Visas, Flights and Getting Around
The practical layer of a treatment trip
Visas
Most European nationals, including UK, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Dutch passport holders, enter Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days. Russian citizens have 60 days. US and Canadian citizens have 90 days. Some nationalities need an e-Visa, which is issued online in a few minutes at the official government portal. Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from arrival.
Which airport
Istanbul has two. Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side and about 45 minutes from the clinic. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side and can take 90 minutes or more in traffic. If the fares are close, choose IST — the difference matters most on the day you fly home after surgery.
Transfers
Airport pick-up, all hospital transport and the return transfer are included in every treatment package. Your driver meets you in arrivals with a name board. Nothing needs to be arranged separately.
Money
Cards are accepted almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for small cafés and the ferry. Exchange rates at the airport are poor; use an ATM or a döviz office in the city. Tipping is around 10 per cent in restaurants.
Phone and internet
Hotel and clinic wifi are reliable. A Turkish tourist SIM is available at the airport but is expensive for a short trip; an eSIM bought before you travel is usually cheaper. Note that phones used in Turkey for more than 120 days need registering — irrelevant for a treatment trip, but it surprises people who come often.
What to bring
- A button-up shirt for the journey home, so nothing goes over your head
- Loose, comfortable clothes
- Any regular medication, in its original packaging, with a prescription copy
- Your travel insurance documents
- A neck pillow — useful on the flight and for sleeping propped up afterwards
- Sunglasses and a wide hood or soft hat
The rest of the guide
-
Where to Stay in Istanbul for Treatment
Stay near the clinic, not near the tourist map
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Halal, Vegetarian and Dietary Options Near the Clinic
Eating well in the week around your procedure
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What to Do in Istanbul While You Recover
Low-effort things that will not set your recovery back
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The Best Time of Year to Come
Weather, prices and what each season does to recovery
Next
Want the trip arranged for you?
Hotel, transfers and a coordinator who speaks your language are part of every treatment package. Tell us your dates and we will send the itinerary before you commit to anything.
