Destinations · United Kingdom
From the UK to Türkiye — the practical briefing.
No visa, four hours, and a currency that works in your favour. Here is what to know before you book, including what your GHIC will not do.
The short version
UK to Türkiye at a glance
| Visa | British citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The old e-visa requirement was removed. Your passport should have at least 150 days' validity from the date of entry — this catches people out more often than the visa rule ever did. |
|---|---|
| Flight time | London 4h 00 · Birmingham 4h 05 · Manchester 4h 15 · Edinburgh 4h 20 · Glasgow 4h 20 to İstanbul. |
| Direct flights from | Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Newcastle — to İstanbul, Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum and İzmir. |
| Time difference | Türkiye is 2 hours ahead of the UK in summer, 3 hours ahead in winter. Türkiye does not put its clocks back. |
| Currency | Turkish lira (TRY). Sterling goes a long way here. Cards work almost everywhere in cities — change cash in Türkiye, never at a UK airport. |
| Plug and voltage | European two-pin, 230V. Your UK plugs will not fit. Bring an adapter or ask us to leave one at your hotel. |
| Best months | April–May and September–October for İstanbul and the ruins. June–September for the Turquoise Coast. Half-term in October is genuinely lovely and far quieter than August. |
Health cover
Your GHIC does not work here. Read that again.
This is the single most expensive misunderstanding British visitors make. We are not insurance advisers — but you should know this before you fly, not after.
GHIC and EHIC
Türkiye is not in the EU or the EEA, so the Global Health Insurance Card gives you no cover here at all. It is not partial cover. It is none.
The NHS abroad
The NHS does not pay for treatment outside the UK, and will not pay to fly you home. Air ambulance repatriation from Türkiye runs into tens of thousands of pounds.
What you need
Proper travel insurance with medical cover and repatriation. Declare pre-existing conditions honestly — an undeclared condition is the usual reason claims are refused.
If you are coming for treatment, travel insurance will not cover a planned procedure either. That is a separate arrangement with your provider — see medical travel for how we fit the trip around it.
Where to go
Three trips that work from the UK
İstanbul, long weekend
Four hours out on a Thursday evening, back Sunday night. Three full days is genuinely enough for the old city, the Bosphorus and one proper dinner you will remember.
The Turquoise Coast
Dalaman or Bodrum for a week — Fethiye, Kaş, Göcek. Warm into late October, when Britain has stopped being warm at all.
İstanbul plus Cappadocia
Six or seven days, one internal flight, balloons at sunrise. The classic first trip, and it earns its reputation.
Questions
Before you write
Do I really not need a visa any more?
Correct for British citizens on a tourist trip of up to 90 days. Rules can change, so we confirm the current requirement for your specific passport before anything is booked.
Is my UK driving licence valid?
Yes for short visits. Driving on the coast is fine and pleasant; driving in İstanbul is not, and most of our British guests take a driver instead.
Will my phone work?
Türkiye is outside EU roaming arrangements, so check your tariff before you land — some UK networks charge a daily rate here. A Turkish SIM is cheap; we can arrange one.
Can I drink tap water?
It is chlorinated and safe to brush your teeth with, but almost nobody drinks it, including locals. Bottled water is inexpensive and everywhere.
How much should I tip?
Around 10% in restaurants, rounding up for taxis. Not expected in cafés. Nobody will be offended either way — this is not a country that polices tipping.
Start here
Which airport are you flying from?
Send that and your dates. A written quote in sterling, usually the same day.
MOC Health Sağlık Turizm — A-group Travel Agency Operating Licence no. 13801
(Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Law no. 1618, held since 2022).
Verify at online.tursab.org.tr
Şirinevler Mah. Meriç Sok. Toyak İş Merkezi No: 11 / 612, Bahçelievler / İstanbul · +90 533 813 89 77
Operated by Bookinhospital.com Danışmanlık ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. · MERSİS 0179135604700001
Visa, insurance and safety information is general guidance and can change. We confirm the
current rules for your passport before any booking is made. For official advice see the
FCDO travel guidance for Türkiye.