Heading to Turkey for a holiday or business travel anytime soon? Then you need to get yourself a local Vodafone Turkey SIM card or eSIM for Turkey! Vodafone SIM card offers good coverage with superior 4G/5G internet speeds across Turkey to keep you connected while traveling across different cities or regions within the country.

This comprehensive guide tells you everything about getting a tourist Vodafone SIM card/eSIM in Turkey. 

Vodafone Turkey SIM Card and eSIM

I. Quick Facts about Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the leading mobile network operators in Turkey with a sizable subscriber base. Here are some key facts about Vodafone Turkey:

  • Established – 1994
  • Branding name – Vodafone
  • Services – 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G, mobile voice, messaging, data
  • Subscribers – Over 23 million (Q2 2022)
  • Stores – Over 2,000 Vodafone stores across Turkey
  • Customer service – Phone, email, social media, chatbot
  • Awards – Best Mobile Network Award at World Communication Awards 2022

So in a nutshell, Vodafone is a prominent and reputed telecom brand providing high-quality mobile connectivity across Turkey. Their wide 4G and 5G coverage, fast speeds, and good network reliability makes them a preferred choice for tourists visiting Turkey.

Vodafone Turkey SIM Card
Vodafone Turkey

II. Why Vodafone When You’re Exploring Turkey – Coverage and Speed

Let’s look at some of the key benefits of choosing Vodafone while travelling in Turkey:

2.1 Vodafone Coverage in Turkey

Vodafone Turkey Coverage map
Vodafone Turkey Coverage map. Source: nperf.com
  • Vodafone offers excellent population coverage of 99% for 2G and 98% for 3G networks in Turkey.
  • Their fast 4G/LTE network is available to 95% of the population across the country.
  • Vodafone has launched 5G in all major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and expanding rapidly.

So with Vodafone, you enjoy seamless mobile network connectivity when travelling to top tourist destinations or offbeat rural areas in Turkey. Their wide coverage minimizes network issues like call drops or no signal.

2.2 Vodafone Speed

  • Vodafone delivers average download speeds of 15 Mbps and upload speeds of 8 Mbps on its 4G network as per OpenSignal’s report.
  • Their maximum recorded LTE download speed is a blazing fast 226 Mbps in Turkey!
  • Early user tests of Vodafone’s new 5G network indicate peak download speeds nearing 1 Gbps.

This makes using high-bandwidth apps, mobile gaming, HD video streaming, video conferencing etc. smooth even on the go with a Vodafone Turkey SIM card or eSIM. Their fast speeds ensure you remain well connected during your Turkish holiday.

Conclusion: With good coverage spanning metro cities to rural villages coupled with fast 4G/5G speeds, Vodafone Turkey is undoubtedly a good choice for tourists visiting Turkey. You can stay connected seamlessly when travelling across Turkey with a Vodafone prepaid SIM or eSIM.

III. Vodafone Connectivity Options for Travelers to Turkey

As a tourist travelling to Turkey, you have a few options to get Vodafone mobile connectivity:

Vodafone Turkey Connectivity Options

Option Description Pros Cons
Buy Vodafone SIM Card Get a new Vodafone prepaid SIM in Turkey Convenient to buy from airport shop or local store Need a SIM-compatible phone
Pick desired data plan SIM locked phones won't work
Pocket Wifi Rental Rent a Vodafone pocket wifi (mobile hotspot) in Turkey Works with all phones, tablets, laptops Need to rent and return device
Good for group traveling together Limit on number of connections
Vodafone Turkey Roaming Roam on Vodafone Turkey network with home SIM card No new SIM to get Expensive roaming rates
Retain existing number Limited data allowance

Conclusion: Getting a prepaid Vodafone Turkey SIM card is the most convenient and budget-friendly option for tourists to stay connected through their trip with excellent local coverage and speeds.

IV. Best Vodafone SIM Cards for Tourists & Cost

Vodafone Turkey offers prepaid SIM cards for tourists and visitors on short vacations as well as longer term residents. Here are the best Vodafone SIM only plans for travellers to choose from:

Vodafone Turkey SIM

Plan Data Minutes SMS Price (TRY) Price (USD)
Vodafone Tourist SIM 15 GB 100 100 299 16
12 GB Vodafone SIM Card 12 GB 750 1,000 900 16.60
25 GB Vodafone SIM Card 25 GB 750 1,000 970 18.00
50 GB Vodafone SIM Card 50 GB 750 1,000 1,070 19.80
70 GB Vodafone SIM Card 70 GB 750 1,000 1,170 21.70

The ideal Vodafone SIM card comes down to your requirements. If you require a lot of data, higher-level plans may suit your needs. For most tourists, though, the Vodafone Tourist SIM is still the best choice.

In short, Vodafone provides prepaid plans as short as 2 weeks up to 3 months. Its tourist SIM packs provide large amounts of high-speed data, calls, and SMS at reasonable prices for Turkey.

V. Does Vodafone Support eSIM in Turkey?

 Yes, Vodafone Turkey does support eSIMs, allowing remote SIM setup on compatible devices. This provides added flexibility for travelers over physical SIM cards. Support for eSIM is growing nationwide.

There are many benefits and conveniences of using an eSIM instead of a physical SIM when traveling internationally:

  • No need to find and buy local SIM cards in each country.
  • Remote eSIM activation from home before travel.
  • Use dual SIM capability for local data + home number.
  • Digitally switch between eSIMs of different countries easily.
  • QR code eSIM activation avoids visiting the operator store.

VI. Where Can You Buy a Vodafone SIM Card & eSIM?

Here are the options to purchase a Vodafone Turkey SIM card or eSIM before your travel:

6.1 Where to Buy Vodafone SIM for Turkey?

  • At airports – Vodafone Turkey has SIM counters at Istanbul airport’s international arrivals area. Get SIM with passport.
Buying Vodafone Turkey SIM Card at Airport Store
Buying Vodafone Turkey SIM Card at Airport Store
  • Vodafone stores – Visit any official Vodafone shop by showing your passport and getting a prepaid SIM.
Buying SIM Card at Vodafone Turkey Store
Buying SIM Card at Vodafone Turkey Store
  • Supermarkets – Migros, and Carrefour supermarkets sell Vodafone SIMs.
  • Online – Order a Vodafone Turkey SIM card online and deliver to your hotel.

6.2 Where to Buy Vodafone eSIM in Turkey?

As Vodafone doesn’t directly offer tourist eSIMs in Turkey, you can buy from:

  • Direct from Vodafone Turkey Website – Easy online purchase and activation of all Vodafone eSIM plans directly from their site (vodafone.com.tr). Requires Turkish mobile number for verification.
  • Buy from Turkey eSIM – It is an eSIM marketplace where travelers can purchase eSIM data plans from Vodafone Turkey online. Plans are delivered digitally ready to activate on supported devices. Popular choice for hassle-free purchases from overseas. Payment by credit card.

These providers sell tourist eSIMs connected to Vodafone Turkey so you can use Vodafone’s local coverage and speeds during your trip.

VII. How to Activate Vodafone SIM/eSIM in Turkey?

Activating your Vodafone SIM card or eSIM is quick and easy:

7.1 How to Use Vodafone SIM Card in Turkey?

Follow these simple steps to activate your Vodafone Turkey physical SIM:

  1. Insert the SIM card into your unlocked phone’s SIM slot.
  2. Power on your phone and wait for the SIM to be detected.
  3. Activate the Vodafone SIM – it is mostly pre-activated out of the box.
  4. Configure APN settings – default Vodafone Turkey APN is ‘internet’ and ‘mms, internet’ for data/MMS.
  5. Check service by making a call or using mobile data to confirm activation.

That’s it! Your Vodafone Turkey SIM card will be ready to use for calls, texts, and internet.

7.2 How to Activate Vodafone eSIM?

To activate your Vodafone Turkey eSIM, follow these easy steps:

  1. Install eSIM – Install the eSIM on your phone through QR Code.
  2. Activate eSIM – Open app and activate your Vodafone Turkey eSIM plan purchase.
  3. Set up eSIM – Follow in-app eSIM installation and activation prompts.
  4. Use eSIM – Use mobile data.

That’s all you need to do! Enjoy the convenience of an eSIM to connect to Vodafone’s network in Turkey seamlessly.

VIII. Turkey Vodafone Call & SMS Rates

Here are the latest Vodafone prepaid call and SMS rates while roaming on their Turkey network:

Vodafone Turkey Call & SMS Rates

Call/SMS Type Rate (USD)
Calls to Vodafone numbers $0.04/min
Calls to other Turkish mobiles $0.05/min
Calls to Vodafone landlines $0.02/min + $0.05 connection fee
Calls to other Turkish landlines $0.02/min + $0.05 connection fee
Calls to international numbers $0.07-0.85/min depending on country
SMS within Turkey $0.01/SMS
SMS to international numbers $0.02/SMS
Data rates $0.002/MB, packages from $1.5 for 5GB

So with Vodafone’s prepaid SIM tourist packs, you get included local calling minutes & SMS. Once the allowance is exceeded, very reasonable call and SMS rates apply.

IX. Useful USSD Codes for Vodafone SIM/eSIM

Here are some useful USSD codes for Vodafone Turkey prepaid accounts:

  • *222# – Check Vodafone prepaid balance
  • *123# – Check data balance
  • *150# – Check remaining minutes
  • *100*4# – Check remaining SMS
  • *101# – Service information menu
  • *100*1*4# – Activate international roaming
  • *100*1*5# – Deactivate international roaming

Just dial these codes on your phone dialer to easily check balances or activate services. The codes work on both Vodafone physical SIM and eSIM.

X. How to Top-up Vodafone SIM/eSIM

You can easily recharge or top-up your Vodafone Turkey prepaid SIM/eSIM using:

  • Vodafone App – Use Vodafone Turkey app to instantly top-up via payment cards/methods.
  • Online – Recharge via Vodafone Turkey website using credit/debit cards.
  • Vodafone Stores – Visit Vodafone shops in Turkey to top-up your prepaid account.
  • Supermarkets – Buy top-up vouchers from Migros, Carrefour stores.

This allows you to continue enjoying Vodafone Turkey’s service by instantly topping up data, minutes, SMS etc if required during your trip via multiple convenient options.

XI. FAQs about Vodafone in Turkey

Does Vodafone offer 5G in Turkey?

Yes, Vodafone has launched 5G services in all major cities of Turkey like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir. They are rapidly expanding 5G coverage across the country.

Does Vodafone provide tourist SIM cards?

Yes, Vodafone Turkey offers great value tourist SIM packs with data, calls & SMS allowances valid for 14 days, 30 days etc.

Can I roam internationally with Vodafone Turkey SIM?

Yes, Vodafone prepaid SIMs support international roaming in 170+ countries. You can activate roaming via USSD codes.

How to check data usage on my Vodafone SIM?

You can check Vodafone data usage by dialling *123# USSD code. The Vodafone app and website also shows data usage statistics.

Can I use Vodafone Turkey SIM in other countries?

Vodafone Turkey prepaid SIMs only work within Turkey. They cannot be used directly when travelling outside Turkey unless you enable international roaming.

XII. Conclusion

Getting a Vodafone SIM card or eSIM is the best way to stay connected with fast mobile data and excellent coverage while travelling in Turkey.

Consider to activate Turkey eSIM before your upcoming trip to Turkey and stay connected with their premium network coverage to make the most of your Turkish holiday!