “watch out” for are pickpockets and scammers. However, this is easily solved by keeping your phone and wallet close to you (not in your back pocket! 😉), wearing a purse with a zipper, and staying aware of your surroundings. We also have blog posts on the Top 20 Common Tourist Scams in Turkey and 10 Istanbul Taxi Scams. 

Currency in Turkey

📌 Using Credit/Debit Cards: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Turkey, especially in major cities and tourist destinations. Likewise, there are a ton of ATMs in case you need to withdraw cash. We recommend notifying your bank before your trip to avoid any unexpected card blocks!

It’s also wise not to rely solely on American Express cards, as they’re not accepted everywhere — having a Visa or MasterCard as a backup is best. Likewise, consider using a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees to save on extra costs (more money for souvenirs!)

📌 Currency exchange offices are known locally as “Döviz” and are found in most city centers and tourist areas. We recommend ‘shopping around’ and reading reviews on Google Maps before exchanging currency. 

Travel Tip: Typically, the best currency exchange offices are near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul — they have high turnover and often offer competitive rates compared to other locations.

📌 Tipping in Turkey isn’t obligatory and there’s no ‘tipping culture’ like in other countries (i.e. there’s no expectation for tips). If you liked the service, you can tip 5 to 10% in restaurants, round up taxi fares, or leave a few bills for hotel staff. However, anything over 15% might be considered unusual or excessive.

📌 Paying in USD/EUR: While the official currency in Türkiye is the Turkish Lira (written as TL or TRY), it’s a common tactic for tour guides, touristy shops, and services to price their services in USD or EUR. However, paying in foreign currency may lead to unfavorable exchange rates and the potential to get ripped off by vendors. It’s best to pay with liras to avoid any problems and ensure fair pricing. 

Staying connected in Turkey (SIM & eSIM Cards)

Staying connected in Turkey is straightforward, with several options for tourists to access mobile services. There are 3 main mobile operators in Turkey — Turkcell, Vodafone, and Türk Telekom — that offer prepaid SIM cards for tourists. However, they can be very overpriced (i.e. $45 for 25 GB of data)!

For travelers with eSIM-compatible devices, digital SIM cards are a convenient alternative. Dozens of companies have eSIM packages for Türkiye, including Maya (best packages), Yesim (best unlimited plans), and Airalo (cheapest). 

If you want to learn more, please check out our Ultimate Guide to SIM & eSIM Cards in Turkey: Everything You Need to Know blog post for current pricing, coverage, eSIM vs SIM, and more! →

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Other Useful Tips

📌 Voltage: The standard voltage in Turkey is 220V, with a frequency of 50Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. If you’re traveling from the USA, you’ll need a power adapter and possibly a voltage converter.

📌 Health & Safety: Turkey has a well-developed healthcare system, with quality medical facilities and pharmacies available even in smaller towns. Pharmacies are easy to find and are well-stocked with over-the-counter medications. Pharmacies are easily recognized by their white-and-red storefront and “eczane” sign. 

Although pharmacies are generally open from 9:00 am to about 6:00 pm Monday to Saturday, there are also “pharmacists on duty” that work outside of these hours. Check out our 20 Essential Apps For Traveling in Turkey for one of our favorite pharmacy apps. →

📌 Emergency Numbers: In case of an emergency, the general emergency number in Turkey is 112, which connects to all major emergency services (ambulance, police, and fire department). The operators speak English, Turkish, Arabic, and German. 

📌 U.S. Embassy: If you need consular help, there is a U.S. Embassy in Ankara, a U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, a U.S. Consulate in Adana, and a Consular Agent in Izmir. Please click here for the official U.S. Embassy site (with addresses and phone numbers) → 

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Turkey vs Türkiye 

Let’s finish off this section with an interesting question — what’s the difference between Turkey and Türkiye?

“Türkiye” is the official name of the country in Turkish and reflects how locals refer to their homeland (similarly to Germany/Deutschland or Japan/Nippon). In late 2021, the Turkish government formally requested that the international community adopt “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey” to better align with the country’s national identity and to avoid associations with the bird. In this blog post we switch between both for the sake of convenience. 🙂 

Flying to Turkey from the USA

Now for the fun part: how to travel from the USA to Turkey! As with any long-haul destination, the easier option is by plane.

Flying from the USA to Turkey is very straightforward, and there are plenty of airlines that have direct routes between the two countries. Let’s take a closer look at how to fly from the United States to Turkey: 

Flying to Turkey: Direct 

There are more than 50 airports in Türkiye (we’ve written about all of them in this blog post!), but only one airport in Turkey has direct flights to and from the United States: Istanbul Airport (IST).

The majority of direct flights between the USA and Turkey are on Turkish Airlines, which is the national carrier of Turkey. As you might have guessed, Turkish Airlines has its headquarters at Istanbul (IST) Airport. 🙂 

If you want to fly directly from the United States, here are the airports offering direct flights to Istanbul:

• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
• Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington D.C.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
• Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
• Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL), Georgia
• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
• Denver International Airport (DEN), Colorado
• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Michigan
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington

A direct flight from New York to Istanbul takes approximately 10 hours, while direct flights from the West Coast (such as Los Angeles or San Francisco) can take up to 13 hours. 

The most popular route for U.S. travelers is from New York (JFK or EWR) to Istanbul (IST) because it has the shortest distance. Other popular routes include Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

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Flying to Turkey: Multi-Stop 

If a direct flight isn’t the best option for you (due to budget or scheduling reasons), consider splitting your trip into two parts. 

You can first fly into a major European hub (such as Paris or Berlin), and then take a connecting flight to Turkey. This option typically offers more flexibility and potentially lower costs — plus, if you time it right, you can explore an extra city as part of your layover! 

As a nice bonus, if you want to fly to Turkish cities like Izmir, Ankara, or Antalya, connecting through a European city can open up more flight routes to these destinations. Many European airlines and budget carriers have frequent flights to a variety of Turkish cities beyond Istanbul, making it easier to reach your preferred destination.

Arriving in Turkey

If you’re taking a direct flight to Turkey, chances are you’ll arrive at Istanbul Airport (IST), since it’s the only airport in the country that has direct flights to the USA. That, and it’s the hub for Turkish Airlines!

If you’re flying to Istanbul on a multiple-ticket itinerary, it’s important to check your flight details carefully. Istanbul has two major airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) on the Asian side. 

As a general rule, “the big airport” Istanbul Airport (IST) handles the majority of long-haul and direct international flights, while “the regional airport,” Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is often used by European/MENA low-cost carriers and domestic flights. 

While both airports offer a range of international and domestic flights, they are located about 40 kilometers apart. Be sure to confirm which airport you’re flying into to avoid any last-minute surprises!

If you’d like to know more about the differences between the two airports, please check out our blog post — Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Which One Should You Choose? →

Other Travel Options

If you’re traveling around the Balkans or Caucasus regions, you can also enter Türkiye by car, bus, or ferry.

Turkey shares borders with eight countries (isn’t that cool?), and the most popular border crossings are Kapıkule (Turkey-Bulgaria), Ipsala (Turkey-Greece), and Sarp (Turkey-Georgia). You can see a full list of (land) border crossings here.

Likewise, island-hopping between Greece and Turkey is a fun way to experience the charm of these two neighboring countries. Regular ferry routes make traveling between the picturesque Greek islands and Turkey’s lively coastal towns easy and enjoyable. 

For more details on planning your adventure, check out our blog post, Your Ultimate Guide to Island Hopping Between Turkey and Greece →

Some of the most popular ferry routes include Kos-Bodrum, Rhodes-Marmaris, Samos-Kusadasi, Lesbos-Ayvalık, and Chios-Çesme.

Read More

📍 Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Which One Should You Choose?
📍 Airports in Turkey: Info About ALL 50+ Airports & Travel Tips
📍 Travel Around Turkey by Plane: Your Guide to Domestic Flights in Turkey
📍 Your Ultimate Guide to Island Hopping Between Turkey and Greece

Where to go in Turkey: Top 7 Destinations 

Although you could easily spend a lifetime exploring Turkey (that’s our goal 😁), it’s best to start with the highlights. Here are our top picks for places that first-time visitors shouldn’t miss:

🛳️ Istanbul — No trip to Türkiye is complete without visiting its most iconic city: Istanbul! This is a city that spans two continents, mixing rich history with modern energy. 

Visit famous landmarks like the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, and the Grand Bazaar; take a sunset cruise along the Bosphorus for breathtaking views; and don’t miss the chance to ‘hop over’ to the Asian side (you don’t need a visa!) for a day to experience the best of both worlds. Foodies should also book any of these amazing Istanbul food tours — trust us, Istanbul has some amazing places to eat!

⛲️ Izmir — Speaking of Izmir 🙂 Known as the most westernized city in Türkiye, Izmir is often called the “Miami of Turkey” for its laid-back coastal vibe and modern energy. 

This lively city is perfect for strolling along the Kordon (its popular waterfront promenade), visiting museums, and soaking up the local culture. Izmir also makes an ideal base for day trips to nearby attractions such as the ancient city of Ephesus, the cute seaside town of Alaçatı, and Pamukkale.

🌺 Antalya — Antalya is nicknamed “The gateway to the Turkish Riviera” and has a mix of historic sites, beautiful beaches, and luxury resorts. The old town, Kaleiçi, is full of charming Ottoman-era houses and narrow streets that lead to the Mediterranean harbor. We recommend renting a car and doing the famous Turquoise Coast road trip from Antalya to Izmir. 

🎈 Cappadocia — Cappadocia is famous for its otherworldly landscapes, with unique features like fairy chimneys, ancient cave homes, and underground cities. 

A must-do for many visitors is a sunrise hot air balloon ride (click the link for our favorite balloon company) with amazing views over the rock formations. Exploring the Göreme Open-Air Museum and hiking through the scenic valleys are also popular activities. 

🤍 Pamukkale — Pamukkale is famous for its white travertine terraces, a natural wonder that’s truly one-of-a-kind. The thermal waters here have been used for their healing properties for centuries. 

Be sure to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis while you’re there, and don’t miss Cleopatra’s Pool — legend has it that the Egyptian queen herself swam in these mineral-rich waters!

🏝️ Bodrum — Bodrum is the ultimate Mediterranean escape, known for its clear blue waters, stylish beach clubs, and nightlife that attract a jetset crowd. This posh destination effortlessly blends luxury with relaxation and history, featuring landmarks like Bodrum Castle and the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Click here for our Bodrum Travel Guide → or for our Where to Stay in Bodrum Guide →

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Where to Book Activities 

When planning a trip to Turkey, you’re definitely going to want to book activities like a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia, a day trip to Pamukkale, and even skip-the-line tickets for Topkapi Palace…

But what are the best sites to book activities and tickets in Turkey? We’re glad you asked!

Two of the most popular websites for booking activities are GetYourGuide and Viator. You might already be familiar with one (or both!) 🙂

GetYourGuide is known for its user-friendly interface and carefully curated selection of experiences. They offer a wide range of tours and activities, and some are even exclusive to the site (these are called “Originals by GetYourGuide” and have an orange sticker on the cover photo). 

One major advantage of GetYourGuide is its flexibility — many activities come with free cancellation, which means you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. 

They also offer a “Reserve Now & Pay Later” feature, allowing you to secure your spot without immediate payment. This is great if you want to keep your travel plans flexible!

Here are some of the most popular tours in Turkey on GetYourGuide:

Viator is part of TripAdvisor and has a massive selection of over 300,000 tours and activities worldwide. They’re especially known for working closely with local tour operators, so you’ll find tons of choices. 

However, there is a small downside: with over 3,000 activities in Turkey alone (compared to GetYourGuide’s 1,000+ activities), it can take a bit more time to sift through and find what you’re looking for. But if you like having lots of options, Viator is a great pick.

Both platforms have their strengths, with GetYourGuide offering more streamlined and exclusive experiences, and Viator providing a broad range of activities to choose from.

To get you started, here are some of our most popular blog posts about activities in Istanbul:

🗺️ Best Food Tours in Istanbul
🗺️ Best Non-Touristy Tours in Istanbul
🗺️ Best Hamams in Istanbul

Where to Stay in Turkey

When it comes to finding the best place to stay in Turkey, there are plenty of options to choose from, whether you prefer hotels, hostels, cute boutique hotels, or even Airbnbs. 

While each accommodation type has their pros and cons, hotels are the most popular choice in Turkey thanks to their amenities (most places offer complimentary Turkish breakfast!). 

On the other hand, Airbnb has been facing heavy regulatory issues in Turkey over the past year (especially cracking down on illegal rentals), resulting in potential cancellations and an unpleasant experience. We recommend choosing other options if possible, or at least vetting your Airbnb / apartment rental carefully.

Best Websites to Reserve Accommodations in Turkey 

We highly recommend reserving your hotels in advance for two reasons: first, Turkey is a very popular destination for tourists and, therefore, the best accommodations get reserved very quickly (similar to Rome or Paris!) 

Secondly, Booking.com is banned inside Turkey (allegedly it has something to do with the company and paying taxes). You can book accommodations in Turkey when you’re outside of the country, i.e. you’re at home in Dallas, TX and you book your hotels in Istanbul. That’s totally fine. 

However, once you’ve arrived and are in Turkey, and try to book accommodations in Turkey (i.e. you’re in Istanbul and trying to book your next hotel in Antalya), you’ll be given an error message. If you want to use Booking.com in Turkey, you’ll need to turn on your VPN to bypass this block.

Here are the websites we recommend to find and book hotels in Turkey:

• Booking.com: The most popular hotel booking platform for tourists visiting Turkey. The site has extensive options for all sorts of accommodations, including hostels, hotels, all-inclusive resorts, villas, cabins and campgrounds, and so much more. Click here to check hotels →
  
• Agoda: This site is particularly known for finding budget-friendly hotels and offering competitive pricing (although there are mid-range and luxury options as well!). Travel tip: the best deals are if you book your hotel less than 24 hours before check-in. Click here to check hotels →
  
• Trivago: An excellent tool for comparing hotel prices across hundreds of sites to find the best deals. Click here to check hotels →

Getting Around Turkey: Intercity Travel 

Turkey’s transportation infrastructure is fantastic, and you can easily travel between cities by plane, bus, train, or car. Here’s a quick overview of each: 

By Plane 

Domestic flights in Turkey are very budget-friendly, especially compared to the USA. To illustrate this point, we conducted an experiment by comparing flight prices between two routes of similar distances (one in Turkey, the other in the US). 

• Istanbul to Samsun (a city on the Black Sea coast) — approx. 457 miles  
• New York City to Columbus, OH — approx. 500 miles 

We checked ticket prices for a random Tuesday and found the following:

• Istanbul to Samsun — a one-way direct ticket was priced between 1,400 to 2,900 TL (approximately $29 to $62 USD).
• New York (LGA and JFK) to Columbus, OH — a one-way direct ticket was priced between 4,000 to 12,000 TL (approximately $90 to $250 USD).

As you can see, domestic airfare in Türkiye is about 70% cheaper — plus, it’s a quick and easy way to get around the country, especially if you’re short on time but want to see everything on your itinerary!

There are four domestic airlines in Turkey: Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet (formerly AnadoluJet), and SunExpress. Turkish Airlines is the biggest airline and is full-service, which means you get better amenities (seat selection, extra baggage, meal, etc). However, it’s also the most expensive. 

Pegasus is Turkey’s most popular budget airline (similar to SouthWest in the US), while AJet and SunExpress are also low-cost carriers. However, all three trade amenities for cheaper prices.

✈️ Check out our Traveling Around Turkey by Plane post for even more domestic flight information! →

By Car

Roads in Turkey are in fantastic condition — everything is clearly marked (including locations and speed limits), the asphalt is well maintained (no potholes! 😉), and there are plenty of facilities (like gas stations and rest stops). 

Going on a road trip is an excellent option, especially if you want to visit smaller towns and rural areas (you can check out our 2-week Black Sea road trip itinerary for inspiration!). 

Americans can easily rent a car in Turkey, and all you need is a valid U.S. driver’s license. When you pick up the car, the car rental employee will also take a photocopy of your passport and entry stamp. Although some websites note that an International Driving Permit is necessary, we’ve never had any car rental agency ask in the 10+ times that we’ve rented a car here. 

🚙 We use DiscoverCars to book our car rentals (they have the best prices!) →

By Train

Did you know that Turkey has over 6,000 miles of railway connecting various parts of the country? What’s even more, there’s over 800 miles of high-speed rail, making travel between major cities both quick and comfortable.

Traveling by train is an affordable and scenic way to experience Turkey, especially on popular routes such as the Istanbul to Ankara high-speed line.

The most popular Turkish train routes include Ankara to Konya (linking the capital to the religious heart of Turkey), the Eastern Express (an iconic route during winter!), and the Van Lake Express. 

By Bus

Turkey has many bus companies with frequent departures, making it possible to reach virtually any city or town. This is a budget-friendly option that allows travelers to explore the country without breaking the bank. 

However, the main drawback is the longer travel times. For example, while a direct flight from Izmir to Istanbul takes about 1 hour, a bus ride on the same route typically takes anywhere from 7 to 10 hours. 

The most popular bus companies in Turkey include Kamil Koç, Pamukkale Turizm, Metro Turizm, and Efe Turizm. 

Click here to check bus tickets →

Further Reading

Looking for more inspiration and practical tips for your trip? We’ve put together a curated list of our top guides, travel tips, and must-read posts to help you plan the perfect journey to Turkey (after all, this entire website is dedicated to traveling to Turkey! 😁). 

Check out the links below:

🧿 How to Plan a Trip to Turkey: Everything You Need to Know — Start here! This is your all-in-one planning companion, packed with some of the most important things to know before visiting Turkey.

🧿 30 Major Travel Mistakes in Türkiye — Don’t fall into these all-too-common traps (especially #3)!

🧿 200+ Essential Turkish Travel Phrases — No need to be fluent — These simple and helpful phrases will help you order food, ask directions, and even sound like a local (we’ve included a pronunciation guide!)

🧿 20 Essential Apps For Traveling in Turkey + 4 We don’t recommend! —  From maps and city ferries to museum tickets, events, and even food delivery, these apps will make your trip way smoother.

🧿 Ultimate Guide to SIM & eSIM Cards in Turkey: Everything You Need to Know — Avoid sky-high roaming fees and stay connected from the moment you land with this easy guide to getting mobile data in Turkey (including latest prices and reviews of the top telecom networks)

🧿 10 Common Istanbul Taxi Scams (And How to Avoid Them!) — Yep, they’re real. Here’s how to spot (and avoid) the most common taxi tricks.

🧿 20 Common Tourist Scams in Turkey— A little knowledge goes a long way. These real-life scams have fooled plenty of travelers — don’t let it be you!

Click here to read all posts →