Antalya Acclimation Playbook
4 steps to get settled | 0 of 4 complete
🇹🇷Turkey GuidePre-Arrival
90-day visa-free entry, eSIM, accommodation, and Mediterranean packing
Visa and entry requirements — 90 days visa-free for US citizens
US passport holders can enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date. No prior application is required — simply arrive at Antalya International Airport (AYT) and clear immigration. You cannot work for a Turkish employer on a tourist entry, but remote work for a non-Turkish employer is widely practiced and tolerated. For stays beyond 90 days, you have several options: apply for a Short-Stay Residence Permit (Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni) at the local Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) in Antalya. This requires proof of accommodation, health insurance valid in Turkey, sufficient funds, and a clean criminal record. Processing takes 2-8 weeks and costs approximately TRY 2,000-5,000 in fees. A simpler approach used by many nomads: leave Turkey briefly (e.g., to nearby Greece or Georgia) after 90 days to reset the clock, then re-enter for another 90 days.
Get an eSIM before departure
Buy a Turkey eSIM from Airalo before flying so you have instant connectivity on landing at Antalya International Airport. Turkey's three main carriers are Turkcell (largest network, best 4G/5G coverage), Vodafone Turkey, and Türk Telekom. A 30-day Turkey data eSIM typically costs USD 10-20. This is your best option because physical SIM cards for foreign passports in Turkey come with an important caveat: foreign-registered phones face an IMEI registration tax of approximately TRY 3,000-7,000 (~USD 95-220) if you use a Turkish SIM for more than 120 days on the same device — the eSIM approach on a phone with a foreign IMEI avoids this entirely. For short stays under 120 days, you can use a Turkcell or Vodafone tourist SIM purchased at the airport or a carrier store without needing to register.
Airalo
eSIM for 190+ countries
Book your first 2-3 weeks near Kaleiçi or Muratpaşa
Do not sign a long-term lease before arriving in Antalya. Book a furnished apartment, boutique hotel, or serviced rental for your first 2-3 weeks via Booking.com. Kaleiçi (the old walled city) is the most atmospheric base for newcomers — cobblestone alleys, Roman harbor views, excellent cafes, and a strong tourism infrastructure mean English is spoken widely. However, Kaleiçi can be noisy in summer. Muratpaşa (the modern city center) is more residential, better for daily errands, and has the highest density of coworking-friendly cafes. Konyaaltı (west beach area) is excellent for outdoor lifestyle and is where many long-term expats settle. Lara (east, resort strip) is plush but further from coworking infrastructure. Expect to pay TRY 3,000-8,000/night for a guesthouse or TRY 25,000-55,000/month for a furnished studio on a monthly agreement — extraordinarily affordable at current exchange rates.
Booking.com
Monthly stays & apartments worldwide
Arrange travel insurance — health coverage in Turkey
Turkey has both public and private hospitals. Public hospitals (devlet hastanesi) are inexpensive but can have long waits and limited English. Private hospitals — Antalya Acıbadem, Antalya Memorial Hospital, and Antalya Medical Park — are internationally accredited with English-speaking staff and much shorter wait times at a still-affordable cost (private consultation TRY 800-3,000, ~USD 25-95). SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (~USD 45/month) covers Turkey and is widely used by nomads here. For the Short-Stay Residence Permit application, you will need health insurance valid in Turkey for the duration of your stay. Make sure your policy explicitly covers Turkey as some EU-focused plans exclude it.
SafetyWing
Travel & medical insurance for nomads