Must-Have Turkey Apps for a Smooth & Connected Trip

When planning a trip to Turkey, having the right apps can make all the difference. From booking flights and finding taxis to exploring local sights, using the best Turkey apps will save you time and effort. Whether you’re navigating the busy streets of Istanbul or relaxing in a quiet town, these apps will simplify your travels. They help with everything from transportation to discovering great food spots and communicating with locals.

In this guide, we’ll cover the 14 top Turkey apps to use during your trip. These apps will help you with transportation, language translation, and recommendations for things to do. Whether you’re visiting ancient ruins like Ephesus or soaking up the sun in Antalya, these apps will enhance your experience. And with an Esimatic eSIM, you can stay connected effortlessly across the country—making sure your apps work smoothly wherever you are.

1. Skyscanner: Best App for International Flights to Turkey

If you want to travel to Turkey and are looking for the absolute cheapest deals, Skyscanner might be your next favourite app. It’s a metasearch engine that checks live deals from different airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to find you the cheapest deals.

Skyscanner doesn’t offer direct sales and redirects users to the airline/OTA’s website. This makes the app more unbiased in offering deals that are actually great. Additionally, features like pop-up notifications for the latest deals are sure to help you make your trip to Turkey as budget-friendly as possible.

2. Esimatic: The Best eSIM App for Connectivity in Turkey

When you’re traveling in Turkey, staying connected is essential, especially when navigating or accessing services on the go. While some of the apps, like Google Maps and Translate, offer offline services, many others—such as taxi, currency, and food apps—require an internet connection. This is where Esimatic app comes in. With Esimatic, you can get a digital eSIM for your trip, ensuring you stay connected even when you can’t access a Wi-Fi network. No more swapping SIM cards or dealing with high roaming fees—Esimatic makes staying connected in Turkey seamless and hassle-free.

3. Kiwi: Best App for Domestic Flight Deals in Turkey

Kiwi comes third on our list of the best Turkish apps. It’s an online travel agency that also works as a search engine for flights. The app is known for connecting affordable standalone flights and creating custom itineraries.

Whether you’re flying internationally or within Turkey, it’s a favorite among both tourists and locals. It’s especially handy if you’re planning your trip after sorting out your Turkey visa, saving you the hassle of juggling multiple airline apps like Pegasus or Turkish Airlines. With Kiwi, you can quickly find the best flight deals all in one place.

4. Booking.com: The Best Travel App for Accommodations

After booking your flights, use Booking.com for accommodations. Known for its wide range of options, it offers everything from hotels and B&Bs to quirky stays like treehouses and igloos. It’s great for last-minute bookings, as hotel prices drop 24-48 hours before check-in, and many accommodations offer free cancellation. You can also book car rentals through the app.

For unique stays, Airbnb app is a fantastic option. From apartments in Istanbul to coastal homes, it provides a variety of choices. The app allows you to book unique experiences and connect with locals for a more authentic stay.

5. Google Maps: The Best Navigation App in Turkey

No matter if you want to find the closest shopping mall or discover the most beautiful attractions of Turkey, Google Maps can help you navigate what you need. It’s a world-recognised navigation app that goes above and beyond to help you also find food spots and public transportation plans.

A pro tip for using Google Maps is to download the maps and save them offline. That way, you don’t need a connection or a lot of battery life to use the navigation app.

6. Moovit: The Best Public Transportation App in Turkey

Moovit is another navigation app that works better in Turkey and also offers detailed plans for public transportation. It’s different from Google Maps in a few ways:

• It shows live plans and locations of the local public transportation (e.g., bus, tram, metro).
• It’s a people-reported app, meaning if bus 27, for example, is late today, you can report that as a PSA (public service announcement).
• It’s one of the best apps in Turkey, and it can provide exact details of the most beautiful places in Turkey, even in areas where Maps lags.

7. BiTaksi: The Best App in Turkey for Internet Taxis

To get around in the traffic of Turkish cities without being taken advantage of, you should look for apps that locals use to find taxis in Turkey. BiTaksi is exactly that app for you. It’s an online service for taxis and is primarily used in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya.

Unlike Uber, this app uses official yellow taxis only, which makes it much safer. It’s also available when Uber is not. Another main feature of BiTaksi is the fact that it gives you the estimated fare upfront (though some drivers might try to negotiate). The app is cash-only, and it has an English interface to make things easier for travellers.

8. Google Translate: The Best Translation App in Turkey

Google Translate is the Swiss army knife in terms of international travel and language apps. It supports more than 133 languages across the globe, with its live conversation mode being a fan favourite.

The app is a must in your Turkish travel apps toolkit if you want to bargain with taxi drivers, strike a deal at the Grand Bazaar, or just be ready for any emergencies that might require you to talk to locals.

9. ChatGPT: Best App for Getting the Local Slang

If you want to take it a step further than Google Translate, you can and should use ChatGPT. It does a great job of getting your point across, going as far as translating local slang in a way that resonates with the local language.

Plus, it’s a great way to uncover interesting facts about Turkey as you chat—whether you’re curious about traditions, local phrases, or cultural do’s and don’ts. It’s like having a digital travel companion that speaks the language and knows the culture.

10. WhatsApp: Turkish Local’s Favourite Communication App

If you want to keep in touch with your tour guide, or if you need to reserve a restaurant online, one of the main travel apps you need is WhatsApp. It’s the most widely used messenger app among Turkish locals.

WhatsApp encrypts messages and calls, but the Turkish government could ask for your metadata. It also needs a stable connection like a Wi-Fi network or mobile data to work. Keep in mind, though, that calls on the app can eat through your data fast. So, make sure to explore affordable data plans for your trip to Turkey.

11. Trendyol Go: Biggest E-Commerce Turkish App

If you ever need a late-night snack or something out of conventional office hours in Turkey, you should download Trendyol Go. The app is the Turkish equivalent of Amazon, with hundreds of micro warehouses across major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa.

The Turkish app’s main service is to deliver a variety of items like groceries, tech items, pharmacy orders, home decor pieces, and clothes and beauty products—making it especially handy if you forgot something from your what to pack list. So, instead of running around town and hailing taxis in the traffic, you can just download Trendyol to get your stuff to you.

12. Yemeksepeti: The Best Turkish App for Ordering Food

Turkish developers were onto something revolutionary when they released Yemeksepeti. The app is one of the OG food apps in the world, having been released in 2001. Today, it offers services from more than 60,000 restaurants in Turkey, be it Simit stands or Michelin-level establishments.

Yemeksepeti is one of the greatest apps for tourists. You can filter places by delivery time and pay after you eat. Besides, payment is available via both cash and card (with tourist spots even accepting EUR/USD.

13. XE Currency: The Best App for Converting Currencies

As an international traveler in Turkey, a currency converter app is essential. XE Currency is one of the most popular apps for currency conversion, commonly used to compare rates with banks. The app allows you to track up to 10 currencies on a single page, helping you monitor the Turkish Lira against other currencies like USD or EUR. To avoid issues at the exchange counter, it’s a good idea to screenshot the rate. XE Currency also offers a “Send Money” tab, where you can compare fees from services like Wise and Remitly to find the best conversion method.

14. Bu Gece: Best Travel App for Leisure and Events

If you’re looking to attend exclusive events while in Turkey, Bu Gece is one of the best apps you need to download. It provides a comprehensive list of events, underground parties, and celebrity get-togethers that even the locals might not know about.

Timing your trip around nightlife and cultural happenings? This ties in perfectly with planning the best time to visit Turkey, especially if you’re aiming to catch seasonal festivals or major events. The app is transparent with event costs, offers special deals (like extra drinks if you check in with your friends), and provides a digital attendance list for VIP guests. What’s more, Bu Gece will also call you a taxi to the event with pre-negotiated prices.

Final Thoughts on The Best Turkish Travel Apps

By downloading the 14 apps on this list, you’ll have everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable trip to Turkey. From booking taxis with BiTaksi to ordering delicious food through Yemeksepeti, these apps cover all the essentials.

While many of these apps rely on a stable internet connection, it’s always a good idea to plan ahead. Make sure you’re connected without any issues by checking out the best Turkey eSIM plans for travellers on our website. Stay online effortlessly and avoid expensive roaming charges during your trip!