If you are visiting or have recently moved to the country, you’re going to want to download these most popular apps in Turkey. Every country has different apps that the locals frequently use. Turkey is no different.
Apps make our lives so much easier and it makes living in Istanbul that much more convenient. In some cases, too convenient.
The only downside is that some Turkish apps don’t accept foreign credit cards as payment. There isn’t any way around it unless you open a Turkish bank account. And, let’s be honest, if you’re here temporarily you’re not going to do that.
However, don’t worry because the food delivery and taxi apps have pay-in-cash options, which are perfect for short-term visitors.
Most Popular Apps in Turkey for Transportation
1. BiTaski – BiTaski is the local taxi-hailing app in Turkey. It is pretty straightforward to use, just make an account on the app with your Turkish phone number. You will receive a verification code to complete the setup process. The app also has an English language option. Within the app, you can choose which type of taxi you would like, standard yellow, air cabin, or blue taxi. Starting price of the taxi varies based on the color. The app allows you to pay with a card or cash. BiTaski does not work all over Turkey. In my experience, I’ve been able to use it in Istanbul and Ankara only.
2. Uber – Uber was previously banned in Turkey, but has recently been allowed again.
3. Mobiett – Mobiett is the Istanbul public transportation app. This app shows you all the stations for buses, metro, and ferries. You can track buses and see the time schedule for when buses will arrive. It will also tell you if any lines have been canceled for that day.
4. Marti – Marti is the most popular app in Turkey for e-scooters. The word ‘marti’ means bird in Turkish. What is unique about this company is that they not only have e-scooters, but e-bikes, and mopeds as well. You will be able to recognize them from their green color and a bird logo.
5. TikTak – TikTak is a car rental app for Istanbul. This company allows you to find cars on the app and rent them by minute, hour, or day. You will need to fill out an application and show proof of a valid Turkish driver’s license to operate the car. More information is available on their website.
Speedy Food Delivery Apps in Turkey
6. Getir – Getir is your one-stop app for everything food. There are eight different categories in the app including the basic Getir where you can get groceries within 10 minutes, Getir more, Getir local, Getir jobs, Getir food, Getir water, Getir taxi, and Getir drive. I mostly use this app for groceries and water delivery. There is no delivery fee if you order a certain amount. You can use Getir local to order from the small local shops which is a really nice addition to the app. The company as a whole has been expanding into Europe and the US in recent months.
7. Yemeksepeti – Yemeksepeti is the most popular food delivery app in Turkey. It works in all major cities in Turkey. I was even able to use it in Canakkale. You can order many different types of foods from endless amounts of restaurants.
8. Fuudy – Fuudy is a high-end restaurant delivery app. It only works in some areas of Istanbul and is fairly new.
9. Migros – Migros is a large grocery store chain in Turkey. They have a delivery app where you can order groceries to your door. This is very convenient for me since I don’t have a car and don’t want to carry a bunch of bags all the way home. When you order your food you can select the day and time of delivery. There is a 2 hours window of when it will arrive.
Find Housing in Turkey
10. Sahibinden – Sahibinden is a real estate and resale website for used items. You can find apartments for rent or for sale based on the price range or area. This is the most popular app in Turkey for finding housing. Users also list vehicles, furniture, clothing, and pets.
Communication
11. Whatsapp – Even though WhatsApp had privacy concerns in 2021, most people still use the app in Turkey. It is the main communication app.
Reliable Shopping & Entertainment Apps in Turkey
12. Trendyol – Trendyol is the Amazon of Turkey. The stores listed on this website are based in Turkey so delivery is fairly fast. Definitely faster than ordering from abroad.
13. Hepsiburada – Hepsiburada is a competitor to Trendyol. It is a very similar e-commerce website where you can buy just about anything.
14. Çiçeksepeti – This is a gift-ordering app that is widely used to send flowers to someone. Prices are reasonable and delivery is fast and reliable.
15. Passo – While Passo is available as an app, using the website is more user-friendly for those that can’t read Turkish. You can find events everywhere in Turkey by searching by location. Events range from sporting events, music concerts, theatre, and festivals.
Bonus: Other Online Resources for Turkey
While the apps mentioned above are used in daily life in Turkey, there are some additional online resources that can be helpful if you become a resident.
E-Nabiz is used for healthcare in Turkey. You can book appointments with private and public hospitals. It’s very convenient to have the entire healthcare system on one website.
E-Devlet is used for government requests such as your residency card.
Both of these resources have app versions that you can download. However, I find the desktop version more user-friendly.
Overall, my list of the most popular apps in Turkey has changed how I live in the country. Are there any apps that are special to your country, that you can’t live without?
